Bergamot oil? and a story

[Saldana]

I've started using bergamot oil after reading somewhere that it increases hair thickness and strength, plus I like the scent of it. I just added some to my shampoo and conditioner bottles, stirred it in with a chopstick, and use it when I W/C a couple of times a week. Every once in a while, I'll do a scalp massage with a bit of jojoba (my oil of choice) with a few drops of bergamot.

Anyway...I have been doing this for a month or so. Last week, I couldn't stand my bangs anymore, simply had to have a trim (I know...I could do it myself, but I don't do a great job of it, so it's worth the 5-6 dollars to get it done at the local cheapo-cuts).

I always go in with my hair up, mostly to prevent any sort of nagging on the hairdresser's part (c'mon, just a little trim, it'll be good for your hair, etc). So I go in, sit down in the chair, say what I want, and the stylist commences bang-trimming. We chat and admire each other's grey hair coming in, she comments on how healthy my hair is, is amazed that I never use heat on it, and so on.

We hit it off really well, and as I stand up after she takes the hair catching apron off, she asks "How long is your hair, anyway?" I motion to about BSL, then say "would you like to see it?" She nods, so I pull the Ficcare out and shake my hair down.

I kid you not, she almost jumped, and said "OH MY GOD YOU HAVE SO MUCH HAIR!!" with an almost shocked expression on her face. Then she just starting picking locks of it up, gently, with a kind of amazement. I just laughed and said "yeah....it's pretty thick", and put it back up as we walked up to the register to pay.

I'm telling this story because, although my hair has always been somewhat thick, no one has ever responded quite like that, and I too have noticed that since I added the bergamot EO to my routine, my hair has seemed.....I guess the way to describe is it 'heavier'.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Anyone tried bergamot EO in their routines?

[DarleneH]

I haven't used bergamot but I know when you get sebum buildup from stretching washes or going SO, then your hair feels heavier. So I'm wondering if a bit of the oiliness of the bergamot EO is sticking around? Sounds nice, and I was going to experiment with adding jojoba to my hair for that "heavy" feeling, and I might try bergamot too. :)

[Saldana]

Darlene, that's what I was thinking....that maybe (even though proportionally, it's not very much oil added) the EO I added to my shampoo and conditioner is somehow hanging on through the rinsing, and thickening the hair shafts. I have medium severity SD on my scalp, so I can't do the sebum buildup thing, so I know any additional thickness isn't from that.

Try out the bergamot (and I am allllll about jojoba), see if you like it!

[rowie]

I also used bergamot oil back when I was doing scalp oil treatments, but ever since I found out my scalp doesn't like to have anything on it I stopped. Maybe I'll go back and buy a bottle and just use it to give my lengths a wonderful scent. It's kind of hard since I wash my hair only once a month. Hmmmm maybe I'll experiment and see how it will turn out since I'm almost due for a hair wash.

[Islandgrrl]

I've never used bergamot oil. But I'm getting ready to place an EO order, so I'll add it and give it a try! (like I need my hair to be thicker or heavier)

[Saldana]

Rowie, let me know how it goes!

[Saldana]

Islandgrrl, even if you don't want that glorious hair of yours any thicker, the bergamot still smells luscious....you might like it. :)

[neko_kawaii]

Mmm, Earl Grey.

[Catatafish]

I haven't tried bergamot oil before, but I got that heavy hair feeling from a conditioner I used during the summer. It was Garnier Ultimate Blends, The Sleek Restorer. I didn't really like the heavy feeling too much in the summer, even though I did like the conditioner.

I've never smelled bergamot as far as I know, I want to try it now.

[lapushka]

I haven't tried bergamot oil before, but I got that heavy hair feeling from a conditioner I used during the summer. It was Garnier Ultimate Blends, The Sleek Restorer. I didn't really like the heavy feeling too much in the summer, even though I did like the conditioner.

I've never smelled bergamot as far as I know, I want to try it now.

Garnier Ultimate Blends is the same as Garnier Ultra Doux here in Belgium/France. They, unfortunately, don't carry the brand in The Netherlands, though.

[Saldana]

Catatafish, have you ever smelled/tasted Earl Grey tea? It is scented with bergamot. Bergamot is made from a kind of orange, and has a rich citrus scent.

[Nadine <3]

That sounds lovely! Maybe I'll get some to use with my final rinses. I like to add essential oils to my final cold vinegar rinses, I feel like it's been helping my shedding. Right now I'm using peppermint and rosemary.

[Islandgrrl]

Mmm, Earl Grey.

Yes. My favorite tea.

[ChloeDharma]

Bergamot EO is thought to enhance hair growth, it is also antiviral and can be used for things like cold sores. It's main use in aromatherapy is as a mood enhancer and to ease depression. It is a beautiful scent, for me it almost can give a euphoric feel but I'm quite sensitive to the effects of EO's on the emotions. It also combines very nicely with geranium EO which conveniently is also one that can be used to enhance hair growth. One word of warning though, it causes photosensitivity. It's fine to use at night when it will be washed off the next morning but if you go out with it on it can cause sunlight to burn you. However there is a version you can buy with the acronym FCF. This stands for furocoumarin free and means it will not cause photosensitivity.

Bergamot really is one of my all time favourite essential oils, it is so uplifting with a smell that really deserves the description "beautiful". As winter is here it's a good time to use it, particularly combined with grapefruit if you suffer from SAD. Sorry to go off the hair aspect of it, I'm actually very interested to hear people's experiences with it. A member here brought a blended hair oil containing bergamot EO recently, I've actually been keen to hear how they got on with it.
Here is the product http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00590PL4Q/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3JAMHSEPSZYXF&coliid=I1JPIU1TET572E

Here is the thread http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=127350&highlight=growth+stimulant

I nearly brought the oil myself, quite a few times as it was already on my wish list when I saw that thread but I just have too many other oil blends to try and use up plus am making some more soon. I probably will start to include bergamot EO in my mixes though.

[Saldana]

ChloeDharma, thank you for the weighing in on the thread with extra information! I am sensitive to EOs and aromatherapies myself (and all sort of other therapies....I am kind of a poster child for HSP...:)

I highly second the value of combining Bergamot with Grapefruit, especially for those of us who live in grey rainy climates. I didn't know about the photosensitivity...probably not too much of an issue right now, but I'll keep it in mind.

Thanks again for the information!

[Saldana]

*deleting duplicate post*

[ChloeDharma]

ChloeDharma, thank you for the weighing in on the thread with extra information! I am sensitive to EOs and aromatherapies myself (and all sort of other therapies....I am kind of a poster child for HSP...:)

I highly second the value of combining Bergamot with Grapefruit, especially for those of us who live in grey rainy climates. I didn't know about the photosensitivity...probably not too much of an issue right now, but I'll keep it in mind.

Thanks again for the information!

You are welcome. This time of year I don't think the photosensitivity issue is a big one but I'd feel guilty if I didn't warn people. Plus the FCF version is easly available. I'm glad you found an EO that works for you and I hope you continue to get great results :)

[Catatafish]

Saldana That does sound lovely :)


I highly second the value of combining Bergamot with Grapefruit, especially for those of us who live in grey rainy climates.
This is what I need right now!

Thanks for all of the information ChloeDharma
I think I'm going to make a trip into town to the 'hippy' shop (I don't know what they are really called, the ones that sell incense and dream catchers and stuff) and huff the oils if they have any, buying bergamot and possibly a few others. I'm not too sure about adding them into my routine yet, I've been trying too many new things lately. I have an oil burner somewhere though.

[ChloeDharma]

Saldana That does sound lovely :)


This is what I need right now!

Thanks for all of the information ChloeDharma
I think I'm going to make a trip into town to the 'hippy' shop (I don't know what they are really called, the ones that sell incense and dream catchers and stuff) and huff the oils if they have any, buying bergamot and possibly a few others. I'm not too sure about adding them into my routine yet, I've been trying too many new things lately. I have an oil burner somewhere though.

I know the kind of shop you mean, I love looking around those. One word of warning though (god I keep giving warnings it seems!) I often find the oils sold in those shops are fragrance oils not proper essential oils so they will not have the therapeutic properties of an EO. By all means try them as a nice smelly thing to put in an oil burner but if you want to use them for emotional healing or on your skin or hair then always make sure to get good quality essential oils.
By the way, if the hippy shop sells nag champa incense that stuff is heavenly!

[ChloeDharma]

Saldana That does sound lovely :)


This is what I need right now!

Thanks for all of the information ChloeDharma
I think I'm going to make a trip into town to the 'hippy' shop (I don't know what they are really called, the ones that sell incense and dream catchers and stuff) and huff the oils if they have any, buying bergamot and possibly a few others. I'm not too sure about adding them into my routine yet, I've been trying too many new things lately. I have an oil burner somewhere though.

I know the kind of shop you mean, I love looking around those. One word of warning though (god I keep giving warnings it seems!) I often find the oils sold in those shops are fragrance oils not proper essential oils so they will not have the therapeutic properties of an EO. By all means try them as a nice smelly thing to put in an oil burner but if you want to use them for emotional healing or on your skin or hair then always make sure to get good quality essential oils.
By the way, if the hippy shop sells nag champa incense that stuff is heavenly!

[Catatafish]

ChloeDharma
By the way, if the hippy shop sells nag champa incense that stuff is heavenly!

Ah yes, that stuff is lovely! I used to be a frequent hippy shop frequenter and incense burner in my formative years :)

Thanks for the tip about the oils, I'll be sure to read the labels. I'd also want to cross check it with the list of drying oils, and do a whole boat load of research on it, because that's the way I roll. I have been meaning to get into using that oil burner again though, so at the very least this will have been a good catalyst for me. And also, you've reminded me to get some incense, thanks!!! :)

[McFearless]

Darlene, that's what I was thinking....that maybe (even though proportionally, it's not very much oil added) the EO I added to my shampoo and conditioner is somehow hanging on through the rinsing, and thickening the hair shafts. I have medium severity SD on my scalp, so I can't do the sebum buildup thing, so I know any additional thickness isn't from that.

Try out the bergamot (and I am allllll about jojoba), see if you like it!

Does jojoba oil influence your SD?

[Saldana]

McFearless, of all the oils, it seems to bother it the least. Any of the other oils I've tried (olive, mineral, almond, coconut...) seem to aggravate my scalp, and I have to be careful to not get or keep other oils on my scalp, just put them on my hair if I'm going to use them. But if I want to do a scalp massage with, say, bergamot, I prefer to use a bit of carrier oil, and jojoba seems to be okay with my scalp. But I also do know that I can't allow oil or sebum to build up on my scalp for any length of time, or the SD flares up. I've heard jojoba is the closest to natural skin oil...I use it on my face and hands several times a day, and that seems fine.

So, I guess I'll close in saying jojoba does not seem to _help_ the SD...but it doesn't aggravate it. :)

[ukrworld]

So are mostly all essential oils good for scalp massage? What about peppermint, cypress, lavender, rose and saffron? I have these and want to try them since I absolutely love the smell of them, bergamot not so much, only in teas. How many drops to use with other light oil as "carrier"?

[McFearless]

Thank you. :) I'll try to re-introduce oils once my sebo-psoriasis is more stable.

[Saldana]

Different EOs have different therapeutic properties, although I would imagine that if you enjoy the scent of any given one, that alone would be beneficial. :)

Regarding dilution...hmmmm.....I would say that when I do a scalp massage with jojoba and bergamot (or sometimes lavender), I use 10 drops of jojoba, and maybe 2-3 of bergamot?

[Catatafish]

Saldana

I think that I have dry scalp, but I'm not sure. I used to have the same thing when I was about 13/14, but have only started getting flakes again in the past year or so. It isn't too bad usually, because I wash my hair every three days. I don't think that it is fungal.

Could you tell me a bit about your experience with using oils on your scalp? I've been to the doctor already, and she couldn't see anything amiss. She recommended Niazoral and prescribed a scalp treatment. I used her treatment before the summer and it got rid of my flakes. I think that it just might me a dry scalp issue with me, because my skin gets especially dry this time of year, and my scalp gets flaky before my hair gets greasy.

[Saldana]

Hi, Catatafish -

I've had SD since I was in my late 20s.....it waxes and wanes, but is almost always present. I've tried every pharma and medicated shampoo known to allopathic medicine, and quite a few alternative medicine treatments. Nothing really helps except avoiding SLS's, washing every other day or so, and keeping products away from my scalp.

That being said....I know that sebum build up causes a tremendous flare up in my SD. When I've done oil treatment with most oils, I can't leave them on for more than a couple of hours, because my scalp gets extremely itchy. Plus, my hair is kind of 'meh' about heavy oil treatments, so I generally just use a teeny amount smoothed over the canopy, if I use any at all. But sometimes you just want a good scritch, right? So I take the jojoba oil, put some on my fingertips, add a drop or two of either bergamot or lavender, rub it together, and then flip my hair upside down and give my scalp a good massage and scritch. Heavenly. :)

I don't know if that answers any questions you might have?

[Catatafish]

Thanks Saldana. That reminds me I need to find a shampoo without SLS. Since I love cones, I need to figure out which ones I can keep using, or just get a clarifying shampoo as well. I used Yes to Tomatoes shampoo and conditioner for a while, and I think my scalp was happier.

I'll try out SLS free shampoo first, and then experiment a little with oil. It seems I should be very careful. I usually avoid putting anything near my scalp except for shampoo, so I'm a bit hesitant. I think I'll do a patch test if I go forwards with it.

Thanks for your explanation :)

[lapushka]

McFearless, of all the oils, it seems to bother it the least. Any of the other oils I've tried (olive, mineral, almond, coconut...) seem to aggravate my scalp, and I have to be careful to not get or keep other oils on my scalp, just put them on my hair if I'm going to use them. But if I want to do a scalp massage with, say, bergamot, I prefer to use a bit of carrier oil, and jojoba seems to be okay with my scalp. But I also do know that I can't allow oil or sebum to build up on my scalp for any length of time, or the SD flares up. I've heard jojoba is the closest to natural skin oil...I use it on my face and hands several times a day, and that seems fine.

So, I guess I'll close in saying jojoba does not seem to _help_ the SD...but it doesn't aggravate it. :)

Well, you're lucky. :) I can't use any oil on my scalp. My SD doesn't like it - one bit.