In addition to their pleasant scents, many essential oils can help solve a host of hair problems, from dandruff to hair loss. Try one of the recipes below—just be sure to buy pure essential oils from a health-food or aromatherapy store. Synthetic oils won’t be as effective. Also, essential oils can be irritating to some individuals’ scalps. If your scalp feels itchy or irritated after trying one of these recipes, discontinue use.
If you have normal hair, try rosemary or lavender oil to make it shiny and silky. Wash and comb out hair, then let it dry naturally. Rub 1 drop of rosemary or lavender oil into a natural-bristle hairbrush and brush your hair from the ends to the scalp.
For dry or damaged hair, mix the following oils in 2 tablespoons of olive oil: 1 drop cedar, 3 drops clary sage, 1 drop geranium, 1 drop lavender, and 3 drops rosemary. Massage this blend into your scalp and hair. Leave on for 1 hour, then shampoo.
For hair loss, mix the following oils in 2 tablespoons of olive oil: 3 drops cedar, 2 drops clary sage, 2 drops lemon, and 3 drops rosemary. Massage into your scalp and leave on for 1 hour, then rinse.
For dandruff, mix 3 drops each of rosemary, tea tree, and cedar oils into 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then massage into your scalp and hair, wait 1 hour, and shampoo.
Sources: Fitzsimmons, Judith, and Paula Bousquet. Aromatherapy Through the Seasons. Berkeley, California: Conari Press, 1998.
Keville, Kathi, and Mindy Green. Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art. Freedom, California: The Crossing Press, 1995.
