What to Know About Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth

For most women, hair loss is a fact of life. Indeed, less than 45 percent of women maintain a full head of hair across their lifetime.

When it comes to hair loss, it’s only natural to seek out treatments that can promote hair regrowth. After all, we all want to keep our tresses around for as long as possible.

Some hair loss treatments, like laser therapy, minoxidil, and spironolactone, are recommended by healthcare professionals, but you’ll probably see plenty of other options that supposedly boost hair growth. One remedy that you may frequently see influencers recommend adding to your hair care routine is rosemary oil.

Rosemary oil has taken social media by storm in the past year or so. Some statistical data notes that “rosemary hair” was the top hair care trend online in 2024, with over 3.2 million mentions on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

So, what exactly is rosemary oil? And is the hype for real? Does rosemary oil grow hair? We’ll answer these questions and more below.

Rosemary oil is an essential oil derived from the needle-like leaves of the rosemary plant. The scientific name for rosemary is Rosmarinus officinalis.

You may know rosemary from the kitchen. Thanks to its rich aroma, which can be described as woodsy, piney, or herbal, people use rosemary as a seasoning for many dishes.

Rosemary has also been used in traditional and folk medicine to treat several medical conditions, including headaches, muscle spasms, and painful periods.

Researchers have found several bioactive compounds in rosemary, including in rosemary oil. Bioactive compounds are chemicals found in small amounts in plants and foods that can benefit the body.

The bioactive compounds in rosemary have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

Now that we’ve introduced rosemary oil properly, it’s time to answer the million-dollar question: Is rosemary oil good for your hair growth?

Maybe, but more research is needed.

When searching for more info on rosemary oil for hair growth, you may find a clinical trial published in 2015 in SKINmed. This trial compared rosemary oil to a common hair loss treatment, 2% minoxidil (Rogaine®), for treating androgenetic alopecia.

Androgenetic alopecia, which refers to male and female pattern hair loss, is a type of hair loss caused by genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. And for the record, it’s the most common type of hair loss in women.

After six months of the study, both the participants using rosemary oil and those using minoxidil had a significant increase in hair count compared to baseline. There was also no significant difference in hair count between participants using rosemary oil and those using minoxidil, which implies that rosemary oil could be as effective as 2% minoxidil.

While the result of this clinical trial is exciting, it’s important to note that this is essentially the only trial comparing rosemary oil to a more conventional hair loss treatment. As a 2022 letter to the editor published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology notes, there’s far more research supporting the effectiveness of topical minoxidil than there is for rosemary oil.

Experts believe that rosemary oil stimulates hair growth in much the same way as minoxidil. That’s by increasing microcapillary perfusion, which, put simply, means that it can increase blood flow around the hair follicle.

Like other body parts, your hair follicles need an adequate blood supply to stay healthy. That’s because blood circulation delivers nutrients to your hair follicles and helps remove waste 

As such, increasing blood flow to the hair follicles may prompt them to enter the anagen phase, the part of the hair growth cycle where hair is actively growing.

It’s also possible that rosemary's anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties may help improve scalp health. For example, rosemary oil has been shown to inhibit the growth of Malassezia yeast, a microbe associated with dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

While these two scalp conditions don’t directly lead to hair loss, they can cause irritation and an itchy scalp. These can lead to excessive scratching, which may cause hair loss. Some research suggests that rosemary oil may effectively relieve itching due to seborrheic dermatitis, which would help prevent hair loss caused by scratching.

If you’re curious to try rosemary oil for hair growth, you may be wondering how to do so. A quick Internet search will show you there are a variety of hair care products containing rosemary, such as preformulated hair oils, shampoos, conditioners, and sprays.

But we're here to discuss rosemary oil specifically, and there are some things you need to know about using it safely.

First off, rosemary oil — and many other essential oils — can cause side effects like skin irritation and a rash. Because of this, it’s important never to use an undiluted essential oil on your skin.

You should always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before use. Carrier oils are often, but not always, seed oils from various plant sources. Some examples of carrier oils include jojoba oil, coconut oil, and olive oil.

The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy includes dilution guidelines for essential oils used on the face and head. They recommend using six to 15 drops of rosemary oil per ounce of carrier oil. If you have sensitive skin, use three to six drops of rosemary oil per ounce of carrier oil.

Once you’ve diluted your rosemary essential oil, you’ll need to do a patch test. This involves applying a small amount of rosemary oil to your skin and waiting to see if you have a reaction, such as redness, swelling, or itching. This will also test to see if you have a reaction to the carrier oil, as some carrier oils can potentially increase the risk of seborrheic dermatitis.

If your diluted rosemary oil doesn't cause skin irritation, you can use it by massaging it into your scalp. Just be sure to wait a few minutes before rinsing it out.

That said, it's always a good rule of thumb to consult with your healthcare provider before using rosemary oil for hair growth. They can give you a better idea of any risks and provide individualized tips for using it.

Rosemary oil may be the belle of the ball when it comes to hair growth treatments that are popular online, but other oils may also help with hair regrowth. According to a 2024 review, these oils include:

• Peppermint oil

• Saw palmetto

• Tea tree oil

• Lavender oil

• Pumpkin seed oil

The disclaimer with the oils above is that, like rosemary oil, there’s a lack of thorough research into their effectiveness. That means that we can’t say for sure whether or not they actually help with hair regrowth.

You may also see other oil products, such as castor oil, argan oil, and coconut oil, marketed for various uses, including improving hair growth, boosting hydration, and nourishing hair follicles.

While a 2022 systematic review found no firm evidence that these oils significantly impact hair growth, they do have other hair health benefits. The researchers found evidence that castor oil may improve hair luster and that coconut oil may help prevent hair breakage and manage scalp infections.

If you’re not ready to start putting essential oils on your head, don’t worry. There are other options that can stop hair loss and promote hair growth — and some have a lot more science behind them than rosemary oil.

As Knox Beasley, MD, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in hair loss, notes, “There is limited data on natural or alternative remedies for hair loss. If a patient of mine tells me they are using a natural remedy and it’s helping their hair grow, I tell them to keep using it! In general, I do recommend using an evidence-based treatment regimen in addition.”

There are many other effective hair loss treatments to explore. Minoxidil, for example, is available over the counter as a solution or foam, and ample research shows it’s effective for boosting hair growth.

If you’re seeking solutions to reduce hair loss and encourage hair regrowth, make an appointment with a dermatologist to discuss your concerns.

If you want to try out rosemary oil to boost hair growth, here’s what you need to remember before getting started:

• Rosemary oil may help with hair growth by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles and reducing irritation caused by scalp conditions like dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.

• One clinical trial found that rosemary oil was as effective as 2% minoxidil in treating androgenetic alopecia. However, additional research is needed to confirm this.

• A variety of hair care products containing rosemary are available commercially.

• Rosemary oil can cause skin irritation, so it’s important to dilute it and perform a patch test before using it.

• Other oils may also help with hair growth. However, like with rosemary oil, more research is needed to ensure their safety and effectiveness.

While some people may find that trendy natural hair growth remedies like rosemary oil are effective for them, there is limited data to support their use, especially when many other effective hair loss treatments are available.

Linking up with a dermatologist can help you get a better idea of what exactly may be causing your thinning hair. They can also help recommend treatments to slow hair loss and promote new hair growth.

Generally speaking, hair growth results can be improved when hair loss is addressed early. So, if you’ve been noticing more hairs congregating in your shower drain, it certainly doesn’t hurt to chat with your dermatologist about it.