DIY Hair Growth Oil Recipe (Essential Oil Blend That Actually Helps)
This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. Learn more in our disclosure.
Struggling with hair thinning or hair loss? This DIY hair growth oil uses simple essential oils like rosemary, peppermint, and lavender to support scalp health naturally. It’s an easy, affordable addition to your routine that may help encourage healthier hair over time.
When I was in college, I never thought I'd some day be writing about a DIY Essential Oils for Hair Growth Blend. Back in those days, some people referred to me as the “big hair girl.”
I think some of it had to do with how I wore my hair, and also because I was temporarily obsessed with perms.
Thankfully, that “obsession” ended about 10 years ago.
Since my “Big Hair Girl” Days, however, I've had some issues with hair loss on and off. It's hard for anyone to lose hair or have thinning hair, especially for us women.
Thankfully, there are options to help and I do feel like this blend has helped support my hair over time.
Possible Reasons for Hair Loss
Here are some of the possible reasons that you might be finding that your locks aren't quite what you would like them to be.
– thyroid issues
– iodine deficiency
– stress
– adrenal stress
– iron deficiency
Ideally, for any of these conditions, you need to get to the root cause of your hair loss and figure out what is causing it, and work on getting healthier, so that you can have a more stable condition for your hair (and your health).
However, one of the things that I have leaned on whenever I have had hair loss, is this simple DIY Essential Oils for Hair Growth Blend and I do think it has really helped me.
Initially, the recipe consisted of only 2 oils. Recently, I added another and I feel like it works better.
Hair Loss Remedies I’ve Tried
Over the years, I’ve tried a number of approaches to support hair growth, including supplements, different shampoos, and scalp massage.
While some helped a little (especially reducing stress and improving scalp care), others didn’t make much difference for me.
One of the simplest things I keep coming back to is using the targeted essential oil blend below—it’s easy, affordable, and supports overall scalp health.
Best Essential Oils for Hair Growth
Following are the best essential oils for hair that may help support hair growth based on research and traditional use.
- Rosemary oil – the most studied for supporting hair growth
- Peppermint oil – may stimulate the scalp and improve circulation
- Lavender oil – may help support hair thickness and scalp health
Why This Blend Works
There are a number of essential oils and other ingredients that can be useful for hair growth. Following are the ones that I chose and why I chose them.
Rosemary Oil helps with hair growth, and it has been proven to do so. In fact, it's been shown to be more effective than minoxidil.
Peppermint Oil has also been shown to aid hair growth in studies.
Lavender Oil has also been proven to help with hair growth.
Olive Oil seems to be great for hair health as well, as outlined in this source.
Melatonin – The topical use of melatonin has been shown to assist hair health. Studies show effectiveness at various concentrations, but you might feel a bit drowsy using higher amounts. Adding 1 capsule to 1 batch of these oils should be fine, but pay attention to how you feel when using it and consult with your physician if you have concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to see results from this blend?
While scalp health may improve within as little as 2–4 weeks, hair density increase and new growth will likely take longer because they both depend on hair growth cycles.
Can essential oils thicken hair?
Yes, essential oils can cause an improvement in both hair density and the thickness (diameter) of hair strands.
Here’s how to make a simple, effective hair growth oil blend at home.
How to Make a Hair Growth Oil
Combine carrier oil and essential oils and optional ingredients as desired in a small opaque container. Store in a cool dark place.
Essential Oil Hair Growth Blend
Ingredients
Oil Blend
- 3/8 cup olive oil (or other oil as desired)
- 6 drops Rosemary Oil
- 6 drops Peppermint Oil
- 6 or 7 drops Lavender Oil
- 50 g Vitamin E (optional)
- 1 capsule melatonin (optional)
Water Blend
- 3/8 cup filtered water
- 6 drops Rosemary Oil
- 6 drops Peppermint Oil
- 6 or 7 drops Lavender Oil
- 50 g Vitamin E (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Diatomaceous Earth (bentonite clay, collagen, or gelatin are good options as well)
- 1 capsule melatonin (optional)
Instructions
Oil Blend
- Put oil in a small glass container.
- Add essential oils and melatonin, if using.
- Stir to combine. Put some of the mixture on your fingertips and massage into scalp.
Water Blend
- Put about 1 teaspoon of an emulsifier like Diatomaceous Earth, bentonite clay, collagen, or gelatin in a small glass container.
- Add essential oils to the emulsifier.
- Add the filtered water.
- Blend the emulsified mixture into the filtered water.
- Put some of the mixture into the filtered water.
- Put some of the mixture on your fingertips, and massage into scalp.
- Keep mixture in a covered container in the fridge and discard after 4 days or so.
Notes
Other Essential Oils That May Support Hair Growth
In addition to the oils in this blend, there are a few others that are have been used to support scalp health and hair growth:
You could also just add these oils to your shampoo, but since you are rinsing it out, using the DIY blend and leaving it on your scalp is more effective.
You can experiment with adding small amounts of these, but keeping your blend simple is often the most effective approach
Have you struggled with hair loss?
What have you tried and how has it worked?
Photo Credits: Naomi Huzovicova
The best thing I’ve done so far is start taking coconut oil twice per day. My hair is growing faster, far less is falling out & it feels thicker. And my nails are stronger & my skin is softer with some of my dark spots lightening up on their own. Love using my EO’s so will definitely be checking out these sights!
So glad that is working for you. I started upping my coconut just yesterday. How much are you taking? 1 Tbsp?
Oh I wish that would work for me! i’ve been putting a very healthy tbsp of coconut oil in my coffee every day for over a year now, and my hair is still thinning alarmingly. Between that and continuously peeling skin, the mirror is NOT my friend 🙁
Oh no! Have you tried this blend? What is going on with your skin? Maybe I can help? Is it dry?
Thank, Adrienne..no, I haven’t. I don’t know what it is with my skin. Its been oily, especially t-zone, all my life. My nose started peeling a couple of years ago, and its slowly spreading to my cheeks and up towards my forehead. Doesn’t itch or hurt, can’t even put makeup or moisturizer on it without it peeling. Doc thought rosaeca, gel he prescribed didn’t work. He’s suggested retinol now….but I just don’t know :(. I don’t think its dry….who knows 🙁
Hmmmm…do any of these make sense to you?
https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/moisturizing/basics/5-reasons-the-skin-on-your-face-might-be-peeling.htm I’m going to email you as well.
I have found that using a magnesium oil such as Ancient minerals brand really opens up the pores of the scalp and you can see the hair shafts get thicker within a day or two. (There is also a USA based mag oil brand for less cost somewhere too.) I am currently experimenting with this combined with 6 drops each of cucumber, rosemary, Roman chamomile and ravinitsara EO. I put it in about 1 or 2 oz of the mag oil plus probably 1/4 oz carrier oil. In hindsight the carrier oil was pointless as it did not mix well. Oh well. We’ll see how this works.
Did you try it? Thanks! I make my own Mg Oil and use it daily. You use it on your scalp? Is it still working for you?
Do you leave it on over night or wash it out and if I wash it how long do I leave it on for?
Just a share. After shampooing my hair and rinsing it I did an extra rise with about 1 cup of water and a few drops of rosemary. Wrapped my head in a towel where the oil had time to penetrate both my hair and scalp. This way the oil was not rinsed out as it would have been with the shampoo.
Great tip – thanks! The only thing I would say is that a lot of the rosemary isn’t going to your scalp, which is where you want it, correct? Of course, there are other rosemary benefits :).
You are right, however, I dutifully rubbed the last 1 cup rinse with the rosemary oil, into my scalp, wrapped my hair in a towel where it remained moist for over an hour. This way I do believe that more got into my scalp and remained on my hair rather than a quick shampoo and rinse.
I wanted to thank you for all of the eo research. It was something that I have been wanting to do but never had the time. This month I placed my first order with Rocky Mountain Oils but have not had the opportunity to use them nor comment yet.
Thanks! Sorry for getting back to you late. I’ve been inundated. How did you like the oils?
Hello. I think that you mean “ravensara” when you print “ravintsara”. Just so those who wish to purchase can find it! I have ravensara E.O., but have never heard of ravintsara.
Great article. I have found several recipes for hair growth. Jamaican Black Castor oil (or just castor oil) is supposed to be good, but I haven’t seen much in the way of results since using it almost a year ago.
I have many articles regarding hair growth. Silica (found in horsetail) is also great for hair growth. A secondary benefit is that it detoxes heavy metals as well.
Rosemary E.O. is also good as it stimulates hair growth . Stinging Nettle herb, too.
I could go on and on! One other thing to remember, if you do not filter chlorine from your water, then hair loss will not stop! Chlorine dries hair and skin, and makes it weak.
Hello and sorry for the delay. I’ve been inundated and am trying to catch up. Here is the information on ravintsara and ravensara (from Rocky Mountain / Native American Nutritionals):
Just as a disclaimer, the chemical make-up of revensara and eucalyptus is different. RavINTsara (ct Cineole) has a relatively high 1,8 Cineole percentage — usually around 50% — which is the constituent that gives Eucalyptus its strongest properties.
The reason these two oils get mixed up a lot is because of the similarity in common names. Their scent as well as their chemical make-up are very different, however. Both are excellent oils and it’s nice when a company sells both. The name Ho Leaf is often used for RavINTsara, which helps avoid the confusion.
1. Ravensara: (Ravensara aromatica) It is a strong anti-viral. Because of the Estragole constituent, it is considered carcinogenic, since that is a suspected carcinogen. However, the estragole percentage is usually around 10% so it’s not an extreme risk.
The state of California has it on their list of carcinogens, which is why some people are worried. Because the Council of Europe has estragole listed under substances which are “suspected to be genotoxic carcinogens and therefore no MDI can be set” (Council of Europe 2003), California added it to their list of carcinogens in 1999.
If the oil is properly diluted, it’s not usually an issue. It is also the most often preferred for anti-viral properties when it comes to various rashes. It is a highly therapeutic essential oil.
2. Ravintsara or Ho Leaf: (Cinnamomum camphora) Depending on what the chemotype is, this oil is high in Camphor (40-80%) Linalool (65-90%) or 1,8 Cineole (50-60%) Camphor and 1,8 Cineole in particular are most useful for respiratory issues.
It is a safe essential oil to use, as long as it is diluted.
For more info:
https://roberttisserand.com/2010/02/ravensara-rant/
Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed by Robert Tisserand and Dr Rodney Young (p 272-274, 303-304, 402-403, 523-527, 552-555, and 584-588)
Hi Adrienne. Agree w/your list of hair loss causes, and would add to it. I got a double-whammy on the hair loss thing. First, I was professional coloring regularly. Not good in too many ways. Then I had a surgery. OhMyGah. The anaesthesia cocktail made my hair fall out terribly. Even my eyebrows. It’s basically chemo, after all, albeit a one-shot deal. This applies to a lot of pharmaceuticals, as well. Environmental exposures taken altogether, it’s a “perfect storm” that absolutely will rip out your hair, which is your body’s way of telling you it isn’t coping. I now use a henndigo-neem concoction to color my hair. It works fantastic for dark brunettes, is organic/harmless and my hair is finally thickening back up. I like your EO suggestion. Will try it as an additional treat for my hair.
Ugh. Not fun. I hadn’t heard of that but makes sense. Either the anaesthesia or the stress of the surgery :(.
Eye brows? I didn’t know it was chemo. I thought it was totally different.
I had surgery a long time ago but I don’t recall that happening to me. I think they did a shot of something instead of what you breathe in though? I’m ordering some supplements too. The oils and the shampoo have really helped. I don’t think anyone would think I have thin hair. I just know what it has been and would like it back.
I think it’s a combo of both. The aloe helps me absorb vitamins and minerals 300% more than usual, meaning I don’t pee them out.
It also contains New Zealand black currant, vitamin C, D, E, B6, B12, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and pantothenic acid.
I take an aloe based multivitamin that has helped tremendously with hair loss for me and a lot of other people I know. I was getting small clumps coming out every time I washed my hair and that has stopped. My nails are also stronger.
Glad to hear it! Do you think it’s the aloe or th multi part?
Could you share the name of the multivitamin? Thanks!
What’s the vitamins brand ?
Apparently like with everything you get what you pay for.
Hi Laurie – not sure what you mean. Could you explain, please?
I would like to know if you folks have a hard-copy catalogue. My mother is in need
of essential oils (our family has been using natural and homeopathic remedies for over
32 years), but she is not computer savvy to order over internet.
I am not a member of Young Living, but I must say that I have been impressed with their reporting of oils
research and farming of base product. Perhaps oils are most potent when cultivated in their natural habitats, but YL certainly – to me – seems sincere in offering well-researched products and usages of products.
As an individual who is desiring to make extra income, I wonder how one can do that with essential oils
and NOT belong to a MML company. Any suggestions from fellow DIYers will be gratefully accepted!
L’Chaim – to life – and thanks for this wonderful post.
Stephanie
Hi there. They don’t have a current catalog and might not have one. If you’d like an old one let me know and I can try to get one for you – thanks!
About Jasmine essential oil…I absoluvely love the smell of Jasmine and at YL their Jasmine Essential Oil is over a $100 for a 5 ml bottle, but the blend from Native American Nutritionals is about $12….I am mainly interested in the fragrance for this particular oil…to diffuse. It is my understanding that the YL Jasmine is really not totally Jasmine but also a blend of sorts but it doesn’t say so on the ad. It is hard to figure which site online is their “official” site since there are so many but the best I can figure says that their Jasmine is an therapeutic grade absolute oil. Could you explain the deal here to me.
I will ask for you – what are you wondering about exactly? If the jasmine is absolute?
I wasn’t very clear, was I? I guess I don’t want to pay $100 for the identical oil that I could get for $12 at another company. I also don’t want to buy from both companies to compare them. What can you tell me by looking at both ads from both companies…or is that asking too much of you. Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with the above article…which is a good one, by the way. I am really just trying to find the most fragrant Jasmine oil for diffusing. I just found your site last night so will be doing lots of reading to get up to speed and to be clear on all these oils. Thanks for bearing with me.
Hi there. I am working on getting an answer for you, but at first glance, the Native American Nutritionals / Rocky Mountain Oils jasmine is a blend of jasmine and fractionated coconut oil, which is a common carrier oil for essential oils. Young Living describes theirs as being only jasmine absolute. As for the ratio of oil to carrier oil, I am trying to get that information.