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There’s been quite a lot of buzz surrounding the benefits of using rosemary oil for hair growth, and whether or not it can be useful for slowing down shedding. The answer seems to be highly positive—whether you’ve seen TikTok videos of people raving about how the ingredient has been transformative for their hair loss, or have read glowing reviews from shoppers about a given rosemary oil (specifically for hair), it’s clearly working for many folks. But if you’re personally wondering how to it for hair growth and whether or not it’s worth exploring, we got some legit feedback from a professional dermatologist to share.
The Best Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth, at a Glance
Does Rosemary Oil Actually Help With Hair Growth?
Dr. Brian Abittan, Director of Skin and Hair Rejuvenation and Director of Hair Transplantation at Mount Sinai Health System, shared that there are two studies that show rosemary oil has the potential to help grow hair. “While certainly more trials and data are needed, rosemary oil does seemingly have potential to help with hair growth,” Dr. Abittan told StyleCaster.
While he says that the mechanism of action causing hair growth is not fully understood yet, it seems that there are multiple ingredients of rosemary oil (rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, camphor, etc.) which may contain anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-microbial properties. “Together these may help contribute towards hair growth.”
But How Often Should One Apply Rosemary Oil to the Scalp?
Dr. Abbitan says it depends on the formulation being used, but most options out there will advise being applied once daily across areas of loss to see results.
Who Should *Avoid* Rosemary Hair Oil?
If you’re wondering if there are instances in which to avoid using rosemary oil, Dr. Abbitan says this can ultimately depend on the formulation and concentration of a given oil, since it can sometimes be irritating to the scalp and cause contact allergies. “It is important to note that there are many different types of hair loss and that rosemary oil may work better for some types than others.” You may want to have your scalp issues evaluated by a dermatologist to determine your specific type of hair loss (and whether or not rosemary oil is a viable solution), should you have any reservations.
If you’re interested in giving rosemary oil a go to prevent hair loss and reduce thinning, we found the best rosemary oil for hair growth options out there that come highly reviewed by customers who’ve already given them a try.
IMAGE: MIELLE ORGANICS; ADOBE. DESIGN: SASHA PURDY/STYLECASTER.best overallMielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening OilOn Sale 10% offA beloved Alix Earle favorite, the Mielle Organics Scalp Oil
contains biotin and rosemary oil to bring thicker, fuller hair.
Amazonbest for reducing fallVenanoci Hair Growth OilOn Sale 24% offIf you’ve wanted to see some crazy rosemary oil for hair growth before and after photos, the Venanoci Hair Growth Serum
reviews section is the place to go.
Amazonbest concentrated rosemary oilSVA Organics Rosemary OilOn Sale 20% offIf you solely want to reap the benefits of plain rosemary oil, grabbing a concentrated formula
and diluting it yourself is one avenue.
JVNbest treatmentJVN Complete Pre-Wash Scalp & Hair Strengthening Treatment OilThis pre-wash scalp oil
from Jonathan Van Ness’s hair care line clarifies and soothes the scalp for stronger, shinier hair.
best serumdivi Hair Scalp SerumOn Sale 10% offThis scalp serum from divi
is enriched with lots of nourishing ingredients, including caffeine, green tea, menthol, and rosemary to support hair growth and long-lasting nourishment. We love it because it never makes your hair greasy, so you can conveniently use it morning and night without messing up your ‘do.
Kreyòl Essencebest with castor oilKreyòl Essence Hair Growth OilThis hair growth serum
is loaded with nutrients to encourage a healthier scalp, including castor oil, rosemary oil, and vitamin E.
Amazonbest valueMAJESTIC PURE Rosemary Essential OilOn Sale 28% offOver 82,000 five-star ratings can be found for this brand’s line-up of pure and natural essential oils. The rosemary oil
option is on sale for $18.
best scalp dropsCamille Rose Rosemary Activated Hair Oil TreatmentThis rosemary oil treatment halts breakage, strengthens fragile strands that have undergone too much damage and encourages healthy regrowth with each use.
best shampooMielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening ShampooThis shampoo contains rosemary oil and biotin, which encourage stronger strands across brittle, weak areas. It also works wonders on natural hair from Types 3A to 4C.
