Can rosemary oil help grow your hair?
Rosemary oil is one of the most popular oils being used for the beauty routines of many people but how effective it could be for hair growth?
The internet offers a wide variety of options when it comes to dealing with different beauty problems. However, not all the information online can be helpful. One of the most common searches is the solution for hair loss. Many products have been promoted to help grow your hair.
Among the most popular videos circulating on social media feature rosemary essential oil to promote hair growth.
It is an oil extracted from the rosemary plant and based on the article in The Healthy, this is being applied on the scalp with the apparent result of thicker and more lustrous hair. Some social media users have different ways of applying this as some opt to dilute this in a “carrier oil” or shampoo, and then, a little massage before rinsing the hair.
Rosemary contains compounds that have been shown to have some anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities, Dr. Sharon Wong, a consultant dermatologist and hair specialist, explained this.
In short, the oil from rosemary can reduce scalp irritation and protect hair from environmental aggressors, such as pollution. Hannah Gaboardi, Viviscal brand ambassador, said that the oil, “can help with nourishment and locking in the hair’s moisture, and it has properties that improve blood circulation to the scalp while getting rid of any bacteria that clog hair follicles.” With this, it is supposed that rosemary oil allows hair to grow better.
It is really true that oil from rosemary can help hair growth? A 1998 study found that rosemary could effectively treat a hair loss condition called alopecia areata but this information is preliminary, small-scale, and relatively old in the world of health advancements.
In a small 2015 study the efficacy of rosemary oil to a topical medication called minoxidil for treating male- and female-pattern hair loss over the course of six months was compared. Through this, it was found that a similar increase in hair counts with both treatments.
Another notable piece of information is that the study concentrated on genetic hair loss conditions and rosemary essential oils. It did not focus on broader hair loss patterns and the more general rosemary oils that social media users created.
Dermatologists claim that other solutions are more promising than rosemary such as minoxidil.