Does Rosemary Oil Help Grow Hair?

Published: 2025-06-04

Updated: 2025-06-05

4 mins

Male pattern baldness is one of the most common forms of hair loss in millions of men. While the risk of hair loss increases as you age, it can also occur in young men with a history of hair loss in their family or from hormonal changes in the body. Losing your hair early can have psychological effects on your health as well. Getting ahead of it with natural remedies and medication may help you delay the onset of hair loss.

Essential oils like rosemary oil may help some men at risk of male pattern baldness prevent hair loss. While health experts still need more research, they observed some promising effects of rosemary oil stimulating hair growth from the scalp.

What is Rosemary Oil?

Rosemary oil is made from a flower in the Lamiaceae family. The rosemary plant is native to the Mediterranean region, where it thrives in a warm climate. The rosemary plant has been used for centuries for its health benefits. Rosemary leaves and twigs have also been used as culinary staples and aromatics. 

The plant is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. People have used rosemary for generations for its healing ability. In addition to using rosemary oil for hair growth, you can also use it to moisturize the skin and aid in pain relief.

What are the Health Benefits of Rosemary?

Health experts have found that ingesting rosemary oil may have the following health benefits:

• Improving memory

• Protecting brain health

• Preventing seizures

Rosemary may also help to regulate the nervous system. Health experts observed that rosemary helped to increase dopamine levels in the brain and reduce oxidative stress. The scent of rosemary oil may also have beneficial effects on mood and cognitive performance.

How Does Rosemary Work on Hair?

You can apply rosemary oil to the scalp to potentially help improve blood circulation and the likelihood of hair growth from the scalp. In some cases, rosemary oil may also help to reduce dandruff and delay graying. Still, health experts need to conduct more research on the effects of rosemary oil on hair.

How to Use Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth

Rosemary has been added to various over-the-counter (OTC) oils and creams to aid in hair growth. Some studies have found that rosemary can help stimulate hair growth in those with alopecia areata (a disease leading to hair loss). More specifically, rosemary oil may help treat the effects of male pattern baldness. Minoxidil is often mixed with rosemary oil and hair loss medications to treat male pattern baldness.

Step 1: Apply a small amount of hair oil directly to the scalp. If you have a coarser curly or coily hair texture, you may be able to add slightly more. However, be careful of creating a buildup of oil on the scalp.

Step 2: Gently massage the oil into the scalp to ensure it’s evenly distributed.

Step 3: Health experts recommend leaving the hair oil on the scalp overnight or for a couple of hours during the day. If you have a coarser curly or coily hair texture, you can leave the oil in for longer.

Step 4: If you have a finer straight hair texture, you can rinse the oil off of your scalp in the morning after leaving it on overnight.

Generally, rosemary oil may help promote hair growth by carefully applying it to the scalp weekly or according to directions from a dermatologist. Applying rosemary oil directly to the scalp may help delay the loss of patches of hair. The longer you use it, the more likely you are to see results from using rosemary oil.

If you experience itchiness or irritation on the scalp, discontinue your use of rosemary oil. It’s possible for some men to experience an allergic reaction to rosemary oil.

Alternatives to Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth

Other essential oils like lavender and cedarwood may also help promote hair growth and protect the skin from the sun. In addition to these essential oils, the following oils may have beneficial effects on the skin and hair:

• Pumpkin seed oil

• Saw palmetto

• Caffeine extract

• Tea tree oil

• Peppermint oil

There is still more research needed to determine the effectiveness of these essential oils in hair growth. However, researchers have found beneficial effects on the skin and scalp. Generations of Black Americans use hair oils, like tea tree, rosemary, and coconut oil to moisturize drier, coarser curly and coily hair textures.

Medications for hair loss

Medications like finasteride can also help treat male pattern baldness. Finasteride slows hair loss by inhibiting enzymes converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

A healthcare provider may also recommend oral minoxidil for hair loss. 

How Rex MD Can Help

Rex MD can help you get ahead of hair loss quickly and effectively. With the 90-day Finasteride Regrowth Plan, Rex MD offers delivery of FDA-approved hair loss medication discreetly to your home. If cost is a concern, Rex MD also offers discounts to help with the cost of hair loss treatment.

Get started today to feel more like the best version of yourself.