If you’ve ever wondered why your hair isn’t growing or why your hair may be thinner than it used it be, it could be connected to your scalp health.
A healthy scalp is essential for promoting healthy hair growth. The scalp provides the foundation for healthy hair, and if it’s not in good condition, it can lead to hair breakage, thinning, and hair loss.
Ingredients in hair care products can play a significant role in maintaining the health of hair and scalp. Ingredients such as protein, vitamins, and natural oils can help strengthen, nourish and protect hair, while avoiding harsh chemicals and irritants can help maintain a healthy scalp.
In this article we will outline 10 of the most powerful herbs and ingredients for hair growth so that you can reach your hair goals and feel like this:
#1. Rosemary Extract
Rosemary has been used for centuries for its potential benefits for hair health, including promoting hair growth and treating dandruff. For hair growth, rosemary is thought to increase circulation to the scalp, which in turn can help nourish hair follicles and promote growth. It is also believed to have antiseptic and antimicrobial properties that can help keep the scalp healthy and free from infection, which can lead to hair loss.
How to Use It:
To use rosemary for hair growth and dandruff, you can add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil, and massage it into your scalp. You can also add rosemary leaves to boiling water and let them steep for a few minutes to create a hair rinse that can help improve scalp health. To treat dandruff, you can add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to your shampoo and use it as you normally would. As with any essential oil, it is important to dilute it before use and to patch test on a small area of skin to make sure you don’t have an adverse reaction.
#2. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has anti-fungal and antiseptic properties that can help treat dandruff. Dandruff is often caused by a fungus called malassezia, which can overgrow on the scalp and irritate the skin. Tea tree oil has anti-fungal properties that can help kill off this fungus and reduce the symptoms of dandruff, such as flaking and itching. Additionally, tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe the scalp and reduce redness and irritation.
How to Use It:
To use tea tree oil for dandruff, you can add a few drops of the oil to a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut oil, and massage it into your scalp. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo and use it as you normally would. Also, be sure to patch test the oil on a small area of skin before using it on your scalp to make sure you don’t have any adverse reactions.
#3. Green Tea
Green tea is believed to have several potential benefits for hair growth due to its high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is know for stimulating hair follicles because it contains catechins, a type of antioxidant that can help stimulate hair growth by promoting blood circulation and reducing inflammation in the scalp. This, in turn, can help promote healthy hair growth. The catechins in green tea may also help block the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can contribute to hair loss.
How to Use It:
You can also use green tea as a hair rinse after shampooing your hair. Simply brew a strong cup of green tea and let it cool down, then pour it over your hair and scalp as a final rinse after shampooing. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it out with cool water.
#4. Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is a plant species native to the southeastern United States, particularly in the coastal regions of Florida. The plant produces berries, which are used to make saw palmetto supplements. Some studies suggest that saw palmetto may block the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that has been linked to hair loss.
How to Use It:
You can purchase infuse saw palmetto berries in a carrier oil such as coconut oil or olive oil. Massage the oil into your scalp and hair and leave it on for at least 30 minutes before washing it off with shampoo. Or, you can look for products with saw palmetto in it to get the benefits.
#5. Horsetail Extract
Horsetail leaf extract is rich in silica, a mineral that can help strengthen hair strands and promote hair growth. Silica can also help improve the elasticity and texture of hair. In addition, horsetail leaf extract may help reduce dandruff and other scalp conditions due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Moreover, the high silica content in horsetail leaf extract can also help improve the shine and luster of hair.
How to Use It:
To use horsetail leaf extract topically, you can add a few drops of the extract to your shampoo or conditioner, or mix it with a carrier oil such as coconut or jojoba oil and massage it into your scalp and hair.
#6. Fenugreek
Fenugreek seeds contain several nutrients that can help stimulate hair growth, including protein, iron, and nicotinic acid. These nutrients can help improve blood circulation to the scalp, strengthen hair follicles, and promote healthy hair growth. The antimicrobial properties of fenugreek can help prevent dandruff and other scalp conditions by reducing the growth of bacteria and fungus on the scalp.
How to Use It:
You can soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight to make a paste, which can then be applied to the scalp and hair. Additionally, you can also add fenugreek powder to your hair care routine by mixing it with water or oil to make a hair mask or adding it to your shampoo or conditioner.
#7. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera gel can help soothe and hydrate the scalp, reducing irritation and promoting a healthy environment for hair growth. In addition, aloe vera gel can also help condition hair by improving its texture, reducing frizz, and adding shine. Moreover, aloe vera contains enzymes that can help promote healthy hair growth by removing dead skin cells from the scalp and stimulating blood circulation.
How to Use It:
To use aloe vera as a scalp treatment, simply apply fresh aloe vera gel directly to the scalp and massage it in. Leave it on for about 30 minutes and then rinse it off with a mild shampoo. To use aloe vera as a hair conditioner, mix fresh aloe vera gel with a few drops of your favorite essential oil and apply it to your hair after shampooing. Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse it off with cool water.
#8. Lavender
Lavender essential oil contains compounds that can help promote hair growth by increasing blood circulation to the scalp and strengthening hair follicles. This can help stimulate the growth of new hair and prevent hair loss. The antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties of lavender can help fight scalp infections, including dandruff and fungal infections, by reducing the growth of bacteria and fungi on the scalp.
How to Use It:
To use lavender for hair growth and a healthy scalp, you can mix a few drops of lavender essential oil with a carrier oil, such as coconut or jojoba oil, and massage it into the scalp and hair. You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your shampoo or conditioner.
#9. Burdock Root
Burdock root contains several compounds that can help improve scalp health by reducing inflammation and irritation. This can help prevent scalp conditions such as dandruff and psoriasis. Burdock root contains inulin, a type of fiber that can help stimulate hair growth by improving blood circulation to the scalp and strengthening hair follicles.
How to Use It:
To use burdock root for a healthy scalp and hair, you can make a tea by boiling burdock root in water for several minutes and then straining it. You can then apply the tea to your scalp and hair, or drink it as a tea. Burdock root can also be taken as a supplement or used topically in the form of a hair mask or scalp treatment.
#10. Bhringraj
Bhringraj (Eclipta alba) is an herb that has been used in traditional medicine in India for centuries. It is believed to have several potential benefits for hair and scalp health. Bhringraj is rich in nutrients such as iron, vitamin E, and antioxidants that can help nourish hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth. In addition, bhringraj can also help reduce hair fall by strengthening hair follicles and reducing scalp inflammation.
How to Use It:
You can make a Bhringraj hair oil by mixing Bhringraj powder with a carrier oil, such as coconut or sesame oil, and applying it to your scalp and hair. Leave it on for a few hours or overnight and then wash it off with a mild shampoo. Bhringraj hair oil can be used once or twice a week for best results.
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Brandelyn Green is the Founder of VoiceOfHair, a platform to help women of color find the best hair care products, regimens and hairstyles! Since starting VoiceOfHair in 2014 she has grown the social media platform to over 1MM+ on Instagram and Facebook. As a natural who is also a salon goer, she wanted to create a platform where people could find the best products, hairstylists, advice and trends.
