What Is Rosemary Oil?
Rosemary is an evergreen herb that has been used for centuries in cooking, medicine, and aromatherapy. Rosemary oil, extracted from the leaves of the rosemary plant, is a popular essential oil with a variety of benefits, including promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss.
What Causes Hair Loss?
There can be many causes of hair loss, including:
- Genetics: Male or female pattern baldness is caused by increased levels of DHT. It is a common cause of hair loss and is inherited.
- Hormonal changes: Hormonal imbalances can happen in pregnancy and menopause which lead to hair loss.
- Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions like alopecia areata, thyroid disorders, scalp infections, or autoimmune diseases can lead to hair loss or slow down hair growth. Check this post on Thyroid Related Hair Loss
- Medications: Some medications such as chemotherapy drugs have a side effect of hair loss.
- Stress: Extreme stress can cause temporary hair loss, a condition known as telogen effluvium.
- Nutritional deficiencies: A lack of nutrients such as iron, zinc, or biotin can lead to hair loss.
- Hairstyles and treatments: Some hairstyles and hair treatments that involve pulling or twisting hair tightly can lead to hair loss over time as they put strain on the roots.
What Are The Benefits Of Rosemary Oil?
Improves hair growth: The rosemary plant contains carnosic acid, which is known to encourage nerve growth and improve blood circulation.
Blood circulation is important to hair growth to supply the follicles with sufficient nutrients that are essential for their growth.
A study compared rosemary oil to minoxidil over a period of 6 months. Results showed similar results concluding that rosemary oil was effective for hair growth.
Reduces scalp irritation: Rosemary oil also has anti-inflammatory properties. This means it can reduce itchiness in scalps.
Can prevent hair loss: Rosemary oil is an antioxidant that can fight against free radicals, free radicals destroy cells over time damaging and eventually destroying them.
Prevents dandruff and dryness: Rosemary oil eliminates bacteria that clog hair follicles. This in turn reduces flakes on the scalp.
May help reduce gray hair: Some research shows that Rosemary oil may also be able to slow down the graying process.
Who Is Rosemary Oil Suitable For?
As rosemary oil targets the hair follicles and is applied to the scalp not the hair strand it can be used on any hair type.
It is worth testing the oil on a small area if you have sensitive skin. This is known as patch testing.
As there is no data on the use of rosemary oil in pregnancy and breastfeeding it is best avoided.
How Long Should I Use It To See Results?
The study comparing minoxidil and rosemary oil showed that at three months neither group of people had increased growth of hair, however at 6 months both groups of people showed an increase in hair growth.
Therefore it is recommended to use rosemary oil for at least 6 months to see results.
How To Use Rosemary Oil For Hair Loss?
Rosemary oil can be applied directly to the scalp and massaged in. You use start by using it once per week and increasing the frequency of use if irritation does not occur. Start by applying it ten minutes before washing your hair.
You can also mix it with other oils such as coconut or jojoba oil and massage it into the scalp.
Leaving it in the hair overnight is also an option but only if irritation has not occurred.
For more help and support join the Women With Hair Loss Support Group for all the latest information and tips on hair loss by people who have been through this!
