What is rosemary oil?
Rosmarinus officinalis L., or rosemary, is an evergreen shrub that is common to the Mediterranean Sea and sub-Himilayan areas. Practitioners of folk medicine have used rosemary to help with various ailments and conditions, including:
headaches
migraine
insomnia
emotional upset
depression
Rosemary oil is an essential oil extracted from the rosemary plant. Essential oils are a popular natural product. They are commonly used for dermatological applications.
What studies say about rosemary oil and hair growth
Some research shows that rosemary oil may help with certain types of hair loss. However, hair loss can happen for various reasons, and it may not be useful for all of them.
Causes of hair loss include:
genetics
age
alopecia
cancer treatment or other medications
infection
hormonal shifts
hair care or hairstyles
illness or other stressors
A 2015 study found that rosemary oil may be a useful treatment for androgenic alopecia. The participants of the study showed a significant increase in hair count after 6 months of using rosemary oil. The overall result of the study provided evidence that rosemary oil may be effective for certain hair growth.
A study from 2022 also found evidence that rosemary oil can aid in hair growth. The study stated that rosemary oil had the same effect as Minoxidil, a hair growth medication, after 6 weeks of use.
Research from 2017 showed that rosemary can help in the management of bacterial infections. This means that if hair loss is due to a bacterial scalp infection, rosemary oil may be helpful in clearing the infection and regrowing hair. Anyone with a scalp infection should always speak with a healthcare professional, however.
It is possible that rosemary oil might enhance the effectiveness of conventional treatments. However, no studies have tested the validity of this theory. Similarly, there has been no analysis of whether rosemary oil is safe to use alongside minoxidil or other hair growth medications.
Anyone using minoxidil or other hair regrowth treatments should check with their healthcare professional before using rosemary oil.