Posts Tagged ‘dry scalp’

Naturally Treating Dry, Itchy ScalpWith the end of summer and cold weather approaching, it’s time to start thinking about protecting your hair and scalp for the upcoming seasons. Most will protect their hair and ends by wearing protective styles i.e. buns, up-dos, braids, cornrows and twists, but we also have to remember to protect our scalp. Dry scalp is particularly common in the cold weather or if you have high central heating because both can affect the amount of moisture in the scalp.

There are several essential oils that can be used for treating dry scalp.

Essential Oils

Basil: Promotes growth by stimulating blood flow.

Chamomile: Chamomile helps to retract skin cells that have been inflamed from chemical procedures and the sun.

Clary Sage: Clarifies the scalp. It cleans away impurities and works well with other herbs to heal scalp problems such as psoriasis and helps when used with zinc to end dandruff symptoms.

Lavender:Soothes the scalp. It’s good for itchiness, dandruff, and even lice.

Lemon Oil: Works well for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands. Be very careful to only use lemon on hair that is too oily as this can seriously dry out the hair after just one washing or rinse.

Orange Oil: Regulates the production of sebum.

Peppermint: Promotes hair growth by stimulating blood flow.

Rosemary: Treats dandruff and promotes hair growth (should not be used by those with high blood pressure or during pregnancy).

Sandalwood: An astringent, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. Soothes dry and irritated scalp.

Tea Tree: Good for oily hair, dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands.

Ylang-ylang: Regulates sebum production and stimulates hair growth.
Neem: An effective fungicide and insecticide (great for head lice when used with geranium, rosemary, lavender and eucalyptus oils).

Remember: Essential oils should be mixed with carrier oils before putting them directly on your scalp.

Carrier Oils
Sweet Almond Oil: An emollient, nourishes, softens and re-conditions the skin. It is rich in proteins and Vitamin D.

Olive Oil: Nourishes, conditions, and improves the strength and elasticity of your hair.

Jojoba Oil: Moisturizes and helps to rebalance sebum.

Avocado Oil: Contains vitamins A, E, D and beta carotene.

Grapeseed Oil: Contains minerals and vitamins that moisturize and help strengthen hair. Has a high content of linoleic acid, an important fatty acid that supports cell health.

Recipes

Oatmeal and EO for Dry Itchy Scalp
Take ¼ oatmeal and soak in water for 20 minutes. Mix well and then strain the liquid, adding it to a cup. Add 5 drops lavender oil (or lavender stalks steeped in ¼ cup hot water). Add 5 drops of rosemary (or rosemary stalks steeped in ¼ cup hot water). Allow to cool until tepid. Mix the liquids together and dab onto your scalp. Leave in for 10 minutes to soothe the itch.

Dry Scalp Hot Oil Treatment
You will need: ¼ Avocado oil, 1 tablespoon Rosemary oil, 1 tablespoon Tea Tree oil.

Mix oils in a spray bottle. Warm up a cup of water, place bottle in cup of water for 5 minutes to warm the oil. Add a few sprays of mixture in small sections on the scalp. Continue to rub through entire scalp and massage for about 5 minutes. Leave it on for 30 minutes or overnight. Follow with a good shampoo and conditioner; recommended twice a week.

Oils for the Hair and Skin (Part 2)

In Oils for the Hair and Skin (Part 1), we zoomed in on almond oil, castor oil, chamomile oil, coconut oil, eucalyptus oil, geranium oil, jojoba oil, and lemon oil.  Now, we’re going to talk about seven more oils.  Check them out below:

Myrrh Oil- For the hair, myrrh oil can treat a dry scalp and combat dandruff. It tightens the pores of the scalp, gripping onto the hair follicles tighter, preventing the hair from falling out.  It’s also known to help get rid of lice. For the skin, it’s great for treating athlete’s foot, itching, chapped skin, and eczema. Warning: Too much use of this natural oil can be toxic. Pregnant women should also refrain from using this oil, as it can stimulate contractions of the uterus. (However, it’s great to use for that purpose, and is also said to relieve pain during childbirth.)

Neem Oil- For the hair, neem oil is good for repairing damaged follicles. It also conditions coarse hair. It’s also great at treating a dry, itchy scalp.  For the skin, neem oil moisturizes it when it’s dry. It can serve as a repellent, keeping bugs from wanting to land onto your skin. (Here’s a neat little tip If neem oil enters a bug’s system, it blocks the hormones from working, preventing them from laying eggs. If they do lay eggs, the eggs never hatch. This can also work as a contraceptive for both men and women.) It’s also good for eczema.

Rose Oil- For the hair, rose oils strengthens its roots. For the skin, rose oil adds moisture, fights against aging, reduces the appearance of scars, repairs damaged skin cells, and treats skin burns.

Rosemary Oil- For the skin, rosemary oil stimulates the hair follicles, promoting longer, thicker hair. It reduces hair loss and promotes a healthy scalp, fighting against scalp disorders like alopecia.  It rids the hair of dandruff. It’s also believed that it slows down the graying of hair. For the skin, it evens out its tone and keeps it moisturized.  It’s also good for skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.

Olive Oil- For the hair, olive oil can be used as a great moisturizer and leave-in conditioner. For the skin, olive oil is great for removing eye makeup (including mascara) and treats the skin afterward. It’s ideal for moisturizing dry skin. One can add it to their bath, gently scraping the skin to help remove excess dirt. It can also be used as a shaving cream for those with sensitive skin. When mixed and melted with beeswax, olive oil can make a great lip balm, keeping the lips soft and smooth.

Peppermint Oil- For the hair, peppermint oil removes dandruff and fights against lice. For the skin, peppermint oil moisturizes the skin.  It combat oily skin. It can also be used as a cleanser and is ideal for removing makeup. However, peppermint oil is not recommended for people with allergies.

Tea Tree Oil- For the hair, tea tree oil moisturizes a dry scalp, removing dandruff. It can also help remove head lice. For the skin, tea tree oil is great for abrasions, acne, athlete’s foot, blisters, boils, cold sores, herpes, insect bites, eczema, impetigo, minor cuts, ringworm, warts, and psoriasis.