Gray hair and wrinkles can be a testimony of wisdom. But in a stressful world we often get caught up in equating our worth with productivity that could weigh on us post-retirement. Everyone, at every stage of life is a gift to the world. That said, aging does bring preventable and costly health challenges that we need to face squarely, from heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, arthritis, dry skin, falling hair, cognitive decline, stroke and cancer. There is also the possibility of depletion, loneliness and ageism. So, how can we look after ourselves better to ensure we are physically and mentally stronger as we age? Ayurveda is a holistic mind-body science which supports people through a comprehensive approach to live a healthier life right into their sunset years. It emphasizes that aging ( Jara ) is a natural process just like the seasons. It does acknowledge natural degenerative changes but recommends prevention, building resilience and an anti-aging regimen through its br
We’ve all heard that lavender essential oil is great for our skin and even to relieve stress levels. It’s widely used in home remedies and is almost everyone’s go-to essential oil. It has a heavenly smell and comes directly from the lavender plant. Makers distill the lavender and extract a highly concentrated oil that has numerous health and beauty benefits. It helps with pain relief, migraine, better sleep but did you know that lavender oil has benefits for hair as well? Yeah, the essential oil is great for luscious locks and we’re going to talk to you about it in detail.
Benefits Of Lavender Oil For Hair
Benefits of lavender oil for hair are many and we’re going to list them all down for you.
Promotes Hair Growth
One of the benefits of lavender oil for hair is that it makes your locks thicker and longer. It has helped with patterned baldness when applied to the scalp so doing a good ol’ champi with this oil can actually help you a whole lot.
Prevents And Kills Hair Lice
Many studies have shown that one of the benefits of lavender oil for hair is that it prevents and in some cases even kills hair lice. However, it is not enough to be the sole treatment plan if you have hair lice. You can always use lavender oil as a preventative measure but to treat the issue, do visit a doctor.
Makes Hair Thicker
When you use lavender essential oil for hair, you will notice thicker, stronger hair after regular use. Gorgeous dense hair, here we come!
Strengthens Hair
One of the great things about using lavender essential oil for hair is that it strengthens the strands. This prevents hair from breakage and actually nourishes it completely.
Repairs Damaged Hair
Not only does it strengthen, thicken and grow your hair but it also helps in repairing damaged hair. When we looked at the benefits of lavender oil for hair, we realised that it is an age-old home remedy that prevents hair loss and hair breakage too. So, happy and healthier hair without using chemicals? YASS!
Promotes A Healthier Scalp
Besides making your strands grow longer and thicker, lavender oil is good for the scalp too. One of the benefits of lavender oil for hair is that it soothes itchy scalp and reduces dandruff. It is antiseptic and antibacterial meaning that it helps in fighting bacteria and other microorganisms. But remember, if you do deal with a chronically itchy scalp or dandruff then you should speak to your doctor before trying out a home remedy.
Curbs Skin Inflammation
It actually helps in curbing skin inflammation and burns- many use it as a home remedy for the same. And when we use it on our scalp it helps in calming down inflammation on the scalp as well as treats a flaky scalp.
Calms The Head
Out of all the properties, the biggest plus point is that the smell of this essential oil is extremely calming. The soothing aroma of lavender oil can help in calming down your nervous system and make you feel relaxed and happy. It helps in reducing stress and tension which can be a contributing factor in thinning hair. This leads to a vicious cycle seeing that stress causes hair fall and excessive hair fall causes more stress. Reducing stress and using lavender essential oil for hair can solve the root cause of the problem.
How To Use Lavender Oil For Hair
There are many ways to get the maximum benefits of lavender oil for hair and this is by using it just as it is or mixed with another oil. Here are some of them:
Add A Few Drops Of Lavender Oil To Your Hair Care Routine
We all have a haircare routine that works well for us and we love to stick to it. We aren’t asking you to change it, instead, we’re telling you to add a few drops of lavender oil to boost hair growth. Add a little to your shampoo, conditioner or any other product but don’t put in too much. Then use the product as instructed. You can also add just a few drops of the essential oil when you have the product in your palm, this way the whole bottle doesn’t have lavender infused in it. Use it as often as you would use the product regularly and you will notice your scalp being less inflamed and you will feel calmer after the shower.
Massage The Lavender Oil Into Your Scalp Like You Would Any Other
This is probably the most effective way to reap the benefits of lavender oil for hair. You can massage a diluted oil into your scalp and be in for a classic champi. You can use another oil in equal parts to create a mixture. We suggest using virgin coconut oil, jojoba oil or even virgin olive oil. Massage it in before you shower, leave it on for an hour and then wash off. You can even leave it overnight and tie a towel or cotton cloth on your head for maximum effect. This will help you sleep better, bring down stress levels and strengthen your hair. What a win-win situation, right?
You Can Use It After Shampooing As A Serum
You can either buy a hair serum that is infused with lavender oil or just DIY one at home! To get the benefits of lavender oil for hair, use this after you’ve shampooed and conditioned your hair to keep it frizz-free, detangled, and smooth. If you’re getting one from the market, you can use as instructed and if you are using a DIY recipe then we’ve got the details for you:
Ingredients
How To Make:
Step One: Pour in all the ingredients together in a bottle.
Step Two: Mix them all well.
Step Three: Store in a dry place away from the sunlight.
Step Four: Use a tiny amount of it as a serum after you wash your hair. Use a sulphate and paraben-free shampoo and conditioner for longer and thicker hair.
Buy A Product Which Already Has Lavender Essential Oil
There are many products in the market that already have lavender essential oils in them so just going through the ingredient list may be helpful when picking out the best haircare product for yourself. However, these may not necessarily promote hair growth because the lavender oil in them may be extremely diluted. If you still want to go with a store bought item then we suggest looking for ones that have ‘lavender essential oil’ or ‘lavender hydrolat’ mentioned in them for reaping the complete benefits of lavender oil for hair.
Use Lavender Oil As Part Of A Hair Mask Once A Week
Using a hair mask once a week is very important for your hair health- it strengthens, nourishes and conditions damaged hair, making it more luscious. When you add lavender hair oil to it, not only does it do all of this but it also calms the itchy scalp and the lovely aroma really helps you relax. So when you’re thinking about how to use lavender oil on hair, this is actually a great method to try.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons of coconut oil
2 egg whites
5-10 drops of lavender essential oil
How To Make:
Step One: Combine the coconut oil and the egg whites and blend in a blender.
Step Two: Add in the lavender essential oil and blend again until you’ve got a smooth consistency.
Step Three: Dampen your hair and apply throughout your roots and ends.
Step Four: Cover the hair with a shower cap or towel and leave it on for 30 mins.
Step Five: Shampoo and condition your hair and use natural products if possible.
Step Six: Use once a week to reap full benefits.
Side Effects Of Lavender Oil
The thing with essential oils, in general, is that they can be very potent so you can’t use too much of it. That’s why you should always use it along with other oils like jojoba oil, coconut oil or olive oil. If you use it and face scalp irritation, redness or rashes, you should stop using it at once because you could be allergic to lavender. One of the side effects of lavender oil is that it acts as a sedative and makes you sleepy- so be very careful when you’re using it or inhaling it. It could react with some medication that you’re on and create havoc in your system.
So, on the whole, benefits of lavender oil for hair growth, strengthening of strands, making your strands look healthy and leaving you with a less flaky scalp are very real. Thanks to its fragrance and healing properties, it can really be a great essential oil to keep at home. However, using it in the right amount is crucial.
Happy hair = happy you!
Comments
Post a Comment