Lavender Oil for Hair, Skin and Other Popular Uses: Claims Checked
Popular claims about lavender oil for hair growth, skin, pain, insects and baths checked against what trials, lab studies and regulators actually found.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read essential oil safety before you use anything on this page.
Safety first. Lavender oil is not for swallowing. A toddler became extremely drowsy and confused after swallowing a small amount of lavender extract used as a home fragrance, according to Poison Control. [1] Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US) if a child or pet may have swallowed any essential oil, and 911 for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing. Do not put essential oils on damaged skin. [1]
The claims, checked
This page looks at claims often made for lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia Mill., family Lamiaceae) [2] other than sleep and anxiety, which have their own page: lavender oil for sleep and anxiety. Few uses for essential oils have been studied in a scientific way, according to Poison Control. [1] NCCIH says more high-quality research is needed to reach reliable conclusions about lavender. [3]| Claim as marketed | What the sources found | Evidence label | Form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Lavender oil grows hair" | A 1998 trial of 86 people with alopecia areata used a blend of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedarwood oils in carrier oils, massaged into the scalp daily. 19 of 43 (44%) improved versus 6 of 41 (15%) using carrier oils alone. [4] Lavender oil alone was not tested. In female mice, lavender oil applied to the back for 4 weeks increased hair follicle number. [5] | Insufficient evidence for lavender alone; mouse result is preclinical (animals) | Oil blend in people; lavender oil in mice |
| "Lavender oil heals skin, acne or scars" | Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed on 2026-10-23 for lavender oil with acne, wound healing, scars and skin, and found no usable human trials. The EMA review said no structured clinical research had been done on skin use of lavender preparations. [6] | Proper evidence not found | Not applicable |
| "Lavender oil relieves pain" | NCCIH says it is unclear whether lavender aromatherapy helps some types of pain. [3] | Insufficient evidence | Inhaled aromatherapy |
| "Lavender oil lifts depression" | NCCIH describes small preliminary reports for oral lavender capsules or tea, says topical lavender does not seem to affect depression symptoms, and urges caution. [3] | Insufficient evidence | Oral products; topical |
| "Lavender oil eases menopause symptoms" | One preliminary study of 72 postmenopausal women with an oral lavender oil product suggested some relief of menopause-related sexual dysfunction, but NCCIH says more reliable evidence is needed. [3] | Insufficient evidence | Oral product, not bottled oil |
| "Lavender oil repels insects" | In a lab test, lavender oil diluted to 1% in a solvent was a weak repellent of tick nymphs, and at 30% it repelled all of them. [7] The field tests in that study did not include lavender alone. [7] | Preclinical (laboratory) | Tick nymphs; lab only |
For mosquitoes and lice, see essential oils for mosquitoes, bugs and lice. For hair loss in general, see essential oils for hair growth and scalp.
Traditional and everyday uses
Traditional use, not proof. NCCIH says lavender's scent has commonly been used in bath products, perfumes and aromatherapy. [3] The EMA describes lavender oil medicines as available in liquid forms to be taken by mouth or as a bath additive, and accepted bath use as traditional, not as a proven effect. [8][6] The EMA also says people with open wounds, skin problems, high fever, severe infections and severe heart and circulation problems should not have full baths with lavender oil. [8] Pillow use is traditional too, but the EMA review cites cases of facial "pillow" dermatitis from lavender oil allergy. [6]What a reader can safely do
Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using lavender on a child or in pregnancy. See a clinician for hair loss, acne or a wound rather than relying on an oil. Stop a product that causes a rash and ask a pharmacist. This page is information, not advice for a particular person.Frequently asked questions
Does lavender oil make hair grow?
Not shown in people. A 1998 trial used a four-oil blend, so lavender's own effect is unknown. [4] Hair growth in mice is preclinical. [5]
Is lavender oil good for acne or scars?
Proper evidence not found in the sources we searched. The EMA said no structured clinical research had been done on skin use. [6]
Does lavender oil repel insects?
Only lab data were read. Diluted lavender oil was a weak repellent of tick nymphs at 1% and strong at 30% in a lab test. [7]
Can you put lavender oil in a bath?
The EMA treats bath use as traditional and says some people, including those with open wounds or severe infections, should not have full baths with it. [8][6]
Is lavender oil safe on a child's skin?
Ask a pediatric clinician first. NCCIH notes breast swelling reports in children, with unclear cause. [3]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
What regulators say
- EMA (EU), 2014 public summary: lavender oil can be used for mild stress and to aid sleep based on long-standing use, with only few and mild side effects, including very rare allergic reactions. [8]
- United States: NCCIH says supplements are not approved by the FDA before they are sold. [3] Poison Control says essential oil products are not well regulated and makers need not always show effectiveness. [1]
- Hair, skin and insect claims: no regulator statement was found in the sources we read.
Risks
- Skin allergy. Topical lavender may cause allergic skin reactions. [3] See lavender and tea tree oils: skin reactions and the hormone question.
- Children. A few cases of breast tissue swelling were reported in children using topical lavender products, and NCCIH says it is unclear whether lavender was responsible. [3] The EMA says lavender oil medicines are for adults and children over 12. [8]
- Aromatherapy. It may cause headache or coughing. [3]
- Medicines and surgery. There are theoretical reasons lavender might interact with some sedative drugs or herbs, which matters before surgery. [3] Tell the surgical team and see how interactions work.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Little is known about safety. [3]
- Quality. What is in the bottle can be hard to know. [1] See reading an essential oil label.
References
- Essential oils: Poisonous when misused (Poison Control). Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy record for Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (species key 2927305). Read 2026-10-23.
- Lavender: Usefulness and Safety (NCCIH, last updated February 2025). Read 2026-10-23.
- Randomized trial of aromatherapy: successful treatment for alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol 1998. PubMed 9828867. Read 2026-10-23.
- Hair growth-promoting effects of lavender oil in C57BL/6 mice. Toxicol Res 2016. PubMed 27123160. Read 2026-10-23.
- Assessment report on Lavandula angustifolia Miller, aetheroleum and flos (EMA HMPC, 27 March 2012). Read 2026-10-23.
- Repellency of oils of lemon eucalyptus, geranium, and lavender and a commercial repellent to Ixodes ricinus in the laboratory and field. J Med Entomol 2006. PubMed 16892632. Read 2026-10-23.
- Lavandulae aetheroleum, lavender oil: summary for the public (EMA HMPC, 2014). Read 2026-10-23.