Enhance the Quality of your Scalp Massage with Essential Oils
A pliable, stimulated, and invigorated scalp is a truly healthy scalp, and regular scalp massages are great for increasing the flow of blood and nutrients to this region. However, a scalp massage is not truly a scalp massage without the help of essential oils. This article will offer information on these essential oils and explain the benefits of using essential oils for your scalp massages.
What Are They?
Essential oils are lightweight, volatile oils with high capabilities for scalp and skin penetration These special oils stand apart from their heavier oil counterparts because of their small molecular sizes and structures. Many essential oils have wonderful scalp stimulating properties that together with your own manual scalp stimulation, enhance the results of your regular scalp massages. Examples of common essential oils include: peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and thyme.
Essential oils have been used for centuries to cure illnesses and heal common ailments. They are not only good for massage, but work well added to regular products in your healthy hair care regimen. A few drops of an essential oil can spice up a drab shampoo or a boring moisturizer. Essential oils work by stimulating your sense of smell as well as your sense of touch and feeling. Essential oils produce a gentle warming sensation on the scalp that increases circulation to that area. This increased circulation nourishes the hair follicles in the region by encouraging the flow of nutrients from the blood. Because essential oils evaporate easily and penetrate the scalp skin unlike other oils that are made of larger, non-penetrating molecules, essential oils do not work very well for sealing in moisturizers.
Women who are pregnant or nursing should take special care to note which essential oils are not recommended for use during these times. Please consult with your physician before you start using any stimulating essential oils.
Using Essential Oils
Essential oils are extremely potent and only should be used 3-4 drops at a time. When used on the scalp and other sensitive skin areas, the essential oil must be diluted with a thicker oil to prevent irritation. This thicker oil is called a “carrier oil” because it carries or holds the essential oil. It is very important that you DO NOT USE ESSENTIAL OILS DIRECTLY ON THE SKIN WITHOUT A PROPER CARRIER OIL. Burning, irritation, and skin discomfort may occur from using these essential oils without a buffer. Lavender oil can be used without a carrier, but many essential oils work better with carrier oils.
Proper dilution is the key. You do not want to dilute the essential oils too much in your carrier or the benefits of the essential oil will be lost. However you need just enough carrier oil to prevent burning or irritation from the strong essential oil. My personal dilutions involve ¼- ½ cup of carrier oil to up to 8-10 drops of essential oils (2-3 drops of each oil). You should slowly add your essential oils to your carrier oil, testing between drops, to insure the proper dilution for your personal tolerance level is met. Once you are comfortable and know the essential oils you are working with pretty well- you’ll be able to interchange them and change the dilutions with relative ease.
Also, warming your carrier oil before hand will enhance your scalp massage experience! Gently place your vial of carrier oil into a bowl of warm water for 2-3 minutes. Do not use the microwave! Only a gentle heating is needed. Then, add your drops of essential oil. Finally, proceed with your warm essential oil massage.
Below, you will find a list of some recommended Essential oils for Hair care:
Rosemary Oil
Peppermint Oil
Thyme
Ylang Ylang
Lavender
Jasmine
Cedarwood Oil
Carriers:
Jojoba
Sesame
Sweet Almond Oil
Olive
Soybean
Almond
This list of essential oils is by no means exhaustive. There are many, may varieties of oils you try! Just check your local health foods store or visit essential oil vendors online to see which oils are available to you.
Storage and Care
Essential oils will keep for years. Keep your oils stored in a cool, dry place. Make sure that your essential oil storage bottles are composed of a dark glass that is impermeable to harmful sunlight (or does not readily allow sunlight to pass through). Sunlight denatures and damages essential oils, causing them to lose their effectiveness and potency. Proper storage and care will ensure an optimal shelf life for your essential oils.
Your Essential Oil Scalp Massage!
Gently apply your essential oil mixture to the pads of your fingers, and massage the oil mixture into the scalp for 5-10 minutes. Make certain that you are not rubbing or messing your hair around during your scalp massage. The pads of your fingers should be firmly planted on the scalp skin, and you should maneuver them in a circular, squeezing, or kneading motion. The skin itself should be manipulated without disturbing the orientation of the hair. Next, you can either rinse out the essential oils and wash your hair or proceed directly with styling. These essential oil massages can be done nightly for increased circulation to the scalp in order to reduce thinning and promote healthy hair growth
