Therapeutic grade essential oils hold the promise for a great many people of stimulating the growth of bountiful healthy hair. Whether one is regrowing hair after hair loss, preventing the loss of hair, or just looking to make their hair more beautiful and lustrous than ever, essential oils and the carrier oils that comprise therapeutic aromatherapy formulas are very much worth investigating. We’ll first look at how and why you “build” your recipe, and conclude with a couple excellent formulations.
So What Essential Oils Have The Greatest Potential To Stimulate Hair Growth?
The oils used for hair growth are also those used for skin care in general — the health of the follicles is of course closely related to the health of the scalp and skin. Essential oils for your most effective, custom recipe can be selected from one of three general categories. These are: stimulating (may signal new hair to grow), nutritive (offers important nutrients), and balancing (helps over-oily or over-dry conditions become normal). The most deeply therapeutic means of using essential oils for hair growth is to make an oil treatment formula — a blend of essential oils and carrier oils that is massaged into the scalp and left for some period of time (rather than simply just adding to your conditioner or shampoo).
The Stimulating Essential Oils: Sage and Rosemary
We call them “stimulating” essential oils because they manage to signal the cells in the dermis to increase their metabolism. This means the follicles may become more active at growing new hair. This is the result of these specific oils containing natural “ketones”, chemicals with a “growth stimulating” type of signal. Rosemary Verbenone (a very specific type of Rosemary essential oil) and “Common” or “Dalmatian” Sage are the two most commonly used oils for stimulating hair growth. Of all the oils discussed here, Sage is the one that must be used by a limited population: it should not be used by pregnant or nursing mothers. Use at one percent or less in your total formula (these concentrations will be explained later with the recipes).
The Deep Colored Nutritive Oils: Carrot and Sea Buckthorn
Chock full of growth supporting nutrients Carrot Root, and the new kid on the block Sea Buckthorn Berry essential oils are amazing at supporting follicle health. They each have a diverse collection of antioxidants and growth enhancing vitamins and vitamin-like compounds (the only difference between a vitamin and a vitamin-like compound is a scientific designation — early on, the “vitamins” are the ones you would die without having — though you wouldn’t do so well without having the other either!). You almost can’t have too much of these oils — use at a 2% concentration.
Bringing Balance to Those Follicles
Many, many people have either over-dry or over-oily scalp conditions which wreak havoc on hair growth. Balance is what’s needed here, and here’s the oils to do it. Lavender is the most widely used “balancing” oil, that has a wealth of therapeutic effects. If you do not have an outstanding skin condition that really needs clearing up, add a little Lavender to your blend — it is thought to really tie all the components together to help them work most effectively. If you’ve got an over-oily condition, a little Myrtle essential oil is thought to do the trick. It’s cleansing and balancing at the same time, restoring sebaceous output to proper levels. Finally, for mature women, be sure to use a little Clary Sage, thought to restore cellular estrogen levels to their optimum for the most beautiful skin and hair.
Your Formulation’s Foundation: The “Carrier” Oils
Once you’re essential oils are selected, you can create your own oil treatment formula by adding them to one or more carrier oils. The most popular carrier oils for hair care are: Jojoba, primarily used for moisturizing and giving hair a wonderful luster. Virgin coconut, while needing to be gently melted first to blend with other carriers, is fast becoming one of the most highly-praised therapeutic carrier oils. It is thought to have a very positive effect on hair loss all by itself, and like jojoba, will also result in wonderful hair texture. Evening Primrose is a very important carrier, offering essential fatty acids that we may easily be deficient in. This is best used by mature women, and also where the scalp is generally irritated. Hemp may also be used here. Finally, another very therapeutic carrier oil is Rosehip seed. It, like the nutritive essential oils, has vitamin-like compounds in it that have been shown in studies to promote youthful skin development. While it has not been as extensively researched for hair growth, there’s no reason to think it shouldn’t have as profound an effect on the scalp and follicles.
Putting Your Blend Together
Often folks are a little intimidated by blending. Really, it’s no big deal — far easier than baking virtually anything in your kitchen (and if you’re a raw food fan, it’s about THAT easy!). First, determine your base mixture. Equal parts of the carrier oils you choose is a fine way to go. If you’re using virgin Coconut, Rosehip Seed and Evening Primrose, just use equal parts of each. Making one-ounce of oil treatment? Just estimate filling a 1oz dropper bottle about 1/3rd full with each oil. Then add the essential oils. Each 1 percent essential oil is equal to 8 drops per ounce of total mixture. Using 1 percent Rosemary? Add 8 drops to your blend. Two percent Sea Buckthorn? Use 16 drops. Making 4 ounces instead of 1? Multiply all these numbers times four! Still unsure? Here’s some clear recipes…
High End Botanical Extract Hair Growth Stimulating Formulas
Each recipe will make four (4) ounces total formula, which should last 2-4 months with regular use. For women, use equal parts of all four carriers — that’s 1 ounce each Coconut, Rosehip, Evening Primrose and Jojoba (of course you’re free to modify this !). Add the following essential oils: 16 drops Sage, 16 drops Rosemary, 64 drops Sea Buckthorn, 32 drops Lavender and 16 drops Clary Sage. This will be an absolutely amazing formula. For men, use 2 ounces each Coconut and Rosehip Seed (if you are prone to acne, use Hemp instead of Rosehip). Add the following essential oils: 32 drops Rosemary, 16 drops Sage, 64 drops Carrot Root, 32 drops Lavender. Again, a truly excellent formula!
Gently invert or “spin” the mixture until you feel it’s blended. The best absorption occurs right after the scalp has been immersed in warm water and lightly dried. One dropper-full distributed evenly over the scalp is often enough for complete coverage. Massage in, and leave as long as you like. Overnight is great, just make sure to cover your pillows! And there you have it, your very own, custom, high-end botanical extract formula for stimulating the growth of bountiful, healthy hair.
The author has made available much information about aromatherapy, such as using patchouli essential oil and other wholesale essential oils.
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