Are you concerned with hair loss, shedding and weaker strands and aiming to find a nourishing scalp oil? You’re taking the right step forward when looking for scalp hydration. We checked in with board-certified dermatologists, doctors and hair specialists to learn more about finding an oil that protects hair from thinning, that helps avoid further hair loss, and that stimulates hair growth.
We checked in with Dr. Yoram Harth, board-certified dermatologist and Medical Director of MDhair, who shed light on the two essential types of hair oils and serums, depending on the texture, type and thinness of one’s hair strands.
We also caught up with Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, who provided helpful guidelines to take into account while selecting a new scalp serum or hair oil.
Both experts stressed that for the ideal recommendation, it is wise to get personalized advice from a dermatologist. In the meantime, here are some pointers for finding hair and scalp oils:
The 2 Main Scalp Oil Types for Healthy Hair and Preventing Hair Loss
There are "two main types of hair oils," Harth explains. 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.
Scalp oils, "particularly those designed as scalp treatment serums," can be "beneficial for thin, fine hair," he continues. These oils are "formulated to promote scalp health, nourish the hair follicles, and stimulate blood circulation in the scalp," he goes on.
Harth stresses 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 recommends.
Abdullah agrees, and suggests rosemary and/ or peppermint oils for your scalp if you're looking for a natural product as a beginner to oiling in your haircare routine.
Rosemary oil "works against the hair loss hormone DHT," she says, and "the hairline and crown are common areas of thinning for women with hair loss that's related to age."
"Rosemary oil seems to work better in those areas," she continues. 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 says.
"You can add a few drops of rosemary to counter DHT and peppermint to stimulate the hair follicles," she points out. Still, she reiterates, "it will take time before you see results."
The Bottom Line
Harth suggests "using a combination of plant-based scalp treatment serums like MDhair regrowth serum and another type of oil to apply often to the hair strands, like MDhair's peptide hair repair oil."
Overall, he concludes, whether you choose to try out an oil, lotion or combination, it's no secret that hydrating your scalp and taking extra time to care for your hair will only benefit your tresses (and help them fight against loss and thinning!)
