Flat, dull hair can be frustrating, often signaling a need for extra care and nourishment. Hair oils are a powerful solution, offering essential nutrients to restore shine, promote growth, and enhance volume. Certain oils work wonders by stimulating the scalp, strengthening hair strands, and providing deep hydration.
Read on for tips from Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles and Dr. Yoram Harth, MD, board-certified dermatologist and medical director of MDhair. According to them, rosemary, peppermint, and pumpkin seed oil are the best options. Read on to learn more.
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 said to start "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 reveals.
Abdullah also suggests "using this solution twice daily." However, she advises not to start "expecting to see results overnight," as it often takes "at least six months" to see hair regrowth. "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 explains.
Harth elaborates and says that "a healthy scalp environment can lead to improved hair growth and a reduction in hair loss." According to him, the best scalp oils or scalp treatment serums should "include DHT blockers that help reduce the effects of DHT on the hair follicles," he notes.
2. Peppermint Oil
The second effective oil that can help with stronger, thicker, and healthier strands is peppermint oil. In fact, applying 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.
Regarding 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
Abdullah also suggests trying a "pumpkin seed oil" for your hair and scalp because it has been "scientifically proven to grow more hair and aid those who have thinning hair."
She further notes, "The best oil for thickening hair is pumpkin seed oil. It 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."
