Postpartum hair loss can affect 40% to 50% of women, according to the American Pregnancy Association. That’s a lot of people, so please don’t feel like you are weird or alone. I’ve experienced my locks falling out after every birth, and am in the middle of that fun stage right now, so I whipped this up to help and wanted to share my DIY hair growth oil with you.
This healthy DIY scalp oil for hair growth is loaded with essential oils that boast anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that help in combating hair fall, stimulating the scalp for growth and more. Combine it with a soothing and stimulating scalp massage at least twice a week, and you’ll have a healthy, clear scalp and begin noticing healthier, fuller hair.
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It’s funny how awesome your hair can look during your pregnancy. I would dare say you might feel downright rockin’ during your second trimester with larger breasts and a full head of luscious hair.
Your gorgeous head of hair is a natural side effect of the shift in hormones you experience during pregnancy. These hormones make the hairs that would naturally fall out or shed instead “rest” during your pregnancy, only to fall out in the months after birth.
Keep reading for great info on hair growth promoting essential oils and my DIY hair growth oil recipe.
The Best Essential Oils for Hair Growth
Essential oils have numerous uses, but one of the less thought of benefits is their hair growth support. The following is a list of essential oils I love using for their hair growth properties. But keep reading to find out which ones stand out above the rest.
Cedarwood Essential Oil
Cedarwood Essential Oil contains sesquiterpenes, a compound that promotes oxygen delivery. Using Cedarwood Essential Oil on your scalp can improve circulation and blood flow to hair follicles. This helps stimulates new growth that is thicker.
The antifungal properties of Cedarwood Essential Oil can also improve the health of your scalp.
Thyme Essential Oil
Thyme Essential Oil is considered strong when it comes to essential oils. It is best to use this oil in a carrier as a DIY hair growth oil to massage on the scalp and then wash out after approximately 10 minutes.
Like Cedarwood, Thyme Essential Oil is known for promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Studies have shown that the use of Tea Tree Essential Oil in tandem with minoxidil, the active ingredient in many hair growth products, works better than minoxidil alone.
Tea Tree Oil alone is great for scalp health! With it’s anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties it can fight dandruff and free your scalp of dead skin cells to unplug hair follicles. All of these factors improve hair growth… and I add it to my own hair growth oil serum, without the addition of chemicals!
Lavender Essential Oil
There was an amazing 2016 study that proved the benefits of Lavender Essential Oil in hair growth of mice. If you know anything about essential oils then you probably know science is just beginning to dive into empirical studies of essential oil claims that have lasted the test of time for centuries.
This study was particularly important because it not only showed that 5% Lavender Essential Oil diluted in jojoba oil was just as effective as a 3% minoxidil solution (found in products such as Men’s Rogaine) it was safer too.
The autopsied mice using minoxidil at the end of the study showed an increase in the size of their spleen. The mice using the 5% Lavender Essential Oil did not show a difference in organ size from the control group.
Lavender Essential Oil increases circulation of blood in the scalp while the anti-bacterial properties keep the scalp free from infections, improving hair and scalp health while being safer than the laundry list of side effects of minoxidil.
Peppermint Essential Oil
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Peppermint Essential Oil has also shown promising results in hair studies. A 3% solution of Peppermint Essential Oil has shown to significantly increase hair growth promotion compared to a 3% solution of minoxidil.
While Peppermint Essential Oil cleanses clogged follicles and strengthens hair, it is thought the menthol quality of peppermint stimulates blood flow to the scalp and in turn, stimulates hair growth.
Rosemary Essential Oil
If you thought the studies on mice were amazing then you are going to love hearing about a human trial from 2015. 100 participants with androgenetic alopecia—also known as male pattern baldness—participated to compare a 2% minoxidil solution used twice a day and a 1% Rosemary Essential Oil used the same way.
After six months of use, the Rosemary Essential Oil group saw significantly better results including less hair loss, a higher increase in new hair growth, and fewer side effects.
That’s pretty amazing.
Rosemary Essential Oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Both of these can help stimulate new hair growth while promoting a healthy scalp.
DIY Hair Growth Oil Recipes for Postpartum Care
What is the Best Hair Oil?
There are numerous “hair oils” out there, but you need to keep in mind what the intended use of your oil is. A lot of the hair oils you find at the beauty counter are intended for use on the ends of your locks as a leave-in. They smooth and strengthen your hair, but they aren’t necessarily intended for use at the roots.
Some of the best hair oil for your scalp, besides the essential oils listed above, includes carrot seed, almond, jojoba, grapeseed, castor, hempseed, and coconut oil. When using essential oils on the skin, including your scalp, you’ll want to use a carrier oil, but the good thing is that these also have their own hair benefits! You can massage these oils with your essential oils of choice into your scalp about 10 minutes prior to showering. Then wash your hair as normal.
This will prevent you from having an oily head and heavy hair.
Top 6 Carrier Oils for Hair Growth
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba Oil is most similar to your natural hair sebum and its composition doesn’t allow it to penetrate deep into the skin, but rather sit on top of the skin acting as a barrier… but it actually enhances the absorption of topical ingredients.
These “barrier” benefits of jojoba oil make it a great healing option for conditions like dandruff and inflammation, which in turn helps in preventing hair loss.
Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil’s antibacterial properties and nutrients help fight against problems like insect bites, lice, and dandruff while also helping with hair and scalp protection from bacterial and viral infections.
Our hair is made up of a protein called keratin. Thus, protein loss from hair (most often from washing results in weak, damaged hair. Coconut oil had been shown to reduce protein loss and researchers have discovered that it is the only oil to do this.
Basically, coconut oil restores shine and moisture while eliminating dandruff and promoting faster hair growth and healthy, strong hair.
Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed Oil is lightweight and nongreasy, so it’s not heavy on the hair, but still moisturizes the scalp and conditions hair while also being a natural heat protectant and helps to prevent hair loss.
A study out of Tsukuba Research Laboratories in Ibaraki, Japan looked at how OPCs (grapeseed oil contains a high amount of OPCs) promoted hair growth. The mice treated with proanthocyanidins showed 300% more hair growth than the control group. This led scientists to declare that grapeseed oil does exhibit growth-promoting activity.
Hemp Seed Oil
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A top choice for stimulating hair growth, hemp seed oil contains fatty acids including Omega 3, Omega 6, and Omega 9. These fatty acids, along with protein in the oil, both help to stimulate hair growth while the gamma-linoleic acid nourishes hair and aids keratin formation, resulting in stronger, healthier hair.
Sweet Almond Oil
Almond Oil is high in magnesium, so it helps prevent hair loss. It’s great for massaging your scalp a couple of times a week to help prevent hair loss and improve hair health.
Another huge benefit, Almond Oil can stimulate the growing cycle of hair strands, making them look longer and thicker in a shorter amount of time.
Castor Oil
While it’s been around for centuries, Castor Oil is definitely having a moment right now. Though using Castor Oil for hair growth is still anecdotal, meaning LOTS of glowing reviews, but no actual scientific evidence that it works (that we came across, anyway), it’s anti-microbial properties can’t hurt your scalp, and in fact, it’s said to moisturize the scalp, ease dandruff, and leave hair smooth and shiny.
Castor Oil is also rich in ricinoleic acid—a type of fatty acid found to fight inflammation, which keeps hair follicles healthy and, in turn, could promote hair growth.
Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel
While it’s not a carrier oil, I do use alcohol-free witch hazel in our hair growth spray tonic! Much like Peppermint Essential Oil, witch hazel also increases blood flow and promotes hair growth. It can also reduce irritation to hair follicles, which allows for a healthier scalp and reduced inhibited hair growth.
DIY Hair Growth Oil for Growth-Stimulating Scalp Massage
Massaging your scalp with your fingertips helps to stimulate the scalp, increase circulation, and helps remove dead skin cells that could be clogging the pores.
This healthy DIY scalp oil is loaded with essential oils and, of course, the carrier oils listed above to add moisture and get your locks back on track. Combine it with a soothing and stimulating scalp massage at least twice a week, and you’ll have a healthy, clear scalp and begin noticing healthier, fuller hair.
Feel free to mix and match the carrier and essential oils that you have on hand or what appeals to you. Just use one carrier oil, or a mix of any of the above, switch out the essential oils to what appeals to you or based on what your hair needs are. You really can’t mess it up!
Scalp Massaging Brush
Pro Tip: I like to use my hair growth oil a couple of times a week as a scalp massage, and leave in my hair for a little while before washing.
DIY Hair Growth Oil Spray Tonic
I have a spray-on DIY hair growth oil recipe I like to use that is much lighter than using straight oil. I can use this spray anytime during the day without having a negative effect on the appearance of my hair, meaning it doesn’t make hair feel oily.
There’s actually not much carrier oil in it (which is what makes that greasy feel) – only 1 teaspoon of oil in the entire batch (and alternatively, you could try leaving it out if your hair is naturally on the greasy side). So, grab your favorite oils listed above and a 4-ounce spray bottle to make this DIY Hair Growth Oil Spray Tonic!
Other Things You Can Do for Hair Growth
There are a few things you can do in addition to DIY Hair Growth Oil that will promote healthy hair growth. This includes taking gentle care of your hair by avoiding heat treatments, tight hairstyles, brushing vigorously, and avoid fine-tooth combs. You should also eat a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and vitamins such as Vitamin B complex, Biotin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Zinc.
I hope this DIY Hair Growth Oil helps you keep, grow, and revitalize your hair. I know how important your hair can be, and how devastating it can feel to lose so much, so quickly when postpartum.
If for any reason you think your hair is coming out in extremely large amounts or you find bald spots please consult a dermatologist. They can help evaluate if there is a bigger problem than normal postpartum hair loss.
If you would like to know more information about using essential oils for postpartum care or safe essential oils to use while pregnant check out my blog’s dedicated section on essential oils.
Do you have a good DIY hair growth oil that you love using? Let me know in a comment below!
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Categories: Recipe
