Plant-based essential oils have demonstrated their effectiveness since ancient times when treatments now considered alternative medicine were widely practiced. In Ancient China, their healing properties were discovered quite by chance and immediately began to be used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. This trend was adopted by the inhabitants of Ancient Greece, India, Egypt, and Rome, and healers began experimenting with the use of essential oils in various fields of medicine, revealing the positive effects of aromatic oils on the hair follicle growth area.
Nowadays, it is often believed that the use of essential oils to stimulate hair growth is solely the domain of folk therapy. However, traditional medicine has also recognized the chemical properties of essential oils as therapeutic, so plant oils are often used during various procedures such as massages or inhalations.
Essential Oils
Nevertheless, the use of aromatic oils is more of a supplementary and preventive measure rather than a foundation for treating abnormal hair loss. The action of essential oils is particularly gentle and gradual, which is not suitable for the significant goal of curing pathological hair loss, usually requiring more radical methods. However, the use of aromatic oils can be an excellent solution for enhancing the effect of comprehensive treatment if you want to restore your hair’s healthy shine and luxurious smoothness.
There is a common belief that essential oils are not a universal remedy, as they are not suitable for those with oily hair types. Despite the fact that essential oils indeed have an oily structure, they do not contribute to accelerated contamination of the hair. Their effect on hair involves sealing the hair shafts and preventing their splitting. Essential oils accelerate metabolic processes in the hair follicle growth area, significantly improving follicle trophism, and making nutrients easier to absorb.
Often, individuals with oily hair may have a scalp prone to dryness. In this case, the use of essential oils is a necessary measure, as dry skin requires more thorough additional hydration. Quality aromatic oils never leave greasy residues since a unique characteristic of these substances is their almost instantaneous evaporation.
Quality Test for Essential Oils
If you are unsure about the quality of the purchased essential oil, you can conduct a small test: drop 5 drops of the essential oil on plain paper or a napkin and leave it for about 5-10 minutes. If, after the set time, oily spots remain on the material, it means the aromatic oil is of poor quality and contains artificial lipid additives. Its use is highly discouraged, as unknown chemical components can adversely affect the condition of your hair.
Benefits and Variety of Essential Oils
An additional bonus of using essential oils as care products is their gentle pleasant scent, which no shampoo can provide. There is also a significant variety of existing types of essential oils. If rosewood or coriander oil does not suit you, it does not mean that pine or petitgrain essential oil will not work for you. Heated aromatic oil provides an additional thermal effect during use, promoting the expansion of blood capillaries in the scalp. This significantly accelerates the nutrient exchange in hair follicles, making the hair growth period longer.
Rules for Using Essential Oils
Before starting the use of essential oils to strengthen hair strands and prevent abnormal hair loss, it is important to know that there are specific rules for using essential oils. As these substances are quite aggressive in their chemical nature, they need to be mixed with carrier oils before application, as using pure essential oils can damage the hair follicle growth area and disrupt their anatomical integrity.
The effectiveness of essential oils will be most noticeable if you determine the correct dosage for your hair type. Those with dry hair are better suited to a more concentrated oil mixture, as their hair requires intensive hydration. However, it is important not to overdo the amount of essential oil in the solvent, as sensitive hair follicles are very receptive to active substances, which can disrupt their normal functioning.
The effectiveness of aromatic oils increases significantly if the principles of correct application are followed. Essential oils should be applied with massaging movements, gently pressing with the fingertips into the scalp. This method of using aromatic oil, combined with mechanical stimulation of the scalp, has a beneficial effect on physiological processes within the hair follicles, intensifying blood flow to the hair follicle growth area.
Effective Essential Oils
The most effective essential oils include lavender, lemon, rosemary, cypress, thyme, Roman chamomile, sesame, patchouli, rose, juniper, pine, bay, ylang-ylang, coriander, tea tree (not to be confused with tea bush), calamus, sage, eucalyptus, grapefruit, geranium, basil, melissa, verbena, cedar, mint, bergamot, and ginger.
Lavender oil creates a protective barrier for hair against negative external influences, strengthening the structure of hair shafts from within. Rosemary oil has excellent healing properties for micro-cracks on the scalp. Tea tree essential oil saturates the hair with necessary minerals and trace elements, smoothing hair fibers. Cedar oil stimulates keratin production and activates the "sleeping" hair follicles. Lemon oil is rightfully considered a "summer oil" because it perfectly refreshes the scalp and regulates the function of sebaceous glands.
Dermatologists strongly recommend diluting aromatic oils in carrier oils, such as coconut, burdock, olive, jojoba, and grape seed oils. Brandy, heated liquid honey, or egg yolk can also be used as solvents. This method of using aromatic oils improves the absorption of biologically active substances and minerals by the hair follicles, stimulating their normal functioning and accelerating hair growth.
Burdock oil actively saturates hair follicles with nutrients and vitamins, making it ideal for dry hair types. Castor oil envelops the hair shaft, protecting it from harmful external influences. Olive oil smooths hair strands, making them softer and silkier, and also prevents sudden hair thinning.
Combining Essential Oils in Homemade Masks
When using essential oils in homemade masks, it is important to consider that the chemical properties of essential oils and other natural components can inhibit each other's actions, reducing the effectiveness of the homemade mask. To avoid this issue, carefully study the chemical properties of the natural products you intend to combine.
- For example, olive oil pairs well with rosemary or grapefruit essential oils. You can add oak bark essence and onion juice to this mask and use it before every second hair wash in a 1-1.5 month course.
- Coconut oil pairs well with tea tree and cedar essential oils. Adding a little white clay and hop cone decoction will create an excellent homemade mask that can be used for scalp irritations and weak hair follicles.
- Burdock oil combined with lavender or eucalyptus essential oils deeply penetrates hair follicles, intensifying their internal work. This oil combination can be enhanced with colorless henna and kefir, gently massaging into the scalp and rinsing with warm water with added apple cider vinegar. This method excellently cleanses the hair and facilitates the combing process.
Storage and Usage of Essential Oils
Essential oils in tightly sealed containers do not have a specific expiration date; their healing properties fully develop over time, so do not discard essential oils that are several years old. They are a natural source of many biologically active substances, including tannins, terpenes, and essential amino acids.
If you do not like the smell of a particular essential oil, it is likely not suitable for you, so do not bother purchasing it, as there is a high risk of an allergic reaction of an indeterminate degree.
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