Thoughts on Essentials Oils and Melanated Skin

I recently came across an article by Juliette Samuel, an esthetician, author, and publisher, who discusses how essential oils are underutilized in the melanated community. She highlights how much we're missing out on by not incorporating natural ingredients to address common skin issues like eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, and dark spots.

Janelle and I both struggle with dandruff and dry scalp. For me, my hair thrives when washed 2 to 3 times a week, thanks to its moisture-loving nature. With Janelle, I tend to keep her hair in protective styles to get through the week. This saves time, as I don't want to manipulate her hair too much, which can lead to breakage or unflattering styles she often complains about. Ideally, I try to wash her hair once a week, though it's not always easy to stick to that schedule.

In 2022, eager to give back to my community, I decided to create a hair oil to help with dandruff, dry scalp, and itching. I infused 17 different herbs in castor oil, and it garnered a fair number of sales. However, I learned a lot through the process. When attending pop-up markets, I encountered non-melanated customers dealing with the same scalp issues my target audience faced. Even more surprising was that, despite its reputation, castor oil seemed too heavy for many, including myself. After using it for a few months, I realized that dandruff and itchiness persisted.

By mid-2023, I decided to discontinue the hair oil. I didn’t want to replicate what others were doing, especially since many ingredients were common and cost-effective, often appearing in other small businesses' products. These ingredients were the go-to for creating larger quantities, but they weren’t necessarily delivering the best results. After reading the article, though, I’m thinking about reintroducing my hair oil but with a new twist. Instead of the small 2-ounce or 4-ounce bottles, I plan to offer 4-ounce or 8-ounce bottles. This would give customers a better chance to experience the product's benefits, rather than running out after just a few uses.

Additionally, I want to phase out the glass bottles, as they add unnecessary costs, are easy to break, and that dropper... it can be frustrating when you're in a rush. Another idea sparked by the article is replacing the castor oil with a lighter oil, like jojoba or sweet almond oil, or even a combination of both. While the article focuses on essential oils, it also offers insight into how to blend them with herbs and effective carrier oils to create a hair oil that smells amazing and addresses common hair concerns.

Read the article here: blog.nyrajuskincare.com.