How to Make Lemongrass Oil

This lemongrass oil recipe for hair is easy to put together and only takes only 30 minutes before your DIY oil is ready.

I covered addressing scalp inflammation issues with lemongrass oil extensively in Reduce Scalp Inflammation & Irritation with Lemongrass Oil. There’s also a DIY lemongrass recipe for scalp issues in the article.

If lemongrass grows around your house and you’re keen on making your own lemongrass oil, continue reading.

A few stalks of lemongrass will yield a good amount of oil, which should last for a while. Additionally, the process is simple and the preparation time is minimal.

If you don’t have lemongrass on hand, you can find it readily in your local grocery as lemongrass is used in Asian cooking for soups and curries. 

You can also order fresh lemongrass stalks online. Try TastePadThai Fresh Lemongrass Stalks or skygardenLG Fresh Lemongrass Stalks.

What is Lemongrass Oil Good For?

• Lemongrass oil is good for inclusion in hair care treatment.
• Lemongrass oil can treat scalp issues. 
• Lemongrass oil can act as a mild preservative for DIY concoctions.
• Lemongrass oil is a common ingredient in skincare and cosmetic products such as soaps, lotions, and deodorants.
• It has a high citral and geraniol content and is used as an insect repellant. Can be used for home cleaning as well because of these properties.

Is Lemongrass Oil Good For Your Hair?

Lemongrass oil is one of the beneficial essential oils that help regrow hair by addressing any scalp issues that are affecting healthy hair growth.

These issues could be eczema, dandruff, and psoriasis. Other beneficial essential oils for hair growth include:-

• Peppermint essential oil
• Rosemary essential oil
• Tea tree essential oil
• Eucalyptus essential oil

You may be interested in The Ultimate Hair Growth Guide, which dedicates an entire section to discussing essential oils for hair growth.

How is Lemongrass Oil Extracted?

Most lemongrass oil on the market is obtained via steam distillation.

This procedure is common for extracting elements from plant materials, as lower temperatures are required.

How To Make Lemongrass Oil for Hair

There are two methods for preparing lemongrass oil. Hot infusion method and cold infusion method.

While both methods are fine, you will get a more concentrated lemongrass oil with the hot infusion method. That’s the recipe I share below.

Ingredients

• 5 – 8 stalks of fresh lemongrass or a handful of dried lemongrass 
• Mortar and pestle. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, you can use a rolling pin for this step instead.
• Jojoba oil, sweet almond, or grapeseed oil (exact measurements in how to card below). You can also use any great carrier oil for the scalp. 
• A medium-sized jar like this one

Dried Lemongrass

Directions

• Remove the leaves from the fresh stalks and break them into pieces.
• Spread on a large baking tray and let dry out for a few days.
• Afterward, break the stalks into pieces and crush them in the mortar and pestle then transfer them to a medium-sized glass jar.
• Heat up the carrier oil of your choice without allowing it to boil.
• Fill up the jar with the hot oil, close then set it aside on a windowsill where sunlight will hit the jar once in a while.
• Leave to infuse for 3 days.
• After 3 days, strain the oil through a cheesecloth or mesh strainer.
• Squeeze the cheesecloth until you get all of the oil out of the stalks. Discard the stalks.
• Transfer the lemongrass essential oil to a dropper bottle and store it in a cool place. It should last you for up to a year.

Pakkon Wide Mouth Glass Mason Jar

DIY Lemongrass Oil – Tincture Method

You can also make a lemongrass tincture. A tincture is a concentrated extract that can be used medicinally. A few drops of the tincture may also be used in hair treatments.

Ingredients

You will require dry lemongrass stalks, a canning jar (16 oz or 32 oz), and a bottle of alcohol like brandy, vodka, or gin for this lemongrass tincture.

If you don’t care to use alcohol, apple cider vinegar makes a suitable replacement.

Directions

• Open the canning jar and add in the dried lemongrass stalks, then pour in alcohol or ACV halfway up the jar and cold water the rest of the way. Make sure all the lemongrass stalks are immersed in the liquid.
• Cover the jar and give the jar a shake then check that all the lemongrass stalks are covered in the liquid mixture.
• Set the jar aside for 3 – 4 weeks. You can give the jar a shake every few days and also check the stalks are still immersed completely. If they are not, add more alcohol to the jar.
• After 3 – 4 weeks, strain the mix through a cheesecloth and you have your lemongrass tincture ready. Store in an airtight jar. The tincture can last up to 24 months when stored properly.

It’s important that the lemongrass stalks remained covered with alcohol and water to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.

Lemongrass oil is a very strong oil and should be diluted slightly otherwise it can cause skin irritation and even burn your skin.

Note that the DIY lemongrass oil won’t have the same potency as the store-bought variety so you may not need to dilute as much.

Note – these recipes are for external use only. Consult your primary care physician before you start using essential oils internally.

If you’re not keen on DIY, I’ve recommended some lemongrass oil favorite brands below:-

Best Brands of Lemongrass Oil for Hair

Sun Organic Lemongrass Oil

Now Foods Lemongrass Oil

Hair Care Products With Lemongrass Oil

• Obia Natural Hair Care Twist Whip Butter
• Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave-in Conditioner – promotes shiny hair as well!

More Hair Growth Resources

For more hair growth solutions, recipes, tips, tricks, and free hair growth coaching, check out the resources below.

These resources provide comprehensive information for recovering from hair loss, regrowing bald spots, filling in thin areas of your scalp, and the best ways to keep your hair healthy.

DIY Lemongrass Essential Oil

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Moderate

This DIY lemongrass essential oil is excellent for treating scalp issues like inflammation, thinning, irritation and dandruff. It also fosters a scalp environment for healthier hair growth.

Print

Materials

• 5 – 8 stalks of fresh lemongrass or a handful of dried lemongrass
• Jojoba oil, sweet almond, or grapeseed oil.

Tools

• Mortar and pestle. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, you can use a rolling pin for this step instead.
• A medium-sized jar with a wide mouth
• Baking tray
• 16 oz dropper bottle or several smaller dropper bottles

Instructions

1. Remove the leaves from the fresh stalks and break them into pieces.
2. Spread on a large baking tray and let dry out for a few days.
3. Afterward, break the stalks into pieces and crush them in the mortar and pestle then transfer them to a glass jar.
4. Heat up the carrier oil of your choice without allowing it to boil.
5. Fill up the jar with the hot oil, close then set it aside on a windowsill where sunlight will hit the jar once in a while.
6. Leave to infuse for 3 days.
7. After 3 days, strain the oil through a cheesecloth or mesh strainer. Squeeze the cheesecloth until you get all of the oil out of the stalks. Discard the stalks.
8. Transfer the lemongrass essential oil to a dropper bottle  and store it in a cool place. It should last you for up to a year.

Notes

Recipe Notes

• Make sure the stalks are thoroughly dry before you immerse in the carrier oil
• If the lemongrass oil is too strong, you can dilute slightly with additional jojoba oil, sweet almond, or grapeseed oil.

Recommended Products

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• 
  Organic Dried Lemongrass
• 
  Molivera Organics Sweet Almond Oil
• 
  Baja Precious Grapeseed Oil

Abi is a natural curly girl who delved into the world of natural oils after severe hair loss issues. Through her research & testing, she was able to regrow her bald spots & a healthy head of hair. She is also the founder of Healthy Natural Hair Products & Ade Ori Hair Care as well as the writer of the Healthy Hair Care Series. Learn more HERE…