As aromatherapy has proven its wonders in recent years, the popularity of essential oils is also soaring high. Unsurprisingly, they have become a fixture in today’s beauty industry. From health to skin to hair, essential oils available in the market have a broad spectrum of benefits for our whole existence. Bergamot essential oil is a magical essential oil with many health advantages and an excellent cosmetic quotient. However, this post will limit our discussion to how it can make our hair look gorgeous. The oil can protect, nourish, and naturally beautify our locks while promoting health and stimulating their growth exponentially. Let us explore the benefits of bergamot oil for hair and the best ways to grow healthier and stronger hair.
What Is Bergamot Essential Oil?
Bergamot essential oil is a multi-beneficial essential oil obtained from the fruits of the bergamot tree. Though it is grown in many parts of the world, the tropical tree originated from southeast Asia and Europe. It is named after Bergamo in southern Italy, where it was first sold, and almost 80% of the oil is produced in Calabria – Italy’s coastal region. The Bergamot tree has beautiful white flowers, green oval leaves, and orange-like yellow-colored fruits called ‘Citrus Bergamia’ or ‘Bergamot Orange.’ The essential oil is extracted from the rinds and peels of the inedible bergamot fruit via cold compression. It has a sweet yet citrusy aroma with a spicy, refreshing taste.
Bergamot tree is a cross-breed between lemon tree and orange tree, which contributes to the distinctive shape and fragrance of its fruits.
Benefits Of Bergamot Essential Oil
Researchers have proved that bergamot essential oil has a wide range of benefits. It contains lots of phytochemicals, which help lower cholesterol levels in the body and treat midriff obesity. In addition, the oil’s strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can reduce pain and inflammation, fight against food poisoning, and cure acne. Besides, the refreshing fragrance of bergamot essential oil enhances our nervous system’s functionality and makes our mood wonderfully. Hence, it is widely used to manufacture perfumes, colognes, toiletries, and cosmetics. The oil finds its use in aromatherapy treatment for stress reduction. Furthermore, the oil’s nourishing properties have also made it a highly sought-after ingredient in beautifying skin and hair (1).
Why Use Bergamot Oil For Hair?
Bergamot essential oil comes with loads of quality benefits that can directly or indirectly boost the health of our hair. It is a magical potion that can nourish, nurture, and revamp the locks in multiple ways. Find out below the hair-boosting properties of the oil to understand why you should include it in your regular beauty regimen:
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1. Stimulant
Bergamot essential oil stands out as a top-notch natural hair stimulant. Enhancing scalp blood circulation promotes the efficient delivery of nutrients and oxygen to hair follicles, ensuring optimal functioning of the entire system. With a healthier scalp and stimulated hair roots, the oil nourishes hair fibers, leading to substantial hair growth.
2. Calming And Soothing
When used on the scalp and the hair, bergamot essential oil induces a soothing effect almost immediately. The oil produces two neurotransmitters, serotonin, and dopamine, which calm the nervous system and relax the mind. This relaxes the scalp, too, and causes a high positive impact on hair growth. So, if you massage your scalp with bergamot oil frequently, your hair growth will be promoted, and you will get a beautiful mane.
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3. Antimicrobial
There are times when our scalp gets invaded by certain microbes. For example, all those nasty chemicals from your hair care and styling products, dandruff, dirt, and excess sebum, cause buildup on the scalp, clog the follicles, and eventually irritate it. It causes extreme damage to hair follicles and prevents hair’s natural growth by resulting in several scalp issues like infections, acne, eczema, etc. But being a great natural antimicrobial agent, bergamot essential oil inhibits the growth of bacteria. Thus, the scalp remains clean, healthy, and perfect for hair growth.
4. Antiseptic
Its antiseptic properties strengthen the antimicrobial properties of bergamot oil even more. Apart from eradicating microbes and averting the possibility of developing scalp infections, it works on already infected scalps and stops the contagion from worsening. This is very important for the health and growth of the locks as this accelerates hair growth, makes it more robust, and keeps split ends away.
5. Moisturizing And Conditioning
Bergamot essential oil is a great product that moisturizes and conditions hair fibers while providing the proper nutrients. This oil can do everything needed to make hair soft and smooth, restoring loss or even sealing natural moisture.
6. Damage Repair
An oil with nourishing, moisturizing, conditioning, and scalp-stimulating properties can permanently repair even the most severe hair damage. Hence, bergamot essential oil can be an excellent choice for revamping dry, damaged, and sunburnt hair. It is rich in antioxidants that help protect the hair from the damaging effects of oxidative stress by forming a protective shield on the scalp. In addition, the oil’s antioxidant properties also help strip off the dirt and chemicals causing the scalp to dry out, leaving the hair healthy and shiny.
7. Frizz-Free Hair
Bergamot oil is a sure bet if you want straighter hair with less or no frizz. It comes loaded with fatty acids, which make the hair softer and smoother. It also washes away buildup on the scalp and allows the cuticles to breathe, ensuring that your hair receives enough moisture to stay hydrated and healthy. Moreover, it alters the structure of your curly hair fibers and turns them straighter naturally. Thus, you do not need to detangle it again and again.
8. Added Sheen
Regular use of bergamot oil on your hair can add a beautiful sheen. If your mane is dull and lifeless, include this essential oil in your regular hair care routine to make it shinier and livelier.
How To Use Bergamot Oil For Hair?
The following are different ways to use bergamot oil to achieve healthy and lustrous hair (2):
1. Use In Diluted Form
Like many other essential oils, highly concentrated bergamot oil (full strength) should not be used directly on the scalp or hair. Instead, always mix it in the diluted form with a suitable carrier oil, such as jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, almond oil, coconut oil, apricot kernel oil, shea oil, etc. Add 2-3 drops of bergamot essential oil to a tablespoon of carrier oil and massage the mixture vigorously into the scalp for 2 to 3 minutes. Leave it overnight or rinse after an hour, as per your choice. You can also use it on your wet or dry hair before blow-drying or curling it.
For dry hair, go for heavily moisturizing carrier oils like shea oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, etc. For oily hair, choose lighter carrier oils like grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, almond oil, etc.
2. Use In Shampoo
Add a few drops of bergamot essential oil to your go-to shampoo and wash your hair as usual.
3. Use With Other Essential Oils
Mix bergamot essential oil with other oils like lavender essential oil, tea tree essential oil, chamomile essential oil, thyme essential oil, rosemary essential oil, peppermint essential oil, etc. You can always experiment with new combinations for this purpose.
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Side Effects Of Bergamot Oil For Hair
Diluted essential oils are usually well-tolerated by most people. However, you may experience adverse reactions if your skin is too sensitive. These include irritation, redness, swelling, itching, hives, blisters, burning sensation, pain, and allergic dermatitis. The oil also contains a compound named bergapten, which, being phototoxic, can increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight. So, it can irritate and damage your skin when exposed to the sun. Bergamot oil can also interfere with certain medications, including the antibiotic ciprofloxacin.
Precautions For Using Bergamot Oil
Although bergamot essential oil is a safe and reliable natural alternative to expensive hair care products, it should be used with enough precaution. A few words should be kept in mind before applying it to hair. Check them out:
- As it is an essential oil, you should always dilute it with a suitable carrier oil to keep irritation at bay.
- Being a citrus oil, it can make your scalp and hair photosensitive. Therefore, apply it before bedtime to avoid direct sun exposure right after the application. Otherwise, ensure you step out in the sun with enough protection.
- Before including it in your regular hair care regimen, always do a patch test. Dilute it in a carrier oil and rub a dime-sized area at the inner side of your forearm with it. You can go for it if there is no allergic reaction within 24 hours.
- Please consult your doctor before using the oil to ensure it will not interact with your ongoing medications.
- It is not suitable for kids under six years old. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should also stay away from it.
- When exposed to sunlight, bergapten in the oil turns poisonous. So, store it in a dark bottle and keep the bottle in a dark place.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can Bergamot Oil Be Applied Directly To the Skin?
Bergamot oil is an essential oil which is available in very high concentrations. Applying it directly to the skin can increase its sensitivity and cause irritation. Hence, always use it on the skin after diluting with a carrier oil.
Is Bergamot Oil Poisonous?
Bergamot oil is likely safe for most people when used in small amounts. However, it becomes poisonous when exposed to the sunlight due to the presence of bergapten in it.
Does Bergamot Oil Promote Good Sleep?
Yes, bergamot essential oil can improve your sleep pattern wonderfully. It has excellent calming and soothing effects on the nervous system, relaxing the mind and contributing to sound sleep.
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References:
- “About Bergamot Oil“, Healthline.com
- “How To Use Essential Oils For Hair Growth,” MedicalNewsToday.com
