Jay Croft
August 18, 2023
If you’re looking to grow hair, you might just have a solution in your kitchen cabinet — if TikTok and some dermatologists are correct.
Rosemary oil is good at regrowing hair in people with androgenetic alopecia, which is a common form of hair loss. The herb might also protect hair from the sun, pollution, and other environmental elements, according to an article in Insider.
A 2015 study published by NIH’s PubMed found that rosemary oil was similar to the effectiveness of minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, for regrowing hair in men with androgenetic alopecia. The scalp was also less itchy after three to six months of use.
The small study included only men.
Still, dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, told the Cleveland Clinic that it seems to work.
“The study really prompted people to look at rosemary oil for hair growth,” she said. “It became much more common in over-the-counter products after that, too.”
The Cleveland Clinic also reports that rosemary oil might also help against dandruff and premature graying.
Khetarpal suggests massaging rosemary oil into the scalp, letting it soak overnight, and then washing it out. Try to do this two or three times a week.
She also notes that only a few drops of rosemary oil are needed, and that the focus should be on the scalp rather than the hair, which rosemary oil makes look greasy.
It may take six months for “meaningful improvement,” Khetarpal said.
Meanwhile, TikTok users love hyping the oil’s hair care qualities. On the social media platform, videos with the hashtag #rosemaryoil have been viewed more than 2 billion times.
Sources:
PubMed: “Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial.”
Insider: “Rosemary oil may help you grow long and luscious hair — here’s the science behind it.”
Cleveland Clinic: “Growth Market: How Rosemary Oil Can Help Your Hair.”
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