Posted by Les Mauvaises Herbes
There are SO many interesting essential oils to incorporate into our hair care products that we had to exercise restraint and narrow the list down to present our 6 favorites, even though we could have included twenty!
You will notice we couldn't help but sneak in a few others on the side!
When looking at the topic more closely, we see that many essential oils popular for hair care often possess multiple different properties; for example, the same essential oil can be fortifying, anti-dandruff, and sebum-regulating all at once. Two (or three) birds with one stone! Furthermore, the possibilities for synergies are nearly endless, so we can have fun testing what suits us best.
Our 6 oils for hair care
Ylang-ylang
For mermaid-bright hair
In addition to releasing a mesmerizing and heavenly fragrance, ylang-ylang essential oil adds shine and strength to hair. It is ideal for restoring a beautiful appearance to thinning, lifeless, or dull hair.
Use alone or in synergy with Indian verbena, rose geranium, or laurel leaf.
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Palmarosa
The lethal weapon against dandruff
Dandruff is caused by the accelerated renewal of skin cells on the scalp, which leads to visible flaking. Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis appear to be caused by inflammation of the scalp, which stems from the proliferation of a yeast called Malassezia.
Antifungal essential oils, like palmarosa, seem to show good results in controlling this yeast and reducing dandruff.
Use alone or in synergy with tea tree, rose geranium, patchouli, or laurel leaf.
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Rose Geranium
The ally of dry and damaged hair
Incorporating rose geranium essential oil into hair care helps revive dry and damaged hair by nourishing it and stimulating blood circulation in the scalp. Without going so far as to repair broken hair, geranium helps restore a healthy appearance.
Use alone or in synergy with true lavender or sandalwood.
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Bergamot
Goodbye, greasy hair!
Citrus essences in general are excellent for "degreasing" our hair. Since we love bergamot for its divine scent and its calming effect on our "mental hamster wheel," we are constantly looking for excuses to use it! LOL
In hair care, it has a purifying, astringent effect, and most importantly, it contributes to balancing sebum production. It can also help in cases of psoriasis.
Use alone or in synergy with lemon, patchouli, or Atlas cedar.
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Cineole Rosemary
To strengthen your lion's mane
Cineole rosemary essential oil is recognized as an excellent hair tonic; it cleanses the scalp and may even stimulate hair growth when used regularly!
Use alone or in synergy with grapefruit, clary sage, laurel leaf, or juniper.
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True Lavender
To calm sensitive heads
We are already familiar with the regenerating, healing, and anti-inflammatory power of lavender, and it is perfect for soothing a sensitive scalp irritated by styling products, the sun, or itching. It can be used in children's care; it would also help prevent lice infestations!
Use alone or in synergy with peppermint or field mint in small quantities (maximum 1% concentration) for a guaranteed refreshing effect!
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How to use them?
In a hair mask
Since essential oils are fat-soluble, they dissolve beautifully in a vegetable oil and are easily integrated into a hair "oil bath," a serum, or a hair mask, like our whipped hair butter, which can be left on for a few minutes or overnight.
In a homemade shampoo or conditioner bar
The ideal approach is to let the essential oils act for several minutes, so you should leave the shampoo or conditioner on your head for a little while before rinsing it out.
In a commercial liquid shampoo or conditioner
If you already have your favorite products or prefer not to make them yourself, you can customize your shampoo or conditioner with the essential oil(s) of your choice. You can either add the essential oils directly to the bottle or put them into the product in your hand before applying it: 1 to 2 drops of essential oils are sufficient for a single shampoo or conditioner application.
A few precautions to take
- Pure essential oils are highly concentrated and can be irritating to the skin; it is important to always dilute them in a 1% to 4% ratio in an oily base before applying them to the scalp. Sensitive, allergic, or very reactive skin types should not exceed a concentration of 1%.
- Avoid sun exposure immediately after applying citrus essences like lemon and bergamot. Since essential oil hair products are often rinse-off preparations, the photosensitizing effect will not be as intense as in a leave-on product, but you should still avoid tempting fate by going out into the blazing sun without a hat immediately after using them.
- As with all hair products, avoid getting them in your eyes!
- Unless we have indicated otherwise, the suggestions presented are only suitable for adults and teenagers. As a precaution, avoid essential oils during the first three months of pregnancy. After this period, you can use bergamot, rose geranium, or true lavender without any problems.
- Although essential oils have obvious effects on hair health, they do not have a miraculous action either. If our hair or scalp presents a chronic issue, it is important to look for the cause to fully eradicate it. For example, hair loss can be a symptom of an underlying health problem.
- Remember that manufacturing essential oils requires a lot of raw material and a lot of work! Always use them sparingly and with respect!
