How to Dilute Rosemary Oil for Hair

It's likely you've heard all about the benefits of adding rosemary to your haircare routine.

Having recently skyrocketed in popularity for its ability to encourage hair growth, thickness, and shine, it's no wonder more and more people are looking to implement rosemary oil as a natural alternative to cosmetic hair products.

While using rosemary oil for hair is pretty simple, knowing where to start can be a daunting prospect when you first receive the bottle. But have no fear!

Implementing essential oils into your daily wellness practices will become second nature before long, and a good first step is knowing just how they tick when it comes to applying them on your body.

We'll be walking through all of the crucial steps behind diluting rosemary oil for hair, as well as how we should use it and why it works.

Learn about other essential oils that are good for hair growth and hair health.

How do I use rosemary essential oil on my hair?

If you're still unsure on how exactly rosemary oil can help you, our guide on the benefits of rosemary oil for hair can assist in providing an in-depth report on the uses, properties, and frequently asked questions.

In the meantime, let's run through some of the most common reasons one might use rosemary essential oil for their hair.

1. It can thicken hair and encourage growth

The strength of your hair, while it may also become weakened by external factors like bleaching or sunlight, is mainly impacted by the frequency of the blood flow around your body.

Reduced blood circulation can affect the speed at which your hair grows and thickens, leading to slightly sad looking locks if left untreated.

Rosemary oil is said to help increase heart rate and blood flow, helping to re-stimulate the hair follicles and encourage faster, thicker hair growth over time. [1]

2. It can soothe and heal the scalp

Rosemary oil is naturally anti-inflammatory, meaning it can help halt any cases of itching or irritation happening on the scalp.

It is also said to increase hydration around this area as well as successfully clean it out - due to the antibacterial and antifungal properties of the oil. [2]

For this reason, rosemary oil makes for a great anti-dandruff remedy.

3. It can prevent hair loss

A highly impactful 2015 study measured the effects of rosemary oil for hair loss against a common regrowth treatment known as minoxidil. [3]

When applied over a six month period, it was observed that rosemary produced more successful hair growth on subjects than the medical treatment, resulting in a credible surge on the use of rosemary against hair loss.

How long does it take for rosemary oil to work on hair?

Generally, it can take around six months to see noticeable changes in your hair - but don't give up! The end is sure to result in much longer and fuller locks than would be achieved if you simply did nothing at all.

When applying rosemary oil to your hair, hair masks are generally the preferred method as essential oils can take around nineteen minutes to effectively absorb themselves into the blood stream.

That being said, adding rosemary oil to your shampoo or conditioner is also a method many people opt for.

If you do choose to do a hair mask, this can be left in for as long or as little time as you desire (though at least half an hour is recommended). You can also leave the mask applied overnight if this is preferred.

Why do I need to dilute rosemary oil before use?

Before we focus on how to dilute rosemary oil for hair, it's important to touch on why it is so important to do so in the first place.

Rosemary oil, like all essential oils, is naturally very potent. If applied onto the skin or hair without first being diluted, it can cause irritation that could end up being severe if left untreated.

For this reason, many people employ the use of carrier oils as an easy way to transport the benefits of the essential oil onto the skin - without the risk of harm.

What carrier oils are good for diluting rosemary oil?

While any carrier oil will successfully do the trick, some carrier oils have properties that are considered more beneficial for applying to hair. Some of our favourites include:

Argan oil

• Rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, argan oil has been at the forefront of haircare for several years.
• Its anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe an irritated scalp, while its moisturising qualities can leave hair feeling shinier, healthier, and more protected.
• Argan oil is also great for getting rid of split ends as well as healing damaged hair.
• If you're looking to double-up on both of these oils at once, our Argan Hair Care Bundle is a great way to grab all the tools you'll need.

Jojoba oil

• Like argan, jojoba oil is deeply moisturising and can help lock incredibly beneficial vitamins into the hair.
• Jojoba oil is also good for repairing breakages and can even help control dandruff with frequent use.
• You can check out our Jojoba Hair Care Bundle for an easier way to add this winning combo into your routine.

Fractionated coconut oil

• Unlike refined coconut oil, fractionated coconut oil stays liquid in cooler temperatures, meaning it can be easily applied to the hair at any point.
• It is also packed full of MTCs, which have been said to help improve hair growth as well as stimulate blood supply to the scalp.
• Its lightweight consistency is generally suitable for all hair types, however should be used sparingly on greasier hair due to its rich nature.

How to dilute rosemary oil for hair

We recommend mixing two tablespoons of carrier oil with two-three drops of rosemary oil. Use this mixture as a hair mask; apply to your scalp and leave on for an hour before washing out.

Now that you have all your necessary ingredients picked out and ready to go, it's time to think about how to successfully mix them together for daily use on your hair.

• The maximum dilution rate of rosemary essential oil is 3%. Going above this amount may be considered too potent, so try your best to avoid exceeding it when you're preparing your oils.
• For a teaspoon of carrier oil, 3% equates to around 3 drops of essential oil.
• While this may not seem like a lot, it's likely you'll want to set aside more than just a tablespoon for use in your hair, and 3% can add up very quickly once the quantity of oil increases.
• To put it simply, the more rosemary you add, the stronger and more damaging it could be on your hair - so less is always more!
• If you're wanting to apply the oils on someone with more sensitive skin, like an elderly person or a child, then a 1% dilution is generally the safest option, as this minimises the risk of irritation as much as possible.

The daily use of rosemary oil on your hair can produce great results with patience and determination.

While it may take a while for your efforts to be noticed, you will certainly be able to feel the benefits on your hair long before you see them, and will appreciate the time you set aside for the sake of your wellbeing.

References

[1] Winai Sayorwan et al. (2013) Effects of Inhaled Rosemary Oil on Subjective Feelings and Activities of the Nervous System https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3700080/

[2] Lucia Montenegro et al. (2017) Rosemary Essential Oil-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles: In Vivo Topical Activity from Gel Vehicles https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5750654/

[3] Yunes Panahi et al. (2015) Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25842469/