peptides and rosemary oil FAQ

Like most substances, you should take rosemary oil in the recommended dosage for the purpose you’re using it for. Some people are allergic to it, too. If taken in large doses, rosemary oil can cause:

When applying rosemary essential oil, you must dilute it with a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil. This helps prevent irritation while also adding hydration.

Research suggests that rosemary essential oil may help support hair regrowth. However, the effectiveness may depend on the reason for hair loss.

“Rosemary oil is very easy to find,” Tisserand says. “There are dozens of essential oil sellers, and probably 95% will offer rosemary.” In this case, it’s better to buy it online than in stores, he says, as the oil will be fresher. Google rosemary oil and look for specialty companies, not conglomerate sellers like Amazon.

There are four main chemotypes – chemical traits that make them different from each other – of rosemary oil, according to Robert Tisserand. He’s an international speaker and educator on the science, benefits, and safe uses of essential oils through his organization, the Tisserand Institute. They are:

Yes. Studies have found rosemary oil can help spur hair regrowth as well as Rogaine, aka minoxidil, the drug famous for helping regrow hair. Rosemary oil also doesn’t make your scalp as itchy as the over-the-counter med does. Many people appreciate having a natural alternative to a drug, too. Rosemary oil can help your hair and scalp in other ways, too. Because it helps calm inflammation on your scalp, it can curb dandruff.

“It’s important that the rosemary oil is diluted before use,” says Tisserand. “This is mostly for safety reasons – to avoid irritation – but also because most of it will simply evaporate, and you want it to go into your scalp.” He advises using 5%-10% rosemary oil to 90%-95% of what you’re going to use to dilute the essential oil with. (You can figure out how many essential oil drops to use per ounce of diluent using a chart like this one by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.) Two good diluent choices are castor oil and fractionated coconut oil, in which certain fatty acids are removed to make coconut oil more stable and easily absorbed into your skin. Fractionated coconut oil also is less greasy than castor oil. “If you want a non-greasy product, look for a non-fragranced gel,” Tisserand adds. “Don’t go for aloe vera gel, as this is 99% water. Go for aloe jelly, which has other ingredients that thicken it to gel consistency.”

You’ll be treating your scalp, not your actual hair, when you use rosemary oil to boost hair growth. You can safely apply rosemary oil once a day, Tisserand says. It usually takes two to three months to see results. To help your skin absorb the oil, massage your head with your fingertips for 30 seconds after every application.

If you dilute rosemary essential oil with a carrier oil or another haircare product, you can apply it daily or as needed between washes. Using too much at once may cause irritation. If you apply it along with a carrier oil, you may experience oily hair if you apply it too often between washes.

You can leave rosemary essential oil in your hair if diluted with a carrier oil or hair product. If you experience irritation, stop using the oil.

Here are some things you may want to consider when buying rosemary oil:

“Making your own essential oil is not easy, and even if you do manage to do this, chances are you will only end up with a few drops,” says Tisserand.

You can leave it in or wash your hair with shampoo two hours after application. “If your hair is very oily, apply the shampoo before using any water,” Tisserand advises.

Rosemary is linked to heavier menstrual flow and potential miscarriage. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you are advised against using rosemary oil. But it’s OK to eat rosemary in plant form to enhance your food.

“There is a very longstanding tradition of using castor oil for hair growth, but so far there is no supporting evidence,” says Tisserand. “Of course you can use both, since castor is a fatty oil and rosemary is an essential oil.”