Hair oil seems to be everywhere at the moment. But my first introduction to it was nearly 40 years ago, when it definitely wasn’t part of the beauty mainstream in Britain.
I grew up a very long way from Cornwall, in Sheffield, and as a teenager I spent a lot of time with my best friend and her Pakistani family. They lived across the road from me and were some of the most welcoming and loving people I have been lucky enough to meet. I was almost like a second daughter in their home, and one of the things I remember vividly, apart from the smell of amazing cooking and the occassional bollywood movie, was their regular use of hair oil. There was always oil being smoothed through hair and massaged into the scalp as part of a completely normal haircare routine. And their hair was (and still is) incredible – thick, glossy and healthy.
Coming back to hair oil in menopause
Fast-forward nearly four decades and I’ve found myself thinking about hair oil again for a rather different reason.
Like many women heading through menopause, I’ve noticed changes in my hair. It isn’t quite as thick as it once was and I’m much more conscious of looking after not only the hair itself, but my scalp. And this isn't just imagined. Menopause (the gift that keeps on giving) sees a lowering of estrogen levels which in turns reduces the blood flow to your hair folicles. This limits the delivery of oxygen and nutrients essential for hair growth and over time, this can result in weaker strands of hair and a slower growth cycle. Concurrently with the reduced scalp blood flow, menopause also signals to the glands on the scalp to produce less sebum - the natural oil that helps to moisturize your scalp and hair. Less sebum means a drier hair texture. Sometimes I do wonder why these changes are ABSOLUTELY necessary!
Anyway..... all of these changes have definitely impaced on my own hair, and it made me think back to that Sheffield era and the memories of using hair oil to encourage hair health and growth - something that had been completely ordinary in my friend’s family long before scalp care, hair oiling and scalp massage became Western beauty trends.
So - across the last few months I've developed a hair oil of our own.
As with everything we formulate at Bloom Remedies, I didn’t want to create something simply because hair oil is fashionable. I wanted a blend of beautiful plant oils chosen specifically to condition the scalp and hair, alongside essential oils traditionally associated with scalp and hair care.
What's actually in our Hair & Scalp Oil?
Meadowfoam oil is wonderfully conditioning and helps soften the hair without the blend feeling unnecessarily heavy. It’s also naturally very stable, making it a lovely base for an oil treatment.
Camellia seed oil has a long history of use in hair and beauty rituals. Rich in oleic acid, it helps nourish, soften and add shine – particularly welcome when hair starts feeling drier or more brittle.
Tamanu oil is a rich, distinctive botanical oil that we’ve included particularly with scalp care in mind. It contains naturally occurring fatty acids and antioxidant compounds and works beautifully within a nourishing scalp blend.
Pumpkin seed oil is another ingredient I was particularly interested in. It contains fatty acids, vitamin E and plant sterols and has also attracted research interest in relation to encouraging hair growth.
Lemon seed oil bring further nourishing fatty acids, alongside a lightness that helps the overall blend create a balanced oil formula without relying solely on heavier traditional hair oils.
We've also added vitamin E, both for its antioxidant properties and to help protect the oils within the formulation.
The essential oils - obviously these are in our hair & scalp oil too!
And then, of course, there's the aromatherapy element, which as an aromatherapist, is always going to matter to me first and foremost!
Rosemary essential oil. This is probably one of the best-known essential oils associated with scalp and hair care and is hands down THE best essential oil to use to promote scalp and hair health. The oil has been the subject of some really promising research into hair growth and scalp stimulation and has been demonstated to improves blood flow to the scalp thanks to the carnosic acid found in the oil. This repairs nerve endings and boosts circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients to hair follicles. Additionally recent studies have shown that it can be as effective as low-strength minoxidil (a synthetic over the counter and prescribed medication) for thinning hair with fewer of the common side effects found with this medication (including itching and a dry scalp). This is partly down the fact that this hair wonder oil not only stimulates hair growth, but also soothes the scaltp as it's an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, which helps to reduce dandruff and irritation.
Peppermint. This oil brings that wonderful fresh, invigorating sensation to the scalp. The oil stimulattes blood flow to the scalp, as the Menthol compound found in this oil widens blood vessels, boosts circulation and brings nutrients to hair follicles. Studies have shown it helps push hair follicles into the active growth stage (anagen phase) quickly.
Tea Tree. I've added Tea Tree here not becuase it has been shown to actively stimulate hair growth but because it but it can contribute to overall scalp health which in turn can help with hair loss. It helpfully can remove excess oil that can choke hair follicles and also can fight dandruff thanks to it's antifungal properties. There have been studies showing that yeast on the scalp contribuest to flaking and itching, so Tea Tree is a winner when it comes to do dealing with that element of scalp health.
Why scalp massage too?
We’ll be selling the Hair & Scalp Oil on its own, but we’ve also created a Hair & Scalp Massage Kit, because the way you use an oil can be just as important as the oil itself.
The kit includes an easy-to-use oil applicator, so you can distribute the oil directly through the roots rather than pouring half a bottle into one spot – something I have definitely done before – plus a scalp massage tool.
Scalp massage feels wonderful, but there is a practical reason for doing it too. Massage temporarily increases blood flow to the scalp and provides gentle mechanical stimulation. There is some early research suggesting regular scalp massage may also have a positive effect on hair thickness, although this is an area where more research is needed.
For me, though, there’s another benefit.
Taking five minutes to slowly work an oil into your scalp turns haircare into something deliberate. You’re not trying to fix your hair while simultaneously answering an email, making dinner or thinking about the seventeen other things you haven't done. It becomes a small ritual of looking after yourself.
And perhaps that is what I remember most from all those years ago. Hair oil wasn't a rescue product used because something had gone wrong. It was simply a slow and loving part of caring for your hair.
The applicator and massage tool in our hair and scalp care kit come from one of our trusted suppliers (So Eco) chosen because their environmental and ethical credentials align with ours. Whenever we bring an accessory into the Bloom range rather than making it ourselves, that's important to us – we want to know who we're working with and feel comfortable about the products we're putting our name alongside.
How to Use a Hair Oil
Use once or twice a week as a nourishing pre-wash treatment. Apply a small amount directly to the scalp and roots, massage gently for a few minutes, then leave for at least 30 minutes (or longer if you wish) before shampooing thoroughly. For dry ends, smooth any remaining oil through the lengths of the hair. Then wash out, ideally with a gentle paraben free shampoo like the Bloom Serenity hair & body wash made with an organic castille soap base.
Look after the scalp. Nourish the hair. Massage it in. And give it time.
I’m really excited to finally share this latest Bloom development and hope you get the chance to use the product too.
Marie xx