Nobody enjoys walking around with bald spots or clearly thinned hair temples. It is not only women who are concerned about their hair’s beauty and health, but men too, also know the importance of taking care of their hair.
The goal of keeping hair smooth and shiny is always under threat from hair fall and thinning, mostly brought about by scalp-related conditions such as dandruff. It is, therefore, essential that you keep these conditions under control before things get out of hand.
Many people are always tempted to go for artificial chemical treatments, which offer hopes for quick fixes.
Not only are these treatments expensive, but they also expose your hair (and body at large) to potentially toxic substances.
In this article, we are going to discuss how you can use neem oil to promote hair growth and also how the oil could help stop hair loss.
Table of Contents
All About Neem Oil & Hair Growth
There are several benefits in using Neem oil. However, our interest focuses on its effectiveness on dealing with hair loss. For this reason, we have only discussed its ability to boost hair growth.
Neem oil is rich in rich in nutrients such as Vitamin E, Fatty acids, Calcium, and antioxidants. When you apply the oil, all these nutrients and their benefits would be delivered onto your hair and scalp.
For instance, Vitamin E is helpful in skin cell regeneration, with the result being a healthier scalp with fewer infections and dandruff.
How to Use Neem Oil for Hair Loss Support (Method 1)
We are going to guide you on how you can use Neem oil topically. But first, you need to prepare the oil to make it safer for application.
Ingredients
- Cold-pressed Neem oil without any additives
- Your preferred carrier oil such as Coconut oil, Almond oil or Olive oil
- Any essential oil
The Preparation
Kindly stick to the following steps as you prepare this natural remedy for hair loss.
Step 1
First, take a bowl and add ½ teaspoonful of Neem oil and mix with about five teaspoons of the carrier oil.
Step 2
Then, proceed to add several drops of the essential oil to this mixture for fragrance.
Step 3
Ensure that all these components have mixed well. Finally, use a water bath to warm the oil.
The oil is now ready to use.
But First – A Patch Test!
It is vital that you do a dry patch test on the oil to ensure that your skin does not have any sensitivities, irritations, or allergic reactions to the oil.
Apply some of the Neem oil on the inside part of your forearm before covering it with a bandage, which you will leave on for the next 24 hours.
After this period, check for any signs of irritation. If there is any sign, rinse the forearm thoroughly and desist from using this oil.
However, if everything is okay, then you can rest assured that you are safe to apply this oil on your hair entirely.
How to Apply It on Your Hair
Scoop some of the Neem oil onto your fingertips and apply it gently on your hair. Massage your head gently to ensure that this oil gets to the deepest part of your hair follicles.
You can leave this diluted oil for between 30 minutes to one hour before washing with lukewarm water and your usual mild shampoo.
The frequency with which you repeat this application process all depends on you. Although some individuals prefer to use it daily, frequent use of this oil often leads to irritation.
Therefore, we recommend that you apply it once every four weeks so you can track your progress gradually.
Method 2: Preparing Neem Oil from Neem Leaves
We are going to give you a simple method of how you could prepare Neem oil from Neem leaves. We included this step because, in some cases, you might not be able to get pure, ready-made oil from the stores.
In that case, why not prepare some oil at home? Here’s the DIY guide for that.
Ingredients
- Neem leaves
- Carrier oil (Extra virgin coconut oil, Olive oil)
- Blender
- Water (a few tablespoons)
- Source of heat
- Strainer
The Preparation
It’s now time to prepare the oil at home. Here are the steps you need to stick to for the best outcome.
Step 1
Add a handful of these leaves into a bowl and then wash them. You should then drain the excess water from the leaves.
Step 2
Heat your preferred carrier oil e.g., Extra virgin coconut oil, Olive oil, etc. for about a minute.
Step 3
In the meantime, blend the washed leaves to turn them into a paste. Add a few tablespoons of water to the leaves to make the blending easier.
Step 4
Proceed to mix the paste with the oil you were heating for about two minutes. Ensure that you do not turn off the heat.
You can then turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool down.
Step 5
The next bit involves straining the mixture so that you can get rid of the leaf residue and remain with the Neem oil only.
The oil is now ready to use and remember to store it in a cool and dry place.
Potential Side Effects
Overall, Neem oil is believed to be safe for topical use. However, individuals with sensitive skin are always likely to experience irritations and itchy scalps.
It is for this reason why we insist on using diluted Neem oil since it is less likely to cause irritations in this form.
Always perform a patch test beforehand to determine how much at risk of irritations you are due to the use of this oil.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We also compiled the following questions which we faced during our research on Neem oil.
Q: Can I apply Neem Oil directly on to my skin?
A: It depends on how sensitive your skin is. After doing a patch test and discovering that your skin or scalp is sensitive to Neem oil, then you should dilute it with a carrier oil such as coconut or olive oil before applying it to your skin.
Q: Is Neem oil suitable for use during all seasons of the year?
A: Yes, it is. You can use the oil, whether it’s winter or summer. The only thing you need to be keen on is the carrier oil that you will dilute it with since some oils are more suited for other seasons than the other.
Q: Is Neem oil effective in treating dandruff?
A: Due to its anti-bacterial properties, Neem oil is quite capable of dealing with dandruff.
Q: What’s the neem oil comedogenic rating?
A: Neem oil enjoys a comedogenic rating of 1 to 2. That means it allows your skin to ‘breathe’ and can, therefore, be ideal for anyone who has an oily skin or is prone to acne.
Related: 10 Non-Comedogenic Oils with their Ratings
Final Thoughts
Any time you go for artificial ingredients to help you boost your hair growth, you’re exposing yourself to all kinds of harmful elements.
So, consider staying natural. And for the best results on using neem oil to prevent hair loss, be sure to apply it immediately you spot any symptoms e.g. thinning or bald patches.
The earlier you start using this regimen, the better.
