Depending on its condition, our hair can leave us feeling confident and put together or make us want to hide in the corner. Like our skin, our hair reflects the cumulative effects of internal health and environmental exposures. This may be a good thing or leave us reaching for our hats.
There are plenty of products that promise luster, growth and thick locks, but the truth is, it may not be as easy as switching products or adding new ones. Since the health of our hair is a complex summation of internal and external processes, what’s a girl to do when those processes leave us with thin, limp, or straw-like hair and wearing a hat is not an option?
Essential oils can play a pivotal role in both growth of new hair and the health of your scalp and existing hair. We’ll review which oils promote healthy hair and regrowth, but first let’s look at factors that affect hair health and focus on the ones that can be changed because goodness knows, the only fix for grandma’s kinky, wiry mess is a flat iron!
Genetics
No changing this one. The best way to handle this is to go with the flow and learn to make the best of what yo’ mama gave you!
Age
So…no, we cannot turn back the hands of the clock, but we can support the growth of healthy hair as we age through health promotion. While aging is inevitable, we don’t have to let time have its way with our hair. This can be partially achieved through the use supplements and essential oils, but healthy practices, as discussed below, are key.
Hormones
This is both changeable and unchangeable. The hormones that help support both hair growth and shine decline as we age. This too is affected by genetics and the aging process, but can also be affected by our overall health. Below we will discuss the use of essential oils for hormone support.
Overall health
Poor circulation, inadequate nutrition, and multiple disorders (including autoimmune disorders, hypothyroidism, PCOS, lupus), can all contribute to either hair loss or unhealthy looking hair.
Fitness level
An increase in fitness level leads to an increase in cardiovascular circulation which leads to an increased delivery of nutrients and oxygen to our cells. All of this leads to the follicles getting the nutrients they need to grow new healthy strands of hair, which in turn leads us to the next point.
Nutrition
You can’t build with what you don’t have. You’ve heard of garbage in, garbage out, right? Well, the same applies to hair. Protein, vitamins, particularly Bs and C, minerals like zinc and iron are all key elements for growing healthy hair. If they are lacking in your diet, your hair will reflect that.
Outside forces
Not to get all Star Wars on you, but the forces that we expose our hair to day in and day out can be bad or good, detrimental or beneficial, dark or light (Had to get that in there. Did you know that there is such a thing as Wookipedia, by the way? ?). The harsher we treat our hair, the harder we will have to work to maintain its luster, shine, and fullness. Kind of a no-brainer.
So with all of these elements working against us and since this blog is about integrating essential oils into our daily routines to promote health and wellness, how do essential oils factor into this equation?
Essential oils are not a magic bullet that will give us the hair we always wanted but they can be an adjunct to other choices we make to promote hair health. Essential oils can have both a direct effect and an indirect effect on the health of our hair
Rosemary
Number one on the good hair list. Boosting shine, stimulating growth, and healing the scalp by reducing inflammation, this oil is a gold standard for hair health. In fact, a study has shown that Rosemary oil works just as well as some over-the-counter hair growth preparations in increasing hair count over a six-month period! It has also been shown to lower DHT levels, a potent androgen hormone known to cause male pattern baldness and implicated in female pattern baldness.
Lavender
Lavender has shown great promise in the promotion of hair growth and increase in hair thickness as well. In a study on the efficacy of lavender for hair growth, it was found that lavender increased the number of hair follicles, the depth of the hair follicle, and caused the dermal layer to thicken. Another way lavender aided in improved hair growth was by decreasing the number of mast cells, which are produced as part of the inflammatory response and can cause hair loss and prevent regrowth.
Cedarwood and Thyme
Like Rosemary and Lavender oils, these oils stimulate scalp circulation, reduce inflammation and promote new growth. In another study on the efficacy of essential oils for relief of alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes partial hair loss in patches, Cedarwood and Thyme Oils were used in conjunction with Lavender and Rosemary oils. Over the course of 7 months, nearly half of the study participants were found to show improvement with daily application of these oils diluted in a carrier oil.
Clary Sage and Chamomile
These honorable mentions make the list as they are also reported to assist in calming inflammation stimulating new hair growth.
Next time…
Hormone support is also an important factor in promoting both hair health and growth of new hair, though you may not care so much in the midst of a hot-flash. (Did someone mess with that thermostat again??)
Next time let’s take a look at the best oils for hormone support and discuss what they can do for us.
