Sharing my old article from Associated Content/Yahoo Contributor.. man, I miss that site. I originally wrote this back in 2008, but since they have closed the site my article has been looking for a new home. I have since found a few places online that have plagiarized my work...I guess that's a complement. Anyway I thought, especially during the winter months everyone's hair could use some help!! :)
How to Combat Dry or Frizzy Hair with Essential Oils
The majority of us will, at one time or another, have or constantly must battle the dreaded dry, frizzes with our luscious locks. Especially if we live in a humid or tropical climate. Even if we live in a cold and arid place, we still have to deal with other factors that could cause hair to become dry, damaged and break easily, like, the perils of wintertime, washing hair too frequently with harsh chemicals, over exposure to the sun, over use of straighteners, dyes, perming solutions, curling or straightening irons and dryers. Even chlorine and salt water could cause hair to be dry or damaged, or worse yet...hereditary causes, which are hopeless to deal with unless you have a cure. Well, never fear, we have a remedy here! Read on to see how easily the war on dry frizzy hair can be won with a few simple tricks.
Once a week, use this fail safe method of re-moisturizing your mangy mane with this fabulous fix-it for the frizzies;
Mix together 1 tablespoon of molasses or honey, 1 teaspoon jojoba oil, 1 teaspoon safflower oil, 1 teaspoon olive oil (or avocado oil), 1 egg yolk, and 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Then add 4 drops each of sandalwood, geranium and neroli essential oils. You can substitute any essential oil that works for your hair type. See list below. These e.o.s strong scents even help the with vinegar smell! Make sure it's stirred well, and apply it to your hair and massage it into the scalp. Cover with a shower cap or wrap in a towel and leave on for as long as you want, but at the very least, for 15 minutes. Many times I'll apply this in the morning, do my housecleaning, and then take a shower to shampoo and rinse it all out. Rinse your hair by adding 3 to 5 drops of your chosen essential oil to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 3 cups warm water. Always try to cleanse the scalp and rinse hair for the last two or three minutes in cold water, this ensures your hair cuticles can close properly.
Make sure to choose products that are not too heavy with humectants as they will only make the humidity-induced frizz worse. Pick shampoos and conditioners that contain natural humectants like John Frieda Frizz Ease. Humectants have magnet like properties that attract moisture, buy shampoos if possible that contain ingredients such as; beeswax, plant triglycerides such as coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, shea butter, hydrogenated castor oil, and shea butter. Don't forget that it is possible to reduce damage to your hair by just putting a hat on if you'll be in the sun, or a swimming cap before going for a swim. And when choosing hair products, look for one with a sunscreen so your hair will be protected from the harmful UV rays, especially if you use chemicals on your hair.
One of the best possible choices would be to make your own shampoo, or use liquid castile soap which is a very mild cleanser and it doesn't contain any harsh chemicals. Just add twice the amount of hot chamomile tea or herbal infusion of your choice plus of a few drops of the essential oils best suited to your type of hair. Example: 1 cup hot chamomile tea cooled to almost room temp., 1/2 cup liquid castile soap, 3 drops rose e.o. , 3 drops sandalwood e.o. and 3 drops of carrot, sage, geranium, neroli or clary sage e.o.s. It's your choice as they all work great. See list below for best essential oils to use for dry hair.
When choosing a conditioner, or a treatment conditioner, make sure they contain wheat, rice or corn proteins as they help repair the damaged cuticles, improve elasticity, porosity, and general health of your hair. Best would be to choose an all natural unscented conditioner and add the specific type of essential oil or oils that would work best for you. I've found that the best essential oils for dry, frizzy or damaged hair are rose, sandalwood, neroli, geranium, clary sage, sage, roman chamomile, or carrot seed. See full list below for more choices. You could make your own conditioner by using mayonnaise, avocado, jojoba, egg yolk and a few drops of e.o.s. Leave on for 10-15 min. and rinse well with cool water. Beautiful, soft and silky hair will be yours!
Best Over-All Hair Serum
This recipe is the best overall serum for hair as it covers the greatest range of problems that people normally have with their hair - from thin, dry fly-away hair, oily greasy hair that mockingly re-appear only hours after being washed, dandruff that doesn't want to leave you or a simple un-satisfaction with the quality of your hair in general. You could use this as a treatment serum or add a few drops to your shampoo or conditioner to give your hair extra bounce and a boost.
- 4 oz. jojoba oil - find on Amazon.
- 5 dps rosemary e.o.
- 5 dps bay e.o.
- 5 dps cedarwood e.o.
- 5 dps patchouli e.o.
- 4 dps cypress e.o.
- 5 dps ylang ylang e.o.
Mix well and store in a dark glass jar or PET container (PET is a special kind of plastic that won't break down when essential oils are contained within)
To use; Pour a little into a cup (about a teaspoon) and dip your fingers into the oil, and gently massage the entire scalp. It is normally best to start massaging at your neck, working upwards and over the entire scalp until you finish off at your temples. Ensure that the entire scalp is treated.
When done correctly your hair will not be oily, and you will be able to go to sleep like this after waiting 30 minutes. If you feel you need to wash your hair after treatment make sure to wait at least 45 min. and use a very mild shampoo (like the one discussed above or a baby shampoo) and work a little of the treatment oil into your scalp before wetting it.
If you don't feel like making a serum, get one that works well, like; Paul Mitchell's Super Skinny Relaxing Balm, or Living Proof's No Frizz Styling Treatment.
List of Essential Oils that can be used for dry hair treatments:
Bay is an excellent energizing hair tonic, and good for thinning hair.
Carrot seed adds a moisturizing property to all hair and skin formulas.
Cedarwood is a popular ingredient in many cosmetic products and for good reason, it's perfect for dry hair and skin too as it's properties are many.
Chamomile, Roman is one of the best essential oils for dry hair. Calming Chamomile helps to reduce inflamed hair cuticles and is also good for those that have scalp issues like white flakes or psoriasis. It's good for all hair types, esp. dry hair, great for Fine to normal hair. Roman chamomile is lighter and gentler than German Chamomile and is better for this type of formula. It also adds beautiful golden highlights, and is good for dry and itchy skin too.
Clary Sage is Helpful with oily hair and skin, dandruff and treating wrinkles.
Geranium has a balancing , soothing and gentle effect on aiding dry hair, plus has a gorgeous scent.
Jasmine is another fabulous essential oil, useful for many things and wonderful for dry hair & skin, nurturing & conditioning, uplifting, balancing and soothing.
Lavender- is great for soothing the scalp and calming the hair, relaxing, refreshing, most versatile of all e.o.s
Juniper Berry (great for all hair types),cleansing, calming, andstrengthening while adding a fresh scent.
Lemon Verbena (great hair tonic), included in many organic shampoos and conditioners for dry hair; http://www.healthchemist.co.nz/natural-hair/organics-chamomile--lemon-verbena-shampoo-350ml-p909087.html
Linden Blossom, absolutely divine scent, lovely floral and great as a hair tonic too, http://www.naturesgift.com/essential/linden-blossom-absolute.htm
Myrrh: soothing and protecting, also great for Dry hair and a good Treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands
Neroli soothes, relaxes, uplifts. Excellent skin and hair care oil, perfect for ageing, dry sensitive skin and on scars and stretch marks. Is an aid to improve sluggish circulation, relieves tension, stress and anxiety, useful for apprehension like stage fright too.
Nutmeg energizing, stimulating and all around good tonic for hair; use with caution, may be sensitizing
Parsley great for dry hair.
Peppermint is a wonder oil and is good for dry hair. promotes hair growth too, it's cooling action can relieve itching and very effective for greasy skin and hair as well.
Rose; queen of oils, expensive, but wonderful for all hair and skin treatments. Rose soothes the scalp while lifting the senses.
Rosemary is is many natural hair products for good reason. This oil works great for dry hair and dandruff as well as itchy scalp, and is an overall great hair tonic.
Rosewood is soothing, conditioning and perfect for any dry hair issue.
Sage is an all around tonic and is perfect for shining up dull hair. Sage is one of the best scalp clarifiers whether you have psoriasis, dandruff (esp. when used w/zinc) It deep cleanses impurities away from the scalp and works well with other herbs to heal scalp problems.
Sandalwood is one of my favorites (along w/ neroli). It's perfect for dry, skin and hair and imparts a warm and wonderful scent. It also improves with age, so it's price isn't so bad knowing it only gets better the older it is.
Tea Tree has to be mentioned here, even though it's not necessarily the best for dry hair. It is wonderful for Oily hair and a good Treatment for dry scalp, especially for dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands. Since it has antiseptic, anti-fungal, and anti-viral, properties it is very good for all skin & hair types and conditions.
Yarrow is useful for both hair and skin care and stimulates "new" hair growth. Add a few drops of the beautiful blue Yarrow oil to shampoo and get a healthy scalp while strengthening your hair shaft. Makes an effective treatment for split ends! Yarrow's astringent and regulating properties make it helpful for balancing oily skin, hair and scalp condtions.
tips
The curl chemist wrote a recent article in which she suggested that dew point has a major effect on humectant use:http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlre...-the-dew-point
resources;
http://www.pioneerthinking.com/frizzies.htmlhttp://www.naturallycurly.com/curlre...-the-dew-point
http://www.diy-stress-relief.com/best-essential-oils-for-hair.html (best shampoo, conditioner recipes)
http://www.longlocks.com/hair-care-recipes-cookbook.htm#cond6 (best recipes for all hair types)
An anti-humectant product with all natural ingredients
Pomade by John Masters Organics
Ingredients: Extra virgin olive oil, organic beeswax, mango butter, babassu oil, jojoba, wheat germ oil, pure essential oils of bay laurel, cedar atlas, fir balsam and massoia, vitamins A, C & E. Certified Organic Ingredients.
photos
http://www.myhairstylingtools.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/big-frizzy-hair.jpg hair pic
http://www.ageless.co.za/news/camomile.jpg chamomile
http://www.makeyourhairgrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/head-massage.jpg hair massage
http://www.hingeit.com/ecommerce/images/dynamic/image/hing-it-bun-design.jpg towel head
http://www.bulgarianjourney.com/images/rose-essential-oil1.jpg rose oil
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