If you deal with d
andruff, or a scalp that’s prone to flaking, you may have found yourself wondering what essential oils will help to prevent flaking, itchiness, and other similar pesky dry scalp problems.
Thankfully, when it comes to essential oils for dandruff, there are a lot of great-smelling options to try. Remember, essential oils are strong, and in their undiluted form, can cause skin or scalp irritation. Always combine a drop or two of one of the below essential oils with four ounces of your preferred carrier oil (common choices include olive oil, coconut oil, or jojoba oil) before applying to your scalp.
Here are six of the best essential oils to start with.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Its antibacterial properties are the reason that, according to the Mayo Clinic, it’s commonly used to treat acne, athlete’s foot, lice, nail fungus, and insect bites. Its antibacterial and antifungal properties are what also makes it a popular choice to fight against dandruff.
Where to Get It
Tea Tree Essential Oil from Plant Therapy has a distinctive, woodsy fragrance, making it ideal in uses, such as homemade cleaning products, beauty and hair products, and for potentially reducing dandruff flakes or an itchy scalp.
Frankincense Essential Oil
Even if you don’t have dandruff, you still may deal with a dry scalp (especially in the winter.) Combining frankincense essential oil with four ounces of castor oil, and applying this mixture to your scalp after a shampoo, may help support regulating your scalp’s moisture, which may cut down on the itchiness of a dry scalp.
Where to Get It
Frankincense CO2 Essential Oil from Simplers Botanicals is a crucial addition to your anti-itch arsenal. Not only can you use it to fight dandruff, but frankincense is also a popular addition to formulations used to combat mature and dry skin.
Geranium Essential Oil
For those bothered by a dry scalp rather than dandruff, geranium is another essential oil you may want to have on hand. Geranium essential oil has been studied for its use in supporting cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, as it helps ease one of chemotherapy’s uncomfortable symptoms, nasal vestibulitis, which causes the lining of the nostrils to become “excessively tender, bleed, and form scabs.” Those same properties may be what makes it so soothing to your scalp.
Where to Get It
Geranium Essential Oil from NOW Foods is an aromatherapy-based essential oil made from nothing but pure 100% geranium oil, making it ideal for everything from aromatherapy to skin problems – including a scalp prone to dandruff flakes.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint oil is used in many natural health formulations. That’s because it is believed to have anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and natural analgesic properties, which makes it an ideal ingredient to help support scalp health as you fight both the causes and the symptoms of dandruff and flaking.
Where to Get It
Another of Plant Therapy’s many-use essential oils is Peppermint Essential Oil. When you aren’t using it in formulations to help prevent scalp flaking, it’s a great scent that you can diffuse to promote alertness and energy.
Rosemary Essential Oil
It’s not just flakes that can cause you problems. Dandruff can also cause or be accompanied by excess scalp oil. That’s why rosemary oil, which is believed to have antifungal, astringent, and decongestant properties, can help support you as you fight the origins of dandruff.
Where to Get It
Dilute a few drops of Rosemary Organic Essential Oil from Dr. Mercola into your favorite organic carrier oil to make a fresh, warmly scented scalp treatment for dandruff. Add a few drops to your diffuser to fill any room in the house with its uplifting, purifying scent.
Cedarwood Essential Oil
Lastly, cedarwood oil has anti-inflammatory and cleansing properties that may help to regulate redness, irritation, and dry skin that can come with dandruff. It can also help your hair and scalp to get squeaky clean in the process.
Where to Get It
Cedarwood oil is just one of the essential oils in Sweet Sleep Essential Oil Blend from Touch of Earth. This formula also contains lavender, mandarin, clary sage, and Roman chamomile oils. All of these can help to support scalp health. But you’ll want to keep it close at the end of the day, too. These essential oils may have calming properties that will help support easing you into a restful sleep at the end of the day.
What essential oils for dandruff, or to prevent flaking do you love?
