Essential oils: 4 steps for radiant skin and hair

Always dreamed of having radiant skin and lustrous hair? Nature is here to lend you a hand. Essential oils harness an amazing transformative potential, provided you pick and apply them correctly. Continue reading to discover the best essential oils for skin and hair – and get ready to unlock their magic in just four easy steps!

Step 1: choose your essential oil wisely

Selecting a high-quality, organic essential oil is vital to avoid irritation, and to enjoy the full therapeutic effects.

Look for labels that say ‘100% pure’, ‘organic’, or ‘therapeutic grade’
Cloudiness and sediment are red flags for low-quality essential oils
Beware of excessively low prices

Best essential oils for hair growth and skin

Be sure to pick an essential oil that matches your specific skincare and haircare needs.

Lavender oil: calms irritated skin and promotes a clear complexion
Tea tree oil: combats acne and soothes skin irritations
Chamomile oil: reduces redness
Geranium oil: balances oil production and minimizes fine lines
Frankincense oil: reduces scars
Lemongrass oil: strengthens hair follicles
Ylang ylang oil: moisturizes the skin and boosts hair growth
Rosemary oil: promotes hair growth

Step 2: dilute the essential oil

Before application, dilute your chosen essential oil with a carrier oil to ensure safe and effective use. Popular carrier oils include jojoba, coconut, almond, and grapeseed oil.

Per teaspoon of carrier oil, add:

1-2 drops of essential oil for facial skincare
3-6 drops of essential oil for body skincare
5-7 drops of essential oil for haircare

Step 3: do a patch test

Apply a small amount of diluted essential oil to your inner forearm. Wait 24 hours to ensure no adverse reactions occur, such as redness, itching, or irritation.

Step 4: apply

Skincare: gently massage the diluted essential oil onto cleansed skin using upward circular motions.
Haircare: apply the diluted essential oil to your scalp and massage thoroughly, then distribute through the lengths of your hair. Leave on for as long as you wish before rinsing.

For maximum results, incorporate essential oils into your beauty routine consistently. Use them daily or as needed to maintain healthy skin, hair, and overall well-being.

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are concentrated, aromatic compounds extracted from plants through processes like distillation or cold pressing. They capture the essence and fragrance of the plant and have therapeutic properties. Essential oils are commonly used in aromatherapy, skincare, haircare, and natural medicine for their beneficial effects on physical and emotional well-being.

How do essential oils work?

The effectiveness of essential oils for hair and skin health is rooted in their chemical composition, which includes bioactive compounds like terpenes and phenolics that interact with the body. These oils can penetrate the skin barrier, exerting antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and hair follicle-stimulating effects.