16/05/2022
You might only think of rosemary when you’re ordering chips, but this delicious little herb has a lot of hair gurus and beauty fanatics excited. The number of monthly Google searches about ‘rosemary oil for hair’ has increased by 1000% in the last two years. That’s *a lot* of people on the bandwagon – 27,000 to be exact.
But how do you know if it really works? Can you believe the before-and-after pics on Instagram or the product reviews on TikTok? Well, your best bet is to take advice from an expert. Here’s Adam Bryant, the Rush Academy Director, to give you his take on the benefits of using rosemary oil for hair growth and hair loss, and how to use it too.
Rosemary oil is a liquid essential oil that is taken from the leaves of the rosemary shrub, which is native to the Mediterranean.
Part of the mint family, rosemary has a herby, woody and minty scent and you’ll spot it in the ingredient lists of plenty of perfumes and beauty products because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Those words basically mean it is soothing, it protects cells, and it can battle bacteria and fungal infections.
Rosemary (and indeed, rosemary oil) can heal nerve damage and improve blood circulation, making sure that your follicles get the blood and nutrient supply they need to stimulate hair growth and avoid hair loss. It can also ease itchy, sore scalps and reduce the appearance of dandruff. Thanks to a darkening effect, rosemary oil can even slow the greying of hair.
You’ll need to give it a chance to work its magic though, so try it out for six months before you weigh up the benefits. Bear in mind that the results will differ person to person, and if you’re hoping to fight hair loss, it will depend on the root cause. For example, rosemary oil may support regrowth for people with male or female-pattern baldness, or those with a damaged scalp, but not people who suffer from chronic hair pulling. Consider speaking to your doctor first so they can advise you.
You’ve got a couple of options for applying rosemary oil to your tresses:
Add four or five drops of rosemary oil to a hydrating, moisturising carrier oil like jojoba, coconut or almond, and massage the mixture into your scalp. Keep your head tilted back to avoid getting any in your eyes! Relax for five or 10 minutes before you rinse it out.
Pop a few drops of rosemary oil into your shampoo and mix it together in your hands before shampooing as usual. Get on with your normal washing routine then wash it out thoroughly.
If DIY isn’t your bag, you might want to buy a ready-made product. You’ll find rosemary oil in a bunch of products like shampoo, serum or treatment – pick one that suits your hair needs and apply as directed!
Why not introduce rosemary into your diet if you don’t want to apply it to you scalp? There are lots of yummy recipes online and it’s a good way to spice up your menu. Just make sure you don’t exceed three or four grams per day, as rosemary can be toxic.
Give it a go! If you’re a victim of greasiness or your hair is particularly fine, you might find that using rosemary oil makes it look greasy sooner and/or a bit flat. In that case, try the shampoo option, and if that doesn’t work, opt for carrier oil once every couple of weeks and follow up with a clarifying shampoo.
Whatever you do though, we recommend doing a patch test first and waiting for 24 hours to make sure you don’t have a reaction. And remember, you should never apply undiluted essential oils directly to your body, as they can damage and irritate skin and lead to sensitisation.
Start using rosemary oil once or twice per week and gradually increase to match your washing schedule (as long as you don’t experience any side effects).
So, can rosemary oil transform the most damaged ‘do into a mane that rivals Rapunzel’s? Not overnight, and it won’t work for everyone. But it’s worth trying.
If your hair is in need of some serious TLC, book in for a treatment at one of our salons – you’ll find your closest Rush hairdressers, here.