Both were used on human subjects with androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness). Results showed that rosemary essential oil was just as effective a minoxidil. During the process, it helped the side effect of itchy scalp more successfully than minoxidil.
"Rosemary oil is equivalent to 2.5 percent minoxidil, which is pretty impressive," she said. "It's something that we can use during pregnancy or for patients who just don't want to use minoxidil or are intolerant to it," she said.
Peppermint Oil Promotes Hair Growth Better Than Minoxidil
A study published in Toxicology Research Journal suggested that peppermint oil is more effective than minoxidil in promoting hair growth. The topical application of peppermint oil has been shown to increase the number and the depth of hair follicles.
Additionally, rosemary oil may occasionally irritate the skin and you should be careful when using it alongside topical medication, including your current minoxidil hair loss solution.
While it's not harmful to leave rosemary oil in your hair overnight, it may cause irritation to your scalp if you have sensitive skin. Adding a few drops of rosemary oil to a carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil, can help to dilute it.
“There is one study that compared [rosemary oil] specifically to minoxidil (aka Rogaine off the shelf) and the finding is that the results appeared similar after six months,” says King.
According to experts at Harvard University, finasteride is more effective than minoxidil for the treatment of hair loss. Up to two-thirds of people who use finasteride for male pattern baldness report good results in terms of new hair growth.
“Finasteride is by far the more clinically effective medication compared to minoxidil,” Gary Linkov, MD, of City Facial Plastics in New York City tells WebMD Connect to Care. Linkov does caution that finasteride can cause sexual side effects such as decreased semen and reduced sexual desire.
Neoxyl is an alternative to Minoxidil and other hair growth lotions. Minoxidil has limited effectiveness and has many negative side effects. Neofollics lotion is 41% more effective than Minoxidil on the growth of dermal papilla cells. It has 95% user satisfaction, according to research.
There is no evidence that rosemary can stop hair loss due to chemotherapy or other drugs or hair loss caused by chronic hair pulling. Studies do, however, show that the herb can reverse some of the most common forms of hair loss.
"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."
In 2015, a clinical study showed that rosemary oil improved pattern hair loss and was just as effective as 2% minoxidil (Rogaine®). Since then, interest in rosemary oil has exploded – with many hair loss sufferers switching from Rogaine® to rosemary as a more natural solution.
Of the many nutrients and oils touted as natural DHT blockers, rosemary oil is one of the best proven.
Current natural minoxidil alternatives are aloe vera, lavender, rosemary oil, peppermint oil, hibiscus, saw palmetto, capsaicin, pumpkin seed oil, reishi mushroom, viola verecunda extract rose petals, and ginseng.
Bhringraj: A Hair Growth Powerhouse
Ayurvedic practitioners have used Bhringraj, also known as Eclipta alba for a number of different health-related issues for centuries. It also has a long history of use in other traditional medicines.
DNC-N® topical spray is the first topical hair-loss treatment to employ Nanoxidil®, a powerful new alternative to minoxidil, a compound with high efficacy, low molecular weight, and no known side effects.”
What happens if you stop minoxidil? If you stop applying minoxidil to your scalp, you'll gradually lose any hair that you've regrown as a result of the medication. Minoxidil is a well-studied medication that's safe to use for the long term.
When used daily as directed, Minoxidil can regrow your hair and slow or even stop further loss. Plus, the EXT products work together to increase your hair's shine, body and manageability.
Hair loss may continue for 2 weeks after you start using minoxidil. Tell your doctor if your hair loss continues after 2 weeks. Also, tell your doctor if your hair growth does not increase after using minoxidil for 4 months.
A product that contains rosemary oil leaf extract, like a scalp treatment serum, can be used daily or as recommended by the manufacturer, and Dr. Harth even suggests leaving it on the scalp overnight for optimal results.
Can I leave rosemary oil on my hair overnight? Yes, a rosemary hair oil treatment can be applied overnight. All you have to do is mix a few drops of rosemary essential oil with a carrier oil, like coconut, jojoba, argan oil etc. Apply this combination to your scalp and hair.
Rosemary oil is often used as a home remedy for hair growth, although research is still underway in regards to its effectiveness in treating hair loss. However, direct application of rosemary oil on the scalp is not recommended because it may cause itching and irritation in some people.