Should We Be Using Essential Oils on Our Hair?

By Choya Randolph

Many of us have used essential oils before. Essential oils are concentrated liquids that come from plants. Because they are concentrated, they have a strong scent. They also evaporate easily which is why they are used frequently for aromatherapy. For those familiar with essential oils, you’ve probably used them to add some essence to their room but, what would happen if we used essential oils on our hair?

There are many types of essential oils and each oil captures the essence of the plant it came from. Some popular essential oils are lavender oil, peppermint oil, and rosemary oil. When used on our hair and scalp, these oils can promote hair growth, strengthen our hair, and more. Before we go into what essential oils can do for our hair, let’s talk about how we can incorporate them into our hair care regimen easily and safely.

Every essential oil is different. Some oils do well at protecting our hair and others are great at opening our hair cuticles to receive hydration. One thing all essential oils have in common is being potent. This is due to its aromatic chemical compounds. In other words, these oils are powerful and should be used wisely. Do not be heavy handed with your essential oils. Even when using essential oils for its scent, it’s usually diluted. 

To dilute your essential oils, you can add it to your leave-in conditioners, creams, or even your spray bottle. You can give your go-to oil a boost by adding a couple of drops of an essential oil. When I say a couple of drops, I do mean 2-3 drops, especially if you plan to oil your scalp. Essential oils should never be used by itself on your hair or skin. I know this may sound intimidating but you can safely explore with essential oils as long as it’s diluted.

But what oils should we be using? One of the most popular essential oils is lavender oil. This oil promotes hair growth, conditions the hair, and controls dandruff. To my naturals who love scalp massages, try incorporating peppermint oil. It will give you a cooling sensation that feels amazing. This cooling sensation is the oil increasing blood circulation to your scalp which promotes hair growth. 

Tea tree oil moisturizes the scalp while getting rid of chemicals. It’s a great oil to add to your cowash. Rosemary oil improves cellular regeneration which is why it’s a common ingredient in hair growth products. If you like to oil your scalp, try adding rosemary oil to an oil of your choice. Lemongrass oil has antifungal properties that combats dandruff and an itchy scalp. It also strengthens the hair to prevent hair loss. This is another oil that could be added to your cowash.

There are so many essential oils you can experiment with. Because they should be used sparingly, they can last years. They also have a long shelf life so if you have a forgotten bottle of essential oil lying around somewhere, you can probably still use it on your hair. Essential oils can last up to two years. If you have an expired bottle of essential oil, they are inexpensive and can be bought online and in-store. Plus, they will make your hair smell amazing. And if you realize that essential oils aren’t for you, you can give your hair a break and use the oils to diffuse and/or scent your home.