Should You Consider Using Rosemary Oil in Your Hair Routine
Should you consider using rosemary oil in your hair routine? Well, I get this question all the time. Patients want to know: does it work? Is it effective? Why should I incorporate it? I’m going to break all these down for you. I have a feeling that number one, patients are kind of fed up with taking oral medications and topical medications. They think that it will have implications for their body, whether it’s hormonal or long-term. So I think people tend to lean towards organic solutions because they believe they’re safer.
Now, the other thing is there have been clinical studies on rosemary oil and other organic solutions over the past couple of years. This is helping to support the efficacy of using rosemary oil and these organic solutions to stimulate hair growth. We’re seeing a lot of companies pop up and tout the benefits of using organic solutions, so I think that’s also contributing. I’m going to give you my opinion. I’m going to talk to you about how rosemary oil potentially works to stimulate your hair, why you might still want to consider using medical therapy in conjunction with rosemary oil, and whether you should actually incorporate rosemary oil into your hair routine.
Rosemary Oil vs Minoxidil
In 2015, there was a study that looked at rosemary oil in comparison to applying 2% minoxidil. What they found was that these two groups both demonstrated similar effectiveness. Whether you used 2% minoxidil or rosemary oil, patients experiencing androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) had an increase in hair density and hair growth. This has really been the driving study for many patients and companies to say that rosemary oil is effective at re-stimulating hair.
But I want you to stop for a second because I want to break down the following. When I put patients on 2% minoxidil, it’s not strong enough. It doesn’t give the same results. I usually put patients on 5% minoxidil because I find that it is more effective, and I prescribe it for both women and men.
I bring that up because if you’re thinking about substituting minoxidil for rosemary oil, I don’t know if it’s going to give you the results that you really want to achieve. It may give results similar to 2% minoxidil, but I don’t think that’s strong enough to get the excellent results that you can achieve with 5% minoxidil. So I don’t think you’re going to get the same results. However, if you want an organic solution that potentially doesn’t require medication, rosemary oil may be an option.
Why Use Organic Solutions?
There’s a general fear among many people about using oral or topical medications. People really want to take a holistic approach regarding what they put into their bodies. I think that’s one of the reasons why rosemary oil and other natural remedies have become more popular. I also think we’re seeing research beginning to support that some natural remedies actually do help stimulate hair growth, and that has really pushed the adoption of these natural remedies forward.
Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth
How does rosemary oil help stimulate new hair growth? The reality is that we don’t quite know. Even though the 2015 study comparing 2% minoxidil and rosemary oil showed that rosemary oil helped stimulate new hair growth, we still don’t scientifically know the exact mechanism behind it.
However, we do have some theories. One possibility is that rosemary oil acts as a vasodilator, widening the blood vessels in the scalp. This is important because it allows more nutrients and oxygen to reach the hair follicles, supporting healthy hair growth. Another theory is that rosemary oil helps lower DHT (dihydrotestosterone) levels, which are a major contributor to hair loss.
Normally, testosterone is converted by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase into DHT, which accumulates around hair follicles. If rosemary oil helps reduce DHT levels, it could significantly support hair growth. Another possibility is that rosemary oil acts as an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant. All of these effects help improve scalp health.
If you reduce inflammation, lower free radicals, decrease dandruff, and improve the overall condition of the scalp, these factors may contribute to healthier hair growth. The same goes for reducing sebum production. Rosemary oil may help lower sebum levels. Since sebum contains high levels of testosterone that can contribute to DHT formation, keeping the scalp clean may help promote healthier hair growth.
How to Use Rosemary Oil
If you want to incorporate rosemary oil into your routine, there are many products to choose from. My recommendation is to apply it once a day, either in the morning or the evening. Remember, this is not a hair treatment—it’s a scalp treatment. Apply the oil directly to your scalp and gently massage it into the affected areas, much like you would with minoxidil. You can also add rosemary oil to your shampoo or conditioner. In fact, some shampoos and conditioners already contain rosemary oil as one of their ingredients.
