What rosemary is hardly needs explaining. It can be found in everyone's kitchen and tastes great with pork and lamb. But it also has other properties. Rosemary oil or rosemary water have anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been proven to enhance blood circulation. Herein would lie the claims of rosemary's hair growth-stimulating effects.
Is that enough to use rosemary as a hair growth remedy? On websites and on social media, claims abound. This includes citing studies. What is certain is that rosemary has good properties. A positive effect on circulation and an antioxidant effect, for example. But is that enough or has something new been discovered?
Research on rosemary oil
A 2015 study of 100 patients with hereditary hair loss compared rosemary oil with minoxidil 2%. Both had similar positive results in increase in hair growth. The people who used rosemary oil also reported even less itching and irritation than those who used minoxidil.
Those who used rosemary oil also reported less itching and irritation than those who used minoxidil.
Read the study here.
So there was no statistically significant difference in the average number of hairs when measured after 6 months of treatment between the 2 groups. In both groups, however, there was a significant increase in the number of hairs after 6 months compared with the start and after 3 months.
One swallow does not make a summer, is the saying. The same is true in science. 1 study with positive result does not mean definitive proof. Besides, in this study, there was no comparison with a placebo. So we do not know what the result was in the hair of people who did not undergo treatment. Perhaps the increase in hair growth was due to the season or other factors. It is difficult to give a definitive answer.
The Tiktok trend also often suggests that you can easily make this yourself by boiling rosemary in water. After which you spray it into your hair when cooled. We would advise against this. You don't know the final dose of what you end up putting in your hair. It could even be harmful as it can irritate the skin.
So this is only limited scientific evidence. Although the study suggests that rosemary oil could possibly promote hair growth, they need further investigation. In addition, the exact mechanism of action of rosemary oil on hair growth is not fully understood. It is thought that the oil's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may have a positive impact on scalp health, but there is no conclusive evidence that this leads to demonstrable hair growth.
Also, as with many natural remedies, the effects of rosemary oil may varyër from person to person. Some people may be able to experience an improvement, while others see no noticeable difference. This is not easy to measure because there is no established concentration of rosemary oil or water. This has yet to be investigated. As a result, it may also cause irritation in some people. Undiluted rosemary oil can be too strong for the scalp and cause irritation. It is important to always dilute oils like rosemary oil before use to avoid any side effects. With how much this should be diluted, opinions are divided on this.
In any case, this would not be a substitute for a proven treatment. If you are dealing with severe hair loss, it is advisable to seek professional advice. There are proven treatments like minoxidil that can be more effective in promoting hair growth.
In short, although rosemary oil may have some potential benefits for the hair and scalp, there is insufficient scientific evidence to recommend it as a reliable and effective treatment for hair growth. It is always wise to seek professional advice before trying new treatments, especially when it comes to hair loss.
Request a free personal advice
(Only takes 2 minutes)
So what does work?
Rosemary is not a panacea that will boost your hair growth on its own, but incorporated into hair growth-stimulating products it can be supportive. Dutch manufacturer Neofollics has several products that incorporate rosemary oil. Neofollics shampoo contains 7 powerful plant extracts, 3 hair growth molecules and 2 nourishing ingredients. Each active ingredient has been selected based on scientific research to combat hair loss in multiple ways. The shampoo contains a wide variety of plant extracts that inhibit DHT and stimulate the hair growth process in a natural way.
