Even the healthiest and most well-behaved hair can benefit from an occasional warm oil conditioning treatment. If your hair is dry, brittle or plagued by split ends, a good conditioner can be particularly beneficial, and help put your tresses back on the road to health. You don't need to purchase an expensive salon product to pamper your hair; you can use affordable, natural ingredients to make a hair conditioner that combines the moisturizing properties of honey and olive oil with the invigorating scent of rosemary.
Rosemary Hair Benefits
Rosemary, botanically known as Rosmarinus officinalis, is a small evergreen shrub; the fragrant, needlelike leaves are used as a cooking spice and in herbal medicines. Rosemary's usefulness in a hair conditioner extends far beyond its refreshing scent; Drugs. com notes that it also has cleansing abilities, with known antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Although it hasn't been scientifically proved, herbalists say that rosemary oil can promote hair growth. Beauty expert Karen Marie Shelton, writing on the Hair Boutique website, says that rosemary oil is believed to stimulate hair follicles, help prevent balding, and soothe and condition the scalp. University of Maryland Medical Center concurs, stating that rubbing the scalp with diluted oil of rosemary may help cause hair regrowth.
Honey Hair Benefits
Honey has long been used as a natural remedy to soothe and beautify skin and hair. According to Health Central, which recommends its use as a hair conditioner, honey has antioxidant and antibacterial properties, as well as functioning as a humectant, attracting needed moisture.
Olive Oil Hair Benefits
Olive oil, which comes from the fruit of the olive tree -- hardy evergreen shrubs native to the Mediterranean -- has been used since 1700 B.C. as a natural emollient, or moisturizer, as well as a food. Drugs.com notes that the Egyptian ruler Ramses II, who reigned in the 13th century B.C., employed it as a cure-all for various ailments. Olive oil is rich in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, and contains beneficial flavonoids such as luteolin and quercetin. Drugs.com adds that it is antibacterial against S. aureus, a common pathogen.
Application
To use the honey, rosemary and olive oil hair conditioning treatment suggested by Spa Index, mix 1/2 c. honey, 2 tbsp. warmed olive oil -- use 1/2 c. if your hair is dry -- 4 drops essential oil of rosemary, and 1 tsp. of xanthan gum, available at health food stores. Mix ingredients in a small bowl, then pour into a clean plastic bottle with a snug cap. Massage the mixture through slightly dampened hair, distributing from the scalp to the ends, then cover hair with a warmed towel and leave on for 30 minutes. Shampoo hair, and rinse thoroughly. The process can be messy; Hair Boutique suggests applying it in the shower.
Safety Considerations
Olive oil can be slippery; use extreme caution to avoid slipping and falling if you choose to apply it in the shower. The University of Maryland Medical Center says it is safe to apply rosemary oil to your scalp when it is diluted in a carrier oil, such as sesame or olive oil; don't apply undiluted rosemary oil to the skin. Emaxhealth.com notes that you should not use rosemary oil if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
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