Rosemary essential oil is a promising alternative for hair growth promotion!
Humanity has a curious relationship with hair – we try hard to get rid of it in some places while simultaneously researching ways to regrow it in others.
Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in both men and women. The most widely used treatment is topical minidoxil – the active ingredient in Regaine, Rogaine and other hair-regrowth preparations.
A 2015 randomized comparative trial put the standard treatment to a test by comparing it with Rosemary essential oil.
Half of the 100 participants used 1ml of a Rosemary oil lotion (approx. 1% Rosemary essential oil) twice a day, while the other half used 2% solution of minoxidil in the same way. After six months of this treatment, the patients were evaluated by two dermatologists, as well as through a self-reporting questionnaire. (The chemotype of Rosemary was not mentioned, but reading between the lines appeared to be 1,8-cinoeole. The lotion base was not described.)
The Rosemary oil group saw significantly better results: a greater increase in new hair growth, significant decrease in hair loss and also less side effects.
The study argues that the effects may be due to the essential oil relaxing the muscles and thus promoting better blood flow to the follicles in combination with anti-oxidant properties.
https://tinyurl.com/y9oq8yqy
The findings are supported by a 2012 trial in which a blend of essential oils, including Rosemary, was successfully used for alopecia areata (a different type of alopecia).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9828867
I tried rosemary essential oil in oil blend and used it with derma pen and it gave great results but asked about safety of this method.
I can’t comment on the efficacy or safety of using a derma pen with Rosemary oil, but if you find it works then it would seem to be fine for you. What dilution of essential oil are you using?
Do you believe rosemary oil diluted in alcohol/water spray will work as well? Hydrosol will be too weak right?
Hi Tina,
We can only report on what was used in this particular study. You can try diluting the rosemary oil in any suitable medium and see if the protocol works. We have no information about rosemary hydrosol and its efficiency for alopecia, but again, you can try that and see for yourself.
I haven’t been able to find any information regarding what chemotype of rosemary was used in any studies. which chemotype would you suggest for hair thinning?
Unfortunately the study does not state which chemotype was used, though the most common chemotypes all share common constituents. Verbenone is often said to be most associated with skincare and hair loss, but I do not have any studies to back this. ~Shane
Dear Robert, Is it possible to blend Rosemary, Lavander , cederwood and peppermint essentiol oil with coconut and olive oil as a carrier oil for hair loss treatment?if so what is the proportion of each oilcomponent?
This study does not show the possible efficacy for the other essential oils mentioned, but Rosemary was shown to have promising results as used in the study. 🙂 ~Shane
What is the name of the 1% rosemary essential oil lotion called that they used in the study? Does it have a brand name we can buy?
Hi Nita,
Unfortunately there is no information in the research paper about the lotion, only that it was standardized to contain 3.7 mg of 1,8-cineole per 1 ml of product.