Rosemary Essential Oil: The Benefits for Hair

Rosemary oil is the superstar ingredient you need in your hair care routine, regardless of your hair type and texture. Rosemary is a healing herb native to the Mediterranean region, where it has been used in food and medicine for centuries. The oil’s health benefits include antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. But rosemary oil benefits do way way more than that. From reducing split ends and breakage, to soothing an itchy scalp, aiding in hair regrowth and healthier hair overall, we’re breaking down the benefits of rosemary essential oil for hair ahead. 

Whether you have pin-straight strands, very curly hair or somewhere in between, problems like dryness, dandruff, hair thinning,and split ends are common. One of the easiest ways to keep these things at bay is following a hair care routine catered to your hair type and texture. Including the styling products and tools you use. In addition to using the right hair products for your hair type, style your strands accordingly. Keep straight hair healthy in classic, structured looks, while wavy hair looks healthiest in its natural texture. Curly hair does best with moisturizing products to enhance its bounce and definition. In addition, exfoliate and deep condition regularly. Blow-dry your hair on cool and invest in a quality heat protectant. Using a wide-tooth comb to detangle, drinking lots of water and loading up on vitamins like B5, manganese, and magnesium can also help to strengthen and support hair follicles. If you’re doing these things the right way, and you’ve still got seemingly unhealthy hair, it might be time to add rosemary essential oil to your routine. Anyone can use rosemary oil, but it’s especially helpful for those experiencing dryness, dandruff, hair shedding, thinning, breakage, or loss.

Rosemary oil is extracted from the Rosemarinus officinalis, or the rosemary plant. It’s a fragrant evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and a woody aroma. Native to the Mediterranean region, rosemary sprouts blue or whitish flowers. You're probably most familiar with this plant as a garnish for some of your favorite dishes. Rosemary has an earthy taste and many powerful compounds that provide many health benefits.Though best known as a food seasoning, it is one of the most popular aromatic and medicinal plants worldwide. Rosemary has significant antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-tumorigenic, antinociceptive, and neuroprotective properties. Furthermore, it shows important clinical effects on mood, learning, memory, pain, anxiety, and sleep. Extracted from rosemary leaves, rosemary essential oil holds the plant’s core components. It’s fragrant and persistent, with hints of eucalyptus, camphor, incense, or pine- based on the plant variety. The side effects of rosemary oil are minimal, but avoid getting it in your eyes. Likewise, be careful not to apply too much to your skin, as it can irritate sensitive skin. To avoid skin irritation, dilute the oil with a carrier oil or other product before applying it.

You can add rosemary oil to your hair care routine for healthy hair in the following ways.

Using rosemary oil topically is one of the easiest ways to use it. Massaging it directly into your scalp can stimulate hair follicles, promote circulation, and combat dandruff. After mixing about 5 drops of rosemary essential oil with a teaspoon of carrier oil (like jojoba oil or coconut oil), massage evenly into your scalp after washing your hair. Rinsing out the oil afterward is optional, you can also keep it on your scalp as a leave-in treatment. This will leave you with a delightful fragrance while it works its magic through your strands. Though if you do rinse, let the oil sit on your scalp for at least 5 to 10 minutes beforehand.

This also applies to conditioners, lotions, or creams. Add about five drops of rosemary oil per ounce of product. Afterward, use the product like usual. You can also add 2 to 3 drops directly to any hair product when you apply a dollop of it on your palm before use. 

Rosemary has been shown to have significant antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-tumorigenic, antinociceptive, and neuroprotective properties making it a must-have ingredient in your healthy hair care routine. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of rosemary essential oil for hair.

The rosemary plant contains carnosic acid, which is known to heal nerve and tissue damage, and improve cellular turnover. It’s also rich in antioxidants, which improve blood circulation to the scalp. This helps deliver blood flow and healthy nutrients to the hair follicles stimulating healthy hair growth.

Rosemary oil is a potent antioxidant that fights against free radicals. These molecules destroy cells over time and can ultimately lead to hair loss by damaging the hair follicle. The oil nourishes follicles, promoting thickness and hair count, and may even reduce pattern baldness.

The rosemary plant in essential oil form is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, reducing free radical damage and irritation on the scalp. It also improves blood circulation to the scalp, while getting rid of any bacteria that may be blocking hair follicles, making it especially beneficial to soothe irritated scalps.

Rosemary oil also helps lock in hair’s moisture to combat dandruff and dryness, providing a nourishing environment for a healthier scalp. It also eliminates bacteria that clogs hair follicles because of its antifungal properties. This reduces the occurrence of flakes on the scalp and minimizes dandruff symptoms.

When cells are damaged from environmental aggressors, they can oxide, accelerating aging, like hair graying. By actively fighting against these free radicals, rosemary oil may also be able to slow down the graying process. 

Rosemary oil also helps to keep your hair hydrated, reducing frizz and breakage. Using any oils on the hair (rosemary included) coat it with a light-reflecting layer, adding high shine to your strands. Plus, rosemary is brimming with polyphenols, like carnosol, carnosic acid, and rosmarinic acid, which strengthens strands for healthy hair.

Rosemary oil has purifying properties that can help clarify the scalp and lift excess oil, debris, and buildup from the follicles. 

1. Improves Memory. Research indicates that inhaling rosemary oil helps prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical important for thinking, concentration and memory.
2. Helps Relieve Pain. In folk medicine, rosemary is utilized as a mild pain reliever and studies have shown that rosemary oil was slightly more effective for pain than acetaminophen.
3. Repels Bugs. For deterring harmful insects that may bite you or infest your garden, consider rosemary oil as a natural alternative to chemical bug sprays.
4. Eases Stress. Smelling rosemary oil can help ease your stress levels. Rosemary reduces the levels of cortisol, a hormone that can have negative effects on your body.

Rosemary oil’s anti-inflammatory, circulation-boosting and antimicrobial properties make it the perfect ingredient for hair care. It reduces split ends and breakage, reduces scalp irritation, treats dryness and dandruff and provides a healthier environment for hair growth. Reap the many benefits of rosemary essential oil for hair by adding it into your favorite carrier oil or shampoo, or using a high quality rosemary hair care products.

by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor