Geranium Oil For Hair Growth: Does it Work?

No one has ever put on a flower crown thinking it might boost their hair growth — that would be silly. But crushing those flowers down to an extract and turning them into a topical treatment? Now we’re talking. At least, that’s the theory behind geranium oil for hair growth.

Unfortunately, as with many natural remedies for hair loss, there’s a lack of research on whether geranium oil can prevent hair thinning or speed up hair regrowth.

Before you buy geranium essential oil or apply it to your scalp, scroll through the information below. We’ll go over the research on geranium oil for hair growth, look at the benefits of geranium for hair, and explore proven treatments for hair loss.

Geranium essential oil is derived from Pelargonium graveolens. Rose geranium essential oil comes from a different variety of geranium plant, and it smells slightly more like roses.

This fragrant oil is popular in aromatherapy, and it’s often added to shampoos and other hair care products. You might’ve also seen claims that geranium oil can prevent dandruff, boost hair growth, and soothe dryness.

Supplement brands and cosmetic companies can play it fast and loose with these claims — in part because the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) doesn’t hold them to the same standards as prescription drug makers.

For a prescription drug to hit the market as an FDA-approved treatment, it has to be rigorously tested and proven effective for a specific purpose. Meanwhile, a supplement or cosmetic product can point to a few modest studies and say, “It has been shown to produce benefits“ and leave it at that.

Geranium oil has been shown to do just that — provide benefits.

The internet is full of sources saying geranium oil is good for hair. But relatively few clinical studies and peer-reviewed sources support this information.

Applying geranium oil to your hair and scalp might:

• Promote hair growth

• Offer antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory benefits

• Support healthy sebum production

Let’s unpack these widespread claims about geranium for hair.

1. Geranium Oil May Promote Hair Growth

First, let’s look at whether geranium oil really promotes healthy hair growth. 

This often-repeated claim is based on one study — a 2017 study that looked at using geranium sibiricum extract on hair follicles in mice and human hair cells. In the experiment, geranium extract was actually more effective than an FDA-approved treatment for hair loss called minoxidil (we’ll get to that in a moment).

The researchers speculated that geranium oil boosts hair growth because it has antioxidant properties.

However, the study only looked at mice hair cells and human dermal papilla cells in vitro. In other words, the experiment was conducted in a lab and not on actual live human beings.

This means it’s far from conclusive.

2. Geranium Oil Has Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Properties

A 2017 review of studies looked at the topical application of geranium essential oil. It suggested potential skincare benefits due to the oil’s antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

This could be good news for your hair too. In rare cases, scalp infections can slow down hair growth, and scalp health is a crucial component of overall hair health.

If geranium oil can reduce skin infections when applied topically, it might be worth trying on your scalp. Just be sure to dilute it with a carrier oil — like jojoba oil, argan oil, or coconut oil.

3. Geranium Oil Can Promote Health Sebum Production

It’s commonly claimed that geranium oil promotes healthy sebum production. Your skin naturally produces sebum (oil) to keep your skin, hair, and scalp healthy.

However, your sebaceous glands sometimes produce too much oil (leading to greasy hair) or too little oil (leading to dryness).

Many internet sources say geranium oil can help regulate oil production. But there’s zero evidence to back this claim up.

To sum up, geranium oil isn’t proven to increase hair growth.

There’s very little research on it. Plus, there are many unanswered questions about if, when, and how these same results could be replicated in human tests.

It’s not clear:

• Whether geranium oil treatment would even work in humans

• What the appropriate dosages or concentrations would be for medicating humans

• If geranium oil poses short- or long-term risks when used for hair growth

One final granule of context: It’s not as though geranium oil is somehow special in its modest promise for hair growth benefits. Geranium is just one of dozens of plants being explored for their benefits.

We’re not saying it won’t eventually make the cut. But until there’s more evidence on how to use geranium to make hair grow, every company adding it to their products is really making educated guesses at best.

If you’d like, you can always use geranium oil alongside evidence-based hair loss treatments. At the very least, geranium oil will make for a fragrant hair mask or DIY scalp oil treatment.

Geranium essential oil might not be the natural hair growth hack you’ve been looking for — but there are some alternatives worth looking into.

Minoxidil, for one, is a powerful and effective medication for encouraging hair growth in men and women. This generic version of Rogaine^® increases blood circulation in the scalp, which can promote healthier growth over a period of several months, according to decades of studies.

You could also try medicated shampoos to help with dandruff, flakes, or an itchy scalp. Or take multivitamins with biotin if you think you may have a nutrient deficiency. But know that these routes won’t directly promote new hair growth like minoxidil.

The first step in treating hair loss is usually to speak with a healthcare professional. They can help you figure out the cause of your hair loss and suggest possible treatments from there.

Sure, geranium oil smells great — but will it do anything for your hairline? Let’s sum up geranium oil for hair growth:

• Geranium oil isn’t a proven hair growth treatment. There’s very little research to suggest it can prevent hair loss, boost scalp health, or regulate oil production.

• But you have other options. Other treatments (like minoxidil) offer proven benefits.

• You can use both at the same time. If you’d like to use geranium oil, use it alongside proven treatments like topical minoxidil. And act ASAP, as hair loss often gets worse over time.

Our hair loss treatments are an excellent place to get in contact with experts who can help diagnose the cause of your hair loss and pair you with the treatments you need for a healthy scalp and hair.

If you’re just beginning to see early signs of hair loss, now’s the time to act. Get moving on protecting your hair today — while it’s still there to protect. Take our free hair quiz to get started.