This is a refreshing and growth stimulating essential oil mask. If you have course or thick hair, you may need to substitute a heavier oil, like olive or coconut. My hair is fine, so I prefer to use carrier oils that don’t take several shampooing’s to remove. In either case, the recipe is the same regardless of the carrier oils you choose. Whenever you use essential oils in skin or hair care, it’s really important to do patch tests. This one doesn’t contain oils that are known to be irritating at full strength, except for the optional lemon oil which is only recommended for brightening blonde.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 tablespoons of avocado oil
• 1.5 tablespoons of almond oil
• 10 drops of lavender
• 7 drops of peppermint
• 10 drops of rosemary
• 5 drops of cypress
• 5 drops of basil
• (Optional for blondes) 5 drops of lemon
• (Optional) shower cap

After you’ve done a patch test, massage the oil into your scalp and hair. Wait for at least 30 minutes until washing. I left mine on for a little over an hour and used a shower cap to increase absorption. Shampoo it out, then enjoy brighter, rejuvenated hair!

The process is pretty straightforward, but there’s a reason these particular oils are good for hair growth. Rosemary and Peppermint are both commonly used to spur new growth because of their stimulating properties. Both are known to increase blood circulation and flow. Rosemary has the added benefit of calming an itchy scalp and at least one study has shown it to be as effective as Rogaine in treating hair loss. Peppermint was also compared to Rogaine in a clinical study and outperformed it in treating hair loss. I will note that these studies do not necessarily mean that either oil should be used as a replacement for hair loss treatment. Research into the effectiveness of essential oils is in its infancy, and I take most of it as showing that they aren’t doing any harm and are at the least doing some good.

Lavender has numerous hair and skin benefits. It’s antimicrobial, meaning it kills and prevents fungus and bacterial growth. It helps calm inflammation, and the relaxing scent has proven to actually relax people (go figure). Lavender was shown to increase hair growth on lab mice in a 2016 study, so it has those growth stimulating properties as well. Cypress oil improves blood circulation, but it also acts as an astringent. So, while it is increasing the circulation on your scalp, it’s also tightening your follicles and preventing hair loss. Basil oil is related to peppermint, so it carries similar stimulating properties and sensations. I mainly added it because I like the smell and wanted another mint variety in the mix. It’s rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, so even though I didn’t have a great reason to add it, I’m pretty sure it made my hair shinier. Tea tree is another from the mint family that you can substitute for basil if you prefer that scent. I don’t know if it was the lemon or the mask in general, but my hair was brighter, bouncier, and softer after using this mask recipe. If you’re looking for new hair grow fast or just want to keep from losing what you have, try using this treatment once or twice a week.