The essential oil of Atlas Cedar, extracted from the wood chips of the tree from the Atlas mountains in Morocco through steam distillation, is known for its beneficial hair properties that it exerts due to its rich biochemical composition. Learn more in this article about the benefits of Atlas Cedar essential oil on hair.
The benefits of Atlas Cedar essential oil for hair: what are they?
Summary
Published on October 25, 2024, by Marie, Scientific Editor — 7 min of reading
Themes:
Benefit No.1: Atlas Cedar essential oil to combat dandruff?
The Atlas cedar essential oil is often considered a good option for combating dandruff. As a reminder, dandruff manifests as whitish scales on the scalp. Its appearance is thought to be linked to an acceleration of the cell renewal of the scalp's epidermis, combined with an excessive presence of the fungus Malassezia on the scalp. Although the anti-dandruff effect of Atlas cedar essential oil has not yet been demonstrated in a clinical trial, some of its properties suggest that it could have such an action.
Indeed, this essential oil exhibits antifungal activity, as demonstrated by KORAICHI and his team on various types of fungi, particularly Aspergillus niger, Thielavia hyalocarpa and four fungi derived from the genus Penicillium. The measured minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 1%, showing a relevant antifungal activity against the various tested fungi. Thus, it is possible that Atlas cedar essential oil may act similarly on the fungus Malassezia. However, further studies are necessary to confirm this.
Despite a potential action of Atlas Cedar essential oil, it is important to remain cautious as no clinical trial has so far demonstrated that it can limit dandruff.
Benefit No. 2: Atlas Cedar Essential Oil for soothing the scalp?
Beyond its potential effects on dandruff, the Atlas cedar essential oil could soothe the scalp. Indeed, following the use of colouring products, exposure to pollution, or even stress, the scalp can be subject to tightness, itching, or even redness. According to some sources, Atlas cedar essential oil could help alleviate these discomforts and calm irritations due to its anti-inflammatory benefits.
BOUHRIM and his team highlighted the anti-inflammatory activity of Atlas Cedar essential oil in a study conducted in 2022 on rats with oedema. After administering 50 mg/kg of essential oil, a significant reduction in the size of the oedema (98.36%) was observed after five hours. This reduction was greater than that caused by the administration of 20 mg/kg of indomethacin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (88.52%). It is hypothesised that the anti-inflammatory effects of Atlas Cedar essential oil are due to its ability to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase (LOX), an enzyme that stimulates the production of leukotrienes, mediators of inflammation.
The essential oil of Atlas cedar has thus demonstrated interesting anti-inflammatory properties through this study. However, it is difficult to extrapolate these results to the level of the scalp, as the study was conducted on rats.
Benefit No.3: Atlas Cedar Essential Oil Against Hair Loss?
Another potential benefit of the Atlas cedar essential oil when applied to hair is its possible anti-hair loss effect. This is thought to be due to its cedrol content, a sesquiterpenic alcohol. A clinical trial conducted by ORMEROD and his team investigated the combined effects of Atlas cedar essential oil (94 mg), lavender (108 mg), thyme (88 mg) and rosemary (108 mg) in a blend of vegetable oils applied topically to 86 patients suffering from alopecia. The volunteers were divided into two groups and received either the blend of essential oils and vegetable oils or the blend of vegetable oils alone. After seven months, 44% of the subjects in the first group saw a significant improvement in their hair growth, compared to 15% in the control group.
However, it is important to note that, in this study, Atlas Cedar essential oil was not used on its own but as part of a blend of essential oils. Therefore, it is difficult to conclude about its actual contribution to the positive results observed. It would be interesting if a similar study was conducted using only this essential oil.
Benefit No. 4: Atlas Cedar Essential Oil, an ally for oily scalps?
The Atlas Cedar essential oil is often mentioned among the natural alternatives to consider in case of oily scalp, due to its biochemical composition. Indeed, its content in sesquiterpenes, and particularly in atlantone, would confer it lipolytic effects. This compound could indeed break down fatty substances, thus helping to limit the undesirable effects linked to an excessive production of sebum at the scalp level, which is the cause of oily hair. At the moment, there is no scientific evidence of the effect of Atlas Cedar essential oil on oily hair or any study on its lipolytic properties. Further research will need to be undertaken to demonstrate this potential effect of the essential oil.
Sources
ORMEROD A. & al. Randomized trial of aromatherapy - successful treatment for alopecia aerata. Archives of Dermatology (1998).
CHAOUCH A. & al. Analysis of moroccan atlas cedarwood oil (Cedrus atlantica Manetti). Journal of Essential Oil Research (2004).
GHANMI M. & al. Chemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of the Essential of Cedrus atlantica (Cedarwood oil). Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants (2015).
KORAICHI S. & al. Cedrus atlantica essential oil : Antimicrobial activity and effect on the physiochemical properties of cedar wood surface. Moroccan Journal of Biology (2019).
BOUHRIM M. & al. Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carrière Essential Oil Alleviates Pain and Inflammation with No Toxicity in Rodent. Processes (2022).
