The Hair Health Hotline provides direct access to dermatologists, trichologists, hair stylists and other beauty professionals. Each story in this series addresses common hair and scalp concerns and offers science-backed solutions for taking care of your strands.
A quick search on the internet can give you the impression that essential oils can do it all. It is also commonly used in cleaning products, household deodorants, etc. Not surprisingly, essential oils are also used in hair care. You may have seen essential oils featured in ingredient lists and his TikTok posts about his DIY hair growth solutions.
Even if you fully agree with using essential oils in other situations, you may still have questions about how essential oils can be used for hair growth and whether they even work in the first place. In, cosmetics chemist and licensed esthetician Esther Orr shares those details below.
Q: My hair is not as thick and full as it used to be, so I would like to try using essential oils for hair growth. Which essential oils stimulate hair growth and how should I use them?
A: According to Olu, studies have linked several essential oils, such as rosemary and peppermint, to hair growth. However, research on essential oils and hair growth is limited, and essential oils are not necessarily a miracle cure for hair loss.
Is it effective to use essential oils for hair growth?
“Factors that can affect hair growth or loss include genetic predisposition, diet, and stress,” explains Ol. It’s often difficult to treat, so it’s important to manage expectations before trying essential oils for hair growth, says Olu. And because the evidence that essential oils can improve hair growth is “very limited,” essential oils shouldn’t be viewed as miracle cures or overnight cures, he says.
That said, the research that does exist associates certain essential oils with hair growth potential, including increased strand thickness, increased hair count, or both.
rosemary oil
Rosemary oil helps increase hair density—the number of hairs that grow from the scalp, says Olu.Some studies show that the oil may do so by increasing blood circulation (key to the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles), cell turnover, and nerve growth. In one study published in the journal skinmed, One hundred participants with androgenetic alopecia (hereditary hair loss) were divided into two groups and either rosemary oil or minoxidil (a drug that can treat hair loss) was applied to the scalp for six months. Both groups had a significant increase in hair count.
peppermint oil
“Although research is limited, peppermint oil may help boost blood flow and circulation, which may promote hair growth.” Toxicology research, mice were divided into four groups and treated topically with either saline, jojoba oil, minoxidil, or peppermint oil diluted with jojoba oil for 4 weeks. The peppermint oil group showed the most pronounced effect on hair count after 4 weeks.
lavender oil
“Lavender oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help increase blood circulation to the scalp,” says Olu. Toxicology researchmice were divided into five groups and received topical treatment with saline, jojoba oil, minoxidil, 3 percent lavender oil, or 5 percent lavender oil for 4 weeks. Both showed a significant increase in the number of hairs.
tea tree oil
“Although tea tree oil isn’t necessarily directly related to hair growth, it has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that help with scalp health,” says Olu. May affect hair growth.Results of one of his studies published in American Journal of Dermatology It suggests that a 5% tea tree oil shampoo can reduce itchy and sticky scalp, possibly due to the essential oil’s antibacterial properties.
thyme oil
Like some of the oils mentioned above, thyme oil improves circulation in the scalp and may help prevent hair loss and thinning. Gulhane Medical Journal, 40 people with alopecia areata were divided into two groups. Over a 12-week period, the first group was treated with thyme, rosemary, lavender, evening primrose, cedarwood oil and a mixture of jojoba and grapeseed oil, while the second group was treated with a combination of jojoba and grapeseed oil alone. Hair growth rates across the study were significantly higher in the first group (treated with thyme and other essential oils) than in the second group.
How to use essential oils for hair growth
If you are excited about using essential oils for hair growth with the above content, there are a few things to keep in mind. While you might consider essential oils to be “natural” beauty ingredients, they are not necessarily harmless. “Because of the potency of essential oils, I strongly advise consumers to patch test essential oils (and new products in general) prior to use,” he says. A patch test allows you to see how your skin reacts and can prevent potential allergic reactions before using essential oils directly on your scalp. It is best to put a drop of oil on the skin and wait at least an hour to see if any rashes or reactions occur.
Given the potency of essential oils, Olu says it’s safest to dilute them in a carrier oil (such as grapeseed or jojoba oil) before applying them to the scalp. “Without dilution, [essential oil application] For information on how to precisely mix essential oils for hair growth and thickness, dilute 2-3 drops of your chosen essential oil with a carrier oil.You can make a mixture and massage it into your scalp, says Olu. It can be used as a once-a-week treatment. shape Previously reported.
Bottom Line: Some essential oils can help increase hair density and/or thickness (Key Word: May!). If you do decide to try essential oils for hair growth, we recommend doing a patch test to dilute the oil and reduce the risk of causing irritation in the process.
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