Essential oils are any concentrated, hydrophobic liquids containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. They are also known as volatile or ethereal oils, or simply as the “oil of” the plant material from which they were extracted.

The term essential indicates that the oil carries a distinctive scent or essence of the plant. Essential oils do not have any specific chemical properties in common, beyond conveying characteristic fragrances; they are generally extracted by distillation.

Natural oils are triglycerides in which the glycerin is esterified with three fatty acids. They are the main constituent of vegetable oil. Chain lengths of the fatty acids in naturally occurring triglycerides can be of varying lengths, but 16, 18 and 20 Carbons are the most common; they are generally extracted by pressing like cold pressed oils.

Natural or vegetable oil

 They are obtained by cold pressing of certain vegetable fruits (juice) such as olives in the case of olive oil, sunflower seeds, camellia seeds, almonds, argan, coconut, etc.

They are easy to penetrate skin and give a lot of benefits to skin and body, because they have combination of some of the properties we are looking for like flavonoids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, etc

Essential oils

 Essential oils are generally obtained by distillation of certain plants, their flowers, roots, resin or seeds and are the very essence of the plant. They are very aromatic and highly volatile and are generally so concentrated that their direct use would be caustic and irritating to the skin (except that of lavender), so they are diluted for use, adding just a few drops in the bathtub for a bath or diluting it in vegetable oils (as a carrier oil) if you want to use it for topical use. Essential oils are “the heart of the plant” and penetrate deeply where creams are not capable of doing so, so you will see essential oils combined in a thousand different ways in the most exquisite formulations of natural cosmetics.

Mineral oils

Mineral oils are generally by-products derived from petroleum such as paraffins, petrolatums, and silicones that leave a physical and slippery film on the skin and do not penetrate it, so although in certain circumstances their use may be useful as a protective barrier, they will not be good companions of essential oils since they will prevent their penetration and inhibit their properties.

Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Sometimes it’s called essential oil therapy. Aromatherapy uses aromatic essential oils medicinally to improve the health of the body, mind, and spirit. It enhances both physical and emotional health.

Humans have used aromatherapy for thousands of years. Egyptians used some of the oldest known oils, like myrrh and juniper, for embalming, healing preparations, massage, perfumes, and skincare. In ancient India, Ayurvedic medicine included massage with Sandalwood oil. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates recommended aromatic baths and massage with oils of marjoram, cypress, and myrrh. The Chinese used the essential oils of rose, jasmine, and chamomile as tonics.

Aromatherapy works through the sense of smell and skin absorption using products such as these:

  • diffusers
  • aromatic spritzers
  • inhalers
  • bathing salts
  • body oils, creams, or lotions for massage or topical application
  • facial steamers
  • hot and cold compresses
  • clay masks

You can use these alone or in any combination.

There are nearly one hundred types of essential oils available. Generally, people use the most popular oils.

Aromatherapy has a lot of benefits like:

  • manage asthma and fatigue
  • manage pain, and improve sleep quality
  • reduce stress, agitation, and anxiety
  • soothe sore joints, arthritis, peripheral neuropathy and inflammation
  • treat headaches and migraines
  • alleviate side effects of chemotherapy
  • ease discomforts of labor
  • fight bacteria, virus, or fungus
  • improve digestion
  • improve hospice and palliative care
  • boost immunity
  • menopause and menstrual issues
  • erectile dysfunction
  • depression
  • cancer

No, essential oils are distilled from plants, but fragrance oils are synthetically created in laboratory.

Sadly, it cannot. Only natural, cold-pressed and unrefined oils are suitable for hair oiling. The oil should also match the condition of your hair and your hair porosity (condition of your hair cuticles). Essential oils and oils used in cooking are unsuitable for hair oiling. Also mineral oil (paraffin oil) has no benefit for your hair.

The general rule says: the longer, the better. In this way, it has more time to penetrate inside your hair and repair it. At first, you can leave it in for an hour and observe the strands after each treatment. If your hair isn’t much damaged, the oil may “lie” on your hair less time.

It depends on method that we use for hair oiling. If we plan to wash hair after oiling – it is strongly recommended to apply the oil to scalp as well. The oil will penetrate inside the skin and bulbs where it will repair and enhance the hair from the roots. During daily hair care, you may apply it only to hair ends or from the mid-length – no need to rinse it. This method immediately conditions your hair, increases its shine and protects the strands throughout the day.

It all depends on the length of your hair. Keep in mind that the oil cannot drip off your head. The optimal dose for oiling hair and scalp is 5 ml – one teaspoon.

If you want to apply the oil to hair only (in your every-day hair care), excluding the scalp, you can spread 2-3 drops on dry strands.

It all depends on the condition of your hair. The more damaged your hair is, the more time you need to repair it. Bear in mind that oils work mainly inside the hair. Be sure that the oil started working even if you cannot see spectacular effects right away. Remember that regularity and a bit of patience is crucial in hair oiling.

Obviously, you can – on condition that you already know your hair and what kind of oil suits your strands. At first, you should test oils one by one. When you find the one that works on your hair, you can apply it interchangeably with other oils or mix two or more oils together.

Herbs add shine and softness. Moreover, they are natural and have a lot of active ingredients like vitamins and minerals, so they make a perfect combination with oils. Choose herbs, soak them in your oil. Then you can spray the mixture on your hair or rinse your strands with it.

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