These Are The Essential Oils Every Curly Girl Should Have In Her Hair Routine

If you have curls, you know that it can be a real love-hate relationship trying to take care of them. One day they're too flat, another, too frizzy, and all the while, you're dealing with tangled hair and breakages. In the end, you're probably ready to scream, "Why must curly hair be so high-maintenance?"

Unfortunately, those curls face extra challenges when compared to naturally straight hair. For one thing, the bends that make your locks so curly also make them extra fragile. Each curve is like an Achilles heel in the strand, and the wrong amount of stress or pressure can easily cause damage there. The waves and corkscrews common to curly hair can also make it difficult for oil to travel all the way down from your roots, leaving the ends of your curls dry and brittle (via Lus Brands). The end result? Parched, breakage-prone hair that needs a little extra TLC.

Fortunately, Mother Nature likes to pack her flora full of beneficial properties that can help ease your hair woes. So, if you're looking for a way to master your curls, try these essential oils to breathe new life into your locks.

If you have curly hair, scalp care needs to be a top priority. After all, you're probably using more hair products but washing your hair less often, leaving your scalp clogged and vulnerable. Enter tea tree oil, a classic hair treatment that you can find in many anti-dandruff shampoos. And did you know that you can also use tea tree oil on its own? Utilizing this oil can help with dryness, itchiness, cleansing, and balanced hydration (via Curlsmith). It may also help keep your curls springy and tight by aiding the production of keratin in your follicles (via Indique Hair).

Rosemary oil is another haircare favorite that can pack a punch for your curls. Not only is it reputed to stimulate healthy hair growth, but it also has soothing and antimicrobial tendencies that make it great for your scalp. For curly girls, it can also promote better texture to keep your curls bouncy and lush (via Naturally Curly). Plus, its woodsy scent is deliciously herbal, making your bathroom smell like a spa!

Finally, you may also want to get your hands on a vial of ylang-ylang oil to help keep your gorgeous curls smooth and shiny. A natural conditioner, ylang-ylang is a perfect way to manage and detangle thick tresses, making it ideal for curly girls (via We Heart This). Meanwhile, breathing in its floral scent will help you de-stress so you can actually enjoy your self-care process.

If you want to try out these three essential oils for your luxurious mane, there are a few different ways to incorporate them. One of the easiest and most low-maintenance methods to use essential oils is to mix them with your shampoo or conditioner. Just add three to five drops to the product in your palm before you lather it into your hair, and rinse as normal.

Another way to use essential oils is to give yourself a relaxing, five-minute scalp massage. But because they can be very potent, always remember to dilute essential oils with a carrier oil. This means mixing them with a neutral base such as coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, or good old-fashioned olive oil, so you can enjoy the benefits without causing any irritation (via Healthline). Try mixing one to three drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil. At the end of your scalp massage, you can rinse out these oils or leave them in — whatever delivers best the results for your unique curls.

Sometimes, it feels like curly hair can be both a blessing and a curse. But with the restorative properties contained in tea tree, rosemary, and ylang-ylang essential oils, you can help enrich your curls to be more bouncy and luscious every day.