How To Use Essential Oils For Hair Growth — For Men and Women

If you're looking for a natural hair loss remedy, you may want to try essential oils for hair growth.

Cedarwood, lavender, thyme, or rosemary may help reduce hair loss by increasing circulation to the scalp. To make a scalp massage oil, add 3 or 4 drops of each of the essential oil to one tablespoon of carrier oil. Massage a few drops of the blend gently into your scalp once or twice a day.

Jojoba oil is a highly recommended carrier oil because it's a traditional herbal remedy for thinning hair, although you can use other carrier oils. Some studies also suggest that aloe vera may promote hair growth.

With any essential oil hair loss treatment, allow four to eight weeks to see noticeable results.

Caution: If you apply hair-loss medications (such as Minoxidal) to your scalp, using essential oils on your scalp may cause adverse drug interactions.

Aromatherapy For Hair Loss

Essential oils for hair loss suggested by The Complete Aromatherapy and Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness are West Indian bay (Pimenta racemosa), clary sage, lavender, rosemary, sage, thyme, and ylang ylang.

Massage a few drops of the following blend into your scalp each night:

• 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup aloe vera gel
• 25 drops rosemary essential oil

Source: Aromatherapy for Dummies

Here's another hair growth formula:

• 50 drops of a blend of suggested oils
• 1/2 cup aloe vera gel
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon jojoba oil

Blend ingredients in a container and label. Use nightly. Shake well and massage a little into scalp for 10 minutes.

Source: Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art

If you want to make a shampoo to support hair growth:

• 1/2 cup distilled water
• 1/4 cup pure castile soap
• 12 drops peppermint essential oil
  
• 12 drops tea tree essential oil
  
• 12 drops other essential oil from the recommended list (optional)
  

Blend all ingredients in a PET plastic bottle. Shake gently before use.

Reversing Women's Hair Loss

After I noticed an increasing amount of hair in the drain after washing my hair, I  successfully used the following blend of essential oils for hair growth to decrease the amount of hair falling out:

• 2 tablespoons jojoba oil
• 1 tablespoon evening primrose oil
• 1 tablespoon rosehip seed oil
• 24 drops lavender essential oil
• 24 drops rosemary essential oil
• 24 drops carrot seed essential oil
• 12 drops clary sage essential oil
  

Blend the oils in a dark bottle.

Before washing your hair, massage about a teaspoon of the blend into your scalp. Ideally, let set 20 minutes, but I didn't always wait that long. I started seeing a difference after about six weeks.

Hair Growth and Repair Conditioner

• 3/4 cup distilled water
• 3 tablespoons raw organic apple cider vinegar (such as Braggs)
• 6 drops rosemary essential oil
• 5 drops geranium essential oil
• 3 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil
• 3 drops tea tree essential oil

Add all ingredients to an eight-ounce glass spray bottle. Shake gently before using. Spray onto roots and work into hair.

Source: The Essential Oil Hormone Solution

Hair Loss Prevention

If you want to prevent hair loss, blend the following ingredients in a pump bottle:

• 4 teaspoons castor oil
• 4 teaspoons camelina vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons apricot kernel oil
• 20 drops atlas cedarwood essential oil
• 10 drops West Indian bay (Pimental racemosa) essential oil

Shake well. Store in refrigerator, and shake before each use.

To use: Once a week, massage a little of the mixture into your hair. Let sit for a few minutes, and then wash hair as usual.

Source: The Essential Guide to Natural Skin Care

More Essential Oils For Hair Growth

Scalp Restorative Spray

• 5 drops rosemary essential oil
• 5 drops lavender
• 1/2 cup distilled water
  

Combine ingredients in spray bottle. Shake well before each use. Spray on hair daily.

Scalp Restorative Shampoo

• 2 drops rosemary essential oil
• 2 drops clary sage essential oil
• 3 drops cypress essential oil
• 3 drops sandalwood essential oil
• 1 cup natural, unscented shampoo

Stir essential oils into shampoo. Use as you would any shampoo.
Source: Essential Oils For Healing

Scalp Conditioner For Hair Growth

• 30 drops rosemary essential oil
• 15 drops basil essential oil
• 15 drops lemon essential oil
• 10 drops geranium essential oil
• 5 drops clove essential oil
• 1/2 cup jojoba oil
  

Combine all ingredients in a glass or PET plastic bottle. Store in a cool, dark place. To use:

1. Shake well. Massage 1 to 2 teaspoons into scalp.
2. Wrap hair with plastic.
3. Wrap with very warm, damp towel. Replace towel after it cools. Leave on for at least 30 to 45 minutes.
   

Source: Essential Oils Every Day: Rituals and Remedies for Healing, Happiness, and Beauty

Alopecia Areata

The most common type of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, called male pattern baldness in men and female diffuse hair loss in women.

In contrast, alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease — the immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles and causes hair to fall out in small, round patches. The study Randomized Trial of Aromatherapy: Successful Treatment for Alopecia Areata looked at thyme, lavender, rosemary, and atlas cedarwood  essential oils for hair growth to reverse the hair loss caused by this condition. The study concluded that aromatherapy is a safe and effective treatment.

Here's a recipe adapted from Healing With Aromatherpy using those oils:

• 3 drops rosemary
• 3 drops lavender
• 2 drops thyme
• 2 drops cedarwood
• 1 teaspoon jojoba and/or grapeseed oil

Make this blend every day and massage it into your scalp for at least two minutes, and then wrap a warm towel around your head for 15 to 20 minutes. Allow at least two to three months to see results.

Photo Credit: Roger Mommaerts/Flickr/CC

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