There’s no beauty blunder quite like shedding hair. Think about it; if your makeup looks cakey, you can just reach for an exfoliator. If your eyelashes appear dull and lifeless, you can swipe on a few coats of lengthening mascara. But if your hair is thinning, shedding or even falling out in droves, you can’t exactly pop into your medicine cabinet and pull out a product for a quick fix... or can you?
Although there’s no magic button (or product!) to prevent or fix hair loss, you can help stimulate hair growth and hair follicles by adopting a scalp health routine — and applying essential oils for hair growth can help.
In fact, trichologists, doctors and cosmetologists agree that essential oils can help to stimulate hair growth in the scalp.
“Yes, essential oils can support hair growth — but I always like to frame them as part of a bigger picture,” explains Dr. Ross Kopelman, a hair transplant surgeon who works in both Palm Beach, Florida and New York City. “As a hair surgeon, I treat hair loss medically and surgically every day, so I’ve seen firsthand that while essential oils aren’t a cure-all, certain ones do show real promise.”
Read on for everything you need to know about essential oils for hair growth and a few expert-approved tips and picks.
Can essential oils help hair growth?
It turns out oils themselves do not cause hair growth or regrowth; what they can do is help calm, hydrate and care for the scalp environment so that hair can have the opportunity to grow healthily and naturally.
“Oils like rosemary, peppermint, and tea tree have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and vasodilating [helps widen blood cells] properties, which can create a healthier scalp environment and, in some cases, stimulate growth — particularly in early thinning or as a maintenance tool,” says Kopelman.
“Rosemary oil in particular has some encouraging data showing comparable results to minoxidil when used consistently over time," he continues. However, Kopelman says, "I wouldn’t use oils as a replacement for medical treatments," but he does "see them as a great adjunct."
Essential oil ingredients to look for
There are a few ingredients to look for when choosing an essential oil for hair growth:
- Rosemary, peppermint, tea tree oil: Kopelman says these oils have anti-inflammatory properties which can help calm and heal an irritated scalp. They also have “vasodilating properties, which can create a healthier scalp environment and, in some cases, stimulate growth — particularly in early thinning or as a maintenance tool,” says Kopelman.
- Saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil: According to Robertson, “saw palmetto [can help] block DHT, which is a hormone linked to hair loss.” Kopelman says pumpkin seed oil can also help block DHT.
The best essential oil products for hair growth, according to experts and editors
Best peppermint oil: Gya Labs Peppermint Oil
- Affordable
- Good quality
- Helps reduce itchiness
- Smell may be very strong
Product Specs
Size: 1.02 oz. | Key essential oils: Peppermint oil
Trichologist Mandy (Mandy B. Beauty) Buechner previously recommended this peppermint oil for hair. She told us, "Gya Labs is a trusted essential oil manufacturer and source; they always have high quality products that are affordable."
Best rosemary oil: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
- Made for all hair types
- Paraben-free formula
- Better for newly thinning hair
Size: TK | Key essential oils: Rosemary oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, lavender oil
This is a top pick from Kopelman. “I love this one because it combines rosemary and peppermint with biotin, plus it’s lightweight enough for frequent use without clogging follicles. Patients with early thinning or breakage do really well with this.”
Best tea tree oil: Fiora Naturals Tea Tree Oil for Hair and Scalp
- Includes two applicators
- Made with natural ingredients
- Affordable
- May be messy after opening
Size: 4 oz. | Key essential oils: Tea tree oil
Trichologist Sara Hallajian previously recommended this tea tree oil and said this one has "a really affordable price point, contains great carrier oils for the scalp and has a nice scalp applicator."
Multitasking: PURA D'OR Hair Thinning Therapy Energizing Scalp Serum Revitalizer
- Gentle formula
- Can use on color-treated hair
- Strong smell, per reviewers
Size: 4 oz. | Key essential oils: Tea tree oil
This serum contains a multitude of expert-recommended ingredients, including tea tree oil and DHT blockers. “This combines tea tree oil, argan oil and biotin, and it’s great for patients with mild scalp inflammation or those who want something easy to massage in after a shower,” says Kopelman.
Editor favorite: Plant Therapy Rosemary & Castor Hair Oil
- Smells good
- Helps with split ends
- Makes hair a bit greasy
Size: 4 oz. | Key essential oils: Tea tree oil
Kara Birnbaum, a photo editor at Shop TODAY, recommends this essential oil-packed product for hair growth. She says, "I have had thin, brittle hair for my whole life, but was very nervous to try hair oils since I also have greasy hair. I decided to give this rosemary and castor oil a try after seeing how good rosemary was for hair growth all over the internet. I pair this oil with the Dae Prickly pear oil and not only does it smell so good, but my split ends have pretty much disappeared and my thin hair is actually able to hold some volume. When I leave this on overnight, my hair is so smooth the next day."
Ideal for textured hair: Decca Plus Satin Pomade
- Gentle formula
- No perfumes
- Exact ingredients not listed
Size: 12 oz. | Key essential oils: 10 essential oils, per the brand (not listed)
This pomade is made from a mix of over 10 essential oils. “This very light hair pomade is a favorite for people with textured hair,” says trichologist and RevAir resident hair expert, Ladosha Wright. “It is great to apply to the scalp and to the hair, as all the products are, and it can be used with heat styling, braid styling, and wash-and-go.”
Pre-wash oil: Briogeo Scalp Revival Rosemary Pre-Wash Scalp and Hair Oil
- A pre-wash or overnight serum
- Users say non-greasy
- Pricey for size, users say
Size: 3.4 oz. | Key essential oils: Rosemary oil
Madison San Miguel, and editorial assistant at Shop TODAY, previously recommended this rosemary oil pre-wash product. She said, "Unlike other oil-based treatments, I found that this did not give my hair a greasy appearance after showering. Instead, your hair should look a bit healthier than before."
What is the best way to apply essential oils for hair growth?
Before using an essential oil on the scalp, you should always dilute the oil.
This is in regards to pure 100% concentrations of certain oils, and not hair oils that feature an essential oil (like rosemary oil) as a secondary or tertiary ingredient. If that’s the case, follow the directions on the bottle’s packaging on how to apply.
Mandy Robertson, IAT certified trichologist and hair expert at XYON Health, has a simple process for how to dilute your essential oils.
“Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil,” she says. A carrier is a vegetable-based oil that is used to dilute other oils and make the essential oil easier on the scalp. Some options for carrier oils are jojoba, coconut or almond oil.”
From there, you can massage the oil mixture into the scalp directly to increase absorption. “Focus on any areas where you have noticed your hair is thinning first,” she says.
Wright has another note: “Essential oils should be used with carrier oils such as jojoba, grapeseed and olive oil. However, please do not use food-grade oils,” she explains.
“These carrier oils should be cosmetic grade. So if you’re going to use jojoba, grapeseed or olive, make sure you are using a cosmetic-grade oil and not food oil, because food oils will turn rancid on the hair.”
Robertson recommends applying essential oils to the scalp consistently, about two to three times per week. And Kopelman says, “that scalp massage is key — it increases blood flow and helps the oils penetrate better. I typically tell patients to leave it on for 30 to 60 minutes before washing out.” Make sure to always patch test on skin before applying an oil to the entire scalp.
How we chose
To choose the best essential oils for hair growth, we spoke with multiple trichologists and a hair transplant surgeon about the best products. We also included essential oil products that've been tested by the Shop TODAY team.
Meet the experts
- Ladosha Wright is a trichologist, cosmetologist, and RevAir resident expert.
- Dr. Ross Kopelman is a hair transplant surgeon in New York City and Palm Beach, Florida.
- Mandy Robertson is a IAT certified trichologist and hair expert at XYON Health.
- Mandy (Mandy B. Beauty) Buechner is a certified trichologist at Thairapy Wellness Center in California.
- Sara Hallajian is an IAT-certified trichologist and the owner of âme Salon in California.
