Whether you’re newly natural or you’re fairly advanced, essential oils are everything!
Though their use may only now be trending for us, the wonders of essential oils were discovered centuries ago by civilizations like ancient Egypt and were even referenced in The Bible.
Essential oils are aromatic and volatile liquids which don’t dissolve in water, extracted from aromatic plants by steam or hydro-distillation (material soaked in water).
They are derived from just about every part of a plant: the flowers, fruit, roots, resin, seeds, leaves, wood and bark. One of the key features is their essence or fragrance; they smell great!
But they also improve our health and contain several healing properties too. With their high concentration, only a few drops are needed.
Note that 100% all-natural essential oils are generally safe to use but must be diluted with a carrier oil to avoid skin irritation or reactions.
Within the natural hair movement, essential oils are central to healthy hair and can be used at every stage of your hair care regimen.
-stimulate blood circulation in the scalp
-provide nourishment and promote growth of hair
-regarded as the most effective and safest hair care products for Black hair
-fight scalp bacteria and fungus infections
-renew and prevent damage
-combat dryness of hair and scalp
-solve scalp challenges in Black hair care like dandruff, dryness and hair loss
It’s a good idea to try different ones based on their known uses, to see what works best and appeals to you.
Bergamot Oil
Good for: stimulating blood flow to hair follicles
Burdock Oil
Good for: hair loss (alopecia areata), a condition where a lot of hair is lost in patches | Blending well with many other essential oils
Cedar Oil
Good for: cyclopedia areata | dandruff
Chamomile Oil
Good for: itchy scalp and dandruff | healing scalps damaged from chemical treatments
Frankincense Oil
Good for: strengthening roots | prevention of hair shedding
Lavender Oil
Good for: treating hair loss | treating dandruff
Myrrh Oil
Good for: hair follicle strengthening
Orange Oil
Good for: breaking up waxy sebum on the scalp | fighting bacterial and fungal infections on the scalp
Peppermint Oil
Good for: stimulating blood flow | opening pores
Rosemary Oil
Good for: hair growth
Spearmint Oil
Good for: stimulating blood flow to scalp | providing anti-inflammatory agents
Tea Tree Oil
Good for: treating dandruff | stimulating hair growth
Thyme Oil
Good for: providing anti-microbial properties | alleviating dandruff and dry scalp
You can use a few drops of essential oil to any carrier or base oil (like jojoba, olive, castor or coconut) or even to amp up a store-bought, prepared product.
Citrus Oil recipe: Fresh citrus and sweet vanilla – delicious combo for moisturizing! Combine 10 drops of vanilla oil, 10 drops of orange or bergamot oil with 2 ounces of your choice of carrier oil.
Rosemary Oil recipe: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil. When it has cooled, add 3 drops of rosemary oil. Apply this mix to your scalp and the cover your head with a heated, damp towel. Leave on for 30 minutes, then wash off with a sulfate-free, paraben-free shampoo. This treatment helps remove oil and un-clog pores. Apply once a week.
Cedar Oil recipe: Mix 2 tbsp coconut oil with 2-3 drops of cedar oil and massage into scalp. Leave on for 1 – 2 hours, then wash off.
Thyme Oil recipe: Rejuvenate and fight dry scalp with this herbal mix. Mix 2 drops of thyme oil and 5 drops of lavender oil in 2 tbsp organic extra virgin olive oil. Massage in and wash off after 20 minutes.
A healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair. There are the factors in your hair regimen consistently to achieve this:
Let’s make sure that the many wonderful benefits and knowledge of essential oils are not lost and passed to our next generation – by using them every day and talking about them.
As always …
Dedicated To Your Beauty
Juliette Samuel
Esthetician/Author/Publisher
Nyraju Skin Care
Check out our new book: Essential Oils For Afro Textured Hair