Hair loss is a sad yet unavoidable part of life that happens to both men and women. In fact, by the age of 50, about 85% of men and nearly 50% of women experience some form of hair loss. Losing hair can chip away at your self-esteem, making you feel insecure or abnormal. Fortunately, early research on rosemary in relation to hair growth is very promising. This means that this common herb may help thicken your mane.
Why Do People Lose Hair?
There are many causes of hair loss, including immune reactions, age, hormonal imbalance, inherited hair loss conditions, or chemotherapy. Male pattern baldness (MPB) is quite common, and it is a form of hair loss that occurs when a testosterone byproduct, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), attacks hair follicles. Because men produce more testosterone than women, hair loss is more common in men, even at earlier ages.
How Can Rosemary Promote Hair Growth?
The rosemary plant (Rosmarinus officials) is chock full of beneficial antioxidants. According to research, rosemary contains carnosic acid, which exhibited an ability to repair nerve damage and restore healthy tissue in the scalp. Rosemary also increases circulation to the scalp, whereby it nourishes the scalp’s tissues. Additionally, the improved circulation helps to supply hair follicles with blood. It’s a common theory that hair loss is often caused by hair follicles that dry up because of poor circulation to the scalp.
Is Rosemary Comparable To Rogaine?
In 2015, one study compared rosemary essential oil and minoxidil (Rogaine) on humans with alopecia. People with hair loss received either rosemary oil or minoxidil for a total of six months. After three months, both groups showed no improvement in hair growth. After six months, both groups experienced significant hair growth. The group that used minoxidil experienced less hair growth than the group that used rosemary oil, suggesting that rosemary oil is beneficial for long-term hair growth. The same study also documented itchiness on the scalp. The group that used rosemary oil experienced less scalp-itching than the group that used minoxidil.
There are other studies documenting rosemary oil’s ability to improve scalp health and hair growth. These studies are preliminary and more research is necessary to determine how effective rosemary oil is as a hair growth treatment. Rosemary oil may assist with hair restoration when used consistently for six months. It’s best to use the oil, or the hair rinse recipe in this article, a minimum of one to two times weekly. If you use the hair rinse below, let us know how you like it in the comments.
DIY Rosemary Hair Rinse
Ingredients:
- 3 cups filtered water
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
Instructions:
- Pour the water into a large glass measuring cup with a pour spout.
- Add the rosemary essential oil and vegetable glycerin and mix well to combine.
- Store this mixture in a glass jar in a cool, dark place and use one to two times weekly.
- It’s beneficial to use it after you finish shampooing and conditioning. Let it remaining in your hair and do not rinse it out.
