There are many reasons why hair can start to thin out and become limp and lifeless. Some reasons are hormonal, stress induced, and dietary, yet one of the most common reasons for thinning hair is scalp health. When your scalp is unhealthy, it creates a toxic environment for your hair follicles to grow in, resulting in hair loss and overall limp and dull hair.
What many people do not realize is, that simply shampooing and conditioning your hair, does not actually cleanse the scalp as well. In many cases, the cleansing products you use on your hair do very little to actually remove any environmental or product build-up on your scalp and can actually add to the deposits found there. When your scalp is covered in build-up, it weakens the ability for the hair follicles to take solid root resulting in hair that falls out easily. When the scalp is not in optimal condition, new hair will not grow fast enough to make up for all the hair that is being lost and that, in turn, leads to thinned out, weak hair.
While there are products on the market that promise hair regrowth and scalp health, such as Nioxin and Rogaine, and which have been used with great success by many, they can also be very costly. There are many essential oils and herbs that have been used for centuries for hair health and regrowth and which can be used instead of expensive tonics to ensure a healthy scalp and thicker tresses.
One of the most touted herbs for scalp and hair health is rosemary. It has a long history of being used to strengthen the hair follicle, stimulate hair growth and add important nutrients to the scalp. Rosemary essential oil can be purchased at any health food store and can be massaged directly onto the scalp for an intensely therapeutic treatment.
Rosemary oil is the perfect treatment for thinning hair because it has a very stimulating effect and helps to promote blood circulation when massaged onto the scalp. It can be used once or twice a week to promote a healthy scalp and should be massaged into your scalp for a minimum of 3-4 minutes. For a more spa-like treatment, warming up an ounce of rosemary oil in a saucepan until it is tolerably hot will make it feel wonderful on your scalp and help to release the aromatherapy of the oil. After massaging on your scalp, wash hair as usual, and dry or style as you normally would.
As it is a very light oil, this treatment can be used without fear of clogging pores or follicles. Rosemary also contains a natural antiseptic which can get rid of scalp conditions such as dandruff and seborrhea which are also causes of rapid hair loss. Rosemary oil is also able to deep clean the scalp and remove all traces of sebum, and environmental as well as product build-up, leaving you with a squeaky clean and healthy scalp.
While most people enjoy the woodsy, herbal scent of the rosemary plant and rosemary oil, if you find it too strong when used directly on the scalp, then purchasing a natural shampoo that contains rosemary oil is another perfectly viable option. Beauty Without Cruelty makes a wonderful rosemary infused shampoo that also contains mint and tea tree oils for a super stimulating scalp treatment. Avalon Organics produces the wonderful Rosemary Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner, and Aveda’s Rosemary Mint Shampoo is yet another fantastic option for a healthier scalp and hair. When purchasing a shampoo and conditioner make sure that it has the least amount of toxic chemicals and ingredients possible. Ingredients such as sulfites and parabens can lead to a toxic scalp leading to more hair loss and less overall health.
If you find that your hair is thinning without any other possible explanation, remember that having a healthy scalp is what it takes to have a full, healthy head of hair. Try using natural hair products and treat your scalp to a rosemary oil massage or rosemary infused shampoos and conditioners. Ensuring that your hair has a healthy environment to grow in will, in turn, ensure you that you will always have healthy, envy-worthy tresses.
