Essential oils, a safe bet for your crowning glory

The scorching heat of Indian summers leaves you feeling awful and then comes the much awaited relief with the first spell of monsoon showers. With moments of comfort, we sometimes forget to think about the additional protection we need to take during this time. Monsoon is gradually retreating but the humidity in the air has already left your hair feeling lifeless, dull and worn out. Rainwater containing atmospheric pollutants has weakened the hair root causing hair loss. Your scalp has been constantly sweating, leading to itching and scratching. Essential oils can be of much help as they can be put to a wide variety of uses including therapeutic, medicinal, cosmetic and culinary. Make Essential Oils at home! Pure essential oils are extracted from aromatic plants and should be used in small quantities, as these are highly concentrated and quite expensive. If you are thinking about making it at home, here is the procedure: It is very easy to prepare essential oils at home, all you need is a few ingredients and some time to prepare essential oils. Firstly take a medium-sized pot and pour olive oil along with the herb of your choice. Simmer the mixture for about five to six hours on a low heat in the stove top. Alternatively, you can simply take the mixture in a glass jar and place it in sunlight for about two weeks. In the second step, the residue of the herb needs to be removed from the oil. Use a clean muslin cloth for this as a bleached one might result in contamination of the prepared oil. Finally, you need to store the essential oil in a dark amber glass bottle. Keep it away from sunlight and in a cool and dry place. Types of essential oils There are several types of essential oils available in the market including basil, black pepper, camphor, eucalyptus, melissa, spearmint, sandalwood and Jojoba. Jojoba oil is an extract of the Jojoba plant generally used for moisturising and promoting hair growth. The molecular particles of jojoba have characteristics identical to the natural oil that our scalp produces. You can apply Jojoba oil directly from root to tip or mix it with normal conditioners. Jojoba oil is also hypoallergenic and will not harm your hair or scalp. Essential oils are very effective for hair growth and are known to cure hair loss problems.   Picture Courtesy- botanicplanet.ca