Cedarwood Essential Oil for Hair: Does It Work?

Do you want a head full of thick, long, vibrantly healthy hair? If so, it might benefit you to know that cedarwood oil is good for far more than just aromatherapy and perfumery. This all-natural product derived from cedar trees can be used to stimulate hair growth and prevent hair loss. It is a powerful home remedy that has shown to be an effective solution for thinning hair.

Really? Is cedarwood essential oil good for hair?

Yes indeed. Although the medical community often looks down natural remedies because of inconclusive studies, research on the benefits of cedarwood essential oil for hair have supported what the Egyptians and Sumerians may have known about this oil since ancient times. These ancients used cedar oil for its antiseptic, antifungal, and insecticidal properties, taking full advantage of the precious oils from a tree named, “the power of spiritual strength”, which is what the word cedar means. In a randomized trial designed to test the successfulness of specific aromatherapy oils in treating alopecia areata, cedarwood essential oil, along with lavender, rosemary, and thyme oil was shown to be both safe and effective1. 

Alopecia areata is a medical condition characterized by sudden hair loss wherein circular bald spots begin to appear. This and any type of hair loss can be emotionally traumatic, and difficult to cure. Conventional treatments used in modern medicine to stop hair from falling out are often toxic and come with many unwanted side effects, so studies demonstrating the power of cedarwood essential oil for hair can be very exciting. Still even those who are not losing hair can benefit by adding this oil to their hair care regimen, as cedarwood oil can help hair grow. 

References:

1. Hay, Isabelle, Jamieson, M., and Oremerod, A (1998) Randomized Trial of Aromatherapy: Successful Treatment for Alopecia Areata. Arch. Dermatol. 134: 1349 -1352.