Roses are red. Violets are blue. Rosemary, however? It could be the hair care for you.
When you find a hair product that delivers stunning results, it feels like sheer poetry. Rosemary essential oil evokes heavenly aromas, bountiful curls & deep hydration that gives your locks the ideal cadence & tempo.
Below, we reveal what makes this oil a revelatory ingredient for natural textures—plus how to use rosemary oil for hair that’s juicy, joyful & unbreakable as you are.
What Is Rosemary Oil?
If you raid your kitchen spice rack or medicine cabinet, you’d likely stumble upon some form of rosemary. But is rosemary oil good for your hair? Oh, yes. It can spice up your curls just as much as it spices up your favorite dishes.
Rosemary oil is just as beneficial as it is herbaceous, & it sings a bounty of physical praises:1
- Rosemary may fight disease
- Rosemary may ease inflammation
- Rosemary may boost moods & relax the mind
- Rosemary may protect skin
- Rosemary may relieve pain
&, like poet John Cooper Clarke, rosemary oil is known for its love of all things drama—when it comes to hair, that is.
Is Rosemary Oil Good for Hair? Yes (Let Us Count the Ways…)
The oil of this healing herb flourishes when applied to luscious coils & curls to create vibrant, juicy locks, no matter your natural texture. & as it turns out, science tells us there’s a rhyme & reason behind the benefits of rosemary oil for hair—three, in fact.
#1 May strengthen circulation
The aroma of rosemary oil isn’t just intoxicating. It’s also good for you & your scalp.
A 2013 study found that breathing in the fresh scent of rosemary oil can help increase blood flow throughout the body—including the scalp.2 Invigorating the scalp only does wonders for hair regrowth—boosted circulation rapidly delivers nutrients to each hair follicle to support your coils’ texture & length overall.
#2 May prevent hair loss
Even the thickest of curly hair types can fall into coiled clumps in the shower. Some types of natural hair fall or hair loss can even affect textured beauties at a higher rate.3
But that’s nothing a few drops of rosemary oil can’t (potentially) fix.
You can achieve lush, full locks with the plant’s anti-inflammatory properties, which may help heal your itchy scalp & achieve full, lush locks.
#3 May stimulate hair growth
A 2015 study4 showed that rosemary oil was more likely to increase healthy hair growth in certain alopecia patients than minoxidil (also known as Rogaine).
If that wasn’t exciting enough, they also discovered that those who used rosemary oil experienced less scalp-itching than those who used minoxidil.
#4 May soothe the scalp
Wondering if it’s okay to use rosemary oil products for the purpose of scalp cleansing? In 2017, one study showed a noticeable increase in hydration & skin elasticity when applied with rosemary oil. Talk about excellent news for those with natural curly hair and anyone who knows the importance of hydration).5
Rosemary oil has also been known to soothe the mind, sharpen mental focus & even improve memory. Take some of that into the shower & treat yourself to a well-rounded self-care session.
Can you use rosemary oil directly on your scalp?
No, it’s not advisable—putting essential oils like rosemary oil directly on your scalp could overwhelm it & weigh your hair down. For a powerful ingredient like rosemary oil, it’s best to concoct a hair care cocktail by blending it with other ingredients, which helps dilute its high concentration.
Look for the ingredient within your natural hair styling products or blend your rosemary with:
- Jojoba oil
- Coconut oil
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
Make sure to pay attention to your proportions. Use about 3 to 6 drops of rosemary oil per teaspoon of carrier oil. Think of your hair oil like a haiku: less is more.
Should You Leave Rosemary Oil on Your Hair Overnight?
You can leave rosemary oil in your hair overnight. This gives the oil time to penetrate fully to help support scalp health.
Are There Side Effects of Using Rosemary Oil on Hair?
Like any product, some side effects can occur if you do not practice caution when incorporating rosemary oil into your hair care routine. If you’re interested in making it a centerpiece of your regimen, be sure to:
- Consider any allergies – You should not use rosemary oil if you have a known allergy to it. Due to its potent concentration, rosemary oil may produce severe adverse reactions in people with sensitivities.
- Avoid getting it in your eyes – This highly concentrated oil can cause intense irritation if it gets in your eyes, so administer rosemary-infused products with care.
- Practice caution if you’re pregnant – Some believe concentrated oils like rosemary should be used sparingly (if at all) when you’re expecting, as they may cause skin irritation in some people.6
Ultimately, you should always use exercise caution & care when integrating a new product into your hair care ritual. But when used wisely, rosemary oil can be an incredible, natural choice for lending newfound vibrancy & strength to your pattern.
Wake Up Curls with Rosemary Oil by PATTERN
Now, when someone asks, “is rosemary oil good for your hair?” you can wax poetic about its virtues.
Or…why not just show them off instead?
At PATTERN, we know how powerful curly hair products can be—just as a poet can turn words into a work of art, hair-loving products like our Scalp Serum can transform your hair into something worth swooning over. Strengthen your roots with rosemary oil by PATTERN & become a poem personified.
Sources:
- Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, Mahboobeh, and Hossein Hosseinzadeh. “Therapeutic effects of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and its active constituents on nervous system disorders.” Iranian journal of basic medical sciences vol. 23,9 (2020): 1100-1112. doi:10.22038/ijbms.2020.45269.10541
- Sayorwan, Winai et al. “Effects of inhaled rosemary oil on subjective feelings and activities of the nervous system.” Scientia pharmaceutica vol. 81,2 (2013): 531-42. doi:10.3797/scipharm.1209-05
- Lee, Hemin et al. “Racial characteristics of alopecia areata in the United States.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology vol. 83,4 (2020): 1064-1070. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.06.1300
- Panahi, Yunes et al. “Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial.” Skinmed vol. 13,1 (2015): 15-21.
- Montenegro, Lucia et al. “Rosemary Essential Oil-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles: In Vivo Topical Activity from Gel Vehicles.” Pharmaceutics vol. 9,4 48. 21 Oct. 2017, doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics9040048
- "Aromatherapy." Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/aromatherapy