To make rosemary infused water, Dr Abhishek Pilani, MD Dermatologist, Founder- Assure Clinic, says “Take a few sprigs of rosemary leaves, boil it in water 2 cups of water for 15 minutes. Let it cool before transferring to a spray bottle.” This concoction can be applied to your scalp and left overnight for best results.
Whether you are using your rosemary water as a cleansing rinse, a treatment to enhance shine, or one to combat hair loss and scalp irritation, for best results, you should not rinse it out. This mixture does its magic over time, so leaving it on your strands and scalp is the best way to use it.
“It can boost hair growth by inhibiting hormonal changes that lead to hair loss, improving circulation to the follicles, acting as an antioxidant, and decreasing inflammation on the scalp,” Dr. Batra shares.
Rosemary scalp spray is best used on clean or slightly oily hair between washes. Oil and water don't mix, so if your hair is already too greasy, the rosemary water will have a harder time penetrating your scalp.
We recommend leaving rosemary oil in your hair (diluted) from 30 minutes to an hour before washing your hair as usual (though leaving it in your hair from 2 hours all the way up to 6 hours is the most effective). You can repeat this process up to twice a week for best results.
Rosemary oil is most effective for hair restoration when used consistently for at least 6 months. You can also use treatments a minimum of 1 to 2 times per week. While research suggests there are health benefits, the FDA doesn't monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils.
Rosemary water is easier to use and therefore may be able to be applied more frequently. However, rosemary oil is more hydrating, which can be beneficial for anyone prone to a dry scalp. Which one is the best depends on your scalp and hair needs.
People who take medication for high blood pressure should use rosemary with caution, as rosemary tea can cause a drop in blood pressure. Those who take diuretics should also be careful, as rosemary can also cause electrolyte imbalances.
A 2015 study compared rosemary oil to minoxidil, a popular hair regrowth treatment. People with DHT-related hair loss received either rosemary oil or minoxidil for 6 months. At 3 months, neither group had more hair. By 6 months, both groups saw significant increases in hair growth.
Women are pregnant or breast-feeding. Children. Individuals with sensitive skin or severe allergies. *If you fall into this category and still want to give rosemary water a try, we highly recommend you perform a patch test before applying it to your scalp.
Although rosemary oil is not harmful, James warns against leaving it in hair overnight. “Leaving any kind of oil on the scalp for a prolonged period of time will upset the microflora of the scalp,” she says. “This can cause itchiness and redness, and it applies to all oils—not just rosemary oil.”
So, how long does it take to work? “Because of the hair growth cycle, any effects on hair growth may take six months to show up,” says King, adding that “The 2015 study with rosemary oil showed results at six months.”
You should refrigerate your homemade rosemary water and it will keep for about a week. To help streamline the process (so I'm not making a batch every week) I put some in a squirt bottle in my fridge, and then froze the rest in 2 containers.
You can apply this Rosemary water spray for hair growth success as often as you like! But I recommend you rinse in the shower no more than once or twice a week.
If you're using rosemary water as a rinse, leave it in for around five to ten minutes before washing out. For leave-in treatments, allow the rosemary water to sit anywhere from five hours to overnight. If you spritz your hair with rosemary water, you can leave it in until your next bath or shower.
“Once the water is boiling you are going to leave it for 15 minutes.” Then, turn off the heat and let the mixture sit in the pot for 25 minutes until it has a “pinkish-reddish hue.” Then, strain the finished product into a bottle, removing the rosemary twigs.
While it's not harmful to leave rosemary oil in your hair overnight, it may cause irritation to your scalp if you have sensitive skin. Adding a few drops of rosemary oil to a carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil, can help to dilute it. How often should I put rosemary oil in my hair?
We expect this is the reason some users have reported their hair falling out after using rosemary oil for a few months. Here's the deal: Your scalp needs to be in a healthy, calm state for your strands to grow, and irritation is one way to disrupt a healthy scalp microbiome.
Because essential oils can irritate the skin when used on their own, when it's not diluted they can have the opposite effect on your hair, causing hair to fall out. Rosemary oil can be used in a variety of ways depending on your hair's needs.
The answer appears to be yes — and there's scientific proof behind it. Researchers found rosemary oil to be as effective at encouraging hair regrowth as minoxidil, a medication better known as Rogaine®, says Dr. Khetarpal.
It will not transform your hair overnight. But with repeated use over time, your hair will get darker hues. Rosemary also has a mild tinting effect on grey hair.
Bring water to a boil. Add fresh rosemary sprigs, remove from the heat, cover, and steep for at least an hour or until cool. I like to leave the rosemary in the water until it's fully cooled off to maximize its goodness. Transfer to a spray bottle.