How to Use Neem Oil for Hair: Dilution and a Pre-Wash Ritual
Neem oil has one of the strongest characters of any botanical oil: thick, golden-brown and unmistakably scented. That strength is exactly why it is never used on its own. Blended into a gentler carrier oil, a little neem becomes part of a pre-wash hair and scalp ritual. This guide explains how to use neem oil for hair, step by step.
What is neem oil?
Neem oil is pressed from the seeds of Azadirachta indica, an evergreen tree long grown across South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The oil is dense, with a strong, earthy, garlic-like scent that many people find surprising the first time. It can turn cloudy or solid when the room is cool.
FAYNAN Pure Neem Oil is a single ingredient, with nothing added. It is sold as a blending oil: it is always diluted before use.
Why neem oil is always blended
Neem is too strong, in texture and in scent, to use undiluted on the scalp. Blending it into a lighter carrier oil makes it easier to spread, easier to wash out and far gentler on the senses. We handle it almost like a concentrate. For the difference between concentrates and carriers, read Essential Oils and Carrier Oils.
How to dilute neem oil
The ratio is simple: 1 part neem oil to 9 parts carrier oil.
| Total blend | Neem oil | Carrier oil |
|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon (5 mL) | About 10 drops | The rest of the teaspoon |
| 1 tablespoon (15 mL) | About 1.5 mL (a little over a quarter teaspoon) | About 13.5 mL |
| 30 mL | 3 mL | 27 mL |
Mix well, and mix again before each use. Make small batches rather than one large bottle.
Choosing a carrier oil
Pure Date Seed Oil is our usual pairing: fine, golden and already at home in a pre-wash routine. For a richer blend on thicker or drier-feeling hair, try Garden Cress Seed Oil or Pure Pumpkin Seed Oil. Our guide to choosing a hair oil compares them.
How to use neem oil for hair, step by step
- Blend: mix 1 part neem with 9 parts carrier oil.
- Test: before first use, apply a little of the blend to a small area of skin and wait 24 hours.
- Apply: on dry hair, massage the blend into the scalp along a few partings, then smooth what remains through the lengths.
- Rest: clip your hair up and leave the blend for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Wash: apply shampoo to the oiled hair before adding much water, work it in, then rinse. Shampoo a second time if needed.
Hair should feel softer, and the scalp comfortable. For more on the method, read How to Use a Pre-Wash Hair Oil and How to Wash Hair Oil Out.
About the scent
Neem's scent is strong, and some of it can stay in the hair until the wash. Keeping to the 1:9 ratio, resting for no longer than 30 minutes and shampooing thoroughly all help. Some people add a single drop of Rosemary Essential Oil per teaspoon of blend for a fresher note; read How to Dilute Rosemary Essential Oil first.
If your neem oil turns solid
Neem oil often thickens or solidifies when it is cool. This is natural. Stand the closed bottle in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for a few minutes, then shake gently. See How to Store Natural Oils and Powders.
Who should not use neem oil
- Not for use on children.
- Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- For external use only. Do not swallow.
Safety at a glance
- Never apply undiluted.
- Keep away from the eyes; if contact occurs, rinse well with water.
- Test the diluted blend on a small area of skin before first use.
- Stop using it if irritation occurs.
- Store tightly closed, away from heat and light, and out of reach of children.
A little goes a long way
At one part in ten, a 30 mL bottle of neem makes a great deal of blend. Use it as a considered addition to wash day, not a daily habit. For the wider ritual, read our weekly wash-day routine.
Find a carrier for your blend in the Hair Oils collection.