We all desire thick hair, so it’s likely that finding ingredients and products that support the overall health of our hair is one of your hair care goals.

The newest hair care craze, thanks to TikTok, is rosemary oil, which is said to promote hair growth. Can this essential oil, however, really promote hair growth?

We discuss whether or not rosemary oil genuinely promotes the growth of new hair in order to differentiate fact from fiction.

What Is Rosemary Oil?

The rosemary plant is an evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and a woodsy scent that is used to make rosemary essential oil.

The herb has been used for years to treat a variety of diseases, for aromatherapy, an important skin-care ingredient, as well as in hair care, and as a result, it is a prominent ingredient in many of today’s beauty products.

Studies have proven that it has a wide range of health applications.

Rosemary oil provides a number of advantages for hair, including the ability to reduce itching and enhance blood flow to the hair follicles.

Additionally, rosemary oil is a powerful antioxidant (which means it protects your hair from environmental aggressors) and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities to remove buildup.

It’s also understandable that there is increased interest in discovering natural remedies to assist with hair growth, either to promote longer, healthier hair or in individuals with hair thinning.

Benefits Of Rosemary Oil On Your Hair

There are numerous possible advantages of rosemary essential oil on your hair.

It contains substances with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties.

All of these qualities help soothe itchy scalps, and antioxidants in particular shield your hair from aggressors like pollution. This usually results in thicker hair and a healthier scalp.

So does rosemary actually help your hair grow? The short answer is yes.

It might encourage thick, healthy hair. The oil can speed up cell growth and turnover, which may function as a natural stimulant for thicker hair.

It is utilized for both hair regrowth and prevention of hair loss because it is an anti-inflammatory.

It possesses qualities that increase blood circulation to the scalp, sealing in moisture, and nourishing the hair while getting rid of any bacteria that clog hair follicles.

More advantages of Rosemary hair oil are:

-Encourages blood circulation in the scalp, which may aid in the “waking up” of dormant hair follicles which prevents hair from aging too quickly

-Reduces dandruff

-Calms an itchy and inflamed scalp that may be brought on by psoriasis and scalp eczema.

-Boosts hair volume for fuller hair and encourages glossy strands

-Strengthens the roots and follicles of your hair which stops hair from breaking

-Restores damaged hair and might lessen scalp itching

Is Using Rosemary Oil On Your Hair And Scalp Safe?

Theoretically, anyone with any hair type could use rosemary oil, but some might wish to exercise caution.

Natural rosemary oil extracts and the raw material itself, like all plant extracts, have the potential to irritate the skin and trigger allergic responses.

Especially when using the oil alone may serve as a trigger for irritation.

Contrary to what the TikTok videos would imply, pure rosemary essential oil is quite strong and might irritate the scalp or even result in hair loss.

By creating conditions that maximize the function of the hair follicle, maintaining a healthy scalp is essential to promoting healthy hair development.

To that end, if you’re going to apply rosemary oil to your scalp, make sure you dilute it with a carrier oil-based treatment before applying it.

Mix four to five drops of rosemary oil with a teaspoon of your carrier oil, preferably coconut or castor oil. After that, you can evenly massage it into your scalp.

It is also claimed that the motion of massaging your scalp may act as a trigger for promoting hair growth.

By stretching hair follicle cells, which in turn stimulates the follicles to grow thicker hair, scalp massaging can help enhance hair thickness.

And remember never put rosemary oil on skin that is swollen or damaged.

How To Make Rosemary Hair Oil

Below is a simple recipe for making rosemary oil for hair growth. The end product will be rosemary-infused oil!

What You Need

-2 Tablespoons dried rosemary
-1 Cup of coconut oil
-Saucepan
–Tea strainer
–Funnel
–Container for storage

Directions:

-Add one cup of coconut oil to your saucepan.

-Then, add your rosemary to the medium-low heat on the stove. For two to three minutes, while stirring, the contents of the pan should melt all the coconut oil.

-Up until you notice the oil beginning to change color, keep heating the rosemary in the coconut oil over a low temperature. It can take another two to three minutes. Turn off the stove and allow the oil to finish cooling.

-Then, using a tea strainer, coffee filter, or clean cloth, pour it into a jar or an amber bottle.

Your rosemary oil is protected from light, which can cause it to oxidize or quickly go bad, with an amber bottle.

I do not suggest using fresh rosemary as your oil may become rancid and might grow harmful Botulism bacteria.

How To Use Rosemary Oil On Your Hair

All hair types can benefit from rosemary oil. The qualities of this oil help to maintain healthy hair follicles and stop more harm.

While you can use rosemary oil on your hair’s ends, it works best when applied to the scalp.

Twenty minutes prior to getting into the shower, massage your rosemary hair growth oil into your hair and scalp, ideally using it as a pre-poo hair mask.

This will energize and nourish your scalp.

You can also incorporate a few drops into your shampoo or the hair products you use after a shower. It also works best when used as a leave-in product because that increases the likelihood that its effects will be felt.

I would always advise using rosemary oil with other hair-growth-supporting products like shampoos and serums.

A healthy diet and supplementation are also essential.

Maintaining a wash day routine when caring for your hair is common practice. Some people only do it once each day, while, some people prefer once or twice per week.

But what if you’re not shampooing your hair frequently enough—or worse, too much and you’re just stripping it?

In order to ensure that your strands feel and appear their best, we found out just how frequently you should wash your hair.

How Often Should You Shampoo Based on Hair Type

How frequently you should wash your hair depends greatly on your hair type.

But rather than simply following a strict timetable, you should listen to what your scalp and hair need. Itching, flaking, product buildup, greasy strands, and naturally any unpleasant odors are indications that you should wash or cleanse your hair.

Straight Hair

To prevent oil accumulation, people with fine, straight hair (type 1) should wash their hair two to three times per week.

Those with fine strands often feel greasier throughout the week because there is less surface area on the head for oil to collect.

Curly or Wavy Hair

Type 2 or type 3 strands, which are buoyant loop curl patterns and flexible “S” shape curl patterns, are common identifiers for people with wavy to curly hair.

I would recommend washing at most twice a week for this hair type because it needs more oil on the head to keep your strands hydrated.

Coily Hair

Coily textures are classified as having type 4 hair, which also contains types 4A, 4B(my hair type), and 4C. 4B is a tighter coil with a less distinct curl, 4C is a zigzag design, and 4A has an “S” or ringlet pattern.

It’s best to limit your washdays to once a week if you have this hair type.

This more delicate hair type can lose the oils necessary to keep the strands hydrated if they are washed too frequently, type 4 hair is just naturally drier hair.

When shampooed once a week with the proper products, the scalp can absorb the nutrients used on the hair.

Make sure to use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner if your hair feels particularly dry.

What Washing Your Hair Too Often Can Do

So, how frequently should you shampoo? A daily hair wash is certainly excessive.

For your hair to remain hydrated, it needs those oils.

Because it helps the hair retain more moisture and makes the shampoo more gentle, I suggest using only a cleansing conditioner in one wash if you feel the need to cleanse your hair every day because you work out.

Dulls Your Hairs Shine

Since your hair is being deprived of its natural oils when you overwash it, one frequent side effect is a loss of shine which causes your hair to look dry and dull.

This is particularly true if your product doesn’t shield the keratin protein and color from damage if you have colored hair.

Scalp Imbalance

Overwashing your hair can mess with the pH, pH equilibrium, and scalp microbiome. Your hair will feel like straw as a consequence, and your scalp will feel dry, irritated, and inflamed.

The oil generated by the scalp, or sebum, is our natural food for the scalp and hair; it moisturizes and straightens the strands.

A tight, dry head and dry, coarse, breakable strands can result from washing too much away, which creates an imbalance.

Overwashing your hair can make it even oilier if you have an overactive, oily skin.

Additionally, hair can become limp and battle to maintain a style. I advise using a thickening shampoo or conditioner if your hair starts to become desensitized to help it recover its strength and fullness.

Effect Of Not Washing Your Hair Enough

Although how long you go between washes really relies on you, it’s probably time for a wash once you start to notice oil buildup on your scalp and your strands begin to get flatter.

When there is buildup on the skin, it must be detoxified and cleansed to get rid of extra sebum and debris.

Scalp Conditions

Washing your hair will help you prevent scalp skin issues, just like when you wash your face and body.

If you wash very rarely, the oil may begin to accumulate in layers, clogging scalp follicles and promoting acne on the scalp.

Psoriasis, alopecia, and dandruff can all develop as a result of not cleaning your hair.

Additionally beneficial for circulation, stimulating the scalp, oxygenation, relaxation, and de-stressing the hair, cleansing should be part of your daily routine rather than a burden.

While shampooing might seem like the simplest step in your hair care regimen, it’s one of the most divisive topics in the beauty industry.

Is it better to wait one or two days between hair washes or wash your hair every day? Should you actually use dry shampoo instead of regular day-two lather and rinse? Should you even use shampoo?

The “no poo” method, which is washing your hair without using traditional shampoo, has been a hot topic thanks to cleansing conditioners.

Do you have general questions about cleansing conditioners and, more significantly, do you know if you have to incorporate one into your routine? You can discover everything you need to know whether you have dark brown or ash blonde hair by continuing to read.

What Is A Cleansing Conditioner?

The delicate components in cleansing conditioners nourish, detangle, and add shine to your hair while still cleansing them.

Cleansing conditioners can be thought of as both shampoo and conditioner in one. Cleansing conditioner, as opposed to traditional shampoo, is free of detergents and foaming agents that, if misused, may leave hair dry, dull, or damaged.

To fully rinse, simply massage a few pumps of cleansing conditioner into wet hair as you would with regular shampoo. Distribute the product evenly throughout your hair.

If you’re unsure about whether to completely substitute your shampoo with a cleansing conditioner, speak with a hair care professional to learn what’s ideal for you.

Who Do Cleansing Conditioners Work For?

The ability of cleansing conditioners to work on various hair types is what makes them really great.

Since it helps to restore your hair without requiring an additional step (shampooing), cleansing conditioner is wonderful for overly bleached or highlighted hair that gets dried out by regular shampoos, dry, brittle hair, curly or frizzy hair, and really all hair types.

For those looking for a nourishing treatment as well as those with color-treated hair who wish to prevent color loss, cleansing conditioners are really helpful.

Whatever your hair issues are there are cleansing conditioners made to handle them.

Sometimes your hair isn’t the problem, you simply need a break from your typical shampoo regimen, it may be time to switch to a cleansing conditioner for a few weeks.

Thankfully, we’ve narrowed down my top picks to make your search simpler.

Benefits Of Cleansing Conditioners

They Are Gentle On The Hair

Cleansing conditioners are substantially gentler than conventional shampoo-and-conditioner combos. They frequently don’t contain sulfates, which is why.

The hair is cleansed less aggressively because there is no harsh cleansing effect, which minimizes dryness.

By using emulsion technology and emollient oils to remove dirt, debris, and surface oils, they also clean without over-stripping. The correct level of moisture can thus be maintained in the hair strands.

They Are Sulfate Free

They are typically Sulfate-free and which means they usually take a long time to lather.  

They Save You Time

They are great if you want to save time and money, you get to skip an extra step in your wash day routine, and since you can use them once and then go a week or so without shampooing it’s great.

Work For All Hair Types

Co-washing is perfect for all hair types.

This means you can use it if you have damaged hair or fine hair or color-treated hair—conditioning cleansers can work with your hair. They gently cleanse better than traditional shampoos and leave hair and scalp clean and moisturized.

How To Use Cleansing Conditioners

Here’s a step-by-step guide to a basic cleansing conditioner routine:

1. As you normally would, wet your hair.

2. Massage your scalp and hair strands with a generous amount of cleansing conditioner of your choice. Don’t anticipate the product to lather as you work it through your hair; instead, take your time.

3. Keep the product on for the specified period of time.

4. Thoroughly rinse off the product. Not using enough water results in greasy residue, which is not the same thing as moisturized locks, so make sure to thoroughly rinse the product out.

5. To add even more moisture, condition your hair with your regular hair conditioner, as usual, dry, and style your hair.

Cleansing Conditioner Do’s And Don’ts

Make sure to get the most out of this new haircare approach by following advice from beauty experts.

They Shouldn’t Replace Your Shampoo

Shampooing is a great way to get rid of dirt, grime, and residue from your scalp, you should still use it at least once a week for clarifying purposes and to maintain the health of your scalp.

To that end, be sure you only shampoo when absolutely necessary and use a good shampoo that does not contain harsh minerals.

Instead of totally replacing shampoo in your hair care routine, think of cleansing conditioners as an additional step that completes it.

To find the ideal balance between how frequently you should shampoo and use cleaning conditioner, do some trial and error.

Be Very Generous With The Cleanser

While you’ve probably learned that using a dime- or even pea-sized amount of ordinary conditioner is the best practice (rolls eyes), this isn’t the same advice for a cleansing conditioner.

To properly soak your hair and ensure that it receives the benefits of your selected formula, you should be using a very generous amount of it or it won’t work well.

My Favorite Cleansing Conditioners To Try

If you think your hair might use a boost because it’s dull, damaged, or otherwise uncontrollable, try including a cleansing conditioner in your routine. Choose the top product you can locate to ensure that the ingredients are of high quality:

As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner

Working with dry curls? Gently cleanse, and condition in one step with As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner. This co-wash helps aid in retaining moisture and helps maintain the natural curl pattern for touchable texture.

RENPURE Mint Cowash Cleansing Conditioner

The Renpure Vanilla Mint Cleansing Conditioner is formulated with natural ingredients like coconut, manuka honey, mint, tea tree oil, argan, bamboo, and lemon sage. It protects the hair from damage caused by chemical shampoos.

Creme of Nature Creamy Hydration Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner

If you’re dealing with extra dry, brittle hair, you’ll need a cleansing conditioner formulated to combat extreme dryness. Infused with argon oil, the Creme of Nature Creamy Hydration Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner envelopes the hair fiber to condition and gently smooth away impurities. 

Similar to how facial exfoliating removes dead skin cells and massages ease tension in the muscles—both of which are excellent self-care practices. What you may not realize is that each of these techniques has advantages for your scalp as well; in fact, regular exfoliation and scalp massages may even result in longer, stronger hair.

What Is Scalp Exfoliation?

Facial exfoliation eliminates flakes, grease, and buildup, which is the same effect it has on your scalp. Similar to facial exfoliation, there are two types of scalp exfoliation: physical and chemical.

As hair growth begins at the scalp, getting rid of buildup (from excess oil or styling product residue) is helpful. Exfoliation, which unblocks anything obstructing hair follicles, can help with that.

The downside to exfoliation is that if the technique or product can be extremely abrasive or severe, it might damage the scalp and follicles. If they are not used together with other moisturizing products in a hair care routine, several exfoliants can also be drying.

How to Exfoliate the Scalp

Before you begin exfoliating, you need to choose your preferred method of exfoliation, chemical or physical.

I personally prefer to rotate between the two, using a clarifying shampoo to exfoliate once a month and a DIY scalp scrub to gently exfoliate every two weeks or so.

If you choose a physical exfoliation method, you will use your hands, a tool, or a mask containing granules to remove dry skin cells.

When you use chemical exfoliants look for a solution with active chemicals that are suitable for use on the scalp, I prefer to use the Verb Ghost Exfoliating Scalp Nectar.

Physical Exfoliation 

Use products made with tiny granulated beads, a scalp brush, rough gloves, or your fingertips to physically exfoliate the scalp. 

1. Apply your fingertips (with the product on it) or your tool of choice to your scalp using gentle to medium pressure. 

2. For a few minutes, move your tool or fingertips in tiny circles. 

3. Wash your hair to get rid of flaky skin cells (and any residual product, if used).

Chemical Exfoliation 

1. When using most chemical exfoliants, you will apply the product directly to the scalp and massage it in with your fingertips.

2. Allow the exfoliant to sit on the scalp for 15 to 20 minutes, or whatever amount of time the label suggests.

3. Rinse completely and follow up with a moisturizing shampoo or a cleansing conditioner and then a deep conditioner to replenish lost moisture.

What Is Scalp Massaging?

Though they are somewhat similar, scalp massage and scalp exfoliation are two different processes. Massage manipulates the head and scalp muscles, relieving stress and boosting blood flow. Moreover, it activates the sebaceous glands, which release sebum, a natural oil that maintains the health of the scalp.

The benefits of scalp massages include stress relief, an increase in blood flow (which promotes hair growth), and the production of skin-nourishing sebum. They can also gently exfoliate dry, irritating dead skin while calming the scalp.

The effects of scalp massages are generally less negative than those of exfoliation. It is impossible to overdo this treatment, which encourages healthy hair development. Nevertheless, if you massage too vigorously, you risk irritating the skin, and even perhaps infecting it.

How To Massage The Scalp

It’s easy to massage the scalp, and you can do this whether your hair is wet or dry.

Press your fingertips with light to medium pressure into your scalp. Spend a few minutes moving your fingertips in little circles over tense areas. I like to do this right after I’ve applied a hot oil treatment to really get the hair oils to penetrate my scalp.

To hydrate and calm the scalp during or after your massage, apply a soft hair oil, like coconut oil.

Are Exfoliating And Massaging Your Scalp Even Necessary?

You can increase the health of your hair every day by massaging your scalp, which is a useful and important activity. An essential component of hair care is massage. The hair follicles that are in charge of hair growth require improved blood circulation.

What about exfoliating the scalp? Due to the thoroughness of the procedure, maintain a cadence of once or twice every month. While everyone can benefit from a scalp massage and exfoliation, individuals with flaky and overly oily scalps will experience the most advantages for the health and growth of their hair.