A recent beauty trend that has been gaining traction is the use of rosemary in scalp massages. Rosemary is also being used as a special ingredient in treatments to strengthen and lengthen hair. The claim is that rosemary has the power to accelerate hair growth. Myth or reality? Let’s explore it together!
Does rosemary really make your hair grow faster and stronger? In this article, we’ll delve deeper into how this belief spread and how to perform a rosemary scalp massage or rosemary water rinse to test the real effectiveness of what thousands of influencers claim. Here’s what you can find in this article:
#rosemarywater: The TikTok trend
The benefits of rosemary
Rinse your hair with rosemary water
Scalp Massage: Benefits and Functions
Rosemary Scalp Massage
Conclusion: Does Rosemary Really Accelerate Hair Growth?
#rosemarywater: The TikTok trend
If you happen to come across the TikTok trend #rosemarywater, it seems that hundreds of thousands of people have finally discovered a way to speed up hair growth, thicken their hair, and make it fuller, stronger, and shinier. A dream come true? Probably not! When so many people visibly benefit from something as simple as rosemary water, there may be some truth to it!
The hashtag #rosemarywater has racked up 949.7 million views to date, with viral videos demonstrating how to make rosemary water, how to apply it and showing off beautiful, shiny hair. The most popular video is a recipe for making rosemary water at home: by boiling rosemary, you get a dark liquid that you can use to rinse your hair. Many influencers with millions of followers have started doing this rinse daily and claim to have seen results within the first week. Can we trust this?
We can summarize the actions that many people adopt to obtain fabulous results with rosemary in:
- Rinse your hair with rosemary water
- Massage the scalp with rosemary essential oil.
Rosemary: Benefits of the plant
Who would have thought that an ingredient we always had in the kitchen would be the philosopher's stone for our hair? The ultimate solution to having strong, beautiful and shiny locks was in the small plant we grew on our terrace!
Rosemary is an aromatic plant from the Lamiaceae family with very fragrant leaves. Originally from Mediterranean countries, it grows wild along the coastline and up to 1500 metres above sea level. The etymology of its name is quite controversial: according to some, it derives from the Latin "ros" meaning "dew" and "maris" meaning "sea", that is, "dew of the sea". In any case, regardless of its origin, it is always closely associated with the sea.
It is a plant rich in essential oils, flavonoids, tannins and also contains rosmarinic acid with antioxidant properties. In fact, numerous studies have shown that the active compounds in rosemary have the ability to inhibit the superoxide anion, a highly toxic and reactive free radical responsible for cellular oxidation.
The versatility of this aromatic herb makes it a valuable ingredient for cosmetics: it is an excellent astringent and skin purifier that can be used to treat oily skin. Rosemary hydrosol , obtained through steam distillation of the plant's leaves, can also be used as a tonic for treating acne, as it soothes pimples and counteracts the bacterial proliferation responsible for new pimples.
But let’s get to the point: rosemary hydrosol is also great for hair, especially in cases of oily or problematic scalp. Thanks to its disinfectant properties, it purifies the scalp and regulates sebum production. When used as a rinse, it stimulates the growth of hair follicles and is therefore recommended for baldness or alopecia. It can also be sprayed on the hair, as its acidic pH closes the cuticles and makes the hair shiny.
When we read the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) lists, we can find the name "Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower Extract": this is a rosemary extract obtained from the leaves and flowers of the Rosmarinus officinalis plant. It is an excellent stimulant for the scalp and hair follicles, also regulating sebum secretion and dandruff production. For the skin, the extract is used as a purifier in shampoos, shower gels, bath oils and specific products for treating acne, as an astringent in the preparation of toothpastes and as an antimicrobial in anti-lice lotions.
Another name we find in the INCI lists is "Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil": in this case, it is rosemary essential oil. It is an excellent anti-aging ingredient and helps combat dry skin, providing antioxidants that make the skin more elastic. It also has a refreshing and antibacterial action; in cosmetics, it is also used in the production of toothpaste. It is ideal for scalp massage due to its sebum-regulating and stimulating effects.
The rosemary we use to produce the hydrolate is lovingly cultivated on a small organic farm in Italy, where the owners carefully tend the land to ensure the highest quality of their products.
Rinse your hair with rosemary water
Given the undeniable properties of rosemary, here is the recipe that can be found on TikTok in particular and across the Internet in general to create the now famous Rosmery Water, which is rosemary water.
- Boil one liter of distilled water.
- Add a handful of dried rosemary leaves.
- Leave to infuse for five hours.
- Once cooled, the mixture can be diluted with water to make a rinse or with shampoo. In both cases, create a ratio of four to one.
- Use the rosemary water rinse on your hair after shampooing. Then rinse.
Don't feel like making rosemary water at home? You can always use rosemary hydrosol : you can spray it directly onto your hair as a final acid rinse after shampooing. In this case, you won't need to rinse with water again. To learn more about acid rinses, you can read here .
You can also spray rosemary hydrosol on your hair every night or in the morning without having to wash it: hydrosol, in general, helps to close the hair cuticles and makes it silkier and shinier. Rosemary hydrosol also has this specific stimulating action on growth.
Scalp Massage: Benefits and Functions
Scalp massage is an ancient practice that, in addition to being extremely relaxing, offers a wide range of benefits for the health of your hair and scalp. Although it is often underestimated, this simple gesture can become a beauty and well-being ritual capable of improving not only the appearance of your hair, but also your emotional state.
Here are the main benefits of performing a scalp massage:
- Improves blood circulation : Massaging your scalp stimulates blood circulation in the area. Good circulation is essential for providing your hair follicles with the nutrients they need to grow and stay healthy. Improving blood flow can help prevent hair loss and contribute to the growth of stronger, shinier hair. This is where rosemary comes in; it certainly helps, but consistently massaging your scalp also has undeniable benefits in terms of blood circulation. That’s why consistent massaging produces measurable results in a relatively short period of time!
- Reduces stress and anxiety : The scalp is one of the areas of the body where tension and stress accumulate. A gentle massage releases this tension, promoting a feeling of calm and general well-being. In addition, massage stimulates the production of endorphins, the happiness hormones, which help to reduce anxiety and improve our general mood. Less anxiety means less stress, and less stress means less hair loss! Remember that stress is one of the causes of hair loss. You can find more information about this here .
- Combats dandruff and sebum build-up : Massaging your scalp regularly can help remove dead skin cells and sebum build-up, preventing dandruff from forming. Deep cleansing through massage can also free up blocked follicles, promoting new hair growth and maintaining a clean, healthy scalp. For a healthy scalp, it is also recommended to exfoliate your scalp once a month, which can purify and invigorate the skin by removing dead cells that would otherwise remain on the surface.
- Improves hair health : A well-massaged scalp can help improve hair health in a number of ways. In addition to promoting hair growth, massage helps distribute natural sebum, an oil produced by glands in the scalp, throughout the length of the hair. This helps keep hair hydrated and less prone to breakage or dryness.
- Increases the effectiveness of hair products : Massaging your scalp can increase the effectiveness of hair products such as shampoos, conditioners or specific treatments. Gently massaging your scalp while applying these products helps them to be better absorbed and penetrate deeper into the hair roots.
Scalp massage with rosemary oil
Having established the undeniable benefits of scalp massage and its overall effects on hair well-being and growth, let’s now explore how to perform a scalp massage with rosemary oil. Simply take rosemary essential oil and, as is always the case with essential oils, dilute it with a carrier oil. Our friends at TikTok recommend coconut oil, which is widely used and known to have many benefits for hair. Alternatively, you can use castor oil, which has specific functions to improve hair growth.
For a scalp massage with rosemary oil, you can use:
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or castor oil
- 5 drops of rosemary essential oil
How to Give a Scalp Massage with Rosemary Oil
Mix the mixture in a small bowl, wet your fingers and run them through your scalp.
Carefully massage the entire scalp area, concentrating on the hairline, the nape of the neck and behind the ears. Another area to stimulate with special attention is the frontal hairline. Massage gently using soft, circular movements.
You can also distribute the oil throughout the length of your hair.
Leave the oil on overnight before continuing with your regular shampoo and conditioner routine.
Conclusion: Does Rosemary Make Hair Grow Faster?
Does rosemary make hair grow faster and make it stronger, more beautiful and shiny? There are ongoing studies (for example, you can check out a study published in PubMed ) that support the importance of rosemary in hair loss treatments. Overall, we can say that consistency is the key factor if you want to achieve longer, stronger and shinier hair!
Massaging your scalp once or twice a week has undeniable benefits, and doing it with rosemary will certainly increase its effectiveness. Hair masks, acid rinses with hydrosols and other similar treatments make your hair strands stronger. Therefore, it is a great idea to choose natural oils and add a few drops of rosemary to your massage or incorporate rosemary hydrosol or rosemary water into your hair care routine.
With consistency, it is possible to obtain significant results.
However, if you are dealing with significant hair thinning or excessive hair loss, you can perform similar treatments with more specific hair care products, such as the Hair Fortifying Lotion or the Soothing Hair Lotion - Fortifying and Soothing . When it comes to choosing shampoo and conditioner, you can opt for the Fortifying Shampoo or the Fortifying and Soothing Solid Shampoo. and Forza Solid Conditioner - Restructuring and Nourishing , together with the Força Hair Mask.