The Best Oil For Dry Scalp
If you suffer with dry scalp you will do anything to stop the itching.
There are many reasons why you may have a dry scalp. Perhaps you burned your scalp from a long day in the summer sun. Or in the winter the dry heat from our heating systems can easily dry out our skin and scalp. You may also have a medical condition such as psoriasis or eczema. For other people it may just be that they are using too many hair care products that are blocking the scalp from producing the natural oils that it needs to stay moist. What ever may be the cause a good scalp oil may be the solution to your problem.
What is a scalp oil?
A scalp oil is an oil that you apply to your head to help supplement the lack of natural oil known as sebum that your body produces. When your scalp lacks the natural oils to help keep it moisturized your head will itch, you may suffer with dandruff and in some cases bleeding and scabs if you itch to much. A good quality scalp oil is usually made from a blend of various essential oils that are known to benefit the scalp. Often certain plant extracts are also included. All of the natural oils used in these products should have known beneficial properties without the side effect of clogging your pores or hair follicles.
What Ingredients You Should Look For in a Scalp Oil
Mineral Oil
Mineral oil is often use as a base oil in these products. It has been used for many years in topical skin preparations and it is known for its ability to loosen dry skin cells that cause dandruff. More recently you may read some fake news about how mineral oil is bad for your skin. These stories are being written by people who want to promote more expensive or trending oils like argon oil. If you simply look at the ingredients of what is in Johnson and Johnson’s baby oil you will see it is pure mineral oil with a little fragrance. Skin care products used on baby’s are probably the most monitored and regulated of all skincare products. If it is good for a baby it is certainly good for an adult.
Safflower Oil and Sweet Almond Oil
These two oils are the most common and best carrier oils for topical products. They are known for their excellent ability to quickly be absorbed by the skin while carrying other beneficial oils with them.
Willowbark Oil
Willowbark Oil is a natural source of salicylic acid. Salicylic acid has a very harsh sounding name but it can be found in many great skincare products. This oil will help your scalp to naturally exfoliate dead skin cells more quickly. Over time you will see reduced dandruff, buildup and flaking.
Meadowfoam Seed Oil
This unique oil is regarded for its amazing anti-oxidant properties. Anti-oxidants are known to fight free radical cells that are damaged. It also made up of long-chain fatty acids which are great for moisturizing a dry scalp.
Wheat Germ Oil
This amazing oil is rich in natural vitamin B that is known for its ability to repair tissue damage. The proteins and minerals in this oil can also help to heal dry or cracked skin and prevent scarring.
Lanolin Oil
Dating back to the Greeks and Romans Lanolin has long been known for its tremendous hydrating properties. Not only is it a great moisturizer but it prevents water loss so your skin will stay hydrated and moist throughout the day. Many have called lanolin the best oil for itchy scalp.
Marigold Flower extract
These flowers may look great in your garden but marigold extract can be great for your skin too. The extract is known for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It has also been shown to help heal the skin and is used for many skin conditions including psoriasis.
Hops extract
Hops is known for its ability to balance the oils on the skin. Whether for dry or stressed skin, Hops will normalize your skins oils to provide hydrating properties without the oily feel.
Henna Flower extract
Henna has natural astringent properties that have been shown to benefit many topical skin conditions. It can also act as a natural sunblock.
Goldenseal extract
Goldenseal has so many great benefits but it is known for containing an alkaloid called berberine. Berberine has amazing anti-bacterial properties which gives it a reputation as a treatment for many different skin conditions including psoriasis.
How To Properly Use a Scalp Oil
A scalp oil is designed to be used on the scalp and not necessarily on your hair. You should carefully used your fingertip or a spout tip bottle to apply the oil to the dry scalp areas. Applying it in the evening and sleeping with it on your scalp will give it plenty of time to work. You should then shampoo in the morning with a moisturizing shampoo. Some races have naturally dry hair and have a need to apply oils to them to keep them looking good. For these people a scalp oil can have multiple benefits. Typically a scalp oil will only need to be used a couple of times per week to maintain a healthy scalp that doesn’t itch and is dandruff free.
