What exactly is burdock oil, and is it the same as an essential oil? — BURCH OIL EVALAR 100ML (repejnik) (репейник)

Burdock oil is not an essential oil. It is a macerated herbal oil: burdock root (Arctium lappa) is steeped in a vegetable carrier oil so that oil-soluble and dispersed plant substances can transfer into a form that is easy to apply before shampooing. In this product, the key active is burdock root extract, and the base is a vegetable oil.

That difference affects the way you use it:

• Essential oils are concentrated aromatic compounds and are normally diluted before use on skin. Burdock oil, by contrast, can be applied directly to the hair and scalp in moderate amounts.
• The vegetable oil base does the main conditioning work: it softens and coats the outer layer of the hair. The burdock extract adds plant components such as inulin, plant proteins, fatty acids, tannins and mineral compounds, which may help the scalp feel less dry.
• It is a simple, traditional format. In Russian beauty tradition, burdock oil has long been used as a pre-wash treatment, and this product fits that use: coat the hair, leave it for a while, then shampoo.

It is worth being realistic about what it can do. This type of oiling does not repair hair like a medical treatment, but it can improve the look and feel of brittle, frizzy or dehydrated lengths. If you are sensitive to Asteraceae plants, patch test first, and avoid the eye area during application.