DIY Essential Oil Blend for Hair Growth and Scalp Health
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Struggling with hair loss? This Essential Oils for Hair Growth Blend really helps–and it’s based on real studies. Use this blend plus the other tips in the post to get a healthier scalp and follicles so that you can get your luxurious locks back.
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.
Mostly it appears to be related to stress. I had one year when the hair loss hit particularly hard and it was very difficult to deal with, so I get it.
It’s hard for anyone to lose hair or have thinning hair, especially for us women.
Whenever hair loss / thinning has struck, I’ve found myself scouring the internet for ways to stop it, and to bring my hair back as quickly as possible.
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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).
Hair Loss Remedies
I literally read for hours and hours — about causes of hair loss, supplements that might help, testimonials from people about whether certain supplements and regiments helped them or not…..
Things that I have looked or tried, included:
- Supplements
I tried a number of these. Many didn’t do anything (like the traditional Biotin), while others may have. One of them that I am on the fence about is BioSil. It has great testimonials, but every time I try it I get cystic acne. So I keep putting it aside. Hope to try it again. Update 9/12/16: – no more reactions so I am using it now :). - Shampoos
These didn’t do anything for me, and many of them were filled with chemicals that I didn’t want on my hair. - Reducing Stress
This. Works. Hard to do, but it works and of course reducing stress is great for your health. - Brushing / Massaging
Massaging your scalp with a massager has been proven to help hair growth. I personally prefer using my hands to do a scalp massage, but you could use this as well. (Note: See the Science-based Hair Growth Program below) - Special Oil and Blends
I tried one overnight oil blend that was a little hard to get out of my hair. And then I tried castor oil in my hair. While I LOVE castor oil for its liver benefits in castor oil packs, I do NOT like it in my hair. It was so terrible to get out that I ended up losing hair when I washed it over and over to remove the oil. Not doing that again!
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.
Why This Blend Works
There are a number of essential oils 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. (source)(source)
Peppermint Oil has also been shown to aid hair growth in studies. (source)
Lavender Oil has also been proven to help with hair growth. (source)
Olive Oil seems to be great for hair health as well, as outlined in this source.
Melatonin – This is a new addition to the blend (years after the original writing of this post), but it’s for good reason. The topical use of melatonin has been shown to assist hair health. I’m still researching how much is good to use. Studies show effectiveness at various concentrations, but you might feel a bit drowsy using higher amounts. (source)
Adding 1 capsule to 1 batch of these oils should be fine since each capsule is typically used in 1 night, but please take notes about how you feel when using it.
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 (read How to Make Your Water Safe for water filtration tips)
- 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
More Non-Toxic Hair Growth Helps
Supplements and Herbs
I have personally used or am using the following products for hair health.
He Shou Wu: I currently use and love the He Shou Wu concentrate from Hyperion Herbs. It’s a GREAT value since it’s so concentrated. I take this morning and night. I love their Lion’s Mane and so many other things too.
Biosil: this has many great testimonials about its effect on hair, skin, and nails. In addition, it’s been proven to work to regrow hair. Topical use has been effective, but internal use might be even moreso. (source, source, and source)
Evening Primrose Oil – Evening Primrose oil has been known to help with hair issues. That link will save you some money on the price too.
Lysine and Iron – There is reported data that lysine and iron together have led to reduced hair loss.
Hair Growth Light Therapy Cap
There is some data to indicate that hair growth caps like this one work. I tried it but not for long enough to know, but the data seems valid.
Non-toxic Hair Products
In addition to the above blend, it’s crucial to avoid toxins in your hair care routine. There are so many chemicals in your shampoo that can affect your hair health including foamers, thickeners, preservatives, and irritants.
Ideally, you want to use hair products that are as clean / non toxic as possible to encourage your hair to be as healthy as it can be. Here are some that I really love.
Shampoo – Poofy Organics Mighty Mane Shampoo is a fantastic choice for your hair that performs great and helps you avoid toxic ingredients in shampoo,
Quality Leave In Conditioner – One of the things that is crucial for hair growth is not having stronger hair. I love Poofy Organics Leave In Conditioner.
Detangler – A quality detangler works great to help you not lose even more hair by too much tugging and pulling. I personally use the Poofy Organics Leave In Conditioner for that, but when using an Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse, I find I don’t get many tangles.
Hair Oil – I really like the Poofy Organics Argan Oil and also this hair oil. They strengthen your hair and nourish your scalp. A little goes a long way with both of these.
More Essential Oils for Hair Growth
Now, of course, there are so many other oils that you could use. I just picked these from what I had read on the internet about oils that would help with hair loss and then made up a blend.
Some more oils that would be great to add to this blend are:
Ylang Ylang
Holy Basil
Cedarwood
Sage
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.
Science-based Hair Growth Program
My Perfect Hair Health is truly the ultimate in hair growth help. Rob English’s program has had tremendous results for so many.
I personally am following his recommendations and doing his hair massage protocol and am very pleased with my progress. I try use this oil blend and do the massage daily.
Not only does he have a proven scalp massage protocol, but he evaluates many other hair health products and techniques scientifically and clearly desires success for his clients. Go here to get more information and sign up. Highly recommended.
Products to Help Your Hair Look Fuller
It can be really tough when your hair has thinned to wait for your hair to grow out. Thinning hair causes self-confidence issues and I know for me, it’s been a cause of stress, which can result in more hair loss.
Here are some products that are clean that have great ingredients.
Rowe Casa Mousse – I’m going to try this and the gel out and will report back but they both have good reviews and are made with clean ingredients.
Rowe Casa Hair Gel
Morrocco Method’s Volumizing Spray – I’ve used this and really like it.
Have you struggled with hair loss?
What have you tried and how has it worked?
Photo Credits: Naomi Huzovicova
I used to have super thick hair too. As I’ve grown older my hair has thinned quite a bit on top. I have thyroid problems as well. I’m trying to find something that will help my hair loss. Have you heard of that cap that you plug in and heats on your scalp? I wonder if that works? I think not wearing my hair in a pony tail all the time might help and not washing my everyday as well. Thank you for your advice on essential oils. I will give it a try!
Hi there. I have heard about those. I think it’s the lights that are supposed to work, rather than the heat, however–correct? I would highly recommend trying the mixture and the massage that I mentioned and watching stress and address overall health. Please do tell me how it works for you. I’m researching other options as well! Are you using safer / less toxic hair products?
How long does this hair oil recipe last in a glass bottle? Is there an expiry date for a solution that’s made up?
The oil will last as long as the components but the EOs will likely have a longer shelf life than the carrier oil.
Hi.
So my daughter lost all her hair–Would any of these blends work on a completely bald head?
Thank you!
Kathryn
Hi there, Kathryn – so sorry to hear about your daughter. I would try it for sure but I think you would likely need more things including good nutrition. I’m actually looking into some more things for hair growth. One of them is high quality liquid collagen. I just did a video interview on this–you can check it out here. I’m looking into more things as well–have you seen this kind of cap? )affiliate link) I just started researching them–let’s keep in touch and feel free to ask any questions.
Will this essential oil blend work for men as well and when will it show results?
Hi there. I don’t see why it shouldn’t. I personally do a few of the things in the post and while I have had thinning occasionally over the years, in general my hair is doing quite well for my age. I do a scalp massage almost daily with this and take the He Shou Wu that I featured in the post.
Try diluting the castor oil (Jamaican Black castor oil is even better) with another liquid oil, like sunflower or safflower, 1 oz castor to 4 or more other oil. Absorbs better. I keep mine in an old hair color bottle with the narrow applicator tip so it is easy to apply directly to my scalp. I also infuse the safflower oil with peppermint, rosemary, and sage, besides adding the EOs.
HTH
Hi Davette! Nice to see you again! Do you have to wash your hair after using this? I would assume so, correct?
No, my scalp is so dry it absorbs it all. I have to oil it at least twice a week and After every shampoo.
The peppermint and rosemary helped my hair grow back after it broke off from wearing my CPAP headgear.
(sorry if this is a duplicate, my computer shutdown in the middle of posting this)
PS: Thanks for remembering me 🙂
Wow so interesting! I’m so sorry you are having to use a CPAP. No fun! Are you still wearing that?
P.S. Oh of course! I always enjoyed you!
I still have to wear it, but I got smart and now use a hair bonnet to protect my hair. I look hideous but it gets the job done 😉
Take care!
Glad you figured something out! You might wish to check out Vivos Life. I just started with it and while it’s not cheap, they are having a ton of success re: sleep issues. You take care too!
Have you tried and egg shampoo? Can’t get anymore natural than that, plus it really suds up very well! Just scramble 1 egg, pour on hair and massage in. Be sure to use warm water and rinse with cool! Plenty of sites on line. Use once or twice a week. Just plain goats milk soap works well too. I’ve had a problem with thinning hair for years and I don’t use commercial shampoos anymore. Seems to at least give it some strength to my thin hair!
I have never done that – but I do have this post that has an egg mask in it https://wholenewmom.com/diy-hair-masks/.
Interesting that it’s doing well for you!!
Thank you for this recipe. I wanted the best of both worlds, so I tweaked it a bit. I made it with both carrier AND essential oils and water.
Here is my adjusted recipe:
6 drops Rosemary Oil *7 drops
6 drops Peppermint Oil *3 drops
6 or 7 drops Ravintsara Oil *7 drops
50 g Vitamin E
*4 drops Cedarwood
*4 drops Cypress
*Ylang Ylang 3 drops
*Sage 3 drops
*Roman Chamomile 4 drops
*Lemon 3 drops
*Frankincense 4 drops
1 -2 drops each following carrier oils:
Jojoba
Castor
Argan
Evening Primrose
Emu
Meadowfoam seed
I also added both bentonite clay and diatomaceous earth, and doubled the recipe and keep most of it in the refrigerator. This has absolutely NO greasy or oily feel when used. I use it on my hair, which acts as a bit of a ‘fixative’, giving it both volume and shape. I also use it on my eyebrows and lashes. I put it on and brush it on with a lash brush and massage it in. I use it morning under makeup and evenings after washing my face.
I believe that this has helped my hair since using it. I feel like my hair, for the first time, has a bit more to it….my lashes and brows aren’t ‘thicker, per se, but they feel like there are more of them. (It hasn’t increased the dimension of each strand, but they feel like there are more in number, both hair and lashes and brows.)
I’m adding the He shou Wu herb into my morning “coffee” drink, allowing it to brew for 45-60 minutes.
Thank you so much for this recipe, I believe it works!
Just an FYI and suggestion: if you tweak any recipe, write down the additions or substitutions and amounts WHEN you are creating it! I didn’t and think I may have added in other carrier oils that are good for the hair, but can’t remember! I just looked up good essential oils and carrier oils that are great for hair and added them in.
Hello again Carol. Wow sorry for the delay in responding to this. I have a pile of comments to get through!
So are you saying that you only do these EOs and these carrier oils and you are putting it on your scalp and hair – how much DE and clay are you adding?
So interesting. Thank you!
It’s been great reading your all your useful advice so thank you very much ! I would really like to try your water based hair growth oil recipe but I am a bit confused with the quantity of oil and water ? I am new to essential oils so I am a bit worried I get it wrong . Thank you x
Thank you for the kind words and you are so welcome! Tell me what is confusing you and I’m happy to help!
Thanks so much for emailing me back !
I made your hair growth oil recipe but found it a bit hard to wash out of my hair so I would love to make the water one . Not sure how many drops of essential oil to put in with water and I don’t know what the emulsifier is or where to buy it from ? I live in France so it might make it more difficult to find . Thank you x
X
Hi there – sorry for the delay. Emulsifiers are hard to figure out. I am not an expert at all- I would look at this post and see if it’s helpful to you. https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/essential-oil-emulsifier/
I’m hoping to learn more in the future.
I love the fact of you sharing your story to all of us. As of right now i been growing my hair for 2 years and its shoulder length or tad past when stretched in braids i am on a new spritual journey where i can not cut trim or line up my hair for 10 years. i been very carful with my hair on this jurney this far by using only salfate free shampoo and condition and leave in conditioners only use salfate shampoo ones a month since i always suffered from dermatitis. As for essential oils i use a forumla given from alternative doctor 4oz of coconut oil or olive oil 10 drops of lavender 10 drops of rosemary and 3 drops of lemongrass and now i been mixing my carrier oils 1 oz black castor oil 2 oz of coconut oil an 1.5 oz of olive oil. now i plan to grab up peppermint oil and maybe clary sage
Thank you!
Thank you so much for this article. I really appreciate you input on what you’ve tried, what worked for you and what hasn’t. It has been really stressful since I noticed my loss and with stress being a possible cause, it doesn’t help my worries. I’ve tried Biotin for about a year now and it hasn’t seemed to helped at all. I am grateful and excited to try essential oils thanks to this article.
You are so welcome! One other thing I should mention is mold–if you have that issue going on in your home it can cause stubborn hair issues. I can help w/ that if you’d like to talk about it more. Hope you find answers!
Yeah biotin only makes a difference if you your body is low of it in your system which is rare unless you don’t eat meat or nuts
I have heard this too. So that is odd b/c so many people seem to report benefits from using it.
Hi Adrienne?? Hope all is well with you & yours. I came across your online blog & was very much intrigued with your valuable topics. I too enjoy healthy holistic living & I think it’s so awesome that you devote time to sharing your experience & knowledge with others. The reason I’m reaching out is because I read where you stated recently that you suffer from hair loss after using chemicals for so long, which many of us have experienced. That’s the story behind why I decided to go natural & rid myself of all those nasty paraben/toxins & was blessed with the idea to start creating natural toxin free products for me & my Sun(Son). I have a product line with very effective/innovative products & would like to send you some product if you’re interested. Since I’m a new company I will send you the growth kit free in exchange of a product review. Its products that can be used on all hair/skin types & I would love for you try us out. Please let me know if interested. Also feel free to check out our website for research purposes. We’re not currently taking orders at the time, but the site is still viewable.
Thank you for your time & we hope to hear from you soon!
Hello and thanks. I just reached out to you.
Do you need to wash out the essential oil treatment after 10-15 min or is ok to leave on until it just is absorbed -like using every day just washing hair once or twice a week?
Hi there – there is no reason that I know of where one would have to wash it out.
Hi. This has great information! I recently got dreads and have been using tea tree and rosemary EOs diluted in distilled water. I cannot wash my hair for 4 wks when first getting them in order to help with the locking process. Spraying this on my scalp helps stimulate my skin and reduce dandruff. However, the tea tree needs emulsified to not irritate my skin. I cannot afford to make my hair greasy, as it cannot be washed for 3 more weeks. I need my scalp moisturized without wetting my hair or causing oiliness to my hair. I had used a spray bottle to dispense the diluted solution directly only my scalp and massage, but tea tree is too strong. I hoped to add olive oil but am concerned due to reading I would need to wash next day. Any suggestions? Thanks!
If you put a significant amount of oil on your hair it will likely cause a problem regarding needing to wash. Sometimes dry shampoo will take care of it but sometimes it’s not sufficient.
Thank you but I wouldn’t be able to use dry shampoo. Dreads are a natural hairstyle. Dry shampoos contain many chemicals. When 3 more weeks passes I can use an all herbal shampoo. Meanwhile I was hoping for a way to diffuse the rosemary and tea tree scalp spray without making my hair greasy. Thanks anyway!
Sure thing. I use only dry shampoos w/ no toxins. Or a DIY version.
I’ve recently purchased castor oil, almond oil, and a 6 pack of the most popular essential oils. I’d like to get some diy recipes for thicker healthier hair. I purchased 2 glass spray bottles in hopes of finding a recipe for a conditioning spray or something. Please help.
Hi there. Sorry but I haven’t developed anything like that. Hope you find something you like. Were you thinking of spraying this on your scalp? I personally am working on my hormones and have heard that that can be crucial for hair health.
I have tried many different types of oils for hair growth nothing seems to works, but now I will try this essential oil and water mix.
Hope it works for you!
Looking forward to trying. Some of your ideas. Thank you.
Hope they help!
Help to let my hair grow faster
Hey,
I love to read your suggestions. They have proved so helpful to me. You said well, man don’t need to worry about hair loss. But only women know how hard it is, standing in front of the mirror without hair.
I have hair loss from alopecia.
Sorry – I don’t know if this could help you but worth a try!
What can I use for hair loss. I used the rosemary oil with jojoba oil and I had a hard time getting it out after awhile. Could I put in a conditioner and leave in? Any suggestions?
Hi Kim. This is the blend that I use, along with the things in this post. Are you asking if you could put this in a conditioner? If so, yes you can.
I enjoyed reading your suggestions and input. Yes I am losing hair and am trying various oils.
Never tried using essential oils. Just used a mixture of coconut, olive, argon and castor oil with crushed garlic. Just started this 2 weeks ago and my hair looks much better but I think I will also try your recipe for Rosemary, Peppermint and Ravintsara essential oils with jojoba oil and also give the MONAT hair products a try,
I have a senior dog and he seems to be coughing and gagging a lot. Have tried various things from antibiotics to cough syrups etc but nothing seems to help. Maybe using the Breathe Easy and Respiratory Ease may help I pray
Hi Maru. I am sorry you are dealing with this. I know how hard it can be. I am using the EOs almost daily–I really like them. Are you putting those on your scalp nightly and washing each day?
I am glad it’s going better for you.
There is a sale going on with Monat right now. You can see the info in this post: https://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-mom-healthy-living-deals/. I’m happy to help any way that I can. Hope you find help for your dog!!!
Hi, my wife and my two little girls have very little hair. Wish to get the oil for their hair growth. Which market can I get some to buy.
Hi – there are links in the post where you can buy the oils–does that help?
My dog was coughing and gagging a lot so I took him to the vet and they said he had a heart murmur. The murmur was pretty bad. I also had them do an echocardiogram to see what was going on. The echocardiogram can tell them exactly what the problem is instead of just listening to the heart. He is now on medication to help him. He was having fluid build up because his valves weren’t working very well. Hope this helps.