How Lemongrass Oil Really Affects Your Hair

When it comes to essential oils, many people know of their calming qualities when diffused into the air. But particular essential oils also have benefits for skin and hair care. One great example of a powerful oil is lemongrass oil. Sure, it smells great, but here's how lemongrass oil affects your hair and scalp.

Lemongrass oil comes from an herb in the Poaceae grass family, according to oils producer La Tourangelle. It is jam-packed with vitamins and minerals that are great for your hair. Its healing properties are said to strengthen hair follicles and prevent and reduce hair loss. The best news? It works well for all hair types, so you can safely reach for it no matter what your hair is like.

Along with helping fight hair loss, lemongrass oil is also known to help treat both an oily scalp and a dry flaky scalp, according to Naturally Curly. It has natural antifungal and antiviral properties, which can combat the yeast imbalance that is known to cause dandruff (via Healthline).

So if you struggle with hair loss, scalp issues, or just want shiny hair; incorporating lemongrass oil into your routine may be the step you've been missing.

If all of these benefits sound good to you, your next step is to learn how to safely and properly use lemongrass oil. First, you don't want to apply the oil directly to the scalp; be sure to dilute the oil first in some sort of carrier (per Verywell Health). 

As for your hair care, there are a couple of ways to integrate lemongrass oil into your routine. One method is to add roughly 10 drops of the oil to your shampoo or conditioner and let it do its thing while you wash your hair as usual. The shampoo and conditioner will act as a carrier, diluting the oil and making it safe for your skin, according to La Tourangelle.

Another good option is to use the oil to do a scalp massage. You can mix a few drops into your conditioner and massage it into your scalp that way, per Healthline; or, if you already have an oil like olive oil or coconut oil that you like to use on your scalp, you can mix the drops of the lemongrass oil into one of these oils — using it as a carrier — and massage as usual.