Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth – Fact or Fiction?
I’ve had quite a few articles pop up in my Google news the past few weeks about Rosemary Oil for hair loss. Is this trend for real? I’ve done some investigating. On a personal level, I’ve been using Rogaine for months now, so I’m interested in anything that will get my hair jumpstarted.
Those who know me well, know that I’m not great at following the real news or trends. However, I do usually skim through the articles on my phone’s Google home page each day. It makes suggestions based on my interests, which Google of course knows without me telling it anything -scary but true. So, my articles are usually about Disney, Dermatology, National Parks, and Pioneer Woman, lol. Perhaps Google also knows I’ve been using Rogaine for months for hair loss and thus all the Rosemary Oil articles.
Most of these rosemary oil articles have been from hard-hitting medical sites like Cosmopolitan, The TODAY Show, Shape Magazine, and more. Not what I like to use for medical advice. So, here’s a few questions answered from my own medical literature research.
How does rosemary oil work?
There are a few theories, none of which have been studied extensively. One theory is that Rosemary oil blocks DHT, the male hormone involved in androgenetic alopecia. Many authors suggested that rosemary oil increases circulation and reduces inflammation on the scalp. There are lots of other claims including strengthening and smoothing the hair but no scientific evidence I could find.
Are than any real medical studies?
There is ONE good study that everyone cites. In 2015 there was a study of 100 patients with male pattern hair loss. Half were assigned to use Rosemary oil and the other half to use 2% Minoxidil (Rogaine) for 6 months. At the end of the six months, hair regrowth was statistically the same in both groups. As an aside, I generally recommend all patients use the stronger 5% Minoxidil.
Prior to that in 2013, there was a study that showed that Rosemary Extract could effectively block DHT, the active hormone in male pattern hair loss.
Beyond that, there are very few actual scientific studies on the effects of Rosemary oil on hair. Most of the assumptions are based on what is known about some of the chemical compounds that can be found in rosemary oil including Alpha-Pinene, Cineol, camphene, camphor, and borneol. Even then the real scientific evidence is scarce.
Can it hurt anything?
Probably not. Except, there is always a chance for irritation or allergy. Rosemary oil is available in several shampoos, conditioners, serums and elixirs. You could make your own with Rosemary Oil and a carrier oil or add Rosemary Oil directly to your cleanser. Here are some recipes I found…
- Add 15 drops of rosemary oil for every 6 teaspoons of carrier oil such as olive oil, argan oil, jojoba oil or coconut oil. Massage in and leave in 10 minutes before washing in out once or twice a day.
- Add 2-3 drops of rosemary oil to an almond size amount of shampoo. Massage into your scalp and leave in for 3 minutes prior to rinsing.
So, will I use rosemary oil? Personally, I tend to sneeze when I smell rosemary. I’m not sure my allergies could take any of these options. However, I will continue to use my 5% Rogaine which definitely is superior to Rosemary Oil. Rosemary Oil would be a reasonable option for someone who wants a more natural alternative.
—————–
If you know someone who may find this article helpful, please share it with them! Follow us on social media this week, and subscribe to our growing YouTube channel! If you would like to receive these posts in your email inbox, Subscribe to our Site.
