Introduction
If your For You Page on TikTok has been saturated with videos of folks rubbing rosemary oil into their scalp and claiming that it’s “better than minoxidil,” that’s no accident. Rosemary oil has emerged as one of the most popular natural hair growth treatments across America, particularly those who want to try an alternative to prescribed hair growth products.
But does it actually work? And can it be safely used daily?
In brief: rosemary oil has some evidence of effectiveness when it comes to stimulating hair growth in the lab, but it also has a few side effects worth considering. This guide will review all there is to know about rosemary oil from a scientific standpoint, compare its benefits and downsides to other similar products, discuss the most frequent mistakes users of rosemary oil are prone to making, and offer an instruction of how to apply it without irritating your skin/scalp.
Can Rosemary Oil Cause Hair Growth? Evidence from Scientific Studies
Bottom Line Rosemary oil has also been proven in clinical trials to promote hair regrowth — especially for those suffering from androgenetic alopecia (or hair loss). Seems to work just as effectively as low-dose minoxidil. This particular study was carried out by researchers back in 2015 and published in the journal SKINmed.
It evaluated the use of rosemary oil vs 2% minoxidil on the condition after six months, with all patients suffering from androgenic alopecia. Both groups saw statistically significant results for hair growth, but the side effects associated with rosemary oil were less, including things like scalp itchiness.
How it works:
Firstly, rosemary oil promotes an increase in blood flow. This helps deliver more nutrients and oxygen to your scalp’s hair follicles.Secondly, some experimental research indicates that rosemary extracts inhibit activity related to DHT – a hormone implicated in hair loss.
Lastly, hair follicle atrophy can result from chronic inflammation in the area where you experience bald patches. Antioxidants like carnosic acid contained within this oil could reduce swelling here too!
Unfortunately, we don’t have enough hard evidence just yet to make strong claims about what works best for whom. Most studies conducted thus far were small-scale ones lasting only short periods of time under lab settings. You might find better results if trying out different remedies depending upon why exactly losing your locks happened!
Benefits of Rosemary Oil For Hair Other than Hair Growth
For those who aren't experiencing hair loss, there are still some additional benefits to be gained from using
rosemary oil: |Benefit | Reason|
|Dandruff Reduction | Antibacterial qualities can reduce dandruff problems |
|Shiny hair | Aids in smoothing the hair shaft |
|Hair strengthening | Reduces chances of breaking hair |
|Relieves scalp irritation | Anti-inflammatory ingredients help with redness and itchiness |
All of these don’t need much frequent application of rosemary oil - a little bit will do a lot, which leads us to side effects
Rosemary Oil Side Effects:
Be on the Alert
However, these are areas that influencers tend to leave blank even if we can find them.
For example, while it’s true that rosemary oil is natural, this doesn’t mean it's automatically safe (particularly with pure essential oils).
Possible Side Effects
Itchiness, redness or a stinging sensation – if you are applying the oil on your skin without diluting it.
You could be allergic to that particular essential oil. You might also have allergy with other plant belonging to the same Mint family (like basil, sage, lavender).
Over dosing can make your scalp completely dry which causes dandruff as well.
Very rarely it will cause migraine or light-headedness because of heavy inhale of concentrated rosemary oil in an enclosed area.
Rarer But Still Dangerous
1. Risks Of Seizure – Although camphor found in rosemary oil increases chances of having seizures among persons suffering from Epilepsy, there’s no danger when it comes to its topical application.
2. Should Not Be Used By Pregnant Women – Some sources say that one must use rosemary oil with care due to some substances existing in the plant that might lead to contractions in uterus. However, nothing is proven about applying it on hair.
3. Anticoagulant Effect – This particular oil has got some blood thinning effect but they come into play once you ingest this stuff, thus nothing bad will happen once you apply it topically.
In conclusion, if you’re healthy adult then every now and then rubbing rosemary oil (in diluted form) on your scalp won’t hurt at all. But remember that people with Epilepsy shouldn’t touch it even in small amount. Moreover, if you’ve sensitive skin, pregnancy or allergy toward plants then best bet is keeping away from this lovely scent.
Common Missteps Made With Rosemary Oil
1. Using Undiluted Oil – Pure form of the oil will irritate your Scalp.
2. Expectations from the Effectiveness- Regrowth of hair takes time. In Scientific Research the effect was seen after 6 Months not 6 Weeks.
3. Over Use of the oil – More usage leads to more risks of Irritation and no faster regrowth of Hair.
4. No Patch Test – Everyone’s sensitivity level towards Oils and Herbs varies. So to know if you’ll have Adverse Reaction, do a patch test first.
5. Choosing Substandard Oil – There are too many such Hair Products available that claims to Contain Rosemary Oil But it actually contains very less quantity of this oil and rest mixture with other oils.
Using Rosemary Oil in a Safe Way for Growing Hair
You can also blend some of these oils together if you want to use them as an all-in-one treatment.
Take 3–5 drop of Rosemary essential oil and mix it with jojoba or Coconut oil (as a carrier). Then massager it on your scalp twice or thrice a week and leave it there for at-least 10-20 mins.
Detailed instruction:
Here’s how to use dilution: Take about 3-5 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil per tbsp of Carrier oil. Apply this small amount to your inner forearm area (skin) – see if there’s any reaction after 24 hrs. Now apply it to your scalp and massage particularly focusing on thin areas (use fingers & not nails). Try doing this for at least 3-5 mins. Let this sit on your scalp for 10-20 mins OR night as long as you’re comfortable with. Wash it gently off with mild shampoo avoiding residue. Try twice thrice/week and give yourself 3-6 month time frame to try it out.
You don’t have to make DIY mixes – today we have many great options for Rosemary infused products. Just head to your local drugstore and check their scalp serum or look for shampoos that include Rosemary oil in them. You’ll find lots!
* Rosemary oil vs minoxidil
• Minoxidil (2%-5%)
FDA-approved for hair loss
• No
• Yes
Scientific research
• Few but promising
• Extensive
Possible side effects
• Mild skin irritation
• Drying, itching increase hair loss initially.
Price
• Inexpensive
• Inexpensive to priced
Quickness of results
• Slow and not very predictable
• Typically take 3 to 6 months
Recommended for
• Milder cases of hair thinning and prevent hair loss
As I mentioned earlier some skin doctors recommend combining these two types of treatments.. You use Rosemary oil to soothe your scalp and reduce irritation.. You use Minoxidil if you have mild hair loss.
If you already have bald spots, on your head and your hair is falling out quickly then you should see a skin doctor. This could mean you have health problems that are affecting your hair growth. For example thyroid issues, iron deficiency, hormonal imbalances and so on.
Frequently Asked Questions: People Also Ask
Does Rosemary Oil help hair growth on bald spot? Rosemary oil does have some benefits for hair growth when applied during initial stages. Also, it won’t cause hair regrowth on places where you don’t have active hair follicles. Hence, this herb-based solution is better thought of as preventive than restorative.
Is it safe to leave rosemary oil overnight? Well, yes. As long as you use rosemary oil in an appropriate amount, then you might not face irritation issues. Just keep your hair treatment time short.
When would I see results from using rosemary oil? The most common case is that you might notice a change in around 3-6 month marks according to what has been observed in clinical trails.
1. Does Rosemary Oil Work Better Than Biotin For Hair Growth?
Rosemary oil works by applying it to the scalp externally while taking biotin helps grow your hair from within via internal stimulation.
Both these products can be used simultaneously as well.
1. Will It Make My Hair Fall Out Instead Of Growing?
It’s quite rare but still possible that using rosemary oil might cause you to shed hairs more than usual depending upon how much irritation occurs on the scalp with its incorrect use.
Final Point
Though rosemary essential oil isn’t exactly the ‘magic pill’ we all want, it does seem to be a highly substantiated natural product when it comes to promoting hair growth, particularly if you’re dealing with premature hair loss. And remember, you need to apply it in dilution, regularly and also have some realistic expectations around its usage.
Rosemary oil alone may not be sufficient if you are facing severe issues like excessive hair loss/shedding, bald patches etc. That would definitely mean it’s time to see a dermatologist to eliminate or confirm any underlying medical reasons and try alternative remedies like Minoxidil (if necessary).
Are there any sensitive skin/scalp conditions on your scalp?
Yes, I’d always suggest trying a patch test before using any oil and consulting a Dermatologist first.
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