Some people use essential oils for aromatherapy. However, others are experimenting with their uses by adding essential oils to shampoo, laundry products, and even to their food.

In 2019, US consumers alone spent $1 billion on essential oils and related products. According to some market analysts, this number is going to increase to $11 billion by 2022. That is a lot! 

Now, the question that I often get asked is whether adding essential oils to shampoo is a good idea. Can you do that? Is it safe? You will find the answers below:

Table of contents:

• What are essential oils?
• Are essential oils beneficial for hair care?
• Lavender Oil
• Tea Tree Oil
• Peppermint Oil
• Ylang Ylang Oil
• Can you add essential oils to your shampoo?
• Conclusion

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are hydrophobic liquids extracted from plants. They contain natural volatile compounds that you cannot create in a laboratory and which have therapeutic properties. Thus, unlike other processed oils, scientists cannot make any essential oil in a lab and are only available in their pure and natural states.  

These oils are extracted from different parts of the plants. For instance, lavender oil is extracted from the flowers of the lavender plant, cinnamon oil is extracted from the bark of the cinnamon tree, peppermint oil is extracted from the leaves, etc. 

As they highly concentrated, for topical applications it is always recommended to dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil such as coconut oil, almond oil, or olive oil. 

Are essential oils beneficial for hair care?

The answer to this question is: yes! Many essential oils have been proven to be effective for hair and scalp health. Let us look at some of the best essential oils for hair care:

Lavender Oil

Widely used for its pleasant aroma, soothing effect, and other medicinal benefits, Lavender Oil is one of the most demanded essential oils out there. When it comes to hair care, this essential oil is known for promoting hair growth, treating a troubled scalp, preventing and killing head lice, treating scalp inflammation, etc. So, for the overall health of your hair and scalp and shiny, smooth hair, using lavender oil is a great idea!

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is famous for its excellent benefits for skin and health. While it is typically recommended to treat skin issues such as acne, rashes, fungal infections, etc., it is also known for its benefits in stimulating hair growth. This essential oil works very well on dandruff, flaky scalp, and excess scalp oil, which ultimately aids hair growth. Tea tree oil also improves the blood flow to your scalp and helps nutrients easily reach your hair follicles, leading to healthier and stronger hair. 

Peppermint Oil

An experiment conducted on mice showed that peppermint oil leads to an increased number of follicles, hair growth, and better follicle depth. Besides, the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory nature of peppermint oil maintains the health of your scalp, keeping it free from dandruff, fungus, itching, and flakiness. All these qualities make peppermint of the best essential oils for hair thinning and hair loss. 

Ylang Ylang Oil

Ylang Ylang oil is known for regulating the production of sebum and it is particularly beneficial for those with a dry and flaky scalp. 

Rose and Basil essential oil are also very effective for hair & scalp care. 

Can you add essential oils to your shampoo?

Coming to the point now! Can you add essential oils to your shampoo? The answer is: yes! 

Whether you want to do so for the health of your hair or to get that pleasant fragrance into your hair, you can add a few drops of essential oils to your shampoo. Adding essential oils to shampoo will make your showering experience soothing and relaxing. 

What is the best way of adding essential oils to shampoo? Don’t put them directly into your shampoo bottle! The best way to do it is to take your favorite essential oil and add a few drops of it on your palm, on top of the shampoo. Apply it along with the shampoo and rinse it off, as usual. 

Conclusion

With so many benefits of essential oils for hair, it still gets tough to include them in your hair care routine. We live a fast life, and usually, we don't find time to sit back, relax, and give our hair the tender loving care it deserves. If you don’t have the time to apply essential oils as overnight hair masks or massage your scalp with them (always diluted properly), adding essential oils to shampoo is a great idea! It saves time and helps you benefit from the goodness of these oils. To get the best results make sure you browse the WOW website.