When you decide to pamper your hair with carrier oils, your hair will have no other choice but to flourish. Choose from any of these top 10 best carrier oils for hair growth for thick, long and luscious tresses!
What Are Carrier Oils?
Simply put, carrier oils are oils that ‘carry’ essential oils. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that need to be diluted with a carrier oil or other suitable substance before being applied on the body.
Carrier oils are derived from the fatty part of a plant, which is usually the nut, seed, fruit or kernel. Some carrier oils are got from animals such as emu oil.
Not every oil is the same – each has its own properties and the oil you choose mainly depends on what purpose your trying to achieve, whether it’s moisturization, dandruff-control, damaged hair repair or hair growth. In this article, we shall explore the best carrier oils for hair growth.
10 Benefits of Carrier Oils for Hair & Scalp
One of the best ways to show your scalp extra love is to soak it in some carrier oils. Carrier oils can be added directly to your hair as a hot oil treatment or mixed with other ingredients including shampoo, conditioner or hair masks.
You can combine two or more carrier oils to create a unique blend that sees to exactly what your hair needs.
Some of the benefits of carrier oils for hair include:
- They create a moisturizing layer on your hair strands which soften, condition and lock moisture into hair
- Carrier oils help smooth the hair cuticle which makes hair shiny and sleek, reducing frizzy hair and frayed ends.
- They add a protective coat on the surface of each hair strand which shields the hair from UV damage, pollution, heat and environmental pollutants.
- Carrier oils add shine and luster to hair.
- They contain nutrients including antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that deeply nourish hair follicles.
- Carrier oils such as coconut oil penetrate the hair shaft which prevents water from entering and causing frizzy and dull hair.
- They have anti-inflammatory properties that soothe an irritated painful scalp, especially for those with conditions like itchy scalp, eczema or psoriasis.
- Carrier oils have anti-fungal properties that keep dandruff away.
- They have holding power which helps define curls and moisturize them.
- Carrier oils are great for reducing hair’s porosity which strengthens hair strands and helps prevent easy damage and breakage.
Top 10 Best Carrier Oils for Hair Growth
Below are the top 10 best carrier oils for hair growth. Using them consistently will help you see longer and thicker hair!
1. Castor Oil
Perhaps the star oil that tops this list of best carrier oils for hair growth is castor oil.
It contains ricinoleic acid, omega 3 fatty acids and Vitamin E, all of which have hair growth stimulating properties.
Castor oil stimulates blood flow to the scalp, strengthens hair roots, helps reduce thinning and balding hair and promotes hair regrowth.
Bonus: It helps reduce and prevent premature hair greying and also controls dandruff.
Apart from the regular golden castor oil we all know, there’s a special type of castor oil known as Jamaican Black castor oil. This variety is derived from roasting the castor beans first before extracting the oil, hence it’s darker color.
JBCO is known to be even more potent than regular castor oil when it comes to hair growth!
2. Coconut Oil
In the subcontinent of India, coconut oil is the go-to carrier oil for hair growth.
Indian women have long been rubbing coconut oil onto their scalp and locks and that’s partly the secret to their long shiny hair.
This study shows that coconut oil prevents protein loss from the hair fibre, which protects hair strands from weakening and breaking easily.
It also nourishes the scalp, slows down hair loss and promotes hair growth. Another benefit of coconut oil is it helps bust dandruff because of its anti-fungal properties that kill the yeast that causes dandruff, Malasezzia.
Smoothing coconut oil on your hair length keeps it strong, soft and conditioned.
3. Black Seed Oil
Maybe you’ve heard of it, maybe you’ve not but I’m here to inform you that black seed oil is one of the miraculous carrier oils for hair growth.
Its key ingredient: thymoquinone, is what makes black seed a strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal agent.
This 2014 study showed that a mixture of black seed oil and coconut oil was effective in promoting hair growth.
Another study showed that a hair oil containing black seed oil resulted in the reduction of hair loss by 76%.
Read more: How to Use Black Seed Oil for Hair Growth : Recipe Included
4. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil is another hair growth oil you don’t want to miss out on.
People from the Arabian peninsula and Mediterranean region have long been applying olive oil on their scalps for its hair benefits.
It is made up of fatty acids, such as oleic acid which has strong antioxidant properties that may slow the effects of hair loss.
Olive oil not only boosts hair growth but its nourishes the scalp, strengthens and conditions hair, adds shine, reduces frizz, clears dandruff and prevents hair loss.
5. Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is the most similar to sebum, the oil naturally produced by the scalp. This means it doesn’t interfere with the natural oil balance on the scalp.
It helps reduce scalp irritation, promote new healthy hair growth, nourish hair follicles, repairs damaged hair and adds shine.
6. Grapeseed Oil
Derived from leftover seeds from winemaking, grapeseed oil is another one of the best carrier oils for hair growth.
It is made up of linoleic acid, which is said to stimulate hair growth.
Grapeseed oil is also filled with powerful antioxidants, flavonoids called procyanidin oligomers. In vitro and vivo studies show that these flavonoids help induce hair growth.
7. Argan Oil
What makes argan oil so special for hair is that it is great for strengthening hair strands, repairing damaged hair and preventing breakage.
This helps support healthy hair growth.
It is also filled with antioxidants, essential fatty acids and Vitamin E which increases the hair’s elasticity and restores luster to dry dull and lifeless hair.
Cliganic Organic Argan Oil 16oz with Pump, 100% Pure | Bulk for Hair, Face & Skin
8. Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is pressed from avocado flesh. It is rich in fatty acids and Vitamin E.
Rubbing it on the scalp stimulates blood flow and helps unclog unblock clogged hair follicles. These effects help stimulate hair growth.
Avocado oil is mostly comprised of monosaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid. These healthy fatty acids coat the hair strands, sealing in moisture and smoothing frizz. It also contains antioxidants such as Vitamin D, Vitamin E, lutein and beta carotene, all of which protect the hair from UV rays and environmental pollutants which make hair dry and brittle.
Another important ingredient in avocado oil is biotin, a B-vitamin that is known to encourage the growth of thicker longer and healthier hair.
9. Apricot Kernel Oil
Apricot kernel oil is extracted from apricot seeds or kernels.
It is rich in omega 9 fatty acids such as linoleic acid and oleic acid that act as natural emollients making the scalp and hair strands softer.
As a humectant, it absorbs tiny amounts of water from the atmosphere’s humidity and locks that moisture into the hair.
Apricot kernel oil also has a lot of Vitamin A which promotes cell rejuvenation and collagen stimulation in the scalp. A healthy scalp leads to healthy strong long and thick hair.
Its high Vitamin E content protects and nourishes hair follicles. The omega 3 fatty acids reduce inflammation in the scalp which is a common issue causing hair thinning.
10. Sweet Almond Oil
Last but not least on this list of best carrier oils for hair growth is sweet almond oil.
While it is best known for conditioning the hair, adding shine and preventing split ends, sweet almond oil also has hair growth promoting properties.
Sweet almond oil repairs damaged hair and acts as a natural heat protectant. It strengthens hair strands and prevents hair shedding.
How to Use Carrier Oils for Hair Growth
You can use carrier oils alone as a hair mask, or with essential oils added, 30-60 minutes before your usual shower. Here’s how to do it:
Pour 1 tablespoon or more (according to your hair length and thickness) into a small bowl. You can then add some hair growth essential oils. For every teaspoon of carrier oil of your choice, add 2 drops of essential oil. That means you would add 6 drops of essential oil for 1 tablespoon, because 1 tablespoon contains 3 teaspoons.
Adding 2 drops of essential oil is a 2% dilution rate, which is the recommended amount for adults. For children, use a 0.5% or 1% essential oil dilution rate. Consult your doctor before using essential oils for babies.
Some of the best essential oils for hair growth include:
- Rosemary essential oil (where to get it)
- Peppermint essential oil (where to get it)
- Lavender essential oil (where to get it)
- Cedarwood essential oil (where to get it)
- And more
After adding a suitable amount of carrier oil + essential oil, using clean fingertips, simply massage the carrier oil + essential oil blend on your whole scalp.
Rub the leftover oil over your hair length. Tie your hair into a bun or put it up with a crocodile clip.
You can cover your head with a shower cap. Leave the oils to soak in your hair for 30-60 minutes.
When the time is up, wash your hair in the shower as usual. Make sure to shampoo twice to remove all oil residue.
Repeat 1-2 times a week for high porosity hair and 1 time a week or whenever it’s your wash day for low porosity hair.
Hempseed oil (not cbd) promotes healthy cell growth-you can find it in the natural supplements section at the grocery store!
Did not know that about castor oil!
But it is in the laxative section at the drugstore if you don’t want to pay a lot! Aloe Vera oil can be bought by the GALLON in the same section if you want another alternative!
Avocados don’t contain vitamin D and egg yolks don’t contain much (unless they’re pasture raised and exposed to NATURAL sunlight instead of free range which means no cages like other egg factories-they get a lamp). I eat 2 avocados every day and they’re yummy on eggs but after talking to my doctor yesterday, there’s only 2 sources of vitamin D in food and you don’t want to put them in your hair. My vitamin D levels are 23, and the lowest level is 35.