Clove oil has been used in hair care for centuries and the natural ingredient is making a comeback. In this article, we explore three easy ways to use clove oil for hair.
Clove oil can be used directly on hair and mixed with other oils to give hair a beautiful appearance and increase hair health.
Clove oil can help prevent premature graying of hair, premature hair loss, hydrate the scalp, and promote hair growth all at once! Best of all, clove oil used for hair can be done naturally and in no time!
What Is Clove Oil?
Clove oil is considered an essential oil that originates from clove trees.
Clove oil has been used for centuries in Southeast Asia, and in fact, has been used in traditional medicine to heal anything from toothaches to mild pain.
In addition, it has been used in aromatherapy and as a mosquito and ant repellent.
Fun fact: Cloves have also been used popularly in clove cigarettes used in movie sets around the world.
Why Choose Clove Oil Instead of Other Oils?
Clove oil isn’t just used in traditional medicine, but it has also been studied and used in many essential oils and for food flavorings and other herbal oils.
This is because clove oil contains 70 to 80 percent eugenol, which studies have shown has antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties.
Eugenol isn’t present in all oils, and in fact, is mostly found in cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, basil, and nutmeg.
Clove oil, on top of containing Eugenol, also has a unique, spicy aroma that is delightfully pleasant.
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Does Clove Oil Promote Hair Growth?
The Eugenol contained in clove oil is loaded with antioxidants.
Antioxidant properties have been shown to be one of the best protectors for hair, and also boost hair growth.
This is because antioxidants help to boost collagen production, which, unfortunately, stops or slows down as we age.
Collagen is what makes our hair luscious and thick, and also can be found in our skin and nails.
There are many collagen supplements available on the market today.
However, it’s best to stick to natural remedies and oils such as clove oil to avoid unnecessary chemicals entering your body.
Clove Oil Benefits For Hair
Prevents Hair Thinning
As we get older, our bodies start producing less collagen, which has been shown to play a role in hair loss and thinning.
In addition to hair growth, applying clove oil full of antioxidants to your hair can help prevent thinning hair caused by loss of collagen.
Massaging clove oil into the scalp can also help promote blood flow, boost oxygen levels, and improve hair growth while giving you thicker hair.
Prevents Premature Greying
We will all have to face getting gray hairs at some point.
For some, that day might come sooner than others, as gray hair is largely the result of genetics and is hereditary.
However, did you know that gray hair sometimes comes sooner due to free radical build-up in our bodies?
Free radicals are unstable atoms that damage cells, including the natural pigment of our hair.
Over time, stress, the environment, alcohol, and pollution can all cause free radicals to prematurely cause our hair to turn grey.
With the help of clove oil’s antioxidants, these antioxidants can fight off free radicals and slow down graying of hair.
Makes The Scalp Healthy
The antifungal and antibacterial properties of Eugenol in clove oil make it one of the best oils to use for scalp health.
Scalp infections can happen when damaged follicles in the scalp let in bacteria or fungus.
This is especially true if you have a skin condition such as psoriasis or eczema. Some scalp conditions that you may have include:
- Folliculiti
- Impetigo
- Ringworm
Clove oil can help reduce your chances of getting these while keeping your scalp clean and healthy.
However, if your infection is severe, it’s a good idea to see a doctor for more scalp treatment.
Moisturizes
Like all oils, clove oil works wonders to keep your hair moisturized.
Essential oils like clove oil help the hair retain and lock in moisture, which prevents it from drying out and becoming brittle.
Dry hair can lead to damaged hair cuticles and split ends, which never look good.
The Eugenol in clove oil, as we mentioned, also has detoxifying ingredients that can leave your hair shiny and detoxify your hair follicles.
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Gets Rid Of Dandruff
Dandruff can be embarrassing, and sometimes difficult to treat.
Using even medicated shampoos can cause dandruff to return.
Although it’s not a serious condition, dandruff can be embarrassing, especially if it gets on your clothes.
Dandruff can be the result of many things that clove oil can help treat, including:
- Malassezia- This is a yeast-like fungus that feeds on the oils of your hair, and can be fought using clove oil’s antifungal properties
- Dry scalp- Clove oil helps the scalp and hair retain moisture, making it less prone to drying that can lead to dandruff
- Pruritis- This is what’s known as itchy skin, and in a 2017 study, researchers found that clove oil helped significantly at treating itching more so than petroleum jelly
How To Use Clove Oil For Hair
Mix With Other Essential Oils
It’s important to not use clove oil by itself, as this can cause irritation since clove oil is an essential oil.
You must dilute the clove oil first before you put it on your scalp or hair.
Feel free to use any other base oil, such as olive oil or coconut oil, to help dilute and safely use clove oil!.
Then, simply use it as a mask after washing your hair, leave it in for one hour, and rinse it out with cold water followed by a conditioner.
Include It In Your Daily Diet
Although you can’t necessarily eat or ingest clove oil, you can get all of its health benefits including antioxidants by ingesting dry spices of cloves.
It’s generally safe to consume about a teaspoon of cloves in your daily supplement.
Use As A Hot Oil Treatment
It’s easy to make a mask out of clove oil, however, you can also use clove oil as a hot oil treatment at home! To do so:
1. Wash your hair as usual, as hot oil treatments work best on clean hair
2. Heat up about 3 to 6 tablespoons of oil in the microwave, and make sure you’re doing so in a heat-resistant bowl. Use oil such as castor, olive or coconut
3. Add a few drops of clove oil to the base oil
4. Test the oil to make sure it’s not too hot on the back of your hand. You should also do a small patch test to make sure you don’t get an allergic reaction to the oil
5. Place a towel over your shoulders, and brush out any knots in your hair
6. Work the hot oil through your hair and massage it onto your scalp gently
7. Cover your head with a shower cap and leave the hot oil in for around 20 minutes
8. Rinse the oil out of your hair and follow up with your favorite conditioner
Clove Oil For Hair: 2 DIY Recipes
Recipe 1
Ingredients
- Castor oil
- Clove oil
Mix one tbsp. of castor oil with half a tbsp. of clove oil, and add coconut oil if you wish for a thick hair mask. Leave for one hour and rinse using shampoo and conditioner.
Recipe 2
Ingredients
- Clove oil
- Eucalyptus oil
- Base oil (jojoba, Argan, coconut, olive)
Mix one tsp. of clove oil with a few drops of eucalyptus oil.
Then, combine it with your favorite base oil, such as jojoba, rosehip, or argan oil. Leave for one hour and rinse using shampoo and conditioner.
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