As the efficacy of natural medicines in general is being more widely recognized, the true value essential oils are also being recognized. The have a broad range of medicinal actions, and many are applicable to therapeutic skin and hair care. Here we'll look the premier oils for supporting stimulating new hair growth, and building a personal formula for a therapeutic daily oil treatment.
What Goes Into A Hair Growth Stimulating Formula?
Essential oils have a long history of skin and hair care -- and it is the same essential oils that are used for both "mature skin" care, and skin healing, that are used to stimulate hair growth. You can see the link between these conditions: in each, there's a requirement for new skin cells to be developed (which can translate to stimulating the follicles into action), providing nutrients that support this process, and oils that just generally keep the skin happy and healthy. The most effective method of using these oils is to use an oil treatment formula -- rather than just adding to your current cleansing and conditioning program.
Revving Up Those Follicles
We call them "stimulating" essential oils because they manage to signal the cells in the dermis to increase their metabolism. This means the follicles may become more active at growing new hair. This is the result of these specific oils containing natural "ketones", chemicals with a "growth stimulating" type of signal. Rosemary Verbenone (a very specific type of Rosemary essential oil) and "Common" or "Dalmatian" Sage are the two most commonly used oils for stimulating hair growth. Of all the oils discussed here, Sage is the one that must be used by a limited population: it should not be used by pregnant or nursing mothers. Use at one percent or less in your total formula (these concentrations will be explained later with the recipes).
Getting Some Vitamins to the Hair Follicles
There are certain vitamins and vitamin-like compounds known to stimulate hair growth. Like the pharmaceutical preparation "Retin A" contains something similar to vitamin A (and does stimulate hair growth for some men), Carrot and Sea Buckthorn essential oils contain similar compounds. These are actually found as CO2 extracts, found in the same category as essential oils in stores. These oils are often used between 1 and 2 percent concentrations.
Bringing Balance to Those Follicles
Many, many people have either over-dry or over-oily scalp conditions which wreak havoc on hair growth. Balance is what's needed here, and here's the oils to do it. Lavender is the most widely used "balancing" oil, that has a wealth of therapeutic effects. If you do not have an outstanding skin condition that really needs clearing up, add a little Lavender to your blend -- it is thought to really tie all the components together to help them work most effectively. If you've got an over-oily condition, a little Myrtle essential oil is thought to do the trick. It's cleansing and balancing at the same time, restoring sebaceous output to proper levels. Finally, for mature women, be sure to use a little Clary Sage, thought to restore cellular estrogen levels to their optimum for the most beautiful skin and hair.
Your Formulation's Foundation: The "Carrier" Oils
Once you're essential oils are selected, you can create your own oil treatment formula by adding them to one or more carrier oils. The most popular carrier oils for hair care are: Jojoba, primarily used for moisturizing and giving hair a wonderful luster. Virgin coconut, while needing to be gently melted first to blend with other carriers, is fast becoming one of the most highly-praised therapeutic carrier oils. It is thought to have a very positive effect on hair loss all by itself, and like jojoba, will also result in wonderful hair texture. Evening Primrose is a very important carrier, offering essential fatty acids that we may easily be deficient in. This is best used by mature women, and also where the scalp is generally irritated. Hemp may also be used here. Finally, another very therapeutic carrier oil is Rosehip seed. It, like the nutritive essential oils, has vitamin-like compounds in it that have been shown in studies to promote youthful skin development. While it has not been as extensively researched for hair growth, there's no reason to think it shouldn't have as profound an effect on the scalp and follicles.
Putting Your Blend Together
Finally, to make your blend, start with an empty bottle of between 1 and 8 ounces. Calculate the amount of each essential oil you'd like to use, remembering that the average amount is 1% of each essential oil. This works out to eight drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier, so if you're making a four-ounce bottle, and want to add one-percent Lavender, add 8 (drops) for each of 4 (ounces), or 32 drops of Lavender to the bottle. Stimulating oils can be used at 1/2% or less, meaning 4 drops of essential oil per ounce, and nutritive oils can be used at up to 2%. When done adding the essential oils, fill the bottle the rest of the way with your chosen carriers -- the carrier measurement needn't be as precise. If you're making a 50/50 base of Rosehip and Coconut (warm to make liquid first!), for example, filling the bottle close to halfway with each is just fine.
High End Botanical Extract Hair Growth Stimulating Formulas
Here's two great recipes. For men, to make 4 ounces (which should last 2 to 4 months): To a base of equal parts Rosehip Seed, Hempseed and Coconut oils, add 32 drops Sage (Dalmatian or Common), 64 drops Carrot Root (also called Helio-Carrot), and 32 drops Lavender. For women, to the same base, add 32 drops Rosemary Verbenone, 64 drops Sea Buckthorn, 32 drops Lavender, and 32 drops Myrtle. Feel free to adjust as you see fit -- using your intuition is an excellent means of customizing your recipe.
Now you can lightly swirl or invert your mixture until you feel it's blended. Don't shake it if you can avoid it, as it's not such a good idea to introduce air into your oils too much (it can shorten the shelf life -- which, by the way, should be about six months if kept in a cool, dark spot). The most effective oil treatment program is to first shampoo your hair, or at least moisten your scalp with warm water. This opens the pores and increases absorption of the oils. Then using an eye-dropper, distribute 1 to 2 droppers-full around your scalp and massage the oil in. Wrapping your head in a warm moist towel for the next 20 minutes to an hour can maximize absorption, and/or you can sleep with it on your scalp. And there you have it! A simple, effective means of supporting hair growth with the therapeutic potentials of essential oils.
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