By Cipriana of Urbanbushbabes.com
For years I used products containing mineral oil to coat my strands. Many manufacturers use mineral oil in a majority of products that contain synthetic ingredients because of its behavior as a preservative. Mineral oil is the result of the distillation of petroleum which acts as a saran wrap against your scalp, slowing down one of the skin’s main job which is to eliminate toxins. On the other hand natural oils are easily absorbed by the skin.
When I used products that consisted mostly of synthetic materials such as Blue Magic I’m not going to lie my hair did grow, but it was not until I switched to all natural products that I began to see the true potential of my growth capability. Before the change in my regimen I experienced a GREAT deal of shedding and dandruff. Now those days are far behind. I’m still fascinated by how are body responds to topical products. Not only is it important to watch what we put into our bodies but what we put on it as well.
My boyfriend’s grandfather is full Cherokee Indian and when we met three years ago he always talked about the importance of what you put on your body, coming from a background of ancestors rich in a holistic lifestyle. But I could not and would not give up my trusty Coconut Blue Magic until just about a year ago. When I finally gave in to the natural “stuff” I was determined that this was just a trial period and I would be back on my good old Blue Magic in no time. Well it’s been a year later and I am still using the natural “stuff”. For years I had been so accustomed to my hair feeling greasy from the mineral oil based products that it took me a while to really understand what my hair felt like with natural oils.
Again I am not here to force you into switching into an all-natural regimen, do what works best for you, but I did come across two interesting articles from ehow.com about the usage of certain natural oils by Native Americans and the distinct benefits the hair reaps from each of these natural oils.
1. Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is an extract of the Jojoba plant found in California, Arizona and parts of Mexico. Jojoba oil has been used for hundreds of years by American Indians to moisturize and grow hair. The molecular makeup of jojoba has similar characteristics to the natural oil the glands of the scalp produce. Jojoba oil can be purchased at herb shops and can be applied directly to your hair or you can add a few drops to your favorite conditioner to promote hair growth. Jojoba is hypoallergenic and will not harm your hair or scalp. Aloe vera is another product used by Native American Indians to promote hair growth and is also an excellent moisturizer for your hair.
2. Wheat Germ/Aloe Vera/Coconut Milk
Mix 1/4 cup of wheat germ, 1/4 cup of aloe vera and 1/4 cup of coconut milk and use this product as a natural shampoo. Aloe vera can be purchased at drugstores and herb shops and can also be applied directly to the scalp as it will open pores on the scalp that may have previously been blocked and will allow the hair follicles to grow. The American Indians also used and continue to use several kinds of oils to promote hair growth such as emu oil, rosemary oil, and mustard oil.
3. Peppermint Oil
A few drops of any of these products can be massaged directly into the scalp to stimulate the hair follicles and promote hair growth. Peppermint oil is also a good scalp stimulator but must be diluted before application. Mix 3 drops of peppermint oil with 3 teaspoons of water and massage into the scalp. These oils can be purchased at herb shops and all are hypoallergenic and not harmful to the hair or scalp.
4. Lavender Oil/Lavender Water
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula officinalis), native to the Mediterranean, is now grown in temperate climates worldwide. For centuries, lavender has been used by herbal practitioners to prevent baldness and to encourage new hair growth. Lavender contains potent anti-bacterial agents that soothe and heal scalp infections. It is useful in treating dandruff and adds volume to the hair shaft. Place a few sprigs of lavender in a glass container and cover with extra-virgin olive oil and cover tightly. Place in a cool, dark spot and allow to age for 3 to 4 weeks. Use the lavender infused oil as a daily scalp massage. Apply and leave on overnight. In the morning, wash hair with a gentle organic shampoo and style as usual.
A daily rinse of lavender water (bring water to a boil, add a few sprigs of lavender, reduce to simmer for 20 minutes, then cool) will impart a delightful fragrance and shine to hair. Apply lavender as a daily rinse after shampooing.
5. Burdock Root Oil
Burdock (Arctium Lappa) root oil, also known as Bur oil is one of the most important herbs used to restore hair. Burdock promotes healthy hair by relieving scalp irritations and improving blood circulation to the hair follicle. Burdock root oil supplies natural phytosterols and important essential fatty acids to hair roots, and has been traditionally used to reduce and reverse hair thinning. It is a key ingredient in many hair restoration treatments.
6. Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) has been used for centuries as both a food staple and as a healing medicinal herb. The herb produces a dark red berry which is dried and then pulverized into a fine powder. Saw palmetto is available in several forms including ointments, capsules, tinctures and teas. Recent scientific studies have shown that Saw Palmetto may have beneficial effects for those suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); male pattern baldness and other conditions associated with excess DHT (male hormone) production.
7. Stinging Nettle
Stinging Nettle (Urtica Diocia), found growing naturalized across America, blocks the conversion of testosterone into DHT. Excessive DHT contributes to hair loss in both men and women. Stinging nettle can be purchased in either pill or capsule form and is said to be more effective when used in combination with saw palmetto. Nettle can be harvested in the wild (use gloves as the leaves are covered with tiny hairs that cause a stinging sensation upon contact with human skin). The fresh leaves can be submersed in olive oil in a glass jar. Seal and place in a cool, dark spot for 2 to 3 weeks. Apply the oil in an invigorating scalp massage. Stinging nettle essential oil is frequently an ingredient in organic shampoos and conditioners.
8. Rosemary
Used for centuries in cultures worldwide to promote hair growth and delay the onset of gray hair, Rosemary oil stimulates blood circulation of the scalp. A refreshing daily rinse of rosemary leaves simmered in water retains hair color. The rinse is most effective on dark hair. A few drops of rosemary oil can be added to olive oil and used as a scalp massage oil.
So interesting! Ladies, have you tried any of these? How do they work on your hair?
i’ve tried rosemary oil which i made myself since i have a huge rosemary bush in my yard. i love the sensation and the smell; i’ve tried so many natural things from various sites, but something’s working because my hair is growing really fast.
I swear by rosemary oil. When I first started my transition and wore my hair straight. I massaged [my scalp] with olive oil infused with rosemary 3 days a week.
Try New KANCHI INDIAN OIL, beleive me or not it works.
to buy here is hint http://www.kanchiindianoil.us
http://www.kanchiindinaoil.us
all natural Indian oil as vitamin and for hair grow
Ooooo, that sounds interesting. How long have you been using rosemary in your hair? I’m interested in growing my hair back out after a drastic hair cut. But I want to do so in a healthy way and form better habits. When it was long I was styling it too much and I rarely saw growth. This time I want to leave it alone, but also keep my scalp healthy with natural products. And if I can make them myself (low budget) all the more better!
Omg what are u using to make ur hair grow really fast, :O I grew mine out for 2 months to have bangs with my hair but the hairstylist chopped my hair hair short and I hate it, I told her not to do that but did it anyways so please help me I really want to get my hair length back so please thank u and how long did for your hair to grow :)
what is omg? means
it means Oh my god.
I’d added peppermint oil to my scalp-massage oil (some coconut/some castor). Seems to help my dry scalp as well as my hair.
Hey! I recognize your name from OHN. Hi!
Peppermint EO feels so good on my scalp. I use a coconut oil/tea tree EO/peppermint EO mix for scalp pre-poos.
Me too! Well not for a pre-poo, but to give my WGO light oil moisturizer a more pleasant smell and help wake up my scalp.
love the pic, i gotta stop by a herbal store
I use Jojoba Oil at the moment but not tried any of the others, Can you use these whilst pregnant?
Definite no on the rosemary and peppermint. As for Lavender I think your supposed to avoid it when pregnant just in case it is in essential oil form. As for the others I not certain. Saw Palmetto if I remember correctly affects hormones so I think it should be no as well.
Aloe vera should be fine though. But you may want to look them up just incase.
How did you make your rosemary oil?
I usually buy fresh rosemary and olive oil, add the rosemary to a jar w/ a tight lid and fill the oil to cover the herb. Cover tightly with a lid and put it in a dark place for a minimum of two weeks. Shake it at least once a week. The longer you leave it, the more potent it will be.
I wrote an article about the ways you can infuse your oils with herbs.
http://www.lillian-mae.com/kitchen-chemist/natural-hair-essentials-olive-oil/
I’d also like to add basil oil to this list. Like rosemary oil, basil oil also stimulates blood circulation and promotes growth. While it’s not an oil, chamomile is also a great hair product. I add dried chamomile to my aloe vera and vegetable glycerin spray.
I’m surprised extra virgin coconut oil isn’t on this list. I could have sworn coconut oil stimulates the scalp and promotes hair grow. Hmp!
*growth
I’d like to add cod liver oil. Not on the hair but as a capsule or oil to drink.
I’m on that for health reasons, but it really does the hair and skin wonders. They say the liquid is best, but take the capsules if the idea of drinking two teaspoons of fish oil makes you scream. =)
My grandmother used to make us take the liquid form and she stood there to make sure we swallowed! It tasted terrible, but we were rarely sick!
I take it now as a supplement as well, in the capsule form :)
my grandmother gave us cod liver oil mixed with lemon juice and honey everytime we had a cold. worked like a charm. sometimes old remedies do better than some of the drugs on the market.
I tried using a few drops of rosemary oil mixed with sweet almond oil once to use on my hair and scalp. I instantly got lightheaded and my head felt really weird. Could that be an allergic reaction?
Rosemary is used as a dream inducer…it’s said to help you astral fly. You have to be VERY light with it. Too much and you’ll have thore affects. Look it up outsode of hair uses.
Also rosemary should not be used if you have certain health conditions, like epilepsy or high blood pressure
ive tried most of the mixes on this list except the wheat germ, aloe and coconut milk combo. They all work really well. I have been using lately an aloe juice/rosewater combo with jojoba oil and herbal extracts of burdock and lavender. Extracts are a bit cheaper than essential oils but they dont have as strong a smell ( also called tinctures). These have worked wonderfully for my scalp and hair. I plan to try that combo this weekend on my hair and let you all know how it goes :)
I deep condition with coconut milk and honey.
What abt black Jamaican Castor Oil? i heard its awesome for hair growth!
has anyone tried to do a rosemary rinse? im just starting the loc’ing process and i heard it good for locs. There should be more post on locs
All those ingredients and much more are fantastic, we use Nettle, Burdock, peppermint in a lot of our products…and jojoba oil is used in the MangoBay Buttercreme, and that is brilliant for hair growth…If any of you are on facebook I’d love for you to see one of our clients hair growth journey after becoming totally bald after Chemo and radiationtherapy…
i donot have face book please is there another website to show the woman with chemo that was bald and her transformation
Thank you ladies for all these valuable reminders. ln my younger years l followed a very natural lifestyle and have since gotten away from t. At this point n my life l am returning to my roots [smile) l will try all of them.
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I love peppermint oil is my favorite and it helps relieve headaches as well.
Thank you so much for taking time to write this article! I will look into these and report my feedback in the upcoming months. I’m interested to see how everything will work for me and my mom. We love natural options!
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Ive recently made a oil mix of olive,grapeseed, coconut & lavender…i had to eleimte the tea tree bc it appeared to give me head sores no matter how diluted it was…now I’ll add a few drops of peppermint. I keep it in a small bottle with a long tip that is perfect for applying it strategically on the scalp so i dont get the mixture all over my hair (i dont want limp greasy hair!)then i watch tv while I massage my scalp for 5-10min. Im trying to incorporate scalp massges more frequently into my regime to help stimulate blood circulation which hopefully will encourage hair growth. I’d considered peppermint but thought it would just cause a tingle but had no real benefits. So glad I read this article!
oh! i forgot also add castor oil bc i heard it has great healthy hair & scalp benefits too.
I have relaxed hair. For growth and conditioning I rely on numerous oils such as Almond oil, Jojoba Oil and Mango Oil.