I've wholeheartedly embraced the beauty oil trend of the past few years. I've been a fan of body oils for a while, and now that I've incorporated facial oils and hair oils into my regimen as well, I keep wanting to recommend them to other people. My latest crush in this product category is Lulu Organics Lavender & Clary Sage Hair Oil. Its ingredients (all organic) are argan oil, soy oil, apricot kernel oil, olive oil, camelina oil, rosemary, horsetail and essential oils, and its scent is "the clean and intoxicating aroma of lavender perfectly partnered with an invigorating clary sage and a touch of rosemary."
What exactly does one do with a hair oil? Just think of it as an intensive, leave-in moisturizing product. I find a good hair oil to be a useful multi-tasker: I work a few drops into my curly-wavy hair as an overnight treatment, or add just one drop to my styling cream, or apply the tiniest bit to the ends of my hair once it's dry, as an anti-frizz serum. Lulu Organics's oil works well in these various capacities without actually feeling oily, if you know what I mean; my hair soaks it up and just looks softer and healthier as a result. (And I don't see why you couldn't use it as a body oil, too!)
That description above is quite accurate: the scent of this oil is a mix of true lavender with a heavy dose of clary sage and a hint of rosemary. At the risk of sounding like an aromatherapist, it's simultaneously calming and grounding. You have to like clary sage (which I do!) to enjoy this fragrance, since clary sage is an essential oil with a strong personality and it tends to dominate lighter notes like florals or citrus. Here, its aromatic, musky-herbal character enhances the sensory experience of working the oil through your hair. The lavender adds a softer side to the scent and makes it just a touch more conventionally feminine.
I can't discuss this product without praising the packaging, which persuaded me to purchase this oil in the first place. It's just a simple glass bottle with a neat dropper opening, but the label design looks like a cross between an Aubrey Beardsley illustration and a costume design for Cher, circa 1972. It gives me a little aesthetic lift every time I pick it up.
Lulu Organics Lavender & Clary Sage Hair Oil now ranks alongside Aroma M Beauty Camellia Hair Oil as one of my favorite hair products; the Aroma M oil smells refined and lushly feminine, of course, whereas the Lulu Organics blend is more earthy and bohemian. Both work to tame and nourish my hair, which needs a little extra care after this long winter, and both manage to capture my imagination with their fragrances.
Lulu Organics Lavender & Clary Sage Hair Oil sells for $30 (3.4 oz.) at Beautyhabit and Birchbox. (For some reason, it's not yet available on the Lulu Organics website.)
I love lavender and I love hair oils. My hair can’t get enough of them. How long does the scent last with this one?
Poodle, as I have practically waist-length hair, oils aren’t just nice they are a necessity! At the moment I am enjoying using L’Oreal’s Extraordinary Oil for coloured hair – it’s not organic, but has a lovely slightly sweet smell that lasts till the next morning. I also like Kerastase’s oil for sensitive hair which is perfumed with rose – the fragrance doesn’t last as long, but the product seems more nourishing and natural. I would love to try the Aftelier one created for Leonard Cohen!!
Those Aftelier oils are lovely, too! I’ve enjoyed my samples of the Rose one.
I wish I could get mine to grow. It seems like I hit a certain age and no matter what I use it just starts breaking. I’ve also got half the hair I used to have which depresses the heck out of me. I shed worse than the dogs. A lot of its stress I think. I’ll have to try that kerastase oil. I need nourishing.
How I empathise, P! My hair is not as long as it used to be, and as for thickness, it must now be about a fifth of its original volume – it’s enough to make me cry. Which won’t help with the stress of course ….. I definitely think nourishing the ends combats the breakage, but can’t do anything for the loss from my scalp. I guess hormones also play a part. So I am doing my best to feed it from within (flax oil capsules) and I make sure it looks glossy and smells nice!
Hi, Poodle! It’s definitely more clary sage than lavender, and the scent only lasts about up to an hour on me — although it seems to cling longer on skin than hair!
I like sage too. Since I usually wash my hair at night I guess it doesn’t really matter too much how long it lasts since I’m sleeping anyway.
I have never had to use hair oil as my hair is pretty thick, straight and shiny; however, your description makes me want to try it. I don’t like the label design but I can look past it if the product is good.
Well, a good oil would keep your hair even healthier and shinier! 🙂
There are plenty of good hair oil options out there now — do try one, just to see if you like it!
On my fine, straight hair, I can’t leave oil on it, but what I do find helpful is to work a decent amount through my hair (I usually use organic coconut oil), leave it for 1/2 hr. to 1 hr. and then shampoo it out. My hair is very nourished and with more body after the treatment.
I love lavender and clary sage, add organic to the mix and I’m in! Great review, Jessica.
A pre-shampoo treatment is a great idea, too. I might even try that tomorrow!