After a long day’s work, why not treat yourself to the comfort of a spa-style bath with oils? Imagine gently massaging your scalp as the calming scent of Atlantic cedarwood surrounds you, like a forest after rain, pacifying your body and mind as the oil draws out impurities.

After washing, your scalp will feel refreshed and breathable, and your hair roots will naturally stand up. Your whole body may feel relaxed, ushering in restorative sleep to regain energy for the next day.

Grace Tseng, a nationally certified aromatherapist, said using natural plant oils for “oil shampooing” and “oil bathing” can restore hair’s volume and strength by detoxifying the scalp, while at the same time helping to restore the mind through relaxation.

“After a really exhausting day’s work, when my scalp feels tight, or when my scalp feels stuffy in the summer, I use an oil shampoo,” Tseng told NTD’s “Health 1+1.”

“It leaves my hair feeling incredibly refreshed and comfortable, and it’s especially bouncy the next day. For a while, I was using an oil shampoo almost every week, and when I got a haircut, the stylist noticed my hair was growing faster than usual.”

One might think that applying oil to the scalp would clog hair follicles, but the core principle of oil shampooing is using oil to dissolve grease, Tseng said.

Years of accumulated sebum and dirt can be difficult for ordinary shampoos to remove completely. High-quality cold-pressed plant oils penetrate and dissolve these wastes, allowing the hair follicles to breathe again. After deep cleansing and moisturizing, the scalp becomes healthier and more balanced, improving oily conditions in summer and dry, itchy conditions in winter.

Oils for Washing

Tseng suggests the following ingredients for an oil shampoo.

Plant Oils

First, choose a cold-pressed extra-virgin oil for your base, such as olive, coconut, or sesame.

Cold-pressed extra-virgin sesame oil, for example, has a milder scent, whereas cooking sesame oil is roasted and has a stronger aroma, making it less suitable for skin care and hair care.

Essential Oils

Next, tailor your blend to address specific scalp concerns by adding just a few drops of essential oils:

• Rosemary: Promotes blood circulation and hair growth


• Atlantic Cedarwood: Balances oil secretion and helps prevent hair loss


• Tea Tree: Provides antibacterial support, controls oil, and reduces dandruff


• True Lavender: Soothes redness, reduces swelling, and supports sensitive scalps


• Peppermint: Cools the scalp, controls excess oil, and relieves itching, especially during summer

Research has shown that rosemary and cedarwood essential oils promote hair growth in animal models, with effects comparable to those of the hair growth agent minoxidil. Peppermint essential oil has been found to stimulate hair follicles to enter the growth phase, resulting in thicker, faster hair growth and surpassing minoxidil in effectiveness, without observed toxicity or side effects.

How to Wash Hair With Oil

Tseng washes her hair with oil as follows:

1. Prepare Massage Oil: Use 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce of plant oil, adjusted based on hair length. The essential oil concentration is typically about 1 percent, equivalent to about six drops of essential oil per 1 ounce of plant oil.


2. Apply Oil: After sectioning the hair, apply the oil to the scalp with your fingertips or a squeeze bottle, ensuring that the scalp is completely covered with oil.


3. Massage Scalp: Insert your fingers deep into your hair and massage your scalp with your fingertips. You can also use a scalp massage comb.


4. Condition Hair: Apply any remaining oil to your hair as a conditioner.


5. Let It Sit: Leave the oil on your hair for 30 minutes if time allows.


6. Wash It Out: Shampoo your hair one to two more times than usual to thoroughly cleanse the scalp of excess oil.

Oil Bath Dissolves Toxins

In addition to scalp care, Tseng also recommends a “deep detox oil bath.” In winter or when you are feeling stressed, apply a thick layer of plant oil to your entire body, including areas with high lymphatic density such as the armpits, inner thighs, and chest.

“On these areas of the body that we don’t usually touch and where blockage is especially severe, the oil scraped off is particularly dark,” she said.

Users report that their sleep quality significantly improves the night after taking an oil bath and that they experience a healthier bowel movement the next morning.

Recommended Essential Oils for Baths

Tseng recommends three essential oils suitable for all skin types to relax your mind and body while caring for your skin:

• True Lavender: Promotes relaxation and balances oil secretion.


• Frankincense: Supports skin repair, immune function, and antiaging and anti-inflammatory effects. Some studies have found that frankincense essential oil has anticancer properties.


• Rose Geranium: Balances hormones and keeps skin moisturized. Clinical studies have found that the aroma of rose geranium essential oil can reduce pain, anxiety, and stress.

How to Prepare and Take an Oil Bath

Tseng suggests the following steps:

1. Prepare the Oil: Prepare 1 to 3 ounces of massage oil. The essential oil concentration is usually about 1 percent, or about 20 drops of essential oil per 3 ounces of plant oil.


2. Apply the Oil: Apply the oil over your entire body, including your face, ears, navel, nail crevices, soles of your feet, and scalp—if desired.


3. Massage the Body: Massage yourself after applying the oil, then put on a bathrobe to keep warm and wait 20 minutes.


4. Remove Excess Oil: Wipe off excess oil with a cloth or paper towels before entering the bath to prevent it from pouring down the drain. Oil solidifies when it contacts cold air, which can cause drain blockages. You can also pour a little baking soda into the drain to help prevent sticking.


5. Wash It Off: Rinse the oil thoroughly with soap or shower gel after soaking in the bath.

Tseng emphasizes taking care to avoid falls when using oil for a bath. Wear nonslip bathroom slippers, sit on a chair while showering, and thoroughly scrub the floor and slippers with baking soda and dish soap afterward.

It is recommended to take oil baths once or twice per week, preferably before bed.

Precautions

Although oil washing and bathing are relaxing, they are not recommended for people with wounds, inflammation, or redness on the skin or scalp.

Pregnant women, children younger than 12, cancer patients, and patients with other chronic diseases should consult an aromatherapist or physician before using essential oils. If you are unsure whether essential oils are suitable, Tseng recommends using pure plant oils or herbal infusions.