Being proactive in addressing hair thinning concerns is crucial for maintaining healthy locks, especially during the harsh winter months.
Seeking guidance from dermatologists, doctors, and hair specialists, we have identified three hair and scalp oils that provide nourishing benefits to protect your tresses from thinning, promote growth, and minimize further hair loss.
Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Dr. Yoram Harth, MD, board-certified dermatologist and Medical Director of MDhair, as well as hair expert and cosmetologist Ghanima Abdullah of The Right Hairstyles.
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3 Essential Hair & Scalp Oils To Nourish Your Mane This Winter
1. Rosemary Oil
According to Abdullah, rosemary oil "works against the hair loss hormone DHT," and "the hairline and crown are common areas of thinning for women with hair loss that's related to age." She advises "adding a few drops of rosemary oil to a 4 ounce bottle of lotion." Lotion works just as well (if not better) than oil for some women with thicker textures because it "absorbs quicker into the skin," she explains.
Abdullah recommends "using this solution twice daily." She stresses not "expecting to see results overnight," as it often takes "at least six months" to see hair regrowth at the crown. "If you're not sure what type of hair loss you have, use more than one essential oil [on its own or in] your lotion," she recommends.
Harth adds that "a healthy scalp environment can lead to improved hair growth and a reduction in hair loss." The best scalp oils or scalp treatment serums would "include DHT blockers that help reduce the effects of DHT on the hair follicles," he notes. (Keep an eye out for this on your product's label!)
2. Peppermint Oil
Another oil that often leads to stronger, thicker and healthier strands is peppermint oil, Abdullah shares. Using this along with rosemary oil can "stimulate the hair follicles, and hydrolyzed protein and collagen can help fortify the hair shaft against damage and breakage," she says.
When it comes to haircare products as a beginner, Harth says that "particularly those designed as scalp treatment serums," can be "beneficial for thin, fine hair." These oils, like many rosemary and peppermint-infused options, are "formulated to promote scalp health, nourish the hair follicles, and stimulate blood circulation in the scalp."
3. Pumpkin Seed Oil
When it comes to thickening thinner, finer or weaker strands, Abdullah deems pumpkin seed oil to be her favorite option. "This oil puts more hair follicles into the hair growth phase, which means you can see thicker hair near the roots in as little as three weeks," she says. She adds that "pumpkin seed oil is also moisturizing," which means that "it can help stop hair breakage when used correctly."
For those seeking to promote hair growth while firstly increasing the thickness of their strands, Abdullah suggests integrating pumpkin seed oil into their evening regimen. "Before bed, massage a few drops of pumpkin seed oil into the scalp," she suggests. "Really focus on the areas where you’re experiencing thinning." Once you’ve finished massaging, Abdullah says to then "use your fingers to smooth the oil down your hair shaft, and then brush your hair for complete, but light, distribution."
The Bottom Line
There are "two main types of hair oils," Harth concludes. Whether you're noticing hair loss or thinning or just want to prevent this from happening, Harth says that using two different kind of oils in your routine is best.
The first is "applied to the scalp skin and intended to help with scalp health and hair regrowth," he notes. This is called a scalp treatment serum. "The second type of hair oil is applied to the hair strands and is intended to help strengthen the strands and reduce breakage and split ends," he adds.
Rosemary, pumpkin seed, and peppermint oil are common ingredients found in both types. Harth advises that nourishing your scalp and paying extra attention to hair care can result in remarkable benefits such as combating hair loss and thinning, regardless of whether you choose oil, lotion, or a combination of the two.
