Rosemary oil for hair growth

All about rosemary oil

For those who are not familiar with essential oils, here’s a quick recap before we get into the specifics of using rosemary oil for hair growth. Essential oils are natural substances that capture the distinctive scent and taste of a particular plant. They’re created by either distilling or cold pressing plant matter, such as leaves and flowers, to extract its unique compounds.

In rosemary’s case, the process results in a concentrated oil infused with the herb’s characteristic woody fragrance and piney flavour. Plus, it contains plenty of wellness-boosting properties that can enhance your mental and physical health.

There are all sorts of ways in which you’re able to harness the power of essential oils. That includes using them in skincare, haircare, perfume, aromatherapy, and even cooking with them. The best method varies depending on the specific oil you choose and the benefits you’re hoping to gain from it.

When it comes to using rosemary oil for hair, there are a few techniques to choose from. More on those below! But first we’ll talk about the potential benefits of rosemary oil, both in terms of your hair and your overall wellbeing.

What is rosemary oil good for?

The focus of this article is on using rosemary oil for hair growth. However, that’s not the only positive effect it can have. So let’s start with an overview of the possible benefits of this aromatic essential oil.

To begin with, rosemary essential oil could help to enhance the function of our brains. Studies suggest that inhaling its scent can boost people’s performance on cognitive tasks in terms of both speed and accuracy.(1) As such, it’s a great option to pop into a diffuser when you’re working from home!

In line with this, rosemary essential oil might be beneficial for improving brain function in older adults with dementia.(2) This may be thanks to the neuroprotective effects of compounds such as rosmarinic acid and apigenin. However, further investigation is required to confirm these results.

Rosemary oil can additionally have a positive influence on our mental health. Research indicates that smelling its aroma may reduce cortisol levels, lowering feelings of stress and anxiety.(3) At the same time, it also leaves people feeling more refreshed, cheerful and energetic.(4)

Moreover, rosemary oil is rich in antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds, such as carnosic acid.(5) Experts have linked both chronic inflammation and oxidative stress with a number of harmful health conditions, making these key advantages. Finally, rosemary essential oil may also work to improve circulation.

Many of these general benefits help to explain why you can successfully use rosemary oil for hair growth. It’s time to get into the details.

The benefits of rosemary oil for hair

Almost everyone wants thick, glossy, and healthy locks. The appearance of our hair often has a tremendous impact on our confidence and self-esteem, as society links it with youth and beauty. This is part of the reason why there’s so much interest in using rosemary oil for hair growth. And the good news is that scientific research supports traditional wisdom on this issue.

For instance, one study people often quote found that using rosemary oil for hair growth was as effective as minoxidil (Rogaine).(6) Interestingly, the research also discovered that rosemary oil was better than the medication at lowering instances of scalp itching. This might be due to the anti-inflammatory properties of compounds like rosmarinic acid. Moreover, the oil’s antimicrobial and antibacterial nature may work to reduce dandruff and improve scalp health.

As well as soothing the scalp, rosemary oil’s anti-inflammatory power can help to boost circulation. That means your follicles receive more oxygen and nutrients, keeping them strong and healthy and encouraging hair growth. On top of which, its antioxidant properties defend our cells from harmful free radicals, further protecting your tresses.

Studies show that rosemary could be useful in treating both androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness) and alopecia areata (patchy hair loss). In the former, it may prevent a by-product of testosterone from attacking hair follicles.(7)

Finally, evidence indicates that another reason using rosemary oil for hair growth works is because it protects nerve tissue. Compounds such as carnosic acid are able to heal nerve damage and encourage nerve growth, including in the scalp. This in turn may help to promote the growth of your hair.

Now that we’ve covered the reasons why it’s effective, let’s look at ways to use rosemary oil for hair growth.