What Are The Best Carrier Oils For Hair Growth

Last Updated on April 2, 2024

When taking care of our hair, one of the biggest challenges we face is finding the right oil that slows down hair loss and gives us thicker, stronger hair. 

There are plenty of carrier oils and essential oils for hair that we can use to promote hair growth. But essential oils can be tricky as they need to be diluted properly to avoid irritation. So carrier oils are certainly an easier and safer option. But picking one can be confusing as there are so many options to choose from. 

What Exactly Are Carrier Oils?

There are two types of plant-based oils- carrier oils and essential oils. Essential oils are volatile and made by steam-distilling leaves or flowers of a plant. Whereas, carrier oils are made by pressing the seeds, kernels, and nuts to extract the fatty acids in them.

They are called ‘carrier oils’ as they are used as a medium to deliver essential oils to your skin and hair. Essential oils contain potent compounds which may irritate your skin if used directly and thus need to be diluted with a carrier oil.

Benefits Of Using Carrier Oils In Hair Care

Along with essential fatty acids, carrier oils are also a rich source of various vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that nourish our skin and hair. So they can be applied directly on our skin, scalp, and hair to moisturize them.

Carrier oils protect our hair from dryness and environmental damage. They form a protective seal around the hair shaft which prevents moisture loss. As result, our hair feels softer and looks shiny. It also helps reduce hair breakage, split ends, and frizz.

Carrier oils also improve scalp health by nourishing the hair follicles. The right carrier oil can reduce hair fall, control flaking, and most importantly- aid healthy hair growth.  

Hair growth is a slow process so it is wise not to expect any miraculous overnight results. But with regular use, you will notice an improvement in thickness, texture, and hair strength.

6 Best Carrier Oils For Hair Growth

Many hair oils can help increase hair growth and improve the overall thickness of your hair. Here are some of the best carrier oils you can use to promote hair growth and control hair fall.

1. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is of the most popular carrier oils used in hair care and can help promote hair growth by nourishing your scalp. It is rich in fatty acids and helps deeply moisturize your scalp and hair.

It also protects the hair from heat damage and prevents moisture loss during hair wash. Coconut oil is thus the best choice for hair growth if you have dry, damaged, or frizzy hair.

2. Almond Oil

Almond oil is a great choice for the overall nourishment of the scalp and hair. It is rich in nourishing compounds, especially antioxidants like Vitamin E.

So it supports hair growth by deeply moisturizing the scalp and protecting the hair follicles from oxidative stress inflicted by free radicals. Almond oil will also reduce hair breakage by softening your hair and improving hair shine by preventing dryness.

3. Pumpkin Seed Oil

Pumpkin seed oil is one of the best carrier oils for hair growth, especially for men facing hair loss due to androgen alopecia or male pattern baldness. It is rich in various minerals, beta carotene, and phytoestrogens that help control hair fall and boost hair growth.

4. Kalonji Oil

Also known as black seed oil, kalonji oil is popular carrier oil for hair growth as it is loaded with nutrients that nourish the follicles. It has antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that help promote hair growth and reduce hair fall.

5. Moringa Oil

Moringa oil is one of the most nourishing carrier oils for skin and hair. Made from seeds of the drumstick plant, moringa carrier oil is packed with vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and omega acids that fight scalp dryness, irritation, and infections.

It is a multipurpose oil that will also soften your skin and hair and help soothe dry skin.

6. Castor Oil

Castor oil is a thick carrier oil that can be diluted with other carrier oils to promote hair growth. It is rich in ricinoleic acid which moisturizes the scalp and soothes irritation while the antioxidants protect the hair follicle from free radical damage.

Castor oil can also be used to get thicker, stronger eyelashes and promote hair growth in eyebrows as well. 

How To Use These Carrier Oils For Hair Growth

You can either use a single carrier oil or mix a few of them to create your own DIY hair oil blend for hair growth. Here is the carrier oil recipe I currently use in my haircare routine. 

• 1tsp Kalonji Oil
• ½ tsp Moringa Oil
• 10-12 drops of Pumpkin Seed Oil
• 1-2 drops of Lavender essential oil(optional)

All these carrier oils are from Blend It Raw Apothecary, one of the best DIY ingredient stores in India. Their carrier oils are 100% pure, unrefined, non-deodorized, raw, and extracted using the cold-pressed technique. Use code DEMURE10 to get 10% discount on your orders.

After massaging this blend on my scalp, I let it sit for at least an hour before rinsing it off with a sulfate-free shampoo. 

Essential oils are optional but I used lavender essential oil in this recipe as it has a calming effect on the mood. You may skip it altogether or replace it with other essential oil.

Rosemary or peppermint essential oils are good choices for reducing hair fall and promoting new hair growth.

Where To Buy Good Quality Carrier Oils in India?

Many brands use heat to extract the oils or refine them which destroys the nutrients essential for hair growth. To see results, the carrier oil must be undiluted and extracted without heat or chemical solvents.

I often buy ingredients for my DIYs recipes from Blend It Raw Apothecary as I trust them for high-quality ingredients. The purity and nutrient value of their oils are evident from the rich hues and natural aromas from phytonutrients present in the oil.

Check out their entire range of cold-pressed carrier oils here.

Disclaimer: This post is created as part of a collaboration with Blend It Raw Apothecary but the opinions expressed are honest and unbiased.