8 DIY Essential Oils for Fall Skin + Hair

As humid days give way to cooler, crisp nights, your hair and skin can be early indicators of a changing season. Oily skin and hair can become noticeably drier, your scalp may be more “flaky” or itchy, and you may even notice that the transition from summer to fall begins with hair loss. Here are my 10 DIY tricks for looking great this season and prepping your best hair and skin for the months to come.

The Scalp Soother

A burning, tingling and tender hairline is a sign that your scalp may be over dry, or has just simply seen too much chlorine and sun this summer. Soothe your scalp by picking your favorite carrier oil and mixing in 3-5 drops of the following essential oils.

 

Essential Oils:

Lavender

Peppermint     

 

Carrier Oil:

Coconut                                             

 

Lavender is an anti-inflammatory herb, functioning well as a scalp soother, while peppermint oil cools the scalp and stimulates blood flow to this sensitive area.

 

Itch and Flake Relief

Do you notice dry flakes when you comb, or worse, a “snowfall” when you wear a dark shirt? You may have a condition called seborrhea dermatitis, often caused by candida. The itchy scalp is uncomfortable but often not as damaging as the loss of hair this can trigger.

 

Essential Oils:
Melaleuca Oil

Peppermint

Carrier Oils:

Coconut

Jojoba

 

Melaleuca oil, better known as tea tree oil, functions as an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. It can help kill Candida and with the help of peppermint, soothe an itchy scalp.                                                

The Hair Thickener

Hair loss is an increasing epidemic among women, and while the causes of hair loss range from nutritional deficiencies to hormonal imbalances, creating a healthy scalp for hair loss is key. Rosemary oil can prevent hair loss and graying of the hair, while cypress oil stimulates scalp circulation.

 

Essential Oil:

Rosemary

Cypress

 

Carrier Oil:

Jojoba

Olive Oil

 

 

Brittle Hair Buster

Sometimes, a change of season heralds a change in each hair strand, changing in texture to a papery consistency that breaks easily when pulled. Geranium oil is moisturizing to the strands and scalp, while sandalwood oil strengthens each strand.

 

Essential Oils:

Geranium

Sandalwood

 

Carrier Oils:

Coconut

Olive Oil

 

 

Grow Longer

Looking for longer hair? Add clary sage oil to your favorite carrier oil or conditioner. Clary sage is thought to balance estrogen levels in the scalp while ylang ylang is anti-inflammatory and an anti-septic, keeping the scalp microbiology balanced.

 

Essential Oil:

Clary Sage

Ylang Ylang

 

Carrier Oils:

Coconut

Jojoba

 

 

Brittle Nail Booster

Dry hair is not the only concern; dry, brittle nails can be an issue too! Use essential oils on your nails nightly to improve nail strength, but also pay attention to nutrition. The most common nutritional deficiencies associated with dry, brittle nails are B vitamin and iron deficiency.

 

Essential Oil:

Lemon

Frankincense  

Myrrh

 

Carrier Oil:

Argan oil

Olive oil

 

 

Myrrh is a moisturizing oil, while frankincense soothes inflammation and lemon oil works to strengthen nails.

 

The Pore Shrinker

Summer sun, sugar and sweat may have left your skin with larger pores. Shrink your pores using essential oils. Add a few drops of these essential oils to your favorite nighttime moisturizer or facemask. Frankincense functions as an anti-inflammatory to skin as well, while sandalwood also helps to moisturize and soothe the skin. For an added boost, add one green smoothie every day to shrink your pores from the inside out!

 

Essential Oil:

Frankincense

Sandalwood

 

Glow Formula: Moisture Rich

With the crackling of fall leaves, dry skin can become an issue for the season as well. Add the essential oils below to your favorite moisturizer to trap moisture and help with keeping that summer glow. Rose oil is a hydrating essential oil that works for most skin types.

 

Essential Oil:

Geranium

Rose

Myrrh

 

Use this essential oil guide to help you transition easily between the seasons, keeping your hair and skin glowing and healthy.