How to Make Your Own Hair Oil Blend
To make your own hair oil blend, choose one or two carrier oils as the base, add an optional third oil or essential oil in a small measured amount, mix in a clean glass bottle, label it and use it within a few weeks. A simple rule keeps it safe: carrier oils can be combined freely, essential oils are counted in drops, and neem is always one part in ten.
What you need
- A clean, dry amber glass bottle with a dropper, or a small glass dish for a single use.
- One or two carrier oils: the base of your blend.
- Optional: one essential oil, measured in drops.
- A label and a pen.
Step 1: choose your base
The base is a carrier oil, pressed from a seed or kernel. It makes up almost all of the blend, so choose it by how you want the oil to feel.
| If you want | Base oil |
|---|---|
| A light, easy-to-rinse blend | Jojoba or Date Seed |
| A richer blend for thick or dry hair | Argan or Pumpkin Seed |
| A traditional, herbal character | Garden Cress, Arugula or Black Seed, softened with jojoba |
Not sure where each oil sits? Read How to Choose a Hair Oil.
Step 2: decide the proportions
Two carrier oils mix easily in any ratio. Equal parts is a simple start; use two parts of the lighter oil to one of the richer if you want a softer feel. Strong-scented oils sit better as the smaller part: black seed at one part to two parts jojoba, for example.
Step 3: add an essential oil, if you like
Essential oils are concentrates, so they are measured in drops, not parts. For a pre-wash blend, keep to these amounts:
| Carrier oil | Rosemary essential oil |
|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon (5 mL) | 1 to 2 drops |
| 1 tablespoon (15 mL) | 3 to 6 drops |
Use one essential oil per blend while you learn how your scalp responds. The full guide is in How to Dilute Rosemary Essential Oil, and the difference between the two kinds of oil in Essential Oils and Carrier Oils.
A note on neem
Pure Neem Oil is a carrier oil, but a strong one. It is never used on its own: keep it to 1 part neem in 9 parts of a gentler oil. See How to Use Neem Oil for Hair.
Three blends to start with
The light blend
2 teaspoons Jojoba + 1 teaspoon Date Seed. Fine hair, or a first blend.
The rich blend
1 teaspoon Argan + 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Seed + 1 teaspoon Date Seed. Thick, long or curly hair.
The herbal blend
2 teaspoons Garden Cress + 1 teaspoon Jojoba + 2 to 3 drops Rosemary Essential Oil. A fresh, green scent for wash day.
How to use your blend
- Shake gently before each use.
- Apply a few drops to dry hair and scalp, section by section.
- Leave for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Shampoo thoroughly, before adding much water.
For amounts by hair type, read How Much Hair Oil to Use.
Mix small, label everything
Make only as much as you will use in two to four weeks. Write the oils, the date and the drops on the label. Keep the bottle tightly closed, away from heat and light. Our storage guide explains why amber glass matters.
Good to know
- Patch test the finished blend on a small area of skin and wait 24 hours. Our patch test guide shows how.
- Keep blends away from the eyes.
- Blends with essential oils or neem are not for use on children. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or under medical care, ask a healthcare professional first.
- Stop using any blend if irritation occurs.
Prefer it ready-made?
The Botanical Hair Ritual Oil is our own blend of wild pistachio (butm), Sidr, black seed and more, made for the moment before the wash. It contains sesame and wild pistachio (a tree nut). The Single Oil Discovery Set brings together date seed, argan and jojoba, three good bases for your first blend.