If you are experiencing hair loss and thinning, scientific research has proven that essential oils can be a natural way to change that. We have sifted through the research to find the best essential oils for hair growth so you can start growing thicker hair today.
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Why Use Essential Oils For Hair Growth
Hair loss, also called alopecia, affects many people, including men and women.
Since many people view their hair as a sign of vitality and youth, they will often go to great lengths to stop their balding hair. Unfortunately, this can lead to using harsh chemicals and expensive surgeries.
Unfortunately, these treatments can have dangerous side effects that can haunt you for life.
On the other hand, essential oils are a safe and natural way to promote hair growth and stop thinning hair. If you are interested in more natural ways to reverse hair loss, check out this page.
Research has shown that essential oils can be an effective treatment for hair loss in human and animal studies with no side effects.
How To Use Essential Oils To Improve Hair Growth
When using essential oils to improve hair thickness, it is best to use them topically. Two main methods are the best.
First, you can add essential oils to your favorite shampoo. To do this, simply add 1-3 drops of essential oil to your shampoo when you wash your hair. Massage the shampoo into the scalp and rinse as usual.
Many of the best hair loss shampoos already contain some of these essential oils, so be sure to check the label before using this method.
Secondly, you can use essential oils as a scalp oil. Essential oils should never be applied directly to the skin. They are highly concentrated and can cause damage and irritation. So take 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil and mix it with 1/2 tsp of coconut oil or other carrier oil. If you want to save time and effort, some of the best hair growth oils already have a mixture of essential oils in them.
Massage it directly onto the scalp. The best part about this method is that you can leave it in or wash it out if needed. If you are going to wash it out, it is best to wait at least 20 minutes so that the essential oils have some time to absorb into the scalp and work their magic.
A bonus of coconut oil is that it also has some added hair health benefits. It contains vitamins that thicken hair and nourish the skin and is also an antibacterial, which helps keep the scalp healthy.
The Best Essential Oils For Hair Growth
Below we have listed the five essential oils that have been researched and studied in regards to hair growth. Although results are not guaranteed, the people and animals that were in the research groups had significant progress in improving hair growth and dermal thickness.
1. Rosemary Essential Oil
When people think of rosemary, they often think of cooking and spices. However, this herb in the mint family has so much more potential. Rosemary essential oil is one of the most widely studied oils for hair growth. That is because of its ability to be a food that blocks DHT.
In one study published in 2015, researchers compared rosemary essential oil to minoxidil in the treatment of androgenic alopecia. Although both groups had no noticeable change in hair growth after 3 months, they both saw significant improvement at the 6-month mark.
The conclusion of the research provided evidence that rosemary oil can be successful in regrowing hair. (1)
For this reason, rosemary essential oil is found in many hair loss shampoos. My favorite shampoo with rosemary oil is Laritelle Fertile Roots. Check out my full review of Laritelle organic shampoo for hair growth.
2. Peppermint Essential Oil
If you think of candy canes and Christmas when you think of peppermint, that is about to change!
One of the many benefits of peppermint oil is the potential to be a powerful hair growth inhibitor.
In a four week study on mice using peppermint essential oil, there were outstanding results. Not only was the skin thicker, but there were also more follicles, and they had increased depth. (2)
If you increase the number of follicles you have, then that means more hair, which means you can say goodbye to thinning hair!
Although they performed the study on mice, many people claim that peppermint oil also worked for them.
3. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender essential oil is most known for its relaxing benefits, but it actually has a variety of uses. In this case, it can be particularly effective at helping with hair growth.
A study was published in 2016 that showed that lavender oil was successful in increasing follicle count, dermal thickness, and follicle depth in mice.
For comparison, scientists treated some mice with minoxidil. Although the results were similar for both groups, the minoxidil group slightly outperformed the lavender group, but this came with side effects. At the end of the study, the group treated with minoxidil had increased spleen weight. (3)
Another benefit of lavender oil is that it can also help treat an irritated scalp, which can reduce itchiness.
4. Cedarwood Essential Oil
According to Dr. Axe, cedarwood oil is extracted from the wood of the cedar tree. He mentions that it can help with scalp health with improving dry and flaky skin. Also, cedarwood essential oil promotes blood circulation and is an antifungal which can both help with hair loss. (4)
A study performed on 86 people showed that using a mixture of cedarwood, rosemary, lavender, and thyme oil could help grow hair back. After 7 months of using the essential oil combination, 44% of patients showed improvement with their hair loss. (5)
More studies need to be done on cedarwood oil alone in regards to hair growth, but so far it looks like this essential oil could be a potential treatment.
5. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree essential oil is a potent antifungal and antibacterial oil. Therefore, this essential oil can improve scalp health.
It is widely used in anti-dandruff shampoos and can reduce dead skin and buildup on the scalp, which helps to improve blood circulation and reduce itchiness. Persistent scratching of the scalp can cause damage to the follicles and increase hair loss.
A 2013 study was able to show that patients treated with a combination of minoxidil and tea tree oil had more hair growth than using minoxidil alone.(6)
Be sure to dilute tea tree essential oil with a carrier oil because direct application on the skin can cause burns. Also, some people may be allergic to it so test a small amount on your body before applying it to the scalp.
Conclusion
Various research has shown that these essential oils can help improve hair growth and possibly stop people from balding.
As with anything, some people show improvement using essential oils while others do not. Keep in mind that everyone is different and has different reasons for hair loss. One thing that stood out was that essential oils were as effective as the FDA approved treatments that caused side effects.
So before resorting to the chemical treatments, why not try the all-natural and safe options first?
References:
(2) Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth without Toxic Signs
(3) Hair Growth-Promoting Effects of Lavender Oil in C57BL/6 Mice
(4) 14 Cedarwood Essential Oil Uses for Wisdom, Beauty & More
(5) Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata.
My passion for health and wellness started in 2009. My personal mission is to help inspire and guide people on their health journey. I am currently a NASM certified nutrition coach.