Tips On Aromatherapy For Hair & Skin Care

Aromatherapy is an ancient healing art that has been practiced for thousands of years. You can use the aromas of essential oils and herbs to heal certain conditions or create specific moods. Most essential oils and herbs can be purchased relatively inexpensively at many drug and health stores. Be sure to consult your physician or a qualified aromatherapist before using herbs or essential oils if you have a medical condition or allergies.

Hair Care

You can add different types of herbs and essential oils to ordinary commercial shampoos to add bounce, shine and highlights, as well as to calm coarse or damaged hair. In her book "Natural Beauty at Home," Janice Cox recommends adding 2 tbsp. of dried chamomile, lavender or rosemary to 1/2 cup of mild commercial shampoo. Use chamomile to bring out natural blond highlights in light-colored hair. Use rosemary or lavender to enhance the color of darker hair.
If you have a dry or itchy scalp, massage rosemary or chamomile essential oil into your scalp to heal flaky conditions like dandruff.
If your hair is dry or damaged, mix three drops of basil essential oil into 1 tbsp. of jojoba oil for a pre-shampoo conditioner. Massage this mixture into your hair before washing; leave on for 20 minutes.

Skin Care

Essential oils can help to clear up greasy, oily skin and acne and to heal dry skin conditions like eczema. If you have acne or oily skin, you can add a few drops of clary sage oil to your regular moisturizer to help clear your skin. Tea tree oil has antiseptic and antibacterial properties and is excellent for use in spot-treating pimples. You can apply this oil directly to blemishes to help them to heal faster.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, lavender essential oil may help to heal lesions caused by dry skin conditions like eczema. You can safely apply lavender directly to lesions on your skin using a cotton ball. Lavender may also help to hydrate dry skin; you can add up to five drops of the essential oil to your regular skin care products to obtain its benefits.

Bath and Massage

Essential oils used in the bath or in massage have a double reward--not only do you gain the skin-soothing benefits because your skin absorbs the oil, but you also get a mental benefit from inhaling the aroma.
Some essential oils that you may want to try in the bath or in a homemade massage oil are lavender, rose and peppermint. Lavender can help you to relax and soothes dry or itchy skin. Rose oil has antidepressant properties and is good for use on sensitive skin. Peppermint oil is stimulating, energizing and revitalizing and can help to calm irritated, itchy skin. You can safely use 10 drops of one of these essential oils in a warm bath. To make a homemade massage oil, add 10 drops of your chosen essential oil to 1/2 cup of a light carrier oil such as grapeseed or sweet almond oil and mix well.