7 Amazing Hair Loss Essential Oils You Must Know

Are you experiencing hair loss? You’re certainly not alone. In fact, up to 40% of women experience some form of hair loss by the time they’re 40. Looking for natural ways such as hair loss essential oil to help on hair growth?

Want to know what causes hair loss or hair thinning in women, and how to treat it?

There are many reasons why hair becomes thin or worn – everything from what we eat to how we style our hair can affect the strength and health of the hair fibers. But there is good news if you need help for hair loss.

Every day our hair leaves us. On average we shed between 50 to 100 hair a day. This means that the hairier among us shed over 30,000 hair a year. Many of us ignored fallen hair unless a person is suffering from alopecia or some other form of hair loss and, even then, we are more likely to pay attention to its absence from the head than to where the hair once detached ends up.

How To Know If You Have Hair Loss?

If you’re not sure how many hairs you’re losing in a single day, you can test it with the following 60-second hair count:

Comb your hair forward from the back of your head to the front for a full minute.
Collect and count the hairs that were shed through this process – you should see between 10 and 20 strands, depending on your age.
If you see more than that, you might be dealing with some excess hair loss.

To get the most accurate idea of how many hairs you’re losing, you might want to do this a few days in a row. Then you can imagine how much thinner your hair has become.

What is Hair Loss Symptom?

Do you notice the symptoms that your hair is thinning? Men may not be so concerned about their hair loss. In fact, they don’t mind if they are bald and feel happy if someone were to call him Bruce Willis, Yul Brynner, Vin Diesel, or Jason Statham; just to name a few bald actors. People say bald men are sexy. Is it the same for women? Definitely not!

Hair thinning in women looks different than thin hair in men. Whereas men tend to lose hair in a horseshoe-shaped pattern starting at the hairline, females experience hair thinning all over the head.

If you are having hair loss, you might notice the following symptoms:

Your ponytail is smaller than it used to be
Your part looks wider than it used to
More hair in your comb or brush
More hair on your pillow
More hair shedding in the shower drain

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t panic! In most cases, hair loss or hair thinning is not linked with overall health concerns. However, it can affect people’s mental health and self-esteem. We can try several treatment and remedies to boost hair health, thickness and strength.

What Causes Hair Loss?

Biological Hair Loss Reasons

Genetics

Genetics is perhaps the biggest cause of hair loss. If one or both of your parents have very thin hair, you’re more likely to have very thin hair as well. But don’t despair!

Diet the wrong way

Nutritional deficiencies can also cause hair loss. Your body requires a certain number of vitamins and minerals to run all of its necessary processes. When you don’t consume the right amount of nutrients, the body reroutes the nutrients you do eat towards your vital organs and away from your hair follicles. Over time, this can cause very thin hair.

Stress

Stress can lead to thin hair and always seek out natural stress-relieving activities like exercise, meditation, and journaling.

Pregnancy

Women tend to shed less hair during their pregnancy. After delivery, all that hair sheds at once, often in clumps. This type of hair thinning in women is traumatic, but hair usually regrows on its own after several months.

Menopause

Most women experience some female hair thinning with menopause. If you’re experiencing this, talk to your GP or Aromatherapist about the causes. Only they can provide a proper diagnosis and advise you on the types of hair thinning treatments that will work best for your situation.

Bad Habits Hair Loss Reasons

Taking steamy showers

Take the temp down a few degrees when taking your shower. Opt for a warm shower and try to rinse hair with the coolest temperature possible.

Using hot styling tools

Limit your hot tool usage – even your blow-dryer – to two or three times a week and start with the coolest setting possible.

Crash dieting

Eat a healthy diet with plenty of lean protein like fish, chicken, lentils and beans. Do you know that hair is primarily made of protein? It’s the one thing that can make or break your hair if you’re not getting enough.

Mishandling wet hair

Minimize post-shower brushing by combing before hair gets wet. Then, blot (don’t rub!) hair with a soft towel after your shower.

Wearing tight hairstyles

Loosen up! Try wearing your hair down whenever possible (especially while sleeping; rolling around on a pillow can create even more friction). When you do tie your strands back, keep it soft – if it’s pulling on your skin, it’s way too tight.

Using long-lasting hold styling products

Skip any products that make hair stiff or sticky. Instead, opt for softer-hold solutions like styling creams that keep hair’s moisture intact and don’t create friction when brushing.

Scratching your head

Itchy scalp caused by seborrheic dermatitis may result in hair loss due to scratching-induced hair damage. Once the cuticle is damaged, the hair fiber is prone to breakage.

Soaking up the sun

Wear a hat – preferably one with built-in UV protection—whenever possible (and don’t forget to tuck your ponytail underneath). Worried about hat hair? Try using a leave-in conditioner with built-in sunscreen.

Not washing hair often enough

Product residue, dirt, and oil can clog pores in the scalp. Be sure to wash your hair every two days, especially if you’re sweating or using lots of products. To prevent excessive dryness, switch to a sulfate-free shampoo.

Taking certain medications

Such as anti-depressants, anti-hypertensive, steroids or hormones replacement drugs can cause hair loss. These can disrupt or interfere with the normal cycle of hair growth, causing hair to go into a resting phase and fall out prematurely.

How to prevent hair loss

Eat plenty of protein

Hair is mostly composed of protein, making it the most important component of a hair-healthy diet. When your diet is protein deficient, your body doesn’t produce as much hair

Eat lean meats, fish, eggs and dairy products high in protein.
Beans, leafy greens and tofu are good sources of protein for vegetarians.

Eat Vitamins A, B and C

These vitamins essential for hair growth and help hair stay glossy and healthy. When you aren’t getting enough vitamin A, B or C, your hair can become weak and dull. Make sure you’re eating plenty of the following:

Sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, butternut squash and pumpkin, which are all rich in Vitamin A.
Eggs, nuts, salmon, avocados, meat products and wheat bran which are all in rich in Vitamin B.
Broccoli, leafy greens, peppers, and citrus fruits, which contain high amounts of Vitamin C.

Eat omega 3 fatty acids

These “good” fats support your scalp’s health and promote healthy growth of hair and skin cells. Found in salmon, sardines, mackerel, flax seeds and walnuts. You can take fish or flax seed oil supplements if you don’t enjoy eating foods that are rich in omega 3s.

Stay hydrated

When your body is dehydrated, it shows in your hair by become dry, brittle and more prone to breakage. Make sure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water every day.

Try replacing coffee, soda and alcoholic drinks with water whenever possible.
Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day so you’ll never have to go thirsty.

Changing hair care habits to reduce hair loss

When you’re trying to grow your hair fast, it’s best to wash your twice or three times a week

Use anti-hair fall shampoo to keep your roots strong.
When washing your hair, handle it gently. Don’t scrub or wring it out. Rinse with lukewarm or cool water instead of hot.

Don’t use heat styling tools

Air drying is the healthiest choice. Drying with a hairdryer eventually weakens the hair shaft and leads to damage.

After your shower, pat your hair dry with a towel. Don’t roughly towel it dry.
Comb it out with a wide tooth comb. Apply product, such as leave-in conditioner, then let it fully air dry.

Never brush your hair when it’s wet

It will stretch and breaks much more easily than when it is dry. It leads to breakage, frizz and split ends. Instead, use a wide tooth comb to gently detangle your hair.

Avoid harsh hair treatments and styles

Dyeing, bleaching, and chemically straightening your hair can cause a lot of damage. It’s better in its natural state while you’re trying to grow it out. Avoid hairstyles that can pull out the hair, like tight weaves or braids.

If you’re determined to lighten or color your hair, use a natural method such as henna that doesn’t cause damage.
If your hair is curly or kinky, there’s no natural method that will make it look perfectly straight. Fast-growing, free-flowing hair is beautiful.

Protect it from the elements

The sun, air pollution and pool chlorine are among the environmental elements that can damage your hair. If your hair is particularly fragile, it’s a good idea to protect it, just as you would your skin.

When you go out in strong sun, wear a hat to cover your hair.
If you live in a place with high air pollution, cover your hair with a scarf or hat while you’re out on the city streets.
When you swim in pools, wear a swim cap to protect your hair from chlorine

Benefits of Hair Loss Essential Oils

Now, let’s reveal how these aromatic substances can contribute to fast hair growth. Sure, they cannot change our genes or correct our diet, yet they are good for hair growth. Besides maintaining good health by focusing on diet, exercise, and lowering stress, research suggests that some hair loss essential oils may be beneficial for hair loss as well. In which way?

Volatile oils are rich in monoterpenes, ketones, and phenolic compounds which are in their turn high in anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Thus, it makes sense to use essential oils for hair loss caused by inflammation as their antiseptic and wound-healing properties promote a healthier scalp.
Essential oils are proved to work as antioxidants, so they prevent aging, improve the immune system, and reduce cellular damage caused by free radicals.
Some of the oils (namely, Rosemary, Thyme, Cedarwood, Lavender and Peppermint) were tested in several studies and proved to be promising for hair loss treatment. They demonstrated improvements in dermal thickness as well as follicle number and their condition, which means they work nicely for thicker hair.

Robert Tisserand, a Founder of the Tisserand Institute, the leading organisation of research and education in the art and practice of aromatherapy has performed a study in 2015 using 100 participants. Half of the participants used Rosemary as hair loss essential oil, and half used the drug called Minodoxil. After six months of use, these participants were seen by dermatologists. The interesting findings: The Rosemary group had less hair loss, more hair growth, and the bonus of fewer side effects.

A side note on this research: You’ll notice in two of the studies, the effects of essential oils were compared to the effects of minoxidil. This is because minoxidil is widely recognized as a proven solution for hair loss.

Best Hair Loss Essential Oils

The following hair loss essential oils have been shown to help stimulate new hair growth. Give yourself a chance. Winners never quit, and quitters never win…

Rosemary hair loss essential oil – Stimulates the scalp and promotes hair growth. Also used to treat lice, greasy hair and dandruff.
Lavender hair loss essential oil – Used as a treatment for alopecia and baldness. Helps soothe irritated scalp.
Peppermint hair loss essential oil – Though more well-known to support digestion, this oil can also increase follicle count and improves circulation.
Geranium hair loss essential oil – Regenerating oil that is particularly beneficial for dealing with hair loss due to allerogic or irritated skin.
Cedarwood hair loss essential oil – Useful for itchy scalp, dandruff and oily hair in addition to hair loss.
Clary sage hair loss essential oil – Promotes hair growth and can reduce hair loss. Especially beneficial for hair loss due to stress or hormonal issues.
Roman chamomile hair loss essential oil – Gentle and calming oil that also supports hair health. Often used for hair loss due to anxiety.

All you must do to is dilute 2-3 drops of your hair loss essential oil of choice (or a combination of them!) in 1-3 tablespoons of a carrier oil like argan, olive, coconut, castor oil. Always be sure to do a test patch on your skin first for adverse reactions!

Apply your hair loss essential oil mixture to your hair from root to tip, focusing on your scalp. Massage the scalp for 10 minutes and allow the hair loss essential oil to sit for at least 15 minutes before washing normally. If your hair is very dry and brittle, you can also opt for a deeper conditioning treatment and can leave the hair loss essential oil in your hair overnight, washing in the morning.

You can check out our hair loss essential oil blend here.

Conclusion

It may be a little distressing to notice, possibly for the first time, that you have hair thinning. For many of us, it’s a natural part of aging that doesn’t necessarily need to be treated. But aging is only one of many factors that can cause or exacerbate hair thinning – and some of these causes should be addressed. Once you know what’s causing the issue, it becomes a lot easier to figure out how to manage it.

The bottomline: There is some evidence that topically applied essential oils could have positive effects on hair growth. The key with using essential oils for hair loss is to be consistent and to be patient. In the meantime, feel free to enjoy all the other wonderful benefits you’ll receive when you incorporate essential oils into your daily routine.