Essential oils can do amazing things for natural hair.
And when we’re talking about the best essential oils for natural hair growth, we’re talking about hair growth in just a few weeks.
If used correctly, essential oils can deliver benefits that no other oil can. You can, quite literally, accelerate your natural hair growth by adding them into your natural hair routine.
The best part? Essential oils are cheap AF.
But many naturals are using essential oils ineffectively, and we’re here to clear the air (pun intended).
Let’s get into the best essential oils for natural hair and how exactly to use them.
What Are Essential Oils, Anyway?
Essential oils are a concentrated serum of plant essence, taken from the plant through a process called distillation (steam/water).
The difference between essential oils and carrier oils (which are more commonly used oils such as olive oil, jojoba oil and avocado oil) is that they are more concentrated, thus more irritating to the hair if not used correctly.
Another difference: they’re very affordable. Only a few drops are necessary to truly feel their effects, making them a practical addition to your natural hair routine.
As they are highly concentrated, the best way to use them without irritating your scalp (and damaging your hair) is to add a couple drops to your shampoo or deep conditioner.
You could also do a hot oil treatment using a carrier oil of choice with a few drops of the essential oils. The list goes on!
Here are the general rules of using essential oils:
- Speak to your doctor before using essential oils if you are pregnant or before using them on a child;
- Never put them directly on the skin or scalp;
- Always mix with a carrier oil (ex: jojoba oil, with a few drops of each essential oil).
Now, let’s get into the best essential oils for natural hair!
ROSEMARY OIL: Nature’s Minoxidil
Best for Hair Loss / Shedding
Forget castor oil – rosemary oil is truly the goat for thickening natural hair.
Best of all: it’s a little over $10 bucks! If you’re looking for an affordable way to thicken your hair, look no further.
Scientific studies have shown that using rosemary oil for patients with alopecia has seen dramatic hair growth, similar to medicinal hair growth options such as minoxidil (but without the nasty side effects)!
BLACK SEED OIL: Miracle in a bottle
Best for Hair Thickening, Moisture
LAVENDER OIL: For tenderheaded naturals
Best for Hair Scalp inflammation
TEA TREE OIL: Scalp health 101
Best for Dry, flaky, itchy and sensitive scalps
PEPPERMINT OIL: Tea tree oil but stronger
Best for Dry, flaky scalps; hair loss or thinning
The Bottom Line
Essential oils are a game changer for natural hair when used in conjunction with a carrier oil. These potent oils are concentrated enough that only a few drops of each are needed to see some effects!