Rosemary has been used by many to promote hair growth successfully. Using rosemary essential oil could very well do the same for you. Science and personal experience together both strongly suggest the essential oil does protect against hair loss, particularly that related to male or female pattern baldness.
By 6 months, both groups saw significant increases in hair growth. The group that was treated with rosemary oil had more hair growth than the minoxidil group, but the difference was not statistically significant. This result suggests that rosemary oil may promote hair growth but only in the long term.
From there you can maintain by adding it to your haircare routine a few days per week. How long does it take for rosemary to work on hair? If being used for hair growth, research has found that results can be significant after six months of usage4.
“Rosemary oil has been compared to minoxidil for its ability to improve circulation on the scalp and even encourage cellular turnover, which can both improve hair growth and help prevent hair loss,” Friese says.
Rosemary has been used by many to promote hair growth successfully. Using rosemary essential oil could very well do the same for you. Science and personal experience together both strongly suggest the essential oil does protect against hair loss, particularly that related to male or female pattern baldness.
Can you use rosemary water on a daily basis? You can apply rosemary water as a spray for quicker hair growth and to reduce hair loss as often as you like. But it's recommended that you use the rinse in your shower or bath no more than once or twice a week.
Rosemary oil is most effective for hair restoration when used consistently for at least 6 months. You can also use treatments a minimum of 1 to 2 times per week. While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA doesn't monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils.
“You can start by using rosemary essential oil one to two times per week and titrate use upwards to daily as tolerated,” says Dr. Nussbaum.
One of the best ways to use rosemary oil for your hair is to directly apply it to your hair and scalp. You can massage your hair and scalp with rosemary oil and leave it in for a few minutes. Rosemary oil will help with hydrating your scalp and hair. A hydrated scalp means that your scalp will be less itchy and flaky.
In addition to its medicinal and culinary uses, rosemary oil is often used to revitalise hair follicles and maximise hair growth.
Rosemary Oil vs Minoxidil
A comparison study between the hair-growth-boosting properties of rosemary oil and minoxidil showed that rosemary is equally as effective as minoxidil in promoting hair growth in people with androgenetic alopecia (Skinmed - Dermatology for the Clinician).
"Rosemary essential oil can help stimulate healthy, thick hair," affirms Dr. Graf. "The oil can speed up the process of cell turnover and growth, which can work as a natural remedy to grow thicker hair. Since it is an anti-inflammatory, it is used for [preventing hair loss], as well as regrowth."
Don't apply more than 5 drops of rosemary oil as too much of it can cause your scalp to itch. Essential oils are supposed to be used in very less quantities.
Rosemary oil can also cause allergic or irritant contact dermatitis, so be on the lookout if you're noticing anything out of the ordinary going on with your scalp or hair. If you experience any irritation, stop using it. Even if you're not seeing any negative side effects, be wary of how often you're using it.
This hair rinse is a very mild herbal remedy, so you can leave it on your hair for a long time. Many people add their rosemary water to a spray bottle and use it as a leave-in conditioner. You can also use it as a hair rinse and leave it in until your next shower.
Put the sprigs in the pot along with the water and bring to a boil. Lightly rinse your rosemary to remove any debris, and put it in a pot with water. If the water doesn't cover the sprigs, add more until it does. Bring your mix to a boil and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
The major consensus seems to be, in terms of hair growth, a vial of regular old rosemary oil is more likely to give you results than rosemary water or tea. Just prepare to be patient—nothing grows overnight, and most of our cited professional studies took place over several months.
Of the many nutrients and oils touted as natural DHT blockers, rosemary oil is one of the best proven. In a 2015 study, men applied either rosemary oil or minoxidil (an FDA-approved topical treatment for male pattern hair loss) to their scalps twice daily for six months.
Unlike other popular oils and vitamins like rosemary oil and vitamin B5, both of which have studies that back up their aid in hair growth, Dr. Garshick says scientific evidence surrounding castor oil is lacking for both skin and hair.
How long does it take for rosemary oil to work on hair? In general, rosemary oil can take around 6 months to produce noticeable effects on hair growth.
Dead hair follicles are most evident when the scalp's skin (where the hair once grew) becomes smoother and shinier in appearance. In other words, there'll quite literally be no hair there/no signs of regrowth if your hair follicles are completely dead.
To promote hair growth, you need to increase your protein intake, especially by consuming food like fish, beans, nuts, and whole grains. Hair follicles are mostly made of protein, and the lack of it promotes hair loss. Proteins 'feed' the hair from the inside.
Hair follicles typically grow back within one to two months as long as your scalp does not need to recover from damage. If your hair follicles are damaged, it can take up to four years until they are able to regrow hair normally unless it is permanent, in which case no new strands will grow.