Should You Add Essential Oils to Your Shampoo? 

Adding essential oils to shampoo is a popular DIY trend, promising benefits from scalp soothing to hair growth stimulation. However, blending essential oils into your daily hair care routine requires careful thought, as an overly high concentration can lead to more harm than good. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about incorporating essential oils safely into your shampoo, focusing on essential oil choices, proper concentrations, potential risks, and other important factors.

1. Choosing the Right Essential Oil

The first thing to consider is the type of essential oil you’re planning to use. Essential oils are not all created equal—some are potent and may pose risks, especially when applied topically.

Key Considerations

• Toxicity Levels: Essential oils like Wintergreen, Cinnamon, and Clove can be toxic in even small doses when applied directly to the skin, while others like Lemon and Bergamot are photosensitizers, meaning they make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and could lead to burns or irritation.
• Patch Testing: A patch test is crucial to ensure that the essential oil doesn’t cause a skin reaction. Apply a diluted amount on a small patch of skin to test for sensitivity before using it in your shampoo.

Remember: The saying “the dose makes the poison” is true even for natural products. A thorough check of the toxicity profile and recommended safe dosage of the essential oil you choose is critical.

Popular Choices for Hair

• Tea Tree Oil: Known for its antifungal properties, this oil is helpful for dandruff but should be used sparingly.
• Lavender Oil: Calming and known to support scalp health, Lavender Oil can promote a relaxed scalp environment.
• Rosemary Oil: Rosemary can stimulate hair follicles, which is why it’s often used for hair growth.
• Peppermint Oil: This oil is refreshing and invigorating, making it popular for oily scalps, but its potency means it should be diluted properly.

2. Concentration: Less is More

It’s tempting to assume that if a little essential oil is good, more must be better, but with essential oils, this isn’t the case. Essential oils are highly concentrated, often comprising up to 100% fragrance compounds. When added to shampoos, a typical fragrance oil concentration is between 0.2-0.5%. The same rules should apply to essential oils.

Safe Concentrations for Essential Oils in Shampoo

• Aim for around 0.2% 0.5%, or roughly 10-15 drops per 100ml of shampoo.
• Adding 3-5% essential oil is far beyond the recommended concentration and can be significantly more irritating or toxic than typical shampoo ingredients.

Why It Matters

• Many people are concerned about synthetic ingredients in shampoo, such as SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), parabens, or even preservatives, fearing they might be harmful. However, an excessive concentration of essential oils can actually pose more of a risk than most of these ingredients.
• Essential oils can be the most common source of skin allergies in cosmetics, even more so than surfactants or preservatives. By using a lower concentration, you can enjoy the benefits of essential oils without risking irritation or an allergic reaction.

3. Risk of Allergies and Over-Fragrance

While adding a pleasing scent is one of the main reasons people add essential oils to shampoo, too much fragrance can overload your senses and even cause headaches or irritation. Beyond a certain level, our olfactory senses experience “fragrance fatigue.”

Example

• Imagine using a vanilla-scented shampoo with a high concentration of Vanilla Oil. At first, the scent seems pleasant, but soon you may notice that you can no longer smell it. Meanwhile, others around you might find the scent overpowering, as it’s continuously diffused into the air.
• This concept, known as “scent blindness,” was also evident with strong perfumes in the past. Scents like Poison by Dior led to “nose blindness” in the wearer, prompting them to reapply without realizing that others found the scent overwhelming. With essential oils in shampoo, overuse can lead to similar issues, causing discomfort for those around you.

4. Additional Factors to Keep in Mind

Adding essential oils to shampoo is more complex than simply mixing a few drops. Here’s what else you should consider:

• Hair and Scalp Type: Not every essential oil suits all hair types. For example, Peppermint and Lemon oils are great for oily scalps, while Lavender and Chamomile can be soothing for dry or sensitive scalps.
• Shampoo Formula: If your shampoo already has active ingredients or essential oils, adding more could throw off the balance and potentially irritate the scalp. It’s best to add essential oils to fragrance-free, sulfate-free shampoos.
• Storage: Essential oils are sensitive to light and temperature changes, so store your shampoo in a cool, dark place to preserve the potency of the oils.
• Frequency: Essential oils are potent, so it’s best not to use them daily. Start by using the oil-infused shampoo a few times a week and monitor how your scalp and hair respond.

5. How to Safely Blend Essential Oils into Your Shampoo

If you decide to proceed, here’s a safe way to blend essential oils into your shampoo:

1. Measure Correctly: Stick to 10-15 drops per 100ml for a safe, effective concentration.
2. Single-Use Blends: To ensure freshness and potency, you can mix essential oils into a small, single-use portion of shampoo each time you wash.
3. Mix Well: Make sure the oils are evenly blended with the shampoo to avoid hot spots of concentrated oil, which could lead to irritation

A Thoughtful Approach to Essential Oils in Shampoo

Adding essential oils to shampoo can provide a natural, personalized boost to your hair care, but it’s crucial to use them wisely. Stick to lower concentrations, select oils that suit your scalp and hair type, and prioritize safety to avoid adverse reactions. Remember, with essential oils, a little goes a long way. For an expertly crafted blend, explore Organix Mantra Shampoos and nourishing hair oils, formulated with natural ingredients to support scalp health and vibrant hair without the guesswork. Take the first step to healthy, balanced hair care with Organix Mantra!