ESSENTIAL OILS FOR DRY SCALP & GENTLE HAIR CONDITIONING MASK
A dry, flaky scalp can be a harmless issue, but it can become bothersome if it leads to itchiness and embarrassing when others notice the white flakes. Here are some natural remedy suggestions, including essential oils that can help alleviate dry scalp.
TREATING DRY, ITCHY SCALP NATURALLY
First, it’s important to distinguish between dry skin and dandruff. While some remedies may help both conditions, dandruff is more complex and requires a different approach.
Dandruff is typically caused by excess oil, resulting in larger, yellowish flakes that are more difficult to remove. An unpleasant odor may also accompany dandruff. If this is your concern, you may need to consider more intensive treatments.
Once you’ve established that you’re dealing with a dry scalp, it’s helpful to identify the underlying cause of the dryness. While you can start using essential oils for dry scalp right away, understanding the root cause can help prevent recurring issues.
Some common causes of a dry scalp include:
Stress
Poor diet
Dehydration
Seasonal changes and climate (such as cold, dry winter air or excessive sunlight in summer)
Harsh chemicals in shampoos, conditioners, styling products, or other hair treatments
Hormonal changes
I recommend being cautious with dandruff shampoos, as the chemicals in these products may exacerbate dry scalp conditions.
BEST ESSENTIAL OILS FOR DRY SCALP
These essential oils are renowned for their ability to cleanse the sensitive skin of the scalp and enhance hair conditioning. This list serves as an excellent starting point to discover which oils work best with your unique body chemistry.
Lavender: Known as one of the best oils for skin care, lavender essential oil is gentle yet potent, featuring antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
Tea Tree: This oil promotes healing of the scalp thanks to its antifungal properties and can also stimulate hair growth.
Rosemary: With its antioxidant and antibacterial characteristics, rosemary stimulates the scalp and may promote hair growth.
Cedarwood: This earthy oil combats bacteria and fungi with its antiseptic properties, adding shine to hair and serving as a heat protectant.
Lemongrass: A popular cleansing oil, lemongrass essential oil is effective for oily hair and helps strengthen hair follicles. It also boasts anti-inflammatory and detoxifying benefits.
A simple apple cider vinegar hair rinse can sometimes provide just what you need to balance your scalp’s skin, eliminate any bacteria contributing to dry scalp issues, and improve your hair’s texture. For many, this may be the only natural hair treatment needed in their routine. Here is a recipe for making apple cider vinegar at home that you can refer to.
Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Author: Mama Z
Ingredients
⅓ cup organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
1⅓ cups purified or distilled water
30-48 drops of essential oils*
Instructions
Combine one part apple cider vinegar with four parts water and add your choice of essential oils.
Pour the mixture into a squeeze bottle or a repurposed shampoo bottle.
After shampooing, apply the rinse to clean, wet hair in the shower.
Gently massage it into your scalp and the roots of your hair, allowing it to soak for 3-5 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly. You may find that you don’t need to use as much conditioner after this treatment.
Notes: The ratio for this recipe is 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. Feel free to adjust the quantities as needed for your family.
*Recommended essential oils include lavender, tea tree, cedarwood, lemongrass, and rosemary. Use about 15-20 drops per cup.
If your dry scalp requires more intensive moisturizing, this natural hair and scalp treatment is just what you need! Customize the essential oils to find the perfect match for your skin. Keep in mind that it may take a few applications and some time to heal your scalp. Here’s Mama Z’s at-home hair mask recipe for you to try!
NATURAL HAIR MASK TREATMENT
INGREDIENTS
4 tablespoons aloe vera gel
2 tablespoons organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon carrier oil or raw organic local honey*
24-30 drops of your choice of essential oils**
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all the ingredients to create a hair treatment mixture.
Apply the natural hair mask to your scalp, ensuring it penetrates the skin to help eliminate bacteria and flakes.
Start at the crown of your head or your natural part, working the mask down your scalp. A wide-tooth comb can help distribute the mask effectively if needed.
Cover your head with a shower cap or a clean towel, allowing the mask to soak in for 15-20 minutes or as long as desired.
Rinse thoroughly and shampoo or condition as usual, though you may find you don’t need as much conditioner after this treatment.
Notes:
Follow this mask with my Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse to balance your hair’s pH and remove any excess product. Use an organic, unscented conditioner on the ends of your hair.
I recommend using a scalp massager to thoroughly work the hair mask into your scalp. For extra care, you can use a Nix lice comb to remove any leftover particles from your hair and scalp.
To complete your hair care routine, consider applying our Hair Regrowth Gel.
*Avoid coconut oil, as it can dry out the skin. Opt for jojoba, argan, almond, or olive oil instead; jojoba is particularly good for adding shine. Honey is also a great option for moisturizing and can help tame frizz.
**Suggested essential oils include cedarwood, lavender, lemongrass, tea tree, and rosemary. My favorite blend is equal parts peppermint, rosemary, and tea tree.
This treatment makes for a wonderful weekly ritual, especially while you unwind in a detox bath or simply to rejuvenate your scalp’s skin.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, essential oils offer a natural and effective solution for addressing dry scalp and promoting healthy hair. By carefully selecting oils like lavender, rosemary, tea tree, and peppermint, you can create a gentle yet potent hair conditioning mask tailored to your specific needs. Remember to always conduct a patch test before using essential oils on your scalp, and dilute them properly with a carrier oil to avoid irritation. With consistent use, this DIY hair mask can help nourish your scalp, reduce dandruff, and leave your hair feeling soft, shiny, and revitalized. Embrace the power of nature and unlock the transformative potential of essential oils for your hair care routine.
DIY LAVENDER SALVE: A SOOTHING BALM FOR SKIN AND MIND
Lavender salve is a versatile and effective topical remedy that can be easily made at home. It offers a range of benefits, including: Skin healing: Soothes irritation, moisturizes dry skin, and can help heal acne, scrapes, and eczema; Stress relief: The calming aroma of lavender is scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
Making lavender salve is surprisingly simple. If you’ve followed along with our previous tutorials on calendula or cannabis salve, you’ll find many familiar steps. However, lavender offers its own unique set of benefits. Let’s get started on creating your own soothing lavender salve!
What is Lavender Salve?
Not familiar with salve? Simply put, a salve is a healing solution applied to the skin, which can take the form of creams, ointments, or balms. Typically, salves are thick, shelf-stable, and contain nourishing oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, or sweet almond oil.
In addition to a base oil (or a blend of them), salves usually incorporate natural waxes or butters to help bind the ingredients and give them a semi-solid consistency at room temperature. Beeswax is a popular binding agent due to its availability, ease of use (especially in pastille form), and ability to create smooth, cohesive results.
If you prefer a vegan alternative to beeswax, check the ingredient list below for recommended substitutions. When you incorporate lavender-infused oil (or lavender essential oil) into a salve recipe, you create a delightful lavender salve, enriched with the medicinal benefits of lavender.
Lavender-infused oil vs. lavender essential oils
When you glance at the concise ingredient list below, you’ll notice our preference for a blend of homemade lavender-infused oil and a dash of lavender essential oil in our lavender salve recipe.
But what’s the difference? Lavender-infused oil is made by steeping dried lavender flowers in a carrier oil of your choice for a period of time. This process allows the natural essential oils from the lavender to be drawn out and infused into the carrier oil, which is then strained. In contrast, lavender essential oils, often found in small bottles, are produced through a distillation extraction process, which is typically done on a large industrial scale. While some hobbyists use small distillation stills at home, it’s not the most common method for making essential oils.
We love using lavender-infused oil because it utilizes our homegrown lavender and adds a personal touch along with an extra boost of natural lavender scent to the salve. However, if you prefer, you can also create lavender salve using plain oil and essential oils. If you’d like to make lavender-infused oil for this salve recipe, check out our instructions for preparing homemade lavender oil, and then return to the recipe once it’s ready!
The Health Benefits of Lavender
The soothing yet cheerful aroma of lavender is both calming and uplifting, making it a favorite for promoting relaxation. Scientific studies have shown that lavender can effectively reduce anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia, helping individuals find peace in their daily lives.
Beyond its calming effects, lavender boasts powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, making it a versatile ingredient in natural remedies. It is well-known for deterring pest insects such as mosquitoes and flies, which is why many natural insect repellents include lavender in their formulations.
Additionally, lavender has remarkable healing capabilities. It can relieve pain and itching while promoting new cell growth, aiding in the repair of damaged skin tissue and healing wounds. In her book Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide, Rosemary Gladstar highlights lavender’s effectiveness in treating a variety of infections, including staph, strep, colds, flus, ringworm, and yeast infections. She also notes its ability to ease headaches and migraines, further showcasing its extensive benefits.
With its multitude of uses, lavender is not just a delightful fragrance; it’s a powerful ally in both physical and emotional well-being.
What can lavender salve be used for?
While lavender is often utilized in culinary and medicinal applications, its true gift lies in its ability to soothe our skin and nerves. You may have noticed that lavender features prominently in many natural skincare products, and it’s not just for its delightful fragrance! When applied topically, lavender can alleviate, heal, or treat a wide range of skin issues. Enter homemade lavender salve!
This versatile salve can be applied to irritated skin to reduce swelling, redness, and discomfort. It effectively addresses conditions such as rashes, bug bites, burns (including sunburn), acne, scrapes, eczema, stings, scars, and psoriasis. I find it particularly soothing after shaving, helping to prevent or treat razor burn, and it also calms the small rashes I sometimes get from brushing against certain plants in the garden.
Beyond treating ailments, homemade lavender salve is an excellent remedy for everyday issues like chapped lips, rough elbows and feet, or dry hands, providing essential moisture. After a long day of gardening, I love applying it to my dry, cracked cuticles!
If you’re looking for a natural way to unwind, simply dab some lavender salve on your temples, neck, wrists, and under your nose, then take a few deep breaths. The calming aromatherapy properties of lavender can help you relax, enhance your meditation or yoga practice, or prepare for a restful night’s sleep. I keep a tin on my bedside nightstand and often reach for it in the middle of the night when my mind is racing.
Lavender oil is generally safe for children and babies, making homemade lavender salve ideal for addressing issues like diaper rash or cradle cap. In fact, one study even found that lavender oil may help alleviate colic! Just remember never to use undiluted essential oils directly on the skin, and always double-check the safety of your other salve ingredients for use with infants.
Finally, lavender salve can also assist in shrinking skin ulcers, softening the appearance of scars, and reducing the swelling and discomfort associated with varicose veins.
If you’re skeptical, take a look at these testimonials from our satisfied customers who have experienced remarkable results with our Homestead and Chill organic lavender salve. People have found relief from various skin issues, including cystic acne and persistent large rashes that resisted other treatments. I am genuinely delighted and humbled by this positive feedback. It reinforces my commitment to helping individuals lead their most naturally healthy lives—this is the very reason I started this journey!
Now, without further ado, let’s dive into the process of making your very own lavender salve! Here’s a simple guide to creating a soothing, effective salve at home.
HOMEMADE LAVENDER SALVE RECIPE
INGREDIENTS FOR LAVENDER SALVE
Lavender-Infused Oil: 1 cup (8 ounces)
OR 1 cup of your preferred carrier oil (like jojoba, olive, sweet almond, sunflower, or coconut oil) with additional lavender essential oils. To help you choose, check out our article on lavender oils, which details the unique benefits of various carrier oils.
Beeswax Pastilles: 3 to 4 tablespoons (approximately 1 ounce if using shaved, block, or other forms of beeswax)
Note: If you decide to add shea butter, you can use only 3 level tablespoons of beeswax. If you skip the shea butter, use 4 tablespoons of beeswax.
Vegan Alternatives: Consider soy wax or candelilla wax.
Lavender Essential Oils (EOs):
When using lavender-infused oil as your base, add about 20-25 drops of organic lavender essential oil per cup of oil for a delightful scent that isn’t overpowering.
If you’re using only essential oils, you can add up to 12 drops of lavender EOs per fluid ounce of carrier oil (up to 96 drops per cup). This is the maximum recommended amount based on a safe dilution ratio of 2%. It’s best to start with half that amount and adjust according to your scent preference.
Optional Ingredients:
Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter: 2 tablespoons
This adds rich moisture and essential nutrients to your salve.
Other Essential Oils: Add a few drops of complementary essential oils, such as chamomile, rose, pink grapefruit, lemon, rosemary, sweet orange, ylang ylang, bergamot, geranium, or sandalwood. Experiment with different blends to create a custom scent, each with its unique benefits.
These ingredients come together to create a soothing and healing lavender salve perfect for various skin needs!
Other Supplies Needed
Double Boiler:
You can use a traditional double boiler or create a makeshift version. For example, place a smaller pot or a glass Pyrex or stainless steel bowl on top of a saucepan filled with water.
Using a double boiler is crucial to prevent overheating the volatile lavender essential oils, which can diminish their healing properties.
Storage Containers:
Small glass jars or salve tins are needed for storing your finished product.
Common choices include 2-ounce amber glass jars for personal use or gifts, and larger 4-ounce jars. For easy shipping, consider using 2-ounce salve tins.
Recipe Yield
The quantities provided will yield just over 1 cup of finished salve (approximately 10 ounces, or five 2-ounce tins).
Feel free to scale the recipe up or down as needed. A general guideline for salve is to use about 1 part beeswax/butter to approximately 4-7 parts oil. A higher beeswax-to-oil ratio results in a firmer salve, while using less beeswax creates a softer consistency.
Note on Quality Ingredients
When making salve, herbal oils, or other homemade body care products, it’s essential to use high-quality ingredients. Opting for certified organic options is even better.
Aim to create a healing medicinal product. For instance, use virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed oils whenever possible. Avoid lesser-quality oils that are extracted with solvents, which can introduce contaminants like hexane—known to be a neurological toxin.
Be cautious with non-organic essential oils; as the natural oils in the plant become concentrated in essential oils, so do any pesticides or contaminants present on the plant.
Using high-quality, organic ingredients ensures that your lavender salve is not only effective but also safe for your skin. Enjoy the process of creating a natural remedy that promotes healing and well-being!
INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING LAVENDER SALVE
Prepare Storage Containers:
Have your salve tins, glass jars, or any storage containers ready for the lavender salve.
Set Up Double Boiler:
In the top portion of a double boiler (or a makeshift double boiler), combine 1 cup of lavender-infused oil (or your chosen carrier oil) and 3 to 4 level tablespoons of beeswax (refer to the sliding scale notes above).
If you’re using it, also add 2 tablespoons of shea butter at this point.
Add Water:
Fill the bottom portion of the double boiler with enough water so that the top bowl or pot is resting in the water. This helps create a gentle heat for melting.
Heat the Mixture:
Place the double boiler on the stovetop and heat it over medium-low heat. It’s important to avoid overheating the lavender oil more than necessary to melt the beeswax.
Melt and Combine:
Monitor the mixture closely and stir it routinely until the beeswax (and shea butter, if added) is completely melted. Once fully melted, stir to combine thoroughly.
Remove from Heat:
Immediately take the mixture off the heat once everything is melted and well combined.
Add Essential Oils:
After removing the salve from heat, add the lavender essential oils. Essential oils are volatile and dissipate quickly when exposed to high temperatures, so it’s important to add them at this stage. Whisk the mixture to ensure even distribution.
Pour into Containers:
While the mixture is still hot, carefully pour the liquid lavender salve into your prepared containers. If it starts to solidify while you’re filling the containers, place it back on medium-low heat until it liquifies again.
Cool and Harden:
Set the filled lavender salve containers aside with the lids off, allowing them to fully cool and harden.
Enjoy Your Salve:
Once cooled and set, enjoy your homemade lavender salve for healthy, moisturized skin! Use clean fingers or a salve spoon to collect a small amount and apply as needed. Remember, a little goes a long way!
Feel free to customize your salve with different essential oils or carrier oils to suit your personal preferences. Happy crafting!
CONCLUSION
I hope you’re feeling inspired and ready to create your own healing homemade lavender salve! It’s a personal favorite of ours and makes for a thoughtful gift for loved ones, whether for a special occasion or just because. For storage, keep your salve containers in a cool, dark place. I like to keep one accessible for daily use while storing the others in a cabinet. Homemade lavender salve can last for several years, although its medicinal potency may gradually diminish over time. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments below! And once you’ve made your own, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to share this post with others. Thank you for reading!
