How Can You Use Rosemary Oil For Hair To Stimulate Hair Growth?

What could be more distressing than waiting for your hair to grow? Here’s my wild guess: you are watching your hair loss. Because it gets real from there. Studies show that by the age of 50, 85% of men(1) and about half of women will experience some degree of hair loss. Even with the number of products in the market claiming to boost hair growth, we feel as if the clock has stopped ticking. So, how effective is rosemary oil for hair?

What Is Rosemary Oil For Hair?

Rosemary is a well-known healing herb with numerous proven benefits to advocate its use. Mediterranean cultures have used rosemary for hair rinses for hundreds of years. Its ability to improve cellular regeneration is one among the many benefits supported by evidence. Hence the reason why rosemary essential oil for hair is strongly recommended.

It turns out, essential oils can speed up the process much quicker than products in the market. Considering how effective the benefits of essential oils are, we cannot overlook the numerous benefits of rosemary oil for hair. Ahead we dig deeper into the advantages of rosemary essential oil for hair.

What Are The Benefits Of Rosemary Oil For Hair?

We lose hair for many reasons including age, hormonal changes, immune system reactions, infection, and inherited hair loss conditions. The condition that causes hair loss in both women and men is called androgenic alopecia(2). Surprisingly, rosemary oil has the ability to combat the symptoms of alopecia by preventing the hair follicles from getting attacked. Moreover, studies show that rosemary can reverse some of the common forms of hair loss. The anti-inflammatory properties present in rosemary can keep hair follicles healthy and prevent hair follicles from being starved of blood supply. All of this could lead to hair loss.

Furthermore, it dilates the blood vessels and promotes cell division in the scalp to deliver the oxygen and nutrients for follicles to grow. That is to say, it stimulates hair growth. There is scientific evidence to suggest that rosemary may benefit nerve tissues too. Studies also show that carnosic acid, an active ingredient found in the herb heals tissues and nerve damage(3). This ability to heal nerve endings may rejuvenate nerves in the scalp too, in turn restoring healthy hair growth.

Besides improving circulation, they can also prevent premature graying and keep inflammatory scalp conditions like dandruff at bay by moisturizing the dry scalp. In addition to helping with dry and itchy scalp, rosemary is highly recommended for lengthening and strengthening of hair. A study conducted along with minoxidil, a widely used hair regrowth treatment, rosemary oil showed rosemary to be just as effective in reducing hair loss and in hair regrowth. Even better, with less scalp itching as a side effect. All these benefits considered, rosemary oil usage for hair growth, and rosemary oil for hair loss are both relevant.

Other Benefits Of Rosemary Oil

Rosemary essential oil is packed with countless benefits which are hard to grasp at once. From antioxidant benefits and anti-inflammation to memory enhancement and more, it could be your holy grail oil. Besides the benefits of rosemary essential oil for hair, the herb itself boasts several health benefits.

Rosemary Oil For Skin:

Aging: The oil is loaded with antioxidants that prevent and reverse the oxidative damage done to skin cells. This will in turn will help with signs of skin aging, wrinkles, and fine lines.

Dark circles: As it is known to increase circulation, the oil can help you with puffy eyes and reduce the appearance of dark circles.

Acne: With its anti-inflammatory properties, rosemary can help with acne and breakouts on the face along with stretch marks.

Rosemary Oil For Health

Stress: Besides the beauty benefits, it can reduce stress levels, relieve fatigue, boost mental activity, improve alertness, enhance concentration, and memory retention.

Inflammation: When diluted and massaged topically, rosemary benefits have a number of different aspects. educe pain and soothe inflammation. Rosemary can strengthen the immune system.

Digestion: It is also helpful in digestive issues like bloating, cramps, and constipation.

Others: Rosemary oil boosts the immune system by stimulating internal anti-oxidant activity to fight ailments caused by free radicals. It can also relieve throat and nasal congestion by clearing the respiratory tract (4).

Rosemary oil also has a refreshing aroma. Freshen your rooms with an ethereal scent with rosemary hair freshener made by diluting it with water. As a cheap and effective remedy with all of the aforesaid benefits, essential oil is undoubtedly a savior.

How To Use Rosemary Oil In Your Hair?

To obtain the benefits of rosemary oil for hair, use it at least one or two times per week. But once you have become comfortable using it, you can use it more often to get the most out of the remedy. Here are a few ways on how to use rosemary oil in your hair as a thickener and restorative agent.

How To Dilute Rosemary Oil For hair?

Like other essential oils, rosemary oil is extremely powerful. If applied directly to your hair or scalp without diluting, it can cause irritation or discomfort (no health damage). Thus, to make a hair elixir using rosemary oil, you need to dilute the oil with a carrier oil to prevent any said damages. Dilute by adding a few drops of carrier oil such as coconut oil or jojoba oil into rosemary oil and wait until the mixture has cooled down before applying anywhere directly on your body. It will be better if you use a patch test to check for any possible allergic reactions. Better be safe than sorry!

Massaging Directly Into Your Scalp

After dilute rosemary essential oil with any carrier oil, let the mixture cool. Take about five drops of this oil and massage evenly into your scalp after a shower or bath. Yes, it is completely safe to apply directly to your scalp if diluted. After applying, you can either rinse out or choose not to. Although rinsing out afterward is optional, wait for five to ten minutes beforehand to let the oil sit on your scalp. Leaving it on for a longer period can enhance the oil’s effects. We highly recommend not rinsing.

Mixing Into Your Shampoo Or Conditioner

Before mixing the remedy into your shampoo or any other hair product, make sure to play it safe by being cautious with the quantity. Adding too much might cause more harm than good. Five drops for each ounce are always the best and safest option. Mix about five drops of rosemary essential oil per ounce of hair product, then use the product as usual. You can also add two or three drops directly to any hair product when you apply a dollop of it on your palm before use. Even better, you can add rosemary essential oil to your conditioners, lotions, or creams.

Adding To Your Homemade Shampoo

There are several recipes online for homemade shampoo bases. If you want to start from the beginning, you can make your own effective shampoo at home and add rosemary oil to it. You can also add other essential oils for your preferred benefits. Try to add a mixture of baking soda into your shampoo for added effect (if you haven’t added it already).

Using A Shampoo With Rosemary Oil

An alternative and effortless method of rosemary treatment is buying a shampoo that has rosemary oil in it as an ingredient in high concentration.

DIY Rosemary Concentrate

For a true DIY, you can make rosemary concentrate at home with rosemary leaves. Take a handful (or two) of dried rosemary leaves and add to a quart of distilled water to boil. Steep the mixture for at least five hours(5). Longer steeping times will give higher concentrations. Use this concentration on your scalp or add it to your shampoo or any other hair product. 

If you want to use it for your eyes, make sure to dilute your oil by adding carrier oil as the skin on your face is sensitive. Afterward, apply underneath the eyes to get rid of dark eyes. You can also try adding a few drops to your moisturizer. Because of its effectiveness with hair growth, you can use it on your brows. Before going to bed, add one drop of rosemary oil to your washed brows for fuller and healthier brows. Although several studies on rosemary oil for hair loss haven’t turned out as successful rosemary oil for hair growth, they still prove to minimize hair damage.

Essential Oil Safety Tips

• Avoid getting essential oil in your eyes or mouth. If it gets into your eyes, quickly rinse your eyes with cold water.
• Be careful not to apply too much onto your scalp as it can cause irritation or discomfort.
• As its effects are unknown, the safety of using rosemary essential oil while pregnant or breastfeeding is unknown. Even if you use it topically, be cautious, and ask your doctor for assurance.
• There is no evidence that rosemary oil is safe to use on children’s scalp or for hair loss since childhood.
• Keep it out of reach of children.
• Always purchase rosemary essential oil for hair from a reputable health retailer and stick to brands you know to be safe.

So, does using Rosemary Oil for Hair growth actually work?

Yes, but it is a slow process. Rosemary oil can take several months to work its magic, so it takes repetition, diligence, and patience to see the benefits and progress. Not to mention how slow natural hair growth is. Although it sounds absurd, you can try counting the number of hairs in a small region on the head to measure the progress and to ascertain the effectiveness of rosemary oil for hair growth.