Rosemary, Latin name Rosmarinus officinalis, has been used for centuries as a culinary and medicinal herb. Native to the Mediterranean region, it was considered sacred by the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Hebrews. It is still commonly used today, both for its flavour and its wide range of health benefits.
Some of the best known traditional uses of rosemary include:
- Improving memory and concentration
- Aiding digestion
- Relieving muscular aches and pains
- Detoxifying the liver and gallbladder
- Stimulate proper hormone levels and can help regulate menstrual cycles
Rosemary can be included in your recipes or drunk as a herbal tea. However, one of the most effective ways to use rosemary for health and beauty is rosemary oil. As well as being a popular aromatherapy oil, rosemary oil applied directly to the scalp has been shown to boost hair growth and reduce thinning hair.
What are the Hair Benefits of Rosemary Oil?
There are several ways in which rosemary oil benefits hair growth. Firstly, its active ingredient, carnosic acid, has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are molecules which neutralise harmful free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. This can help to guard against inflammation and premature ageing as well as keeping your scalp and hair healthy.
Rosemary oil also helps to keep your hormonal levels in balance, especially dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is present in both men and women, although men have significantly higher levels. This is why both men and women experience thinning hair with age, but only men tend to suffer from male pattern baldness. By reducing DHT levels, rosemary oil can boost hair growth and reduce thinning.
Finally, research has shown that rosemary oil has antimicrobial properties, reducing the growth of fungus and bacteria. This means that rosemary oil can reduce scalp infections and problems like dandruff which can also lead to increased hair shedding.
It is also thought that rosemary oil could slow down greying hair as well as preventing baldness.
Can Rosemary Oil Regrow Hair?
Growing back hair which has already been lost can be difficult. However, recent research has shown that rosemary oil has similar hair growth results to minoxidil, one of the best known hair growth products available.
The study took 100 people who were suffering from male pattern baldness. The subjects were randomly assigned to be treated with either rosemary oil or minoxidil 2%. At the six month follow up, the researchers found that both groups has experienced a similar increase in hair growth. Those in the rosemary oil group also experienced less scalp itching throughout the study compared to their counterparts.
So although rosemary oil proved no better than conventional hair growth treatment in this case, it was equally effective and caused fewer side effects.
How do I Use/Apply Rosemary Oil for My hair?
There are many different ways to use rosemary oil for hair growth. The simplest is to add a few drops to a carrier oil such as olive oil or almond oil and apply it directly to your scalp. You can leave this in overnight for the best hair growth results, but you will want to wrap your hair in an old t-shirt or scarf to protect your pillow.
You can make your own rosemary hair rinse by adding a couple of handfuls of dried rosemary leaves to around a litre of boiled, distilled water. Allow to steep for five hours and use to rinse your hair after washing out your normal shampoo. Allow the rosemary water to stay on your head for a few minutes and then either rinse again with cool water, or simply leave in and allow your hair to dry naturally.
There are also a wide range of rosemary oil products for hair including hair oils, lotions and shampoos.
Rosemary Oil Hair Oils
Hair oils can be applied directly to the hair and scalp to provide extra moisture along with the other hair benefits of rosemary oil. Hallelujah Hair Oil by Forest and Shore is a popular product combining rosemary oil with other natural ingredients such as coconut, sesame, olive, sunflower, arnica and lavender. Hair oils are intensely moisturising and are ideal for people with dry scalps and brittle or damaged hair.
Rosemary Oil Hair Lotions
Lotions have a less greasy formula than oils and can be used regularly to promote thicker, healthier hair. Weleda Revitalising Hair Tonic is a rosemary oil hair lotion with a tried and tested formula dating back to 1921. It also contains ingredients such as stonecrop and horseradish to boost rosemary’s natural hair growth results.
Rosemary Oil Shampoos
Shampoos are one of the most convenient rosemary oil products for hair, offering minimal fuss for daily use. One popular example is Grow Me by Watermans, which comes as both a shampoo and a conditioner. Along with rosemary oil, the shampoo contains both caffeine and biotin, which is one of the most important vitamins for your hair.
Can You Add Rosemary Oil to Regular Shampoo?
If you want to test rosemary oil without splashing out on expensive products, you can also try adding a 10-20 drops of rosemary oil to your bottle of regular shampoo. It is always best to use a mild, pH balanced shampoo to avoid stripping your hair of its natural oils and causing it to dry out.
For a truly natural way to use rosemary oil shampoo, you could also try making your own. This rosemary oil shampoo recipe is free from harmful chemicals such as parabens and is cheap and simple to make at home.
Who Can Use Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth?
Rosemary oil has not been well researched for safety in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, so if you fall into this category, you should check with your doctor before using rosemary oil for your hair. It is also not recommended for young children.
As with any hair care product, you should carry out a patch test before trying rosemary oil for the first time. Choose a small area on the nape of your neck and apply a small amount of rosemary oil diluted in a carrier oil, or your chosen rosemary oil product for hair. Rinse after a few minutes if using rosemary oil shampoo or another product which needs rinsing out. Wait 24 hours to see if any irritation occurs before applying the product to your whole head.
How Long Before I See Hair Growth Results with Rosemary Oil?
Rosemary oil is not a quick fix for hair growth and it can take several months to see results. The above study on minoxidil and rosemary oil found that neither group saw results at the three month follow up. However, after six months both groups did see an improvement in hair growth.
With any treatment for thinning hair, it is important to be patient and use your product regularly in order to see the benefits. You can also increase their effectiveness by eating a healthy, balanced diet, keeping stress to a minimum and taking good care of your hair.
If you are willing to put in a little time and effort, rosemary oil could offer a safe and natural solution to boosting hair growth without the need for harsh chemicals or medication. And as an extra bonus, not only will your hair look good, but it will smell great too!
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