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Posted in Essential Oil Basics by Rocky Mountain Oils

Hair Care: 18 Essential Oils to Help Combat Oily Hair

Oily or greasy hair is an annoying issue. With oily hair, you have an overproduction of the natural oils, sebum. Sometimes this is caused by an overuse of strong shampoo. Sounds weird, doesn't it? But what happens is the hair is stripped completely of the sebum and so the pores react by producing too much sebum to compensate. Other causes are often genetic, hormonal changes, or bad diet.

Best Oils

  • Essential Oils: Bergamot FCF, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Lavender, Cypress, Frankincense, Eucalyptus globulus, Juniper Berry, Grapefruit, Lemon, Patchouli, Rosemary, Peppermint, Basil, Lemongrass, Sage, Thyme, Ylang Ylang
  • Carrier oils: Canola, Safflower, Sesame, Almond
  • Tonic bases: Distilled water, 50/50 mix of distilled water and Witch Hazel, Orange Flower water, Cider Vinegar
  • Herbs: Burdock, Lemongrass, Lemon peel, Sage, Seaweed, Bay Leaf, Calendula, Horsetail, Mint, Nettle, Thyme, Chamomile

Points of Interest

  • The easiest way to make your shampoo of choice is to get an unscented, pH balancing bottle of shampoo and add the essential oil(s) of choice to it. Add 6 drops per 1/4 cup shampoo. The easiest way to mix the ingredients is to empty out the bottle into a bowl, add the oil(s), and vigorously mix with a wire whisk to blend everything together. Use a funnel to get the shampoo back in the bottle.
  • If you mix together a shampoo like above, make just 1/4 cup first and try it out to make sure you like it. That also makes it easier for you to make different blends.
  • With oily or greasy hair, gently cleanse your hair daily with a good balancing shampoo.
  • Make sure you use a light conditioner after washing your hair. This is to keep your skin from overproducing the sebum and causing your hair to be even more oily.

Recipes

Here are some recipes to try out on your hair. Be sure to try these recipes on a small portion of your scalp first to make sure your skin can handle it before using it all over your scalp.

Hair and Scalp Tonic

  • 4 drops Bergamot FCF
  • 3 drops Frankincense
  • 4 drops Grapefruit
  • 4 drops Rosemary
  • 1/3 cup Orange Flower water
  • 1/3 cup Rosewater
  • 2 teaspoons Cider Vinegar
Mix all ingredients together in a dark colored glass bottle and keep sealed tightly. Shake well before every use. Pour a little tonic into the palm of your hand and massage into the scalp and through the hair. Regular use (several times a week) will help reduce over-secretion of sebum, and thus the need to shampoo quite so often.

Oily Hair Conditioning  #1

  • 9 drops Ylang Ylang
  • 9 drops Lime
  • 8 drops Rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons Grapeseed oil
Massage approximately 1 teaspoon of formula into the hair and scalp at one time. It's best to leave on for several hours to allow oils to penetrate. If you use the formula before bedtime, wrap  a towel around your head to protect your pillowcase  and leave on overnight. In the morning, wash hair twice with a natural shampoo and warm water. Use this formula three times a week until you achieve the desired results.

Oily Hair Conditioning  #2

  • 8 drops Petitgrain bigarade
  • 8 drops Lemon
  • 8 drops Lavender
  • 2 tablespoons Hazelnut oil
Massage approximately 1 teaspoon of formula into the hair and scalp at one time. It's best to leave on for several hours to allow oils to penetrate. If you use the formula before bedtime, wrap  a towel around your head to protect your pillowcase  and leave on overnight. In the morning, wash hair twice with a natural shampoo and warm water. Use this formula three times a week until you achieve the desired results.

Clay Hair Mask

  • 1/4 cup Natural Clay Powder
  • 2 tablespoons Mineral Water
  • 1/2 teaspoon Cider Vinegar
  • 3 drops Essential oil(s) of choice
Stir all ingredients together until you have a smooth paste. Apply entire mixture to clean, damp hair and massage into your scalp and hair. Cover hair with a shower cap or plastic wrap and leave in for 10 - 15 minutes, then rinse well with warm water. May need to rinse for several minutes to remove all of the clay. This will help extract toxins and oils from your scalp.

Finally

Do you have to deal with oily hair? Please share with us in the comment section below what you like to use to treat your hair.