Everyone knows stress can lead to hair loss, but the unfortunate fact is that hair loss also leads to stress. This is a vicious cycle, but with the right products and information, you can maintain your head of hair.
There are tons of miracle creams and magical hair growth formulas on the market. A majority of these are fake, do not work as well as intended, or are just down right lying about their product.
Rather than buying hundreds of products on a whim and trying them all, you should be doing research and deciding which ones are worth your time and money.
This article will give an in depth explanation of one of the natural, organic ways to achieve the hair you desire. This product is called cedar wood oil. This article will help you understand what this oil is, where it comes from, how it works, who should be using it, and where you can buy it.
What is Cedar Wood Oil?
Cedar wood oil, or just simply cedar oil, is what is known as an essential oil. This means it is a hydrophobic, does not mix with water, oil made up of volatile compounds from plants (7).
Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, or just simply plant oils. Cedar wood oil is the oil derived from various coniferous trees.
Most of these oils come from the trees in the pine family or cypress family (7). The needles and other foliage tend to be what is used for extracting this oil.
It is also common to use leftover tree pieces such as the bark, roots, and stumps that were not taken during a time of timbering to get cedar wood oil.
Even though it is called cedar, some of the most important nutrients actually come from cypress and juniper trees rather than the name would suggest.
It has been around for literally thousands of years as well. Ancient civilizations dating all the way back to the Egyptians and Sumerians have records showing their use of cedar oil.
These peoples actually got their oil from what are called the Cedars of Lebanon, or cedrus labini (7).
Almost entirely destroyed now, these trees were the complete and total source of cedar oil for ancient people, but they are no longer used at all. This is where the name for the oil came from.
Cedar oil has many helpful benefits, but possibly the greatest comes in the form of cedrol. A cedar oil with a higher amount of cedrol present will in turn have a higher pesticide effect on insects.
This is exactly why the ancient people primarily used this oil during the embalming process to keep bugs away from the bodies (7).
However, we now have an understanding of far more uses for the cedar wood oil. It is good for everything from toothaches and cough reduction to the promotion of hair growth and acne cures.
Cedar wood oil has a great number of uses and can be a great tool to add to your cosmetic arsenal (7).
How Effective is Cedar Wood Oil?
It has been scientifically proven that when combined with a few other natural oils cedar wood oil is capable of promoting hair growth.
A 1998 Scottish study at the Department of Dermatology studied the effects of oils on people who suffered alopecia areata.
Alopecia areata is a disease that causes the hair follicles to stop working but not die (1). This leads to baldness.
The double blind study showed an improvement is hair growth for 44% of those tested. The changes were quite noticeable as the patients’ hair was restored in length, thickness, and even color (1).
Is it Safe To Use For Hair Loss?
Cedar wood oil very safe. It has non allergenic and is safe for people, pets, and the environment all. There are zero government organizations that have placed regulations on the distribution of cedar oil.
This means they deem it safe for anyone. It is also safe for the environment (6). The Clean Water Act does not have cedar oil on its list of hazardous substances or pollutants.
Since it was originally popularized in the 1960s as a pesticide to keep bugs out of clothing, cedar oil was put through many tests by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and it was decided that it is harmless.
As of 1996, companies no longer have to register their cedar oil as a pesticide since it is now known all of the cosmetic possibilities it offers (6). Your furry friends also have nothing to worry about.
Cedar oil is safe for dogs and cats as well. It is also perfectly harmless to the likes of newborns and nursing mothers. Cedar wood oil is extremely safe for the entire world and people only stand to benefit from it (6).
Cedar Wood Oil for Hair
Essential oils have been known to both curb hair thinning and balding and also stimulate the growth of new hair. Hair loss can be onset by many different factors.
These include damaged hair follicles and shafts. The cedar oil is a perfect way to combat these issues.
Poor circulation to the scalp is one of the leading causes of hair follicle weakening (4). Cedar oil is a great way to get blood flowing in your scalp again.
This increased stimulation will promote hair growth and overall strengthening of the hair. It also is a form of protecting your scalp from fungal infections that could lead to hair loss.
Cedar oil’s pesticide qualities can be a wonderful solution to funguses that will prevent your hair from coming in evenly and healthily (4). This will also prevent hair from falling out in the future. The stronger follicles lead to stronger and longer lasting hair.
It is also commonly found as an aftershave and an anti-acne treatment. Its astringent properties make it work very well at fighting against oily skin.
It has an enjoyable fragrance to many people and has a calming effect on bumps and pimples. Its oils help to solve the problem of razor burn and other facial problems (5).
How to Use Cedar Wood Oil On Your Hair
The best way to get the most out of cedar oils is to combine them with a group of other essential oils that will act together to promote a healthy scalp and produce a full head of hair.
The first thing you should do is collect your oils. The ones you will prefer are thyme, lavender, rosemary, jojoba, grapeseed, and of course cedar wood (3).
Mix 8 drops of cedar wood oil and 1 drop of each of the others into an ounce of a carrier oil such as grapeseed oil, in a small mixing bowl. Use your fingers to massage the mixture into your hair and scalp.
Or have someone else massage in into your scalp for you.
After you wash the oils out, wrap your head in a warm towel to promote blood flow and get the best results you can from your oils.
Let this towel sit for thirty minutes before removing it.
The warm towel is not completely necessary every time you apply your oil though (3).
This should be done daily for the best results. Cedar wood oil is very simple to use and does not require a lot of steps or instructions.
It is however most beneficial to the user when they combine the cedar wood with other essential oils such as the ones listed.
There are many more and each has their own rejuvenating qualities. Combining them will create the perfect hair loss and hair damage defense (3).
Where to Buy Cedar Oil
Cedar wood oil can be purchased online or through many major retailers. Just like every other product, there are going to be many options with many subtle but distinct differences.
Still, the prices of cedar oil are typically cheap enough to afford on most any budget. Just the same as everything else, if a sale seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Make sure you are purchasing the correct product.
Do not purchase anything with added chemicals, fillers, or other things that could do more harm than good for your hair.
Buy the all-natural, organic products and get the most out of your cedar wood oil.
When purchasing cedar oil, it is important that you do not just purchase the cheapest product or one just because it is labeled “natural” or “pure.
These words have become quite diluted due to loose regulations on them. Make sure the oils you buy are all following specific guidelines that go into making a quality oil.
These include the correct variety of plants, the plants the oil is made from are grown in their indigenous locations, no chemicals or pesticides were used, and the proper harvesting and extracting methods were employed.
Precautions
Although cedar wood oil is practically harmless, women who are pregnant should still use it with caution. This is especially true for the first three months of the pregnancy (2).
Everyone has different skin as well and what is safe for everyone else may be irritating to you.
It is advised that you use just a small amount of cedar wood oil on a tougher part of your skin before applying it all over. The feet are the preferred place for this test run.
Once you have found a brand that you enjoy and works for you, stick with it. All of the brands will have slight variations and these could lead to irritated skin if you are not careful.
Each company should also label the bottle with clear instructions and these should be strictly adhered to.
Using too much cedar wood oil can result in the skin becoming sensitized. Never try to use this oil in your eyes, ears, nose, or other open body part (2).
Conclusion
Cedar wood oils can be a God send when it comes to hair and skin issues, but only if they are used intelligently. Make sure to know exactly what you are putting on your body and do not just experiment blindly.
Also, keep in mind that purchasing the cheapest oil does not always mean you are getting the best deal. Make sure your oil is high quality and follows all of the important guidelines we mentioned.