Oils and hair care – these two are almost as inseparable as
bread and butter. Oils have long been used in several hair care routines across
the world to promote healthier and livelier locks. Lots of people apply oils on
their hair regardless if they are already blessed with a head full of thick
tresses or not.
You might have even experienced your grandma or mom massage
your head with some oils when you were little. Well, start them young, as they
say! The golden mantra of many elders when it comes to hair care is “Oil your
hair properly and regularly”.
Well, your folks may have been doing it to you due to
tradition or to give you a headstart on proper hair care and grooming, but the
long-term effects of hair oiling could undeniably be great for you.
Now, let’s discover the wonders that hair oiling does to
your tresses. Indeed, it is helpful for people experiencing accelerated hair
shedding and even hair loss. But know that hair oiling can have amazing effects
on just about anyone regardless of race, gender, and hair texture. And yes,
it’s perfectly beneficial even for those who sport naturally oily hair!
And we also give you 10 easy-to-make hair oil concoctions
that you can try at home. They’re made with natural ingredients you may find in
your kitchen, so there’s really no reason to try some of these for your hair!
What Does Oiling Do to Your Hair?
Moisturizes the scalp and stimulates natural oil production.
While this may seem an obvious thing, oils do more than just
coat your scalp and hydrate it. Oiling your scalp stimulates the production of
natural oils from the sebaceous glands. These natural oils are highly
beneficial for coating your scalp in a second layer of moisture. Natural oils
get retained in your scalp as you wash off the first layer of oil that you’ve
applied to your head.
Oiling is a great idea for people with excessively dry skin
on their scalp area. You’ll get lesser flakes, dryness, patches, and itching as
a result of oiling. Your scalp will remain adequately moisturized for longer
periods of time, paving the way for healthier hair to come out of it.
Improves blood circulation to the head.
You typically have to massage the oils you’re applying into
your hair and scalp to make sure it’s penetrating your locks well. Turns out
that such a scalp massage, when done properly and regularly, can help improve
the blood circulation in your head.
Your hair follicles get more blood, which leaves them with
more nutrients to grow healthier hair strands. Improved circulation may also
hasten the rate at which your hair grows.
Helps halt hair fall.
Massaging your head with oils helps stop hair fall in a
myriad of ways. Apart from enhanced blood circulation mentioned earlier, oiling
the hair and massaging the scalp exfoliates the scalp, helps remove dead skin
cells, and leaves your entire mane and locks feeling refreshed and clean. All
these things keep hair fall at bay.
Tames hair and makes your locks manageable.
Banish the frizz that comes with dry and damaged hair by
oiling your scalp and locks regularly. The moisturizing properties of oils
soften frizzy and dried-up cuticles, leaving your hair luxuriously softer and
manageable. Your oiled hair is also less likely to dry up as the days go by.
10 Amazing Homemade Hair Oil Concoctions
Now, let’s try our hand at
creating wonderful natural hair oil concoctions!
While there are several commercially prepared hair oils in
the market, nothing beats the goodness that all-natural, homemade oils can
offer. Most commercial preparations contain preservatives that might be harmful
to your tresses and skin in the long run. This is the reason why several people
choose to create their own hair oils at home.
Another advantage of homemade hair oils is that they’re
usually cheaper, milder, and more effective in infusing nourishment to your
tresses.
So, without further ado, let’s jump right in!
1. Amla Hair Oil
We previously featured amla as among the best Ayurvedic treatments for hair loss. Amla is such a powerful fruit that most
Indian women use to keep their locks shiny, full, and tamed.
Amla contains large amounts of vitamin C, collagen, and
essential fatty acids. All these nutrients make hair stronger, resilient, and
lustrous. The superfruit is also credited with delaying premature graying and stopping
hair fall.
Make the Oil:
Here are the ingredients in making your amla hair oil:
- 120 grams of amla powder (could be commercially bought or homemade powder)
- 1 liter of water
- 250 ml of carrier oils such as coconut or sesame seed oil
How It’s Done:
- Pour water into a pan and add around 100 grams of the amla powder.
- Combine thoroughly and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once boiling, let the mixture simmer until half of the liquid part evaporates.
- Strain the heated mixture until you get the amla concentrates. Set these aside.
- In another pan, combine the remaining 20 grams of amla powder and the carrier oil (coconut or sesame seed oil). Add in the amla concentrate you saved earlier and mix well.
- Heat up the mixture and bring to a boil.
- Lower down the heat and let it simmer until all the liquid evaporates. The result will be an oil that appears transparent or yellowish.
- Strain the finished amla hair oil right away and keep in a tightly-sealed bottle or container.
Tip: Create your own homemade amla powder by first
dicing amla fruits into small pieces. Dry these fruits out in the sun. Use a
high-quality grinder to grind the amla pieces into a fine powder. You can then
use this homemade amla powder in place of commercially-available ones if you
like.
2. Curry Leaves and Coconut Hair Oil
You may be surprised to know that the humble curry leaves also work extraordinarily well for your tresses. Curry leaves are extensively used by South Asian women to breathe new life to damaged locks and prevent hair fall from getting worse.
Curry leaves are full of hair growth-inducing nutrients such
as proteins, vitamin B-complex, and beta carotene. It also contains amino acids
and antioxidants that are great for reducing hair fall, improving texture, and keeping melanin
in your strands to make your tresses’ natural color shine.
Coconut oil is long hailed as an excellent moisturizing
agent. It also strengthens your strands and helps fend off hair damage.
Make the Oil:
Gather the following ingredients for your homemade
curry-coconut hair oil:
- One handful of curry leaves
- 3-4 tablespoons of cold-pressed virgin coconut oil
How It’s Done:
- Pour coconut oil in a saucepan and add the curry leaves in.
- Heat them up until a black residue forms. Regulate the heat only until 177 degrees Celsius/350 degrees Fahrenheit so as not to excessively burn the ingredients.
- Turn off the heat and let the residual oil cool down to a comfortable temperature.
- Transfer the cooled oil to a container or directly massage to your scalp and hair at once.
Tip: You can use this curry leaves-coconut oil concoction
right after it was cooled down from the pan. Massage the oil gently on your
scalp and hair, then keep it in for an hour. Rinse off with a gentle shampoo and
cold water. Use this oil twice a week on hair for best results.
3. Tulsi Hair Oil
Tulsi (Holy Basil) is an Ayurvedic herb used in medicine and sacred Hindu ceremonies. It is often prepared in teas and medicinal concoctions. Lots of Indian women also use tulsi for skincare and hair care.
A close relative of the basil plant, tulsi is chock-full of
nutrients such as antioxidants, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and K.
All these nutrients carry a host of benefits for your brittle or falling hair:
- Relieves scalp itchiness
- Controls and prevents dandruff
- Cools the scalp
- Improves scalp circulation
- Helps stop hair fall
- Moisturizes dry, damaged, and brittle locks
Make the Oil:
Here’s what you need to make your own homemade tulsi hair
oil:
- 2-3 bunches of tulsi leaves (alternatively, you may use commercially prepared tulsi powder)
- 3 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds
- ½ cup of virgin coconut oil
How It’s Done:
- Take the leaves and grind them until pasty in consistency.
- Transfer the paste to a saucepan.
- Pour coconut oil over the paste and mix well.
- Heat up the mixture using low heat.
- Once heated, add the fenugreek seeds and mix well.
- Let the entire mixture stand for 5 more minutes.
- Turn off the heat, then let the mixture cool down to a warm, comfortable temperature.
- Strain the mixture using a fine sieve and transfer the resulting tulsi oil to a container.
Tip: Tulsi hair oil is best used right after it has
warmed from the saucepan. Gently massage the oil through your tresses and
scalp, then wear a shower cap or wrap your head in a warm towel. Let the oils
work its magic for 30 minutes to an hour. Rinse it off with a gentle shampoo
and cold water. Do this tulsi hair oil regimen twice a week.
4. Mint and Rosemary Hair Oil
If you’re looking for powerhouse herbs that can induce hair regrowth and stop hair fall, then mint and rosemary are among your best bets.
Mint leaves have a plethora of therapeutic properties for
skin and hair. It can help curb dandruff, regulate an overly-oily scalp, and
fight hair fall. It also leaves a lingering freshness in your scalp and locks.
We’ve previously covered rosemary as among the best essential oils for healthier and stronger hair. This lovely aromatic
herb is best known for making hair grow from the deep follicular levels of the
scalp. It functions equally well as Minoxidil in treating hair loss, with fewer side
effects such as scalp itchiness. Rosemary can also ease dandruff, tame scalp
irritation, and improve circulation thanks to its multitude of nutrients and
antioxidants.
Make the Oil:
It’s easy to make your own mint and rosemary hair oil. Just
prepare the following ingredients:
- Handfuls of fresh or dried rosemary herbs
- Handfuls of fresh or dried mint leaves
- Cold-pressed coconut oil
Note: How much herbs, leaves, and coconut oil you'll need will depend on the size of your jar or container.
How It’s Done:
- Take a clean, preferably sterilized glass jar.
- Fill it to the brim with rosemary herbs and mint leaves.
- Gently pour the coconut oil inside the jar, filling up the entire container and covering the herbs in it.
- Seal the jar tightly.
- Swirl and shake the jar a few times to help release the essential oils.
- Set the oil and herb-filled jar aside in a warm spot. Let it stand for two weeks, frequently shaking the jar each day to infuse the herbs’ essential oils further into the coconut oil.
- After 2 weeks, open the jar and strain the oil to another clean container.
- You can now use the oil for any hair care routine you wish to do. This mint and rosemary oil will keep for six months.
Tip: Not keen on waiting for 2 weeks? Fill up a small
basin with warm water, taking care not to go over 50 degrees Celsius/122
degrees Fahrenheit. Immerse the sealed jar (with the coconut oil and herbs inside
it) on the warm water and let it sit for 5 hours. You may then proceed to
strain the herbs from the oil after 5 hours is up.
5. Onion Hair Oil
Onions have the power to create flavorful dishes (and make you cry a bit in the process). But did you know that your crowning glory loves it, too? Onions are especially known for their impressive role in hair regrowth for thinning hair. Studies such as this have proven that using onion juice topically on the scalp can help induce hair regrowth
Onions contain a high amount of sulfur. This nutrient is
among the basic building blocks of protein. Now, our hair is made up of keratin,
which is a protein, and therefore is made up of lots of sulfur as well. Using onions
for hair infuses your strands and follicles with much-needed sulfur to help strengthen
your existing locks and create new strong hair strands.
Apart from the sulfur, onion is also packed with
antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, which can tame
infections and itchiness on the scalp as well.
Some people are averse to using onion on their scalp due to
its strong smell or an onion allergy. Many also believe that onions are quite
irritating on the skin and scalp when not used properly. However, note that
using onions topically on hair is completely safe.
Onions are typically combined with carrier
oils to reduce its highly potent content a bit, preventing irritation and
strong smells on the scalp and tresses.
Make the Oil:
Grab these ingredients from your kitchen pantry:
- 1-2 medium-sized onions
- 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin coconut oil
- 1 small bowl of boiling or hot water
How It’s Done:
- Peel your onions, then grate or mash them.
- Place the grated or mashed onions inside a fridge until it gets cold.
- Take out the cold onions, place them inside a cheesecloth, and squeeze out as much juice as you can.
- Pour the juice into a spray bottle.
- Warm the coconut oil by quickly immersing its container on the bowl of hot or boiling water.
- Add the warmed coconut oil to the onion juice.
- Shake the bottle to mix the oils thoroughly.
- You may now use the oil as a 30-minute hair treatment.
Tip: Oil your hair and scalp with your freshly-prepared
onion hair oil. Leave for 30-45 minutes, then rinse off with a gentle shampoo.
Top it off with a nourishing conditioner. Using onion oil for hair twice a week
is great for combating hair loss.
6. Black Seed Hair Oil
Black seed, also known as fennel flower, black cumin, or Nigella sativa, is a flowering plant native to South and Southwest Asia. Its seeds are widely used as a condiment to flavor dishes. But it also has various medicinal uses, including in hair care.
Like rosemary herbs, black seed is another potent natural
ingredient used to treat hair loss. These tiny seeds bear an extraordinarily
effective oil that can induce hair regrowth and stop excessive hair shedding.
Black seed essential oil does the following wonders for your
tresses:
- Soothes inflamed, itchy, and irritated scalp
- Stops fungal overgrowth
- Banishes dandruff
- Helps eliminate lice
- Aids in hair regrowth
Thymoquinone is the main antioxidant abundant in black seed
oil. It is also a powerhouse of nutrients that has antibacterial, antifungal, and
anti-inflammatory actions.
Make the Oil:
Take one tablespoon of each of the following oils:
- Black seed oil
- Extra-virgin olive oil
How It’s Done:
- Simply mix a tablespoon of black seed oil with a tablespoon of olive oil in a small bowl.
- Once fully combined, you may massage the mixture to the scalp and hair. Leave for an hour, then rinse off with water and a mild shampoo.
Tip: Get your hands on 100% unrefined, pure, and
cold-pressed black seed oil made from Turkish or Indian seeds. Oils from these
sources are known to have potently high amounts of thymoquinone antioxidants.
Beautiful hibiscus flowers aren’t just a lovely sight. They’re also a potent hair care remedy for hair loss. This is because of its abundance of vitamin C and amino acids that strengthen hair from the follicles and promote collagen formation.
7. Hibiscus Hair Oil
Beautiful hibiscus flowers aren’t just a lovely sight. They’re also a potent hair care remedy for hair loss. This is because of its abundance of vitamin C and amino acids that strengthen hair from the follicles and promote collagen formation.
Here’s what you get from using hibiscus for your tresses:
- Adds volume and thickens hair naturally
- Prevents dandruff and itchy scalp
- Helps stop split ends from forming
- Nourishes and moisturizes hair
- Prevents breakage and helps restore hair from damage
Studies on animals have shown that hibiscus leaves are more potent than the flowers in inducing hair regrowth. That's why our recipe for infused hibiscus hair oil below includes both leaves and flowers.
Make the Oil:
Prepare the following ingredients for your homemade hibiscus
hair oil:
- A cup of coconut oil
- 8 pieces of hibiscus flowers
- 8 pieces of hibiscus leaves
How It’s Done:
- Wash the leaves and flowers over running water.
- Place washed hibiscus leaves and flowers on a grinder.
- Grind the flowers and leaves until they become pasty in consistency.
- Heat up the coconut oil in a small saucepan.
- Once heated, add the hibiscus paste to the coconut oil. Stir to mix.
- Continue to heat the hibiscus-coconut oil mixture for a few minutes more.
- Turn off the heat and cover saucepan with its lid.
- Set aside and cool the oils completely.
- Transfer the oil to a clean/sterile glass container.
Tip: 30-minute hair oiling done three times a week using
hibiscus hair oil helps promote faster hair growth. Once you’ve oiled your
scalp and hair, massage your head for 10 more minutes to help the oil penetrate
deeply into the follicles. As usual, rinse out with a mild shampoo,
conditioner, and cold water.
8. Lemon Hair Oil
Bright and cheery lemon is a great fruit to try for hair regrowth. It contains loads of vitamin C, known to hasten hair growth by boosting collagen formation. Its acidic nature also does the following to your scalp and locks:
- Fights fungal infections
- Clears the scalp of dandruff
- Tightens hair follicles
- Induces the regrowth of hair from dormant follicles
- Reduces excessive scalp oiliness
- Keeps the scalp and hair clean and smelling fresh
- Adds luster and shine to dull and damaged tresses
Make the Oil:
Here’s what you need to make an infused hair oil out of
lemons:
- 6-7 pieces of lemon fruits
- ½ cup of olive oil
How It’s Done:
- Get the lemon zest by grating the fruits’ outer skin layer.
- Place the zests inside a clean glass jar.
- Pour all the olive oil over the lemon zest inside the jar.
- Seal the container tightly.
- Place the sealed jar in a warm and sunny spot. Shake the jar, then let it rest for a few days to a week.
- Shake and swirl the jar several times a day to allow the lemon oils to infuse with the olive oil.
- After a week has passed, separate the oil from the lemon zest by straining the oil into another clean glass jar or container.
- You may now use the lemon hair oil for your hair care routines.
Tip: Since lemon is a citrus oil, it may cause
phototoxicity when you use it for your hair then go out right into the sun.
Never apply lemon oils on your head when immediately heading outdoors. Apply
the oils at nighttime or around 12 hours before sunlight exposure to be on the
safe side.
9. Garlic Hair Oil
Want to enhance a dish with strong yet delectable flavor? Garlic is your best go-to veggie condiment. But you also want to strengthen your brittle, hair-fall prone hair? Turn to garlic as well.
Garlic is great for flavoring food, naturally curing several
ailments, and making your hair strong and healthy. It’s got a host of nutrients
and compounds that nourish your tresses in a myriad of ways:
- Selenium – Helps improve blood circulation in the scalp
- Vitamin C – Boosts collagen production for faster hair regrowth
- Allicin – Provides antimicrobial effects that fight off bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites on the scalp and hair
- Sulfur – Calms down inflammation and boosts keratin production
Garlic also helps unclog hair follicles from product build-up
and improves the overall condition of your scalp.
There are some studies showing the beneficial effects of
garlic on hair loss. For instance, this study
used a topical garlic gel for participants with alopecia areata, with successful
results.
Meanwhile, this 2016 research discovered
that garlic protects keratinocytes (a skin cell that creates keratin) from UV
damage. This means that garlic-coated hair is less like to suffer damage caused
by prolonged exposure to sunlight and other UV-emitting materials.
Make the Oil:
You’ll need these ingredients for your homemade garlic hair oil:
- 8 cloves of garlic
- 10 tablespoons of carrier oil (coconut or olive oil most commonly used)
How It’s Done:
- Use a fork, blender, or garlic press to crush and mince the garlic into fine pieces.
- Heat up a saucepan, pour the coconut/olive oil, and heat until it turns warm.
- Add the garlic and swirl it around to extract the oils. Be careful not to cook the garlic. You’ll know the oils are coming out when you smell that distinct garlic fragrance.
- Turn off the flame, remove the pan, then let the mixture cool down.
- Separate the oil from the pulp by pouring the cooled mixture through a strainer.
- Transfer the resulting garlic hair oil into a dark-colored glass container and seal.
Tip:
You can do a 10-to-15-minute hair oiling session using garlic oil twice a week.
Take 2 tablespoons of the oil and massage it to your scalp, then wait for 10-15
minutes before rinsing it off.
10. Castor and Mustard Hair Oil
Castor oil is extracted from castor beans (Ricinus
communis). It tones down inflammation courtesy of its fatty acid called ricinoleic
acid. It also fights dandruff and infuses moisture to brittle and dried-up
tresses. Castor oil also hastens hair growth thanks to its high protein
content.
Mustard oil comes from mustard plant seeds. It’s mostly made
up of monounsaturated fatty acids which aid in hydrating dry locks. It also
contains lots of hair-friendly nutrients such as iron, calcium, zinc, selenium,
and magnesium.
Make the Oil:
Take out these ingredients for your homemade castor and
mustard hair oil:
- 2 tablespoons mustard essential oil
- 1 tablespoon castor oil
How It’s Done:
- Combine the oils in a small bowl.
- Transfer them to a pre-heated saucepan, then warm the oils up only for a few seconds.
- Return the warmed oils to your bowl or container, then massage it onto hair for 10 minutes and leave it on hair for an hour.
- Rinse with water, mild shampoo, and conditioner.
Tip: Mustard oil is highly toxic when ingested
orally. Take extreme care when working with mustard oil, and ensure that you
only use it topically on your hair and scalp together with castor oil (or any
carrier oil for that matter). Also, never overheat the oils as this may burn
them both and let the nutrients escape from the concoction.
The Wrap-Up
There you have it, our top 10 homemade natural hair oils for healthier, shinier, and stronger tresses. Now you can safely boost hair growth and keep your locks bouncy and full of life with these 10 incredibly easy-to-make natural hair oils.
Who needs to buy hair concoctions at the pharmacy when you’ve
got natural ingredients for hair health sitting around your pantry? Try your
hand at any of these hair oil recipes now; your tresses and scalp will
definitely thank you for it!
Don't forget to share your thoughts on these hair oils in the comments section below. We'd love to learn how these natural hair oils worked for your tresses!
I'm interested to try amla hair oil. But I suppose we don't have the fruit here in the Philippines. Any idea where to buy it so I can create my own amla hair oil? My daughter mentioned Amazon but we haven't tried buying from it yet ever.
ReplyDeleteAmazon carries amla powders that can be shipped to the Philippines. Local online platforms like Lazada and Shopee.ph sell them, too. :)
DeleteI have been using lemon juice mixed with water to rinse my hair thrice a week. I think I'll try lemon hair oil sometime next week. Nice blog thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteOne of my work colleagues use garlic and onion because he always has those in his family's pantry. His hair indeed looks healthy and thick.
ReplyDelete