Can rosemary oil help regrow lost hairs? What science says

Hair fall has a way of feeding on itself. Stress triggers shedding, shedding triggers more stress, and somewhere in between, people start looking for answers beyond modern medicine.

When solutions feel limited or slow, old remedies often make a comeback, and right now, rosemary oil is having its moment.For the past few years, TikTok has been flooded with videos praising rosemary oil as a natural fix for thinning hair, with users claiming it helped them regrow lost strands and achieve thicker, longer hair. But while the internet is convinced, experts say the science tells a far more cautious story.Rosemary oil is an essential oil extracted from the rosemary plant and is commonly used in hair and skin care products. The logic behind it sounds reasonable: rosemary has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which may help improve blood circulation to the scalp and reduce inflammation, two factors that can support overall scalp health.That logic, paired with a growing distrust of chemical-heavy treatments, has helped turn rosemary oil into a modern-day version of a grandmother’s cure.

But hair loss, doctors say, is rarely that simple.“Hair loss is biologically complex and emotionally charged, which makes it especially vulnerable to oversimplified or exaggerated claims,” said Oma Agbai, an associate clinical professor of dermatology and director of multicultural dermatology and hair loss disorders at the University of California at Davis School of Medicine, in comments to The Washington Post.Agbai added that while some people may see a mild benefit, it’s “not equivalent to what we see with more effective, evidence-based treatments.”

What the science actually suggests

There isn’t strong scientific evidence that rosemary oil can reliably regrow hair. However, some research suggests it may offer a modest benefit for people with androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of hair loss, which includes male and female pattern baldness.“Androgenetic alopecia is partly driven by hormones called androgens.

It’s not magic,” explained Adam Friedman, professor and chair of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.When levels of androgens, particularly dihydrotestosterone (DHT), are high, or when hair follicles are more sensitive to them due to genetics or environmental factors, follicles can shrink. That leads to thinner hair and a shorter growth cycle. Treatments that reduce DHT can help slow this process.Some laboratory research suggests rosemary oil may weakly inhibit the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. Other studies indicate it might reduce DHT’s ability to bind to androgen receptors in hair follicles, Friedman explained. That’s where the potential benefit lies, but it’s limited.Rosemary extract, has not been proven to reduce hair shedding or significantly increase hair growth in a consistent or reliable way.

There is also no solid evidence that it treats other types of hair loss, including telogen effluvium (stress- or illness-related shedding), alopecia areata (autoimmune-related patchy hair loss), or scarring alopecia, which causes permanent hair loss.

The study fueling the hype, and its limits

Much of the online enthusiasm traces back to a 2015 randomized study that compared topical rosemary oil to 2 percent minoxidil (Rogaine) in men with androgenetic alopecia.

The study found that both treatments performed similarly after six months, a result that has been widely shared on social media.But experts urge caution. The trial involved just 100 participants, followed them for a relatively short period, and, most notably, did not include a placebo group, a key element in modern clinical research. Without that comparison, it’s difficult to determine how much of the effect was due to the treatment itself.Minoxidil, by contrast, has been extensively studied and is backed by decades of clinical data showing it can stimulate hair growth in some people.

So, should you try rosemary oil?

Dermatologists don’t dismiss rosemary oil outright. For some people, it may help improve scalp health or provide a mild benefit, especially when used alongside proven treatments. But experts stress it should not be seen as a cure, or a replacement for evidence-based options.Hair loss is often multifactorial, meaning there’s rarely a single cause or a single solution. Rosemary oil may fit into a broader routine, but on its own, it’s unlikely to reverse hair loss in a meaningful way.