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Essential Oils for Hair Loss

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Can Essential Oils Heal Your Hair?

Losing too much hair in the shower? Finding thin patches on your head? Or you just don’t have the thick, healthy hair you used to have?

I hear this a lot amongst my clients who are dealing with hormonal imbalance. Maybe hair loss isn’t their first complaint, but they’re not happy about it! Fortunately, there is a simple way to address hair loss through essential oils. In this article, I’ll cover how to use essential oils for hair loss, and we’ll also cover a few of the root causes of hair loss.

Why You’re Losing Your Hair!

There are several possible reasons for hair loss:

Take a moment to review when your hair loss started. Did you have a change in your environment or stress level? Did other symptoms come on at the same time? Doing some self-assessment is a good starting place. You may want to see a functional medicine practitioner to run some further testing. While the essential oils we’ll learn about can be very effective, it’s also best to fully understand your health picture and address it from all sides.

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How Essential Oils Work for Hair Growth

Essential oils are components of plants known as volatile organic compounds. These molecules transform from liquid to gas quickly, sending them airborne and making them highly effective in aromatherapy, when body function and sensation is affected by scent. Sixty percent of essential oil is absorbed when applied topically as well.

The naturally-occuring chemical constituents of essential oils can be antiviral, antifungal, antiseptic, antihistamine and more.

When we are talking about essential oils for hair growth, the oils work to:

  • Increase circulation at the scalp

  • Reduce inflammation

  • Clear grease and build-up

  • Provide the body with antioxidants

  • Address root cause imbalances

  • Nourish the hair itself

How to Apply the Essential Oils

I’ll share what has worked best for me in my experimentation with essential oils for hair: the direct approach!

In the shower or bath, dab a few drops of straight, high-quality oil from the bottle onto your palm. Inhale deeply for a few breaths. Then apply your shampoo or conditioner to your palm and mix together. Apply vigorously, working the mix into your scalp.

You can also dab a little oil onto your front neck if you are also treating your thyroid (see below), or, after towel drying your hair, work another couple drops into your scalp or hair tips (learn more in part four).

I find this direct approach to be far more effective than making a spray of water and oils, or adding the oils to your bottles of shampoo or conditioner. I’ve tried all the ways!

My Top Three Essential Oils for Hair

There are 3,000 essential oils available! It can be overwhelming. In this article, based on my research and personal testing, I’m going to share my top three oils for beautiful hair, and then other oils you can add to the mix depending on your condition.

Rosemary Oil for Hair Loss

Rosemary promotes hair growth, stimulates follicles and addresses dandruff. It also provides antioxidants for healthy hair. Rosemary performed as well as a prescription medication for hair re-growth in a 2015 trial, with fewer side effects. (1)

Rosemary is very supportive of the thyroid because of its antioxidant action and also because it supports the liver and the intestines, two areas that are important for thyroid hormone conversion. Many people are dealing with thyroid and hair loss issues, even if lacking a proper diagnosis. Adding some rosemary to your routine is a safe and supportive idea for thyroid care.

I add rosemary to my palm with shampoo, plus dab a bit of my front neck and inhale deeply.


Peppermint Oil for Hair Loss

Peppermint is extremely invigorating, so it’s a real pick-me-up in the shower! Peppermint regulates sebum and oil, treats dandruff, and thoroughly cleanses the scalp. Just be careful not to get peppermint in your eyes!

I add peppermint to my palm in the shampooing step with the rosemary and definitely inhale it deeply. You could also dab a bit of rosemary and peppermint on to thin patches after showering.

According to a 2014 study, “of the 4 experimental groups, PEO (peppermint essential oil) group showed the most prominent hair growth effects; a significant increase in dermal thickness, follicle number, and follicle depth.” (2)

Ylang Ylang for Healthy, Soft Hair

Besides wanting your hair to grow, you probably want it to be soft and shiny, and not break, right?! Ylang ylang is here for you. Ylang ylang does control oil and dandruff, but its superpower is that it’s so smoothing.

I add a few drops of ylang ylang to my palm and inhale a few breaths, then add conditioner. I work into my hair thoroughly and rinse. Ylang ylang will leave your hair softer and will leave a feminine, magical scent! You can also add a bit to the tips of your hair.

Other benefits of ylang ylang include: reduced stress, a feeling of restoration, and increased sex drive.

Other Great Oils for Hair

Lavender Oil for Hair

Lavender is a well-known oil for the hair. It soothes the hair, regulates sebum, is anti-inflammatory, soothes the scalp, adds shine and controls dandruff. And it’s an oil that you likely already own! Lavender has also been clinically proven to promote hair growth. (3)

If you want to save a little money, switch out ylang ylang for lavender in the Hair Loss Trio. It is also soothing for your dry hair ends.

Lemon Oil for Hair

Lemon removes greasy build up and manages fungus and oil. It can also increase highlights when applied to dry hair in the sunshine!

Daily Essentials Kit for Nutrition

I don’t think anyone has a perfect diet these days, and it’s easy to miss out on key nutrients that you need for healthy hair. That’s why I’m an advocate of high-quality supplements.

Our Daily Essentials Kit are very easy to take, have minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, and can put some pep in your step as they nourish your hair.

The key to daily vitamins is that you have to take them daily! This kit makes it easy for you!

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Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP, is trained in functional health coaching and has worked with thousands of women over her career since 2004. She is the founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative llc and HormoneDetoxShop.com.