putting it together

Now that you know the best essential and carrier oils for different hair types, how does aromatherapy promote fast-growing, strong and luscious hair?

First of all, hair grows from follicles within the skin. The part of the hair inside the follicle (below the skin’s surface) is known as the hair root while the portion protruding from the head is the hair shaft. At the base of the root is the hair bulb where nutrients are received via blood vessels and new cells are formed. These new cells mature and eventually die as they make their way upward along the hair shaft, forming long fibrous chains of protein or what we can see as strands of hair. Within the hair follicle is also the sebaceous (oil) gland which lubricates the hair, keeping it healthy and shiny. Each strand of hair consists of three layers: an outer layer called the cuticle, a middle layer called the cortex and, usually, a central ‘core’ called the medulla. A medulla is almost always found in coarse hair and is often absent from naturally blonde hair or very fine hair.

Some essential oils stimulate blood circulation, increasing the flow of nutrient-carrying blood to the hair bulb and, therefore, increasing the rate of cell formation. Other essential oils have antioxidant properties that slow down cell degeneration or astringent properties that regulate oil production. The important thing is essential oils penetrate the skin, cuticle, cortex and medulla easily and rapidly where they nourish and fortify them.

Before we dive into it, there is one thing you ought to be aware of and that is you need to be patient when it comes to Aromatherapy. Unlike harsh harmful chemicals, natural vegetable and essential oils work at a slow but steady pace so you have to allow at least several months to see any real improvement. Rest assured, though, that there will be good results just like Nature always does when she heals vast lands ravaged by years of war, for instance. Right, let’s get on with it.

The Recipes

1. For Normal Hair

The essential oil blend:

• 5 drops lavender
• 3 drops rosemary
• 2 drops thyme

The vegetable oil blend:

• 20 ml (4 tsp) sweet almond oil
• 5 ml (1 tsp) jojoba oil

Depending on the length of your hair, the vegetable oils can increase at the rate of 4:1 ratio.

2. For Dry Hair

The essential oil blend:

• 12 drops myrrh
• 9 drops geranium
• 6 drops sandalwood
• 3 drops rose otto

The vegetable oil blend:

• 35 ml (7 tsp) argan oil
• 15 ml (3 tsp) avocado oil
• 10 ml (2 tsp) camellia oil

Adjust the amounts of argan and avocado oils to suit the dryness of your hair.

3. For Oily Hair

The essential oil blend:

• 8 drops basil
• 8 drops sage
• 7 drops lemongrass
• 7 drops patchouli

The vegetable oil blend:

• 30 ml (1 oz) grapeseed oil
• 30 ml (1 oz) hazelnut oil

Hazelnut oil is the only vegetable oil with substantial astringent property. Aloe vera oil may also be used as a substitute.

4. For Maturing Hair

The essential oil blend:

• 7 drops virginian cedarwood
• 7 drops bergamot
• 6 drops clary sage
• 6 drops carrot seed
• 2 drops helichrysum
• 2 drops peppermint

The vegetable oil blend:

• 30 ml (1 oz) emu oil
• 15 ml (½ oz) rose hip oil
• 15 ml (½ oz) amla oil

Other oils to consider are camellia oil, oat oil, strawberry seed oil, sunflower seed oil and tamanu oil.

5. For Dark & Thick Hair

The essential oil blend:

• 10 drops lavender
• 10 drops rosemary
• 10 drops ylang-ylang

The vegetable oil blend:

• 20 ml (4 tsp) jojoba oil
• 20 ml (4 tsp) coconut oil
• 20 ml (4 tsp) sesame oil

6. For Eliminating Dandruff

The essential oil blend:

• 10 drops tea tree
• 9 drops virginian cedarwood
• 8 drops eucalyptus
• 3 drops lemon

The vegetable oil blend:

• 20 ml (4 tsp) amla oil
• 20 ml (4 tsp) neem oil
• 20 ml (4 tsp) olive oil

This combination may not smell as pleasant but is nonetheless effective so adjust according to your preference. Take care to not increase lemon essential oil due to its drying and photosensitive nature. Avoid using it as a hot oil treatment due to higher volatility of the essential oils.

7. For Treating Hair Loss/Alopecia Areata

The essential oil blend:

• 7 drops lavender
• 7 drops cypress
• 6 drops sea buckthorn
• 4 drops clove bud
• 2 drops german chamomile
• 2 drops helichrysum
• 2 drops peppermint

The vegetable oil blend:

• 20 ml (4 tsp) emu
• 15 ml (3 tsp) jojoba
• 10 ml (2 tsp) amla
• 10 ml (2 tsp) rosehip seed
• 5 ml (1 tsp) carrot infused oil (in jojoba)

Alopecia is a difficult condition to treat and so, naturally, is the complexity of the blends and the types of oils to be considered. Use thrice weekly for 6 to 7 months and monitor closely the results.

That wraps up the entire series on Hair Care with Aromatherapy. I hope that this series has been helpful to you and inspires you to explore the many benefits that essential and vegetable oils have to offer. Please feel free to leave any comment or suggestion.

Happy blending!