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The Rosemary Oil, Minoxidil, Hair Loss “Breakthrough” Study
In 2015, a team of Iranian researchers made headlines after publishing a study on rosemary oil, minoxidil, and hair loss.
The team wanted to compare the effects of rosemary oil versus 2% minoxidil on hair count. So they conducted a test on 100 men with pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia). Fifty applied rosemary oil; fifty applied 2% minoxidil.
Their findings? After six months of twice-daily application, rosemary oil significantly increased scalp hair count… and just as much as 2% minoxidil (the active ingredient used in Rogaine).
The implication: rosemary oil might be an effective hair loss treatment. Better yet, it might be just as effective as Rogaine – an FDA-approved hair loss drug.
The study made its waves in hair loss forums. Some users claimed the “natural” alternative to Rogaine had finally arrived. Others offered to dump their Rogaine and instead switch to rosemary oil. A few even opted to self-test rosemary oil and track their hair regrowth progress throughout the year.
Fast-forward three years later: is rosemary oil still considered an effective “natural” hair loss treatment?
The answer isn’t what you’d expect.
In fact, when we dive into the data behind the rosemary oil-minoxidil hair loss study, the results are much more surprising… and even more important (and for an entirely different reason).
By the end of this article, we will uncover…
- What Is Rosemary Oil?
- The MISLEADING Results Of The Rosemary Oil Vs. Rogaine Hair Loss Study
- The Evidence: How Does Rosemary Oil Help Slow, Stop, Or Reverse Hair Loss?
- The Case Study: A Before-After Hair Regrowth Photo Of Rosemary Oil + Another Intervention
- Should We Use Rosemary Oil To Reverse Hair Loss? (And If So, How?)
- Final Thoughts For Anyone Using Rosemary Oil For Thinning Hair
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What Is Rosemary Oil?
Rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody plant with fragrant, needle-like leaves and flowers. It belongs to the mint family (lamiaceae) and is native to the Mediterranean region.
While rosemary oil is typically used in perfumes and foods due to its pleasant scent and unique flavor, its benefits also extend to medicine. For decades, cultures around the word have used rosemary oil to treat inflammatory conditions ranging from arthritis to asthma to nerve inflammation. And more recently, studies are demonstrating that rosemary oil may help slow, stop, or even reverse pattern hair loss.
The question is… if we start using rosemary oil, how much hair regrowth can we expect?
Let’s dive back into the rosemary oil-Romaine study to find out.
MISLEADING Results: What Everyone Missed About The Rosemary Oil Vs. Minoxidil Hair Loss Study
At a first glance, the rosemary oil study looks promising.
For one, the study was conducted on humans – not rats. Human hair growth studies are harder to come by. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned during my ten years of hair loss research, it’s that everything regrows hair on rats – but rarely do those results carry over to humans.
Secondly, the study was done for a realistic length of time – six months. Many human hair loss studies last just three months – barely enough time to gauge a measurable effect on hair growth.
Thirdly, the study’s abstract reveals that rosemary oil not only increased hair count… but it was also just as effective at increasing hair count as 2% minoxidil. That’s huge news! Especially for hair loss sufferers worried about the side effects of Rogaine or who prefer to seek a more natural treatment route.
But there’s one big omission in the study’s abstract: for the rosemary oil and minoxidil groups, how much did hair count increase after six months?
The numbers will surprise you.
Rosemary Oil Versus Rogaine: An Increase In Hair Count… But By How Much?
I dug into the study to find answers (the study starts at page sixteen).
To gauge hair count, researchers took before-after treatment photos and used two dermatologists to independently count specific segments of each participant’s scalp.
The results? An increase in hair count in both groups. But by how much? See this chart within the study:
Having trouble eyeing the difference in hair count between baseline and six months for each group? Me too. So I checked the actual numbers. Here’s the summary:
After six months, the rosemary oil subjects saw a 5.5% increase in hair count. And the minoxidil group? Just a 1.7% increase. And when I saw the standard deviations, I couldn’t believe those hair count differences were actually statistically significant.
This brings up an important question.
Is This Hair Count Increase Due To Rosemary Oil, Minoxidil… Or Seasonality?
Hair count changes at that magnitude (less than 10%) might not even be attributable to either topical. In fact, they might just be attributable to a natural phenomenon called seasonality.
Depending on the season, hair cycles can increase (or decrease) our total hair count and density by as much as 10%. Anyone who owns a dog knows how much they shed during certain parts of the summer and winter. Believe it or not, humans also undergo a similar (but less drastic) effect.
Unfortunately, there was no control group in this study, so we don’t know much of that hair count increase we can attribute to normal seasonality… and how much we should truly attribute to the rosemary oil or 2% minoxidil.
And what about photo evidence? Researchers highlighted one before-after photo for each group. Neither photo was very impressive. Here’s a before-after of one rosemary oil subject:
Now that we see the photos and actual hair counts, what’s this study’s key takeaway?
The major finding probably isn’t that rosemary oil increases hair count by 5.7% in six months – or that it boasts a similar effect to Rogaine.
The real takeaway is actually that 2% minoxidil – an FDA-approved hair loss drug for women – is just not very effective for men.
An Alternative Interpretation Of The Rosemary Oil-Minoxidil Study: 2% Minoxidil Isn’t A Very Effective Hair Loss Treatment (For Men)
The second problem with this study is that the study authors compared rosemary oil to 2% minoxidil. However, 2% minoxidil is the formulation used to treat female pattern hair loss, whereas 5% minoxidil is what men use for the same condition.
This is problematic for a variety of reasons – one of which is that studies show 2% minoxidil is far inferior to 5% minoxidil in men. That means the study doesn’t necessarily give us a fair comparison of rosemary vs. minoxidil in real-world usage settings for this cohort of people.
This study highlights why it’s important to look beyond a study’s abstract – especially when it comes to hair loss. While the summary may make a study’s results look enticing, the reality is that if an abstract is void of numbers, there’s probably a good reason.
Now back to rosemary oil. Should we even bother? Well, a 5.5% increase in hair count is modest… but appreciable. And all seasonality aside, there’s a good chance both test groups would’ve lost hair over the same period had they not sought either treatment.
So, should we include rosemary oil into our natural hair regrowth regimen?
Maybe. In fact, there’s some mechanistic evidence that rosemary oil (when combined with another hair loss treatment) may become additionally more effective at recovering lost hair.
But first, it’s critical that we understand the science behind rosemary oil – how it promotes hair regrowth, why, and how we can use these mechanisms of action to our advantage. The evidence points to five key mechanisms in which rosemary oil encourages hair regrowth – and we’re going to cover all of them.
The Evidence: How Rosemary Oil May Help Fight Pattern Hair Loss
Let’s start by breaking down the components of rosemary oil.
Rosemary plants contain a volatile oil which can be extracted using a process known as steam distillation. This volatile oil (rosemary oil) contains a number of bioactive antioxidants – rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, ethanolic acid, 1,8-cineole, and camphor (to name only a few). And fortunately for us, these specific compounds within rosemary oil have a variety of pro-hair effects.
In fact, when applied topically, rosemary oil may…
- Reduce inflammation
- Act as an antibacterial agent
- Reduce androgen activity (read: decrease DHT)
- Prevent fibrosis
- Increase blood flow
…all of which will may slow, stop, and partially reverse hair loss.
So let’s take these one-by-one, and then explain how each relates back to thinning hair. Keep in mind the evidence here is built mostly on mechanistic and animal studies. These have translatability problems to humans with androgenic alopecia. So, we should take the rest of this article with a grain of salt.
1. Rosemary Oil Is Anti-Inflammatory
Certain acids in rosemary oil – like rosmarinic and ethanolic acid – have a direct impact on inflammation. In fact, these acids can significantly attenuate (or reduce) the inflammatory process, and in doing so, help fight hair loss.
It all has to do with cytokines and the COX-2 enzyme.
The Cytokine-COX 2-Inflammation Connection
When our tissues get injured, our injured cells begin to release small proteins called cytokines.
Cytokines are signaling proteins. They tell our cells whether to induce or reduce inflammation. After our bodies receive an acute injury (like a cut or a bruise), certain “pro-inflammatory” cytokines arrive to that injury and start telling our tissues to attract more inflammatory cells to the damaged site.
At the same time, our damaged tissues also begin expressing an enzyme called cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). COX-2 increases the production of another inflammatory mediator: prostaglandins. (We’ve covered prostaglandins before).
Together, cytokines and the COX-2 enzymes (via prostaglandins) help control how many inflammatory cells actually arrive at an injury site. The larger the injury – the more inflammatory cells our tissues need to heal.
Once these inflammatory cells arrive at the injury, they start releasing enzymes to break down and help “digest” our devitalized tissue. And after our injured tissue is digested, our cells then begin the healing process – creating new cells to replace the damaged ones. The end-result: repair, replacement, and closure of the wound.
Once the damaged cells are replaced and our tissue is repaired, we no longer need the pro-inflammatory cytokines or COX-2 enzymes. As our tissues become more and more repaired, the number of cytokines and COX-2 enzymes present slowly begin to decrease.
And that’s a quick summary of the acute wound-healing process. In minor injuries – like a paper cut or a stubbed toe – we typically heal perfectly and without issue. Our cytokines and COX-2 enzymes arrive onsite, signal inflammatory cells to digest our injured tissues, and then our bodies make new cells, repair the injury, and those cytokines and COX-2 enzymes slowly disappear.
However, there’s one distinction we need to make…
An acute inflammatory response is much different than a chronic inflammatory response.
In Chronic Inflammation, Cytokines And COX-2 Enzymes Never Go Away
In an acute injury, cytokines and COX-2 enzymes eventually go away. In chronic inflammation – the kind of inflammation we see in ulcers, or infections that won’t heal, or even autoimmune diseases – these cytokines and COX-2 enzymes don’t disappear. In fact, they stay chronically elevated. And the result? Those tissues stay chronically inflamed.
Unfortunately, chronic inflammation is part of the hair loss cascade.
While the “source” of the inflammation remains mysterious, there’s evidence that chronic scalp inflammation – either from bone growth, mechanical tension, genetic predisposition, or an unidentified factor – contributes to scalp scarring, and that this scalp scarring eventually chokes our hair follicles of blood, oxygen, and nutrients… shrinking the follicles and leading to baldness.
The net: if we want to keep our hair, we absolutely have to minimize the chronic inflammation in our scalps.
And since the triggers of chronic scalp inflammation are elusive, the best way we currently know how to do this is to reduce the proteins and enzymes involved in the pro-inflammatory process.
In other words, if we want to stop the chronic inflammation that precedes hair loss, we need to reduce the pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins (as a result of increased COX-2 enzyme activity) that continuously encourage that inflammation.
Enter rosemary oil… and its anti-inflammatory mechanisms which help fight hair loss.
Rosemary Oil Decreases Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines And Prostaglandins To Help Fight Chronic Inflammation (And Hair Loss)
Two notable examples of pro-inflammatory cytokines are 1) interleukins, and 2) tumor necrosis factor.
In rat models, scientists have demonstrated that ethanolic and rosmarinic acid (two compounds inside rosemary oil) not only reduce COX-2 (and thereby prostaglandin) activity, but they also reduce the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin beta.
Furthermore, certain polyphenolic compounds derived from rosemary have been shown to reduce neutrophil influx into inflamed tissue and lower the excretion of inflammatory cytokines.
In other words, rosemary oil can significantly dampen the inflammatory process. And when it comes to chronic inflammation and hair loss – the more we can dampen that inflammation, the better our odds of stopping hair loss and recovering significant amounts of hair.
2. Rosemary Oil Is Antibacterial
Despite what we our eyes see, microorganisms are currently crawling across every surface of our bodies. And while most skin-surface bacteria are innocuous (or even beneficial), some can produce inflammatory byproducts that increase inflammation in our tissues. And when pro-inflammatory bacteria and fungi colonize our scalps, they can create a chronic inflammatory state – the same state that kickstarts the hair loss process.
Fortunately, rosemary oil can help.
Rosemary Oil Helps Fight Off Pro-Inflammatory Microorganisms In Our Scalps
Some studies show that rosemary extracts are antimicrobial, and can significantly reduce the colony sizes of pathogenic bacteria (like Staphylococcus aureus) and biofilms (clumps of bacteria stuck to a surface – like skin).
In other words, rosemary oil might help fight hair loss by killing off the bacteria that puts our scalps in a chronically inflamed state. And when combined with its anti-inflammatory mechanisms – this can be a one-two punch to help stop hair loss in its tracks.
3. Rosemary Oil Reduces DHT Levels
We’ve all heard of the “dreaded” hormone DHT and its relationship to hair loss. Evidence strongly suggests that increased scalp tissue DHT precedes hair follicle miniaturization and contributes to hair thinning and baldness.
Fortunately, rosemary oil may reduce tissue DHT levels.
Rosemary Oil May Reduce Tissue DHT By Blocking Androgen Receptor Activity
This study evaluated the anti-androgen effects of rosemary leaf extract on hair growth in mice. These mice had their dorsal areas shaved and were treated with testosterone (a precursor of DHT) in order to interrupt hair regrowth. A subset of mice were then treated with topical rosemary leaf extract to see if it would have any impact on the rate at which their hair regrew.
The findings? The rosemary-treated mice showed improved hair regrowth, which the investigators attributed to the inhibitory effect of the rosemary extract on androgen receptors.
Androgen receptors are the places inside a cell where DHT binds. I wrote about androgen receptors here, but to recap: if a cell has no androgen receptor, testosterone can’t convert to DHT and then bind to that tissue site.
Many people are already experimenting with powerful androgen receptor blockers – like spironolactone – to help fight hair loss (and with some success). But unfortunately, synthetic androgen receptors are too powerful – and despite their benefits for hair recovery – often exert feminizing effects. For instance, men who are becoming women often use spironolactone to reduce androgen activity and help aid their gender transition.
Fortunately for us, these anti-androgenic effects also exist in the natural extract from Rosemary – and without the feminizing side effects. And the less DHT that converts in our scalp tissues, the better our chances for hair recovery.
4. Rosemary Oil May Prevent (Or Reduce) Fibrosis
Fibrosis (scar formation) is one of the biggest roadblocks to successfully treating pattern hair loss. It’s the end-result of long-standing chronic inflammation in the scalp. And in pattern hair loss, fibrosis occurs around the hair follicles – which decreases blood flow, oxygen, and nutrient levels – and essentially “chokes” out the hair follicle. The final result: a shiny (scarred) scalp, and miniaturized (or dormant) hair.
The good news? Rosemary oil helps prevent fibrosis – and may even stop this process from happening.
Rosemary Oil’s Acids May Protect Against Scar Tissue Formation (By Inhibiting TGFβ-1)
There aren’t any known studies describing the effects of rosemary oil on follicular fibrosis. With that said, multiple rat studies have shown that polyphenols within rosemary – such as rosmarinic acid – are protective against scar formation in other organs like the heart and liver.
One study evaluated the protective effects of rosmarinic acid on scar formation in rats with experimentally induced heart attacks. The investigators found that rats treated with rosmarinic acid had improved heart function, decreased cardiac scar tissue size, and reduced expression of collagen.
Other rodent studies showed that rosmarinic acid can reduce scar tissue formation in chemically-induced liver fibrosis, and through a variety of signaling pathways… the most notable of which is a reduction in the expression of transforming growth factor beta one (TGFβ-1) – a signaling protein that’s elevated in balding scalp tissues.
The net: rosemary oil decreases TGFβ-1, which attenuates scar tissue formation and helps stop the hair loss cascade.
5. Rosemary Oil May Increase Blood Flow
A byproduct of perifollicular fibrosis (scalp scarring around hair follicles) is a reduction in blood flow to our hair follicles. This is actually a huge factor in pattern hair loss – because without blood flow, we get less oxygen and nutrients to our hair follicles.
Fortunately, rosemary oil not only helps prevent fibrosis, but it also increases vasodilation in the areas in which it’s applied.
Rosemary Extract Can Increase Blood Vessel Diameter At Injury Sites
In this study, researchers examined the effects of rosemary extract on rats that had received soft-tissue reconstruction surgery with skin flaps.
Skin flaps are frequently associated with skin necrosis (skin death) due to their compromised blood flow. The investigators found that rats treated with rosemary extract under the skin had better skin graft survival than rats that were not treated.
Moreover, the rats receiving rosemary extract were also found to have larger diameter blood vessels. And what did the researchers infer? The vasodilatory effects of rosemary extract were largely responsible for improved skin graft survival.
Ironically, increased vasodilation is the exact mechanism of action that minoxidil (Rogaine) may work… Maybe those researchers who tested rosemary oil vs. minoxidil were onto something…
So… Should We Use Rosemary Oil For Hair Loss?
The short answer is: maybe! And beyond the evidence already presented, there’s one reader’s anecdote who did this and saw results.
Before-After Photos From Someone Using Rosemary Oil + Another Intervention
This person decided to commit to the first book’s scalp stimulation techniques (mainly, the massages). But he took it a step further… He also combined these massages with the application of rosemary oil.
Over the course of two years, he demonstrated some impressive results.
(source)
As such, perhaps there might be hair regrowth synergies with this dual approach: massaging + rosemary oil.
Can We Explain The Above Hair Regrowth Results With Actual Studies?
Interestingly, these results start to make sense once we look at evidence demonstrating the combined efficacy of mechanical stimulation with certain hair loss topicals.
For instance – just look at this study measuring the combined effectiveness of dermarolling plus Rogaine (we’ll get to why this is relevant in a minute).
The study sought to determine which treatment is more effective for hair regrowth: Rogaine by itself, or Rogaine + once weekly dermarolling (wounding) sessions.
As we already know, Rogaine is a vasodilator – just like rosemary oil. And dermarolling (or microneedling) is another form of mechanical stimulation. In other words, the mechanisms of action within this hair regrowth study match up to the purported mechanisms of action of rosemary oil plus massaging.
So what were the results?
After twelve weeks, the Rogaine + once weekly dermarolling sessions resulted in 4x the hair regrowth of just Rogaine alone…. And those results were significant.
Just check out the before-after photos:
Remember: Rogaine and rosemary oil are both vasodilators. Dermarolling and massaging are both forms of scalp mechanical stimulation.
Two different hair loss treatments; yet two similar mechanisms of action at play. And when we compare those photo sets to our one-off case study, it’s harder to deny that these mechanisms of action may promote a strong, synergistic hair regrowth effect.
The bottom line: research shows that mechanical stimulation increases the efficacy of vasodilators like Rogaine or rosemary oil. Combining both mechanical stimulation and a vasodilator might be better than just doing one (or the other). And that means that rosemary oil might be a critical adjunct to your hair recovery regimen… especially if you’re using it in conjunction with mechanical stimulation exercises.
At the same time, we can’t necessarily say that microneedling and massaging elicit the same sort of inflammatory responses. After all, microneedling creates acute inflammation at the top-most layers of the scalp, whereas massaging might elicit less inflammation here, yet more inflammation in deeper scalp layers depending on how hard you go. There’s also the argument that microneedling simply increases topical absorption via micro-wounding, which massages may not necessarily do.
So, there’s still much to be explored before we can actually claim that microneedling + Rogaine is similar mechanistically to massaging + rosemary oil. As research emerges, I’ll keep this article updated.
Summary: Will Rosemary Oil Stop Hair Loss And Regrow Hair?
Based on the evidence, rosemary oil has a mild effect on pattern hair loss – one that’s equivalent to 2% minoxidil. And while rosemary oil may make a good “natural” alternative to Rogaine, it’s our belief that it probably won’t regrow a significant amount of hair – at least not on its own.
With that said, mechanistic and animal studies have found that rosemary oils and its extracts may reduce inflammation, exert antibacterial effects, reduce androgen activity, prevent fibrosis, and increase blood flow… all of which may help slow or stop hair loss while simultaneously encouraging hair regrowth.
And if we extrapolate from anecdotes and related studies, rosemary oil’s hair regrowth effects may be enhanced if combined with mechanical stimulation exercises like massaging or microneedling. So if you’re going to use rosemary oil, you should probably use it in conjunction with mechanical stimulation.
Final Thoughts
Rosemary oil is well-absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and skin. But when it comes to hair regrowth, most of the literature only studies its topical application. I don’t know if ingesting rosemary oil is a good idea. The reality is that too high of a concentration of its volatile oils will probably irritate your stomach, and maybe even make you sick.
So if you’re going to use rosemary oil for your hair, stick to topical applications. Apply a generous amount twice-daily (just like Rogaine), and leave it in overnight if you can.
Lastly, there aren’t really any studies comparing rosemary oil’s effectiveness for hair regrowth versus other essential oils. The truth is that there may be a better vasodilator out there… And some evidence suggests that peppermint oil (from the same plant family as rosemary) may also encourage hair growth (but unfortunately, only in animal studies).
Don’t expect any miracles with rosemary oil, and try to combine it with other interventions to maximize its use as an adjuvant therapeutic for hair loss.
Rob English is a researcher, medical editor, and the founder of perfecthairhealth.com. He acts as a peer reviewer for scholarly journals and has published five peer-reviewed papers on androgenic alopecia. He writes regularly about the science behind hair loss (and hair growth). Feel free to browse his long-form articles and publications throughout this site.
Hi Rob, interesting article.
Having give. Detumesance a serious go and seeing hair loss only becoming more aggressive as a result, I am beginning to think that even going as far as topical lotions etc won’t help IF there are other things at play.
I wonder wether stress and / or hormone imbalance can render detumesance and topical lotions, perhaps even diet, useless if severe enough.
In those cases I think we might be fighting a losing battle.
It definitely pays off to uncover the underlying / root triggers of anyone’s hair loss. Send me an email. We can troubleshoot and try to figure out what’s going on. The good news is that complete hair regrowth (from a slick bald scalp) isn’t a myth. It’s been demonstrated in the medical literature by a 78-year old bald man after he slipped, split open his head on hot coals, and during the healing process, accidentally regrew his entire juvenile hairline. Now it’s just a matter of us identifying the exact mechanisms of action that allowed that regrowth to happen. For some people – detumescence therapy and mechanical stimulation are enough. For others, it takes more work. But I think we’re getting closer and closer to solving this puzzle.
what’s the name of that study?
Buckland R, Wilson G R, Sully L. Effect of scalp burns on common male pattern baldness. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986; 293 :1645
Jasper:
I am now in my 13th month of DT therapy. During the first 2-3 months, I experienced massive shedding to the point where my crown became practically bald. Despite the anxiety this causes, you just have to keep going with sincere belief that the method ultimately works. (You can try Toppik fibers or Couvre to mask the shedding and ease anxiety). After 6-8 months, the weak hairs you lose during the initial shedding period will grow back stronger and fuller.
James
Thanks James. For what it’s worth, my experience was similar – though I think that with the right technique and intensity management, you can slowly ease into the massages – increasing scalp pliability over the course of a few months – and even set a benchmark for session shedding (ie: “find an intensity that will evoke ~15 hairs to shed, and no more, over the course of your session.”). Eventually people find that they can up the intensity without upping the shedding. It does take time, but I think this is a good workaround for people worried about massage-induced shedding.
Thanks Rob: I agree that the intensity (and frequency) of the massage, especially during the first few months, can exacerbate the shedding. I was definitely going hard on my scalp at the beginning. Your e-book (which I didn’t get until last October) definitely helped out, because I started to put more time in between scalp sessions (not unlike lifting weights) and applying more gentle pressure. It’s all about long-term results and patience with this method.
In any event, I think anyone starting out with DT therapy should be prepared for shedding because it definitely freaks you out and makes you want to quit…. luckily, I kept at it and now starting to see tangible results
Thanks for sharing your experience, James. I’m now in the fifth month and the shedding can definitely be a bit scary. However, I noticed that I barely lose any hair throughout the day anymore – which supports the thesis that the hairs that one loses during the massage sessions would have fallen out anyway.
Thanks again, it’s experiences like yours which help overcome phases of doubt which naturally creep in every now and then.
Hey Rob:
You mentioned find an intensity that will evoke 15 hairs and no more. Will the technique still work if you keep the intensity that’s causing more than 15 strands to fall?
The reason I’m asking is because I may be going hard on the pinches/presses. I just completed month 6 and haven’t seen much change yet except for some small thin hairs on the hairline. I’m afraid that if I ease off the intensity after going somewhat hard for 6 months and my scalp being so used to it, that my scalp won’t be stimulated by the less intense massages. Would that happen?
Hey Jeff,
The technique still works at higher intensities (so long as you’re not creating friction against the skin), but typically people panic at higher intensities due to the amount of hair shed. These hairs eventually come back (you’re just knocking out hairs already on their way to the telogen phase of the hair cycle), but I’ve found that most people would rather ease into the regimen (and reduce/eliminate hair shedding) rather than go full-force and see a regression before recovery.
I don’t think a decrease in your intensity will hinder your progress, or even reduce the efficacy of the massages. But please keep me posted as you experiment! From the progress you describe, it sounds like you’re where most people are around month six.
Best,
Rob
Thanks for the response, Rob! I’m glad to hear the great news about both being on the right track and that the intensity won’t hinder the progress. I’ll keep you updated in a couple months on where I’m at!
Hey Jasper,
Stick with it man. I’ve been on this mission for about 5 years now. With various sheds and regrowths in between. And I can tell you that STRESS IS THE biggest problem in my sheds. I’ve gotten to the point where after 14 months I’ve regrown MOST of my hair, to have a few weeks of stress, bad eating, bad sleeping and bam bad sheds. I can safely say at least for me stress is probably the biggest factor in sheds.
Keep in mind if you are shedding at the same rate you are regrowing or faster you will have issues. You need to keep shedding at bay, as you regrow.
I will also say that I am OCD by nature and the moment I see some sheds, I start to go into OCD mode and stress about the shed, which in turn creates more sheds.
All bad food, bad sleep, bad lifestyle, bad mindset creates STRESS in the body. Stress boosts cortisol – which impacts your hormones.
You can’t ever let the idea that you are fighting a losing battle get in your head. I am one of the people who is on the testimonials. It’s like riding a bike, you are going to fall off, get back on get better, until you figure out exactly what’s causing your sheds. But I can say STRESS IS probably the biggest reason for sheds.
Thank you for writing this. I was just about to give up, feeling stressed and down in general about the shedding. But giving up is not an option, I must stay positive and keep the stress out. Thanks
I agree with the stress bit and shedding. I was doing great for about 5-6 months, getting some decent regrowth. I got cocky and decided that my hair was looking great so I eased off on my regimen which included the massages, onion juice, several different oils, daily brushing , derma roller etc. All of sudden I hit a stressful time in my life and have so much shed going I feel like I’m back to square one, it’s crazy. I’m kicking myself in the ass for allowing this to happen….It’s like working out, you just can’t stop or your body will just slide into the worst entropy possible, same with the scalp. You must maintain a steady regimen to keep your hair, it’s a freaking uphill battle of not becoming complacent.
I want to add that I believe detumesance is a very effective treatment along with diet. Just that in some cases it may not be enough.
Excellent article! I’ve been dermarolling for months now, and I am about to add Rosemary Oil to my regimen.
Thanks. Keep us updated on your progress!
What about stinging nettle? Or angelica sinensis?
What about onion juice mixed with garlic?
Or having a green dirt with black kale and red cabbage?
Or chamomile ?
Or Californian poppy?
There are a lot of potent herbs that can change things that’s all I’m saying. But I’m not sure anyone has really done robust study of the most potent herbs in conjunction with other extracts to formulate a direct answer.
It’s a good point Enrique – and one that’s covered at the very end of this article. The net: we don’t know which plant extracts or essential oils provide the biggest impact in terms of hair regrowth. There’s some evidence that peppermint oil (coming from the same plant family as rosemary) might be similarly effective. With cross examination studies limited / non-existent, we can only go off what we know. And right now, we know that rosemary oil might increase hair count, and that vasodilators (like Rogaine or rosemary oil) combined with mechanical stimulation (like dermarolling or massaging) probably have synergistic hair regrowth effects.
The onion works, but you have to make sure that you’re scalp is super clean. Exfoliate your scalp before adding any ointments such as onion, essential oils etc… I’m not an affiliate for this company, but essentially this is what you have to do in order to keep good scalp health:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc_kT4hMVlQ
Go to this channel to see this woman’s incredible results using onion juice which inspired me to start using it, albeit the smell is considerable it does work (just be consistent) make sure to look at all her videos concerning the onion mask:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkJBQKuDEt0&index=116&list=FLefbFoevMJvTtnAEsNvhjpQ
My regimen includes: Scalp cleaning with a similar exfolliant such as the one in the youtube video, detumesance, derma roller and essential oils/Onion ACV garlic juice everyday.
Hope this helps
Sorry it’s diet (not dirt) lol
As always, a solid analysis, and very promising.
The one challenge I would find is applying the oil and leaving it on overnight,
then waking up, trying to massage a slick scalp. I’ve already tried it with other oils, and it was near impossible to pinch properly. But, when there’s a will there’s always a way.
Thanks again Rob!
Great points. In those cases, someone might need to rinse the oil out of their hair before their massage session. If anyone has advice here, I’d love to hear it!
Hello, middle-aged woman here, so what works for my thinning hair might not work for you guys. I’ve been using diluted conditioner + a few drops of glycerine as a “base oil,” which is working out very well. No worries about getting grease on the pillowcase. I use about 1/4 Suave conditioner (the cheap kind–no silicones, so it feels “clean”) 3/4 water, a squirt of glycerine (probably optional), and a few drops of lavender oil, since that’s what I had on hand. I put it in a little spray bottle – I spray into the palm of my hand and use my fingertips to massage into the scalp. (You could apply directly to the scalp with a spray or squirt bottle, too.)
My intent was to combat my itchy winter scalp, but there is a LOT less hair in the shower drain, and I can tell by the look of my hairline that it’s growing in thicker, so the lavender oil appears to work for thinning hair as well, at least for this chick–your mileage may vary. Keeps my scalp fresher between shampoos (I have long, dry hair, so I shampoo less often) and cured that patch of psoriasis as well (which may have been a factor in my hair loss along with hormonal changes/getting older).
Thinking of experimenting with rosemary and/or mint (I’m here because I Googled it), but maybe I shouldn’t mess with what works, eh?
Thanks Rob. Great Article,with solid consideration of the stats, which most people tend to forego, when considering research. Additionally, while I had a modicum of success with rosemary oil i.e. increased vellus count, its effects did not seem to go past that, but as the gentleman in your article shows it can work, provided the reasons for your hair loss and the properties of rosemary oil align. As with any natural product not all oils are created equal, and may vary in their ratios of active ingredients depending on a number of factors (seasonality, sun/water exposure, substrate grown in, subspecies or strain of rosemary etc), and therefore vary in strength of ‘life giving properties’ to hair. To hedge your bets, if you want to give rosemary ( or indeed any other herbal) a go, it might be worth mixing, fresh, dried/extract and essential oil in a single batch to apply, in an appropriate delivery mediun, as each offers different strengths in terms of the phytochemicals available……the real trick is working out why your hair is disappearing in the first place.
Thanks again Rob
Thanks for sharing your experience Greg. And you’re absolutely right — the key is in finding out what the most significant contributing factors are to anyone’s individual hair loss. And I agree with your advice about mixing. Despite our best efforts, without third party testing, we never really know what’s inside a supplement. I was just speaking with someone yesterday who runs a supplement company and he told me it took him two years of searching to find a reliable, quality source for one single ingredient. I wish all supplement companies were as determined to provide solid products.
I haven’t looked into the quality of different rosemary oil brands, but if I find anything promising (or alarming), I’ll be sure to share it here.
This is interesting, so they just applied drops of Rosemary oil, they didn’t combine anything else with the oil ?
Hey Barry – that’s right. The rosemary oil was used without any carriers. There’s evidence that the volatile oils in rosemary extracts have decent skin penetrability. I’m not sure if combining it with a carrier like propylene glycol or emu oil would be necessary, but if you try it, keep us posted!
It maybe the case that rosemary oil/extract, may have different effects at different concentrations i.e. at 100%, as noted by the scalp tingling it may exhibit vasodilatory properties, possibly just from the terpenes present, thus overiding the benefits of the polyphenols/flavanoids present. However at lower doses, the polyphenols/flavanoids may exhibit greater influence, thus supporting an anti-inflammatory role. Whilst there’s no research I can think of that looks as dose-response curves for rosemary, studies of other common hair loss topicalsi.e. Green Tea, support different roles at different concentrations, sometimes with larger concentrations negating the benefits. With that in mind, and from prior experience, I might use essential oil at 100% and extracts (in appropriate carrier oil) seperately, specifically with essential oil after massage,to enhance bllod flow, and the extract to do its job over night, with a specific focus on DHT (if you think it is an issue), inflammation and fibrosis.
Greg – which carriers have you experimented with? The peppermint-hair loss study on rats showed that peppermint oil – diluted from 100% essential oil to 3% peppermint oil in the carrier jojoba oil – was more effective than 3% minoxidil, jojoba oil, and saline solution at increasing hair growth rate, follicle depth, and hair thickness in rat hairs in the telogen phase. This leads me to believe your sentiments are correct. If we assume the rosemary oil study was done with 100% rosemary essential oil and no carrier, maybe it’s possible that those results would’ve been better had a carrier (like jojoba) been present.
EDIT: it appears the rosemary oil was actually a lotion, and standardized to include at least a certain threshold / percentage of volatile oils for every test subject. In the words of the authors, the rosemary oil “was standardized to include at least 3.7 mg [of] 1,8 cineole per mL”.
This leads me to believe that 1) the rosemary oil might’ve been combined with a carrier, and 2) it might’ve been diluted. Unfortunately, we don’t have any more information beyond that.
I always thought essential oils was too strong for direct skin contact and a carrier should be used. Also, since I already have a few food allergies I’m in general worried about developing new allergies from such strong oils applied directly to the skin. I love rosemary as a spice. I tried onion over night for a while and it was too much. The itch, head ache the smell. Probably too long application time.
I’m going to do a check up first for mineral and vitamin deficiency, thyroid function and such before I give this a try. Thanks for an interesting and well written article.
Thanks Nicklas. Please let me know how you progress. Oftentimes allergenic reactions are compounded (and even triggered) by seemingly unrelated things – for instance, the microbiome’s influence on gene expression and microorganism colonization of other parts of the body. If you find rosemary oil too strong for your scalp, it might be best to dilute it or combine it with a carrier (as you say).
Hello!
Interessting and informational as always 🙂
Thank you for the work and Research you put into These articles.
One question, what do you generally think of raw veganism as a diet?
spec. for reversing or halting hair loss/ thyroid condition (was tested postive for hypo)
Thank you for your thoughts on that!
🙂
Thanks Birigt. And good question about raw veganism. While I haven’t tried strictly raw veganism, I have experimented with veganism for hair loss and wrote about my experience here:
https://perfecthairhealth.com/why-a-vegan-diet-wont-regrow-your-hair/
A small percentage of people have a polymorphism which allows them to function better on a plant-based diet. While I’m not one of them, I still encourage everyone to self-test and find out which diet their bodies react to best.
Thank you for your insights!
As a vegan myself, I’m rather skeptical of a raw vegan diet. However, if you follow a carefully planned and diverse whole-food, plant-based diet, you don’t risk developing any nutrient deficiencies and you certainly won’t develop any thyroid issues as a result of that diet. Personally, I had some minor thyroid issues while I still was an omnivore. I just went to a thyroid specialist a couple days ago and my thyroid is as healthy as it gets. I’ve been vegan for almost a year now. Generally, a whole-food, plant-based diet is one of the most anti-inflammatory diets, thereby theoretically improving scalp and hair health. I’ve always had medium severe acne for example, and now it’s finally gone.
From what I’ve read, going whole-food, plant-based can work well for everyone. Just keep in mind that going vegan by itself doesn’t necessarily mean eating healthily. Many vegans choose to be vegan for ethical reasons and may still eat huge amounts of fat, sugar, salt and processed foods.
Just sharing my thoughts! 🙂
Excellent as always Rob. I think your next discovery should be about gray hairs, and why we get gray hairs. XD
Great question! I’ll see what I can do. I know less about grey hairs, but JD Moyer mentions an experimental treatment for grey hair using l-tyrosine in the comments section of his post here:
http://www.jdmoyer.com/2015/08/03/hair-regrowth-update-and-faq/
Grey hair appear due to the cell’s inability to get rid of peroxides. Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) has been found to assist the situation since it is the holy grail of antioxidants – it helps get rid of the heavy duty molecules produced from oxidation. Peroxide belongs into this category. Production of SOD declines as we age.
Hi Rob
I did research on Rosemary oil sometime ago and will look to use it when emu runs out.
Those pics are amazing. Note this guy did a massage which was based on your old book and massage version and still got great results.
By looking at his scalp he suffered significant loss , and you can see the scalp hardened.
My theory is
Detum massage will allow topicals oils to work by causing blood flow , less hardened scalp skin. A scalp with fibrosis will prevent topicals from doing any magic to a good effect.
Also in far Eastern culture oil massages were done regular basis as it was seen healthy for hair.
But as I understand Rob , you and JD never used any oil topicals at all ?
Also the guy looks as if he has diffused thining along with mpb. If so , he’s using a fat based topical which helped.
Thanks
Hey Paz – the results are very impressive, and the evidence so far seems to suggest that a topical vasodilator + mechanical stimulation can be an effective hair regrowth protocol. To answer your question – JD and I didn’t use any topicals. For a long time I never endorsed / advocated for the use of any topicals because I feared they would detrimentally inhibit certain signaling proteins in one of mechanical stimulation’s biggest mechanisms of action: acute inflammation generation. However, evidence and anecdotes like this lead me to believe there might be some serious benefit to a combined approach, especially for better hair regrowth.
I’m excited to see your progress photos! I know we’ve been emailing each other and in your last email you were excited about progress. Keep up the great work and let me know if anything comes up.
Thanks for enlightening us further Rob
As one of the commenters said above I think rosemary oil can be much more effective if it is diluted with carrier oils rich in nutrition and active compounds.
I make a mixture of oleuropein, nigella sativa oil and coconut oil with 1-2 drops of peppermint, lavender and rosemary oil. All of which are shown to be potentially effective in treatment of alopecia. I apply the mixture on my scalp, wrap my hair and go to sleep.
The reports of the researches done on the oils I listed above seem to be more extensive and elaborate than the rosemary experiment summary but nevertheless all were done on mice except nigella sativa oil experiment. So reading this article my enthusiasm declined to a more realistic level. I now know it may not yield the same successful results on humans. However if one thing looks promising it is that these experiments were done on multiple treatment groups whose results vary dramatically. For example Oleuropein compared to control and MXD treatment groups promoted much more hair growth on mice. Maybe it may work to some degree on humans as well.
Is it okay if I post the links?
Safiye – yes! Please do post the links. I’m sure everyone would love to see them.
My interpretarion is that the olive leaf extract have a different mechanism of action than above mentioned oils.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4462586/
Hello Rob!
Another question.
Do you think the diet reccommondation desplayed in you ebook apply for both sexes?
In Terms of generally regulating hormones? (thyroid, sex hormones)
Do you also have female Clients? Or even before after Pictures of females Clients doing your protocol?
Thank you!
Hey Birgit – yes. The dietary recommendations are designed to optimize hormonal profiles for both sexes – not just men or women. I’d love to work with more female clients 99% of the people who read the book are men, and I’ve only ever been contacted by a handful of women. In general, the literature suggests that these methods should work for both men and women.
Thank you for the reply!:)
Hi Rob,
Sorry this is quite off topic but what do you think about cryotherapy for hair loss ?
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/well/live/scalp-cooling-helps-prevent-hair-loss-in-chemo.html
This article seems to indicate that it’s a quite effective way to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy.
What are your thoughts on this ?
Could it help at least a little when it comes to MPB ?
If yes how many times could we apply ice to our scalps while doing mecano stimulation ?
Thank you for your help.
Best regards,
Kevin
Hey Kev – thanks for sharing. I actually discuss the benefits of cold thermogenesis in the book extensively. The evidence suggests that regularly cold water therapy / cryotherapy boasts protective effects for testosterone levels, as well as potential increases to brown fat and an increased resistance to stress. With that said, you probably don’t need to combine mechanical stimulation and cold immersion therapy simultaneously to reap an effect. You could probably just take cold showers / cold water dunks regularly and continue with the mechanical stimulation exercises as-is. Chances are they both don’t need to happen at the exact same time.
Thank you for your insight Rob. I actually don’t apply the ice pack while massaging but a few minutes after the massaging sessions. It feels very good ! Thank you again for taking the time to answer to all of us. God bless you
Hi rob,
I’ve read about pumpkin seed oil which contains a lot of magnesium and other extracts. What is your take on this?
Also there is a seaweed from Korea known as ecklonia cava which I have the literature here as follows; I want to know after reading about Stopandtalkhis extract, what is the difference from Rosemary oil research and ecklonia cava, or what is your view on it?
Hey Enrique – I had to edit out the bottom half of your comment since was an article copied/pasted from another website. But to answer your question – I’ll write about these soon. In fact, I’m posting an article about pumpkin seed oil next week.
Many supplements tout antioxidant and anti-androgenic capabilities. But few stand up to the science.
Hi Rob,
I read about your message method over a year ago, I’m 30 years old female with no bald spots just thinning hair, I immediately started messaging my scalp twice daily for 20 min and I ditched shampoo and started No poo ( only water) to wash my hair, now after almost a year of messaging I didn’t see any results or improvements.. is it the reason that the messaging doesn’t work for female as much as males?
Hey Bebe – it’s tough to answer your question without more information. Are you doing the mechanical stimulation exercises discussed in the book, or your own interpretation of the massages in the Detumescence Therapy study? As far as male versus female success rate – I wish I could answer this better. I rarely get the chance to work with women as 99% of the people who read the book are men. But I’m finally working with two women now so will have your answer in the next four or five months. From a scientific perspective, these techniques should work for everyone.
Hi rob,
Which Rosemary oil is the best to buy from?
I’m from the UK and need your advice as to which one is 100% organic Rosemary oil?
What is your take on the Korean seaweed that I sent to you?
Hey Enrique – I can’t yet comment on the seaweed. And as far as the best brands, I don’t have any in mind. Just look for something steam distilled, organic, and at 100% concentration (so that you can dilute to the concentration of your choosing).
Thanks for the very informative and well-researched article, Rob!
I might try incorporating rosemary oil into my routine. I’m just not sure how to do it most efficiently. What would you recommend? Using it while doing the massages? Leaving it on overnight?
Great questions – and I don’t currently have a great answer!
In rat studies, it looks like 100% peppermint essential oil diluted to 3% peppermint oil in a jojoba carrier oil, applied and left to dry 6 days per weeks (over the course of a few months) resulted in 1) increased dermal thickness, 2) increased hair follicle depth, 3) faster hair growth, and 4) thicker hair – and better results than either 3% minoxidil, 100% jojoba oil, or saline solution. Taking that into account, my recommendation would be to apply rosemary daily, diluted, and in a carrier oil and leave in overnight (at a minimum).
If you’re going to go 100% rosemary oil (like in the highlighted study inside the article), I’d just make sure your skin doesn’t feel too irritated hours after it’s left in. And if there is no irritation, try leaving it in overnight as well.
Let us know how it works!
Thanks!
Regarding the carrier oil: couldn’t that potentially be harmful by clogging the pores etc.? Isn’t that also one of the reasons why you advise against the use of any shampoos?
I think I might try the 100% rosemary oil first, but yeah, essential oils are super powerful.
How much do you think should be applied? A few drops or more? On the entire scalp or just the problem zones?
Hey Manuel – to clarify my position on the shampoo-hair loss connection: chronic and long-term shampooing consistently strips the scalp of sebum, and as a response, the scalp begins overproducing sebum and at a faster rate. Excess sebum production is something we often see in balding scalps, and while the evidence is limited, excess sebum production may be correlated to (or even a response to) chronic scalp tension / inflammation. It’s not necessarily that shampooing directly causes hair loss. Rather, it’s the overproduction of sebum as a result of shampooing that may contribute to hair loss.
Conversely, fat-based topicals like coconut oil or emu oil may actually downregulate sebum production. I’ve noticed this in myself when applying them consistently over months. And contrary to popular belief, I’ve never seen sound evidence to suggest that fat-based oils clog pores in a way that negatively impacts hair growth. Conceptually this makes sense: a hair follicle is nourished by the capillary networks that support it (underneath the skin), and not the dermis/epidermis layers of our skin – despite those layers being closest to the surface and thereby external oxygen.
RE: rosemary dilution–
Over the past two nights, I’ve tried two techniques: Night one: rosemary oil diluted to 3% in an olive oil carrier. Night two: rosemary oil + peppermint oil at 100% concentrations (no carriers). Last night I could feel the menthol’s tingling effect on my scalp for hours. It was a bit intense and even kept me up. I’m wondering if 100% strength will lead to irritation after a few days/weeks. I’ll keep experimenting and let you know.
But in general, I think you should apply the oils everywhere on the scalp and not just your problem areas. And that you should always heir on the side of more liberal use – regardless of your dilution.
Best,
Rob
Sorry, you might have addressed this already, but how do you dilute the rosemary oil to exactly 3%. Or how would you go about diluting it to any other specific percentage. I plan on trying it at 100% first, but I know that I have had scalp irritation from other topicals in the past and have a feeling I might also get some irritation from a 100% concentration as well.
If you have 100% essential rosemary oil, you can use two droppers to measure out a ratio of 3 drops of rosemary oil to 100 drops of carrier oil. It’s easiest to do this in a big batch and do something like 30 drops of rosemary oil to 1,000 drops of carrier oil and leave it all in an airtight vessel. That way, you’re not stuck doing these ratios every single night.
I don’t think you need to be perfect with your measurements. It’s likely that eyeballing will be fine.
Hi Rob ,
Did they use undiluted Rosemary oil in this study ? If not , what was the final concentration of this lotion they applied ?
Thanks
Hi Rob .
After doing the massage this Evening on the front , I’ve noticed more flakes dropping off. Like dry skin. I know Jd mentioned this. I’m scratching it off. But I’m wondering could this substance be blocking any pores ?
Also using oil would mean washing hair with shampoo ?? Which we are trying to avoid?
I’m in month five . My widows peak is getting stronger, I notice it’s not stuck to forehead . Bit more bounce to it.
Overall I’m impressed as I said in the email. I will think about using topical Rosemary at 100 percent maybe at month 7. So far my success has come from just massage , and a bit of emu to treat dry skin.
The logic is becoming clear Rob.
Diffused hair loss is treated by diet , stress management , fat based topical.
Mpb is treated by mechanical simulation along with the above.
I think women will have more luck with diet, stress / hormone management and oil topicals. ?
Thanks Rob. Will update you soon.
Thank you very much for your progress report! Sounds promising.
I’m now almost two months into the massages. I considered adding rosemary oil to my routine right away after having read this article, but I think it makes more sense to give the mechanical stimulation therapy a couple more months and possibly add rosemary oil later on.
I’m so happy that I managed to stop using any shampoo almost three weeks ago – I don’t want to risk a relapse by putting oil onto my scalp. 😀
Hi rob
what is a carrier?
If you use shampoo for the hair should I stop using that?
What can be an alternative? For example if I use Rosemary and peppermint oil and leave it over night, when it comes to washing it out do I just use water?
Thanks
A carrier is an oil that you combine with another topical or drug to increase that drug’s delivery and skin penetration. If you don’t like the greasiness of your hair after rosemary oil, and you find that you can’t wash it out with water, then it’s probably not the end of the world if you use shampoo a couple times per week to clean your hair. I personally don’t use shampoo (see this article).
So what would you use to wash your body when you are having a shower? Is there anything organic?
I didn’t realise this until I read up about it and that’s astonishing thanks rob
I don’t use body soaps either! Just water.
How about paraben free shampoo or soap?
Oh right just water hmm interesting
Rob is it possible I can take a snap of my head and show it to you as I’m losing hair and I want to know if I’m still in there with a chance ?
Hey Enrique – just send me an email!
I think rigorous scalp massage (by hand or with bamboo wooden brush) over a long period of time (12 mos. +) is the only way to permanently remove fibrosis of scalp tissue and re-stimulate angiogenesis of the capillaries that feed the hair follicles. All of the oils in the world won’t make much of a difference if the micro-capillaries remain obstructed by fibrotic / scar tissue.
Essential oils are beneficial for use between massaging sessions as they help the tissue to heal after a rigorous massage and provide valuable nutrients. But IMHO there is no “magic oil” that will re-grow hair – at least not the kind of substantial growth that we all dream about (recovering our adolescent hairline).
Since we’ll never know whether Rosemary oil is more effective than, say, Peppermint or Sage, I would think best practice is to use an array of different oils over time to nourish the scalp between massage sessions. (Peppermint is awesome because you can actually feel the scalp “tingle” with a rush of blood).
In short, essential oils can assist in the process of detumescence but cannot be used as a replacement for hard work, i.e., mechanical stimulation of the scalp over long periods of time.
Absolutely! These essential oils are probably additive, but we absolutely must break down the fibrotic tissue in order for the oils to have an effect. There are a few readers currently brush-tapping nightly and applying a rosemary / peppermint blend into their scalps. Will be interesting to see their progress over the next 6-8 months!
You can add me to the list. I have used a rosemary shampoo and a rosemary conditioner for a year. My hair has regrown significantly. At first, it was only small, thin hairs like you get with Rogaine. But the hairs continued to grow and then they started to thicken. I have much more hair than I have had for 25 years. I also have a raw vegan lifestyle, but I’ve done that for 10 years and it didn’t regrow my hair. But maybe it contributed.
Awesome Brent! Anything else you’re doing in conjunction with the rosemary shampoo and conditioner? I’m sure people would love to hear your hair regimen.
Hey Brent was this shampoo your own formula , or retail ?
Thanks
Hey Rob,
Another great article, thanks for the valuable info.
I was wondering on the frequency of rosemary oil in conjunction with the rigorous massaging of the scalp. I’ve read somewhere that said for hair loss use pumpkin seed oil with rosemary oil and apply to scalp twice a week. After reading this article it seems the oil should be applied every day 2 ML/day just like the minoxidil. My question is when do I apply the massage? Before or after the oil? Or does it matter? And should I mix the rosemary with the pumpkin seed oil or use the rosemary alone?
Thanks..
Thanks Jules. I don’t see any harm in diluting the rosemary oil into pumpkin seed oil. If I were you, I’d try to do between a 2:1 and 10:1 ratio of pumpkin seed oil:100% essential rosemary oil. Readers are experimenting with several dilution ratios, but across the board, they’re all reporting great benefits to their hair health.
At a minimum, I’d apply nightly, leave in overnight, and wash out the following morning (as many nights as possible per week). And as far as timing, I’d apply these oils after your massage sessions – since the oils can make the scalp greasier and harder to grip.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob. Clearly impressed by your technique I tried to give it a go. Its been 9 months since and I have experienced thickening of my hair with good texture . But I am not able to stop the hair balding from the left hand corner of the temple part. Also lots of shedding and dandruff problem still persisting . I can’t buy your book due to some financial problems as I am a 20 year old student. But I would like you to help me. After strictly adhering to the regimen , I can’t even stop my hair loss . Forget about regrowth. Advise needed.
Thanks Sans. The best free resources I can offer are 1) the email course, and 2) the articles I write for this site. Since you don’t have the book/video, we can’t say for sure whether you’re strictly adhering to the protocol. But the free resources + interacting with other people in the comments of the articles should be enough to at least get you troubleshooting and on a good path toward regrowth.
Rob, thank you for this great article! I have an interesting account to share, and also a couple questions.
After first reading this article, I knew it would be risky but tried an undiluted 100% concentration of rosemary oil for a night. I was actually able to handle it without irritation, so the following night I decided to test its potency with a combination of carriers (in my case, a super small half-ounce mixture of Castor, Coconut, Jojoba, Emu, & Vitamin E). I’m the kind of guy that needs to learn the hard way. Knowing 100% concentration of Rosemary oil had no adverse effects, I went bold and mixed into this carrier nearly 50% Rosemary oil… and BOY did I underestimate the power of what these carriers would do! I left it on overnight and ended up getting a chemical burn, and shed that layer of skin. I’m all healed now but that was certainly an eye-opener.
Next, onto my questions:
1) I found a topical on Amazon, containing Rosemary oil, that also contains Ketoconazole, Peppermint, Saw Palmetto, and believe it or not… 1% Minoxidil. I’ve never seen Minoxidil combined with so many natural ingredients, but wanted to ask if you have any thoughts on this product? (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MK8SG9M) I’ve nearly gone through an entire bottle now and might be purchasing it again because the denatured alcohol seems to also work well with allowing the skin to be gripped on the daily massages (which is often tough with simply using essential oils alone). I think it will probably take a couple bottles with consistent use to know if this will start reactivating my miniaturized hair follicles.
2) I’ve read that Peppermint oil is actually a vasoconstrictor (do a search on this if you’re not yet aware). I want to know if that fact alone has an impact on whether or not you would trust it on your scalp, and why.
Thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing back from you!
Matt W
I read the article. I’m having trouble understanding how much rosemary oil was used and what type of carrier it was used in. It just says a lotion was made for the study. Figuring it was applied twice day and left on for 12 hours they couldn’t be putting on oils that left greasy hair in the mornings? So how would one try this without having an oily head?
Would something like aloe gel work and how many drops of rosemary to use in it?
Minoxidil can leave hair looking a little greasy but not as bad as putting oils on hair.
Unfortunately, the study doesn’t disclose the % of rosemary oil within the lotion, but rather only the standardization of one of rosemary oil’s volatile oils. As far as rosemary’s oiliness — that’s just part of the deal. When I try rosemary overnight and wash it out the next morning, I actually experience less oiliness. So give it a shot!
As far as a rosemary carrier (like aloe gel), I’d recommend downloading the guide within the above article. That details the best dilution ratios, carrier oils, and application timings based on the literature and reader anecdotes.
Great article Rob! Another shortcoming of this study is that 2% minoxidil was used instead of 5% (which is present in Regaine).
I recall another study which established that 5% minoxidil is significantly better than 2% at regrowing hair.
I understand that combating hair loss needs a multi-faceted approach; still, an effective daily topical treatment is an important constituent of any hair-regrowth regimen. As far as that is concerned, is 5% minoxidil still the best option out there? If rosemary oil or other natural oils have efficacy comparable to Regaine, well, we might just be wasting our hard-earned money.
Thanks for reading Shivam! 5% minoxidil is effective for a significant amount of people — with studies suggesting a response rate of ~40-60% and a regrowth rate varying wildly. Unfortunately, it seems that minoxidil’s effectiveness wanes over time. With that said, if you’re comfortable with the potential side effects, minoxidil is potentially a great option (especially when combined with dermarolling).
As far as rosemary oil or other essential oils being more effective than minoxidil — that remains to be seen in human trials. We’re dealing with an n = 1 sample size of human studies comparing rosemary oil versus minoxidil. As you said, a multi-faceted approach seems to be the best option (at least until more research is done).
In any case, combining either rosemary oil or minoxidil with mechanical stimulation exercises will likely improve your 1) response rate of the treatment, and 2) your regrowth rate — and substantially. Please keep us posted if you decide to do this! Other readers are reporting great results with the combined approach.
Thanks for the quick reply! I’ve been on Regaine for almost 11 weeks now and have not noticed any side-effects so far. Twice a day, both hairline and vertex. I can clearly see regrowth along the hairline and temples but of course they are just isolated strands and might take several months to form a decent hairline (hopefully they will).
Dermarolling looks painful and risky and I have no plans to start it anytime soon. Is intense massaging equally good for removing calcification? After reading your email, I went to a salon and got myself an “intense head massage + scalp cleaning for combating hair loss”. My scalp feels a lot more loose now but I still have a long way to go.
Regardless, I’m surprised that something as simple (and relaxing) as scalp massage could possibly regrow hair and also fix the underlying cause of hair loss.
I will definitely update if I see an improvement in my regrowth rate with ‘intense’ scalp massage :).
Hi..I got my hair relaxed a year back..the relaxer was left on for 25 minutes longer than the max limit so post that I lost hair in clumps and now my new growth is a lot thinner than before..from thick coarse hair to thin hair..I had gone to a doctor and she asked me to use peptides and there was no use.. Now she’s asking me to use minoxidil and diagnosed it as telogen effluvium..I doubt it’s that..it’s definitely not health related..should I get a scalp biopsy done? The thin hair is especially at the back where she started to apply the relaxer .. Now If there’s inflammation below the scalp will Rosemary help reduce it? Or should I start using chemical based topicals to reduce it?
Hey Kruthi — without more information about your health history, when your hair loss started, your type of pattern thinning, as well as your diet, lifestyle, environment, and current hair regimen — I can’t tell you if rosemary oil will be helpful. I’m happy to do a Skype consultation. They last 30 minutes. You can email me if you’re interested (my email is inside the book, or you can get my email address by subscribing to the website).
Hi Rob,
I am chasing your site in past few days and interested to buy your latest book.
This is one of your nice post and really informative.
Please clarify as some says 1.5mm dermaroller should be performed by professional dr. and not at home as it heart. Please clarify can I perform it at home since cont afford going professional and should I perform weekly or monthly since recovery time may required more?
Also, can I do 0.25mm everyday for better tropical absorption (do you suggest Rosemary+carrier oil or Minoxidil?) and on the day of 1.5mm can we apply tropical & mechanical stimulation or should skip that day and start next day or day after again with 0.25mm & mechanical stimulation?
Do you suggest any good brand of dermaroller please and sterile solution?
Regards
Hey Tahir,
Thanks for reaching out. You can certainly try a .25mm dermaroller, though I’ve never experienced any issues administering a 1.5mm dermaroller on myself — nor have I heard of issues from other readers. The key is to make sure it’s 1.5mm and a 192-needle count — not higher.
After any mechanical stimulation, wait at least 12 hours to 24 hours before applying an essential oil topical + carrier. This will allow the pro-inflammatory process to take place — which is what we want.
I don’t have any recommendatiosn for a good brand of dermaroller. In terms of a sterilizing solution — iodine is cheap / effective.
Best,
Rob
Rob…
Is it possible for these essential/carrier oils to cause hair fall/balding? Cause I am freaking out a bit after using these….
I mixed about
1) 4oz of emu oil (as a carrier)
2) approximately 3 tbsp of rosemary oil (for benefits above and I heard it can
increase pge)
3) approximately 1 tbsp of peppermint oil (I just put a little amount because
of its vasoconstriction properties)
4) approximately 4 tbsp of jamaican black castor oil ( to decrease pgd2 and as
a carrier)
What happened was the time I applied the oils. A lot of hairs were actually sticking to my hands.
I left them overnight, and washed them in the morning. And again, lots of hairs were falling out.
I don’t think I’ve lose this so much hairs after reducing using shampoo and post detumescence therapy.
Now, I am having hair fall again. Is this normal?
Hey Ray,
Have you measured the ratios of these oils to their carriers? Eyeballing this, it seems like your ratio of essential oil:fat-based carriers is likely way too high. People experimenting with 100% essential oils have reported shedding — myself included.
I’d recommend doing the math on this — figuring out the percentage of essential oil by weight of your mixture. Then start cutting down the dilution to 10-30% essential oil, and see if the shedding persists.
Best,
Rob
HY rob i am using 1mm derma roller with rosmer+coconut oil 1 drop rosemery essential plus 10 drops coconut oil
is it ok to apply oil immediately after derma session since oil have less harmful ingredients then rogaine or minoxdil
i am shedding 30+ hairs daily with this techniques is normal? i am using this for almost a month. do i need to change anything if shedding wont stop
Hey Xman — I’d recommend waiting at least 12 hours before applying the topical. You want to allow for the initial inflammatory process to occur. Even in the minoxidil-dermarolling study, participants waited 24 hours after a microneedling session before applying Rogaine.
In terms of shedding, unfortunately I can’t say without more information about your dermarolling frequency, degree of hair loss, shedding baseline, and if you’re combining dermarolling with other mechanical stimulation exercises. If you email me, I’m happy to set up a consult.
Best,
Rob
Rob what is the benefit of applying Oil after 12hours of derma rolling isn’t it more beneficial if we applied it immediately?
2. How often we can use derma roller 1mm or 1.5mm can we use twice in a week?
Hey Snaptic,
1. We don’t want to limit the pro-inflammatory phase of the wounding process, which takes place in the first twelve hours after wounding. We do, however, want to enhance the back-half of the inflammatory process — where anti-inflammatory signaling proteins take over. That’s why there might be benefit to waiting twelve hours.
2. Based on all the available literature, I’d recommend once per week and a 1.5mm roller.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob,
Thanks for valuable advice.
Do we need numbing cream for 1.5mm or can tolirate the pain esily?
Do you prefer Minoxidil or Rosemary +carier or No Tropical at all?
Do you mean even after head massage we need to wait for 12hrs to apply any tropical or only for microneedling?
Best reds
Hi Tahir,
You shouldn’t use numbing cream — it might interfere with signaling protein responsiveness. In terms of minoxidil versus rosemary + a carrier oil — it’s tough to say, as the mechanisms of action are likely different. Either should help, especially when combined with dermarolling. And the twelve-hour rule applies to dermarolling specifically.
Best,
Rob
This looks promising. I do not like minoxidil. I tried it and it shed out a lot of hair and hurt my scalp in three weeks of use. I am done and would like to give this a try. I already use a natural shampoo and conditioner with rosemary extracts. Is that enough or do I need to add a few drops of rosemary?
Hey Dave,
A shampoo / conditioner with rosemary might help, but it probably won’t move the needle much as the oils are only on your scalp for a few minutes per day, at most. I’d suggest applying an overnight topical that includes rosemary — and based on the recommendations in the rosemary oil guide inside the article.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob,
Really appriciate your comments.
Are these tropical applications either minoxidil or Rosemary life long or is there a point of a time when can be left without any harm or loss of hair? What’s your stance on this?
Questioning again, do you preffer your both regimes massage and dermarolling with or without tropicals?
Best rgds
Hi Tahir,
In terms of dermarolling + minoxidil or dermarolling + rosemary being lifelong treatments — this has yet to be determined. We know that stopping minoxidil leads to the loss of any hair maintained — and typically within a few months to a year. However, it’s unclear if the same is true for dermarolling + minoxidil. And no long-term studies have been carried out to answer this.
Theoretically, if dermarolling + minoxidil or dermarolling + rosemary helps to reverse calcification or fibrosis, then the results should remain regardless of prolonged treatment (so long as the calcification or fibrosis doesn’t return).
In regards to massaging vs. dermarolling vs. both — this is harder to answer and typically depends on someone’s response rate to the treatments. I like to start with massages. If that fails, dermarolling or a hybrid approach tends to get people over the hump. And if that fails too, then it’s time to reevaluate diet, lifestyle, supplementation, etc. In these scenarios, more testing is required (nutrient deficiencies, SIBO, blood heavy metals test, food sensitivities). And then based on those results, I typically recommend introducing certain supplements and topicals to address whatever findings from those tests, and some supplements / topicals that might work synergistically with the mechanical stimulation.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob,
quick question: if you recommend applying the rosemary oil 12 hours after any mechanical stimulation, how does that work with your recommended massage routine? Currently I’m massaging my scalp every 12 hours, so if I were to experiment with rosemary oil, I’d probably just leave it on overnight…
Sorry, got another question that just popped up. I was going to dilute the rosemary oil in coconut oil. However, I just read that coconut oil is known to mimic sebum. I’m not sure whether that’s true, but if it is, isn’t that the opposite of what we’re trying to achieve – getting rid of excess sebum?
Hey Manuel — in my experience, coconut oil actually downregulates sebum production as your scalp begins to anticipate its application (and thereby reduces sebum output as a response to the presence of the oil). Coconut oil should be fine!
Best,
Rob
Hey Manuel,
Since massaging typically results in much less ectopic inflammation versus dermarolling, I wouldn’t apply the 12-hour rule to the massages. A few readers have even reported some hair regrowth by applying the rosemary oil during their scalp massages. So, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. The reason why we want to exercise the 12-hour rule with dermarolling is because of the degree of wounding — it’s much greater!
Best,
Rob
Hey Rob,
thanks a lot for your replies! Very helpful as always. I decided to buy olive oil now, but I might give coconut oil a try, too.
What do you mean by not applying the 12-hour rule to the massages? I should still keep doing the massages every 12 hours as described in your book, shouldn’t I?
In addition, what would you suggest:
1) leaving the diluted rosemary oil on overnight
or
2) applying it when massaging my hairline region (which would be problematic in the mornings…)
Best,
Manuel
Hey Manuel — yes, stick to massaging every twelve hours 🙂 In terms of not applying the 12-hour rule to massages — what I mean is that we can’t consistently use a topical + massage if we adhere to a 12-hour delay of applying a topical after doing mechanical stimulation. My rationale: since we massage every twelve hours, if we had to wait twelve hours before applying a topical, we’d never be able to actually apply that topical.
This is different for dermarolling — since dermarolling is more inflammatory but is also just done once per week. Here, we can dermaroll and then wait twelve hours before applying a topical, since we have a week before our next dermarolling session.
I’d suggest leaving the diluted rosemary oil in overnight. Which % dilution are you using again?
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob
Thanks for detailed response it may help other viewers as well.
One thing I understood from your response that shedding of hair links with only minoxidil if doing without dermarolling but not the case with Rosemary (so it’s mean it is more stable) please reconfirm.
Regards
Hey Tahir — rosemary oil might very well lead to temporary shedding. Unfortunately, we just don’t have enough data on rosemary oil to know, so we have to assume that it’s possible. Some people have reported shedding with 100% essential oils (non-diluted, no carrier oils). Most people haven’t reported shedding at dilution percentages 50% or below.
Best,
Rob
I am using rosemarry oil twice a week with castor and conconut oil in equal proportion. But i have experienced a severe hair fall. Exposing bald regions where earlier hair was there. Also dandruff flakes problem also is persistent. I read somewhere that it treats dandruff too. So i am skeptical about continuing its use. I am doing massage also and everytime i do massage i can see my hair line reducing further. Do you think i should stop massage and rosemarry oil or should continue for some time to see postive results and the current shedding is temporary?
Hey Sans,
How long have you been applying the rosemary oil?
I’d reduce your dilution of rosemary oil to 10% total, and simultaneously back off the massages until your shedding ceases. Then increase massage intensity from there. If the shedding still persists, drop the rosemary altogether.
There’s a chance the shed from rosemary is similar to the shed people experience while first starting Rogaine (minoxidil). But if you’re seeing visible thinning / recession, it’s likely a good idea to switch up your regimen.
Best,
Rob
I’ve been using coconut oil, olive oil, black seed oil, joba oil, lavender oil, vitamin E oil, tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar mixture and started to see some results.I don’t know which one is helping or if all is. I have notice more when I added black seed oil to the mix. I know it’s a lot of different oils, but can I add rosemarry and peppermint oil.
Hey Robert,
If I were you, I wouldn’t change your topical mixture until your results stagnate. You should try to ride the regrowth wave as long as possible, until whatever regimen you’re doing stops working. Only at that point would I consider adding or removing topicals. I know it’s a long game, but as long as your hair is heading in the right direction, it’s best to just continue the same path forward.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob
You may not understood my concern, temporary shedding at start of Rosemary oil is ok but my question was: is this oil’s application also life long dependecy and when we stop applying this oil, all the regrown hairs will fall same as minoxidil?
Regards
Hey Tahir,
We don’t yet have enough data to say whether rosemary oil is needed forever — but my belief is that 1) just doing rosemary oil by itself and then dropping it will eventually lead to the loss of any hair you regrew (similar to minoxidil and finasteride), and 2) doing rosemary oil + mechanical stimulation, then dropping both, will likely not lead to the same amount of loss. The reason why: rosemary oil by itself is a bandaid to the underlying causes of hair loss, while rosemary oil + massaging likely remodels the skin — removing excess collagen, and creating a scalp environment that encourages the recovery of hair even once you stop both treatments.
Best,
Rob
Hy rob i have been facing shadding since i started rosemerry+coco oil on daily basis i am losing around 30+ hairs .Is it normel? I am in my 7th week of this regime . I know initial shedding is inevitable but for how long?
Hey Xman — it all depends on what your previous shedding rate was, your hair density, and if this shedding is leading to visible hair thinning. You should never shed to the point where your hair becomes visibly thinner. If this is happening, we need to tweak your rosemary oil dilution — decreasing it to a lower % or dropping it altogether until the shedding subsides.
Best,
Rob
Thanks Rob. I am using it for last 5weeks and nw i will reduce the dilution. And also for massages nw i am doing only bald regions (no shedding there). Also i wanted to ask about the flakes i get on my bald regions after massage. I mean i can see small hair patches growing there but they are still tiny and no further growth there. I mean 9 months in to message i have grown small hair all over the bald area but the hair is not growing and the existing hair line is going bald. So it kind of gives me hope to continue but dont kno what else should i try. What would you suggest.
Hi Rob,
Your blogs/posts and responses and knowledge on hair regrowth protocols is really great, it educate me a lot and helping 100s of others every day and for me your opinion on hair health and regrowth has high value.
So, please advise me which below protocol gives a long lasting results and “THE BEST” to choose for a man having oily scalp (excess sebum), hair fall, thinning hair, receding hair line and MPB (vertex III):
1.Your massage technique + Balance diet
2.Your massage technique + Microneedling (1.5mm/wk) + Balance diet
3.Your massage technique + Minoxidil
4.Your massage technique + Rosemary
5.Your massage technique + Minoxidil + Microneedling
6.Your massage technique + Rosemary + Microneedling
b.regards
Hi Tahir,
Thanks for the kind words. It all depends on what you’ve tried before, what’s worked / hasn’t, and what you’re comfortable with taking / not taking. I can’t tell you one way or another what will be best for you personally — because everyone’s responses to mechanical stimulation vary. I’ve had some readers experience near-full hair recoveries from just massaging + diet, while some others struggle to maintain on dermarolling + minoxidil. It’s a trial / error process that takes effort and time, but for those who stick with it, the results speak for themselves.
The reality is that if you really don’t care about taking drugs, the best combination is likely going to be massage + minoxidil + finasteride + dermarolling. The hair recoveries I’ve seen from that are remarkable. But there’s a cost / benefit to these drugs, and I can’t make that decision for you.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob,
Thanks a lot for the response.
I am interested to get your advice/technique on Sans query as how to clean/clear the scalp from dandruff flakes.
B.regards
Hi Rob. Please answer my query above .
Hi Sans,
Adult cradle cap and dandruff flakes are discussed extensively in the book. Have you reviewed the information there? In general, dandruff isn’t an issue unless it’s coupled with increased hair shedding / visible hair thinning.
9 months into massaging i am still getting dandruff flakes and can see tiny hair growing in bald areas. But at the same time existing hairline is reducing. Whats your take on these flakes or adult cradle caps as people sometimes refer.
I liked your article . I have started trying mixture of argen oil and rosemary oil, and some time olive oil.
What i want to ask is, what food will you recommend along with this therapy. Nutrition plays a vital role here . Rit ?
Hi Amresh,
Dietary recommendations vary person-to-person, and it would be unwise for me to suggest that one single diet works the best for everyone. In general, any anti-inflammatory diet will help fight against the hair loss cascade, plus the removal of foods that can trigger autoimmunity with prolonged exposure and ingestion. Reducing inflammation will likely reduce DHT activity in inflamed tissues. This all starts with first addressing and correcting any potential nutrient deficiencies. The steps that follow are more individualized.
Best,
Rob
Rob recommend best oil combination
which oil you have found most effected for hair regrow?
*effective
Hey Snaptic — I don’t have any hard recommendations for oils, but topical cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil is great because it targets several mechanisms of action.
Hello Rob,
I just Recently purchased your ebook, and I was wondering what are your thoughts on using organ oil in the massage sessions? I read a lot of research about its benefits in preventing hair loss and revitalising hair. Can I use it as a base and mix it with other essential oils (rosemary and Peppermint)?
Thank You
Hey Marwan,
Thanks for your support. You can certainly try argan oil — as most fat-based topicals have similar anti-microbial, anti-androgenic properties. You can also use argan oil as a carrier for rosemary or peppermint. With that said, I’d recommend applying the oils after a massage — as they can make the scalp slippery and thereby increase friction against the scalp skin and your hands — making the massages a little harder to perform.
Best,
Rob
Thanks for the reply,
I stumbled upon your blog about natural regrowth by chance, as I was searching google for benefits of rosemary oil for hair growth. I must tell u that I tried almost everything on the market except propecia, I even had a minor hair transplant of 1500 grafts, currently in my fifth month of recovery, but still waiting to see significant results. I always believed there was something missing from the puzzle, they weren’t telling me about. After reading your thorough research , I’m excited to start your techniques as a last ditch attempt to solve this.
I have 2 last questions:
Is having a hair transplant prior to this going to affect my hair regrowth?
Can I still use Keratin Hair fibres to cover up my bald spots, Until my hair start growing back again?
Thanks again,
Marwan
Hey Marwan,
You should still be able to use hair fibers during (and after) the implementation of this regimen. Just be sure not to apply them after a dermarolling session (if you choose to do dermarolling at all) — since the skin is inflamed and the fibers might increase irritation. In terms of hair transplantation, this shouldn’t affect your progress.
Best,
Rob
hey rob, great article
but you a mistake: its not accurate to say rogaine isnt that affective tretment
because the standat dosage for male is rogaine 5% and not 2% –
i guess thats the reason they compare the rosmary with thw 2% version.
what you think?
alon
Hey Alon — research suggests that Rogaine 5% outperforms versus Rogaine 2%, and that Rogaine 10% is marginally better versus Rogaine 5%… but that beyond 5% we’re faced with diminishing returns. Is that what you’re talking about?
I don’t know why the researchers decided to compare Rogaine 2% versus rosemary oil. Regarding any mistake I might’ve made, could you please point me to the text to which you’re referring? I’m happy to elaborate.
Hi Rob,
Thanks for your interesting article. Do you think the Rogaine %5 isn’t too much for women ?as I am just 29!. I wanna stop it and start Rosemary because I feel Rogaine made my hair thin… I am confused and scared.. What do you think?
Hey Rob,
Thanks for your great article. I am using women Rogaine 5% since 6month ago and I am so regret. It got me worse. What do you think if I stop it and switch to Rosemary oil!? I’m just 29!
Hey Hoda,
Have you tested for…
1) PCOS
2) Hypothyroidism
3) Hyperparathyroidism
4) SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
5) Iron deficiency
Before switching to rosemary oil, it might be better to get tested for those — as every single woman that I work with often has at least one of those conditions above, and they’re often contributive to hair thinning. Resolving those first is likely more important than a topical.
Best,
Rob
Thanks for your response, Rob. Unfortunately, when I visited a doctor six months ago she didn’t take any test ,she just said use Rogaine, but it got me worse. Last week I visited another doctor and she gave me some tests but she said continue the Rogaine! Now I’m waiting for the results. Can I ask you are you still using Rogaine or not? What do you think if I stop it now?
Hey Hoda — I haven’t used Rogaine in several years (I quit around 2012). You can certainly continue to use Rogaine if you’d like — or any of the alternative treatments / regimens discussed throughout this site.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob,
Thank you for your article. It is great to see an author taking the time to thoughtfully respond to each comment of his article.
I’d like to share my own experience and would love to hear your thoughts on the same. Combining the two studies above I recently began experimenting with a combination of Dermarolling (1x/ week) and rosemary oil (1x/ day). I used a derma roller with 1mm needles and 1:3 mixture rosemary oil and jojoba oil as carrier (about 1:3) to begin with. After about 8 weeks, I did not notice any significant difference. I have now switched to a 1.5mm derma roller as in the study (which I was apprehensive of in the beginning, having never tried dermarolling) and undiluted rosemary oil. Just wanted to know your thoughts on this ( chances of success, any potential risks involved, any previous such attempts you might have heard of etc.).
Hey Saral,
Thanks for the kind words. I think the switch to a 1.5mm dermaroller is a great idea, but in general, I’d recommend you continue to dilute your rosemary oil in an oil. Most people trying the 100% concentrations haven’t seen results — and in some cases, have reported increased hair shedding (which stopped after discontinuing the oil). It’s likely the rosemary oil in this study was significantly diluted (maybe to 2%-10%). Keep at it, and please keep us posted with your progress.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob,
Thank you for the prompt reply. I agree with both the points you make above.
– Only on using the 1.5mm roller could I see some signs of scalp penetration (little spots of blood). I also notice the scalp beginning to loosen up a little, somewhat consistent with the reports of people using your own protocols, in the comments above. Would you agree that this a positive sign, and could imply better circulation in the scalp? I wonder if I am applying adequate pressure for rolling.
– My experience with undiluted Rosemary oil has been contrary to what I have read about essential oils. I did not experience any tingling, burning sensation when using it. The oil that I am using is quite volatile. I have to quickly massage it before most of it either vaporizes or gets absorbed (not sure sure how much of each) I am beginning to wonder if it is genuine rosemary essential oil. However, I do get a minty, cool feeling when it is mixed with jojoba. Since I haven’t used Jojoba by itself, I do not know if that is the source of the minty sensation. The other explanation could be what you suggest, that Rosemary oil is quite volatile and needs a carrier oil to improve absorption. Your manual mentions 10-30 percent as an ideal level of dilution. Do your users continue report success with this level of dilution? Also is Jojoba a good carrier or are there better ones out there?
Also, could you tell me the frequency of application of rosemary oil. Is it 1x or 2x a day? This will probably sound silly when referring to an aromatic oil, but I wish there was a non-aromatic version of rosemary oil. The herbal smell is why I usually avoid applying in the morning before work. I apply it at night at leave it over. Wonder if that is sufficient.
Thanks again for your comments. Also, might I add that you work is a great resource for men battling hair loss.
I’ve been reading on hair loss for a while trying to understand what is really going on, i’ve seen countless “home remedies” and products like Minoxidil that all seem to point to increasing blood flow to the scalp, if a lack of blood flow was the problem then why are some people with incredibly healthy circulatory systems like Wim Hof going bald, shouldn’t he have a head full of thick hair? There is a LOT of “homemade cures” out there on Google but not a single success story with before/after pictures. I’m starting to think that it’s just simpler to accept balding.
It’s absolutely way simpler, and easier, to accept balding! I’d recommend it 🙂 After all, the hair doesn’t make the man. And I’d also stay away from “homemade cures”. Anything that isn’t scientifically validated — or anecdotally validated by several people — is often worth dismissing.
Baldness is more complicated than just a blood flow problem, and if you’re interested in learning more, I’d recommend this article about the rate-limiting factors to hair recovery:
https://perfecthairhealth.com/the-ultimate-hair-loss-flowchart-why-we-lose-our-hair/
In general, Wim Hof’s breathing exercises are not going to bring your hair back, and it’s unlikely that they change transcutaneous oxygen levels for any extended period of the time in the scalp — although they likely improve blood oxygen, at least temporarily.
Best,
Rob
Thank you for this, really interesting read, i wish i’d found this earlier.
About Wim Hof, i wasn’t referring to his breathing technique but to the fact that he can spend hours immersed in icy water and therefore must have an incredible circulatory system to keep his whole body warm, including his head and scalp. I’m thinking that lack of blood flow isn’t the issue there.
I have a question, you mention excess collagen (fibrosis) as one of the causes, would this mean that performing microneedling on the scalp using “derma rollers” would actually worsen the situation? Isn’t microneedling used to increase collagen?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3746236/
No problem! Thanks for reading.
Microneedling helps to metabolize and reorganize collagen so that it’s more closely structured to that of normal collagen deposition. Scarring is the result of excessive extracellular matrix synthesis and deposition, and the end-result is the disorganized, excessive collagen bundles in affected tissues. So microneedling is actually helpful! It’s even more helpful when used in combination with other AGA treatments — like finasteride or minoxidil — though more “natural” combinations with saw palmetto and/or rosemary oil might help as well, and through similar mechanisms.
Hey rob, I’d be interested in knowing more about your routine…you appear to have a nice set of hair!
Thanks Brian. It’s essentially just two things: 1) an anti-inflammatory diet/lifestyle/environment, and 2) mechanical stimulation exercises. I’m always experimenting with different forms of massaging, microneedling, scalp tension release, etc.
Hi Rob,
As a 31 year old female experiencing hair loss, it’s pretty devastating. I’ve already seen a doc and I’ve been told it’s hereditary and they’ve put me on some meds, but it can only do so much. I tried minoxidil and it made my scalp itch like crazy, so now I’m aiming for organic/natural “remedies”. I’ve bought a 0.5mm derma roller (not sure if thats enough to get these oils to be absorbed). I want to try the rosemary oil, but I’m worried that being an oil it would clog the hair follicles? secondly, any suggestions on how to dilute it? 7 drops in a cup of water or something? I’ve also read that you can massage it in and then leave it in for an hour or so and then wash it out.
Anyway any tips or suggestions would be very much appreciated.
Hey Maria,
If you’re a 31-year old female experiencing hair loss, I think you should look into testing for the following:
-PCOS
-SIBO (https://perfecthairhealth.com/small-intestinal-bacterial-overgrowth-hair-loss-sibo-gut-health/)
-Nutrient deficiencies (B12, zinc, iron, vitamin D) — often the result of SIBO
-Hypothyroidism
-Hyperparathyroidism
In my experience, every single female pattern hair loss sufferer with whom I’ve worked has tested positive for at least one of those conditions — and resolving them should take precedent over everything else you’re doing, since these are likely the limiting factor in female hair recovery.
RE: rosemary oil dilution–
Don’t use water. Please download the guide inside the article for information about dilution and application. Rosemary won’t clog your pores and prevent hair growth — there’s no evidence that topicals do this (though it’s been a rumor for decades, with any topical). You can certainly use rosemary during a massage and then wash it out, too. And in terms of dermarolling — use a 192 count, 1.5mm roller once per week, and wait at least 24 hours after a rolling session to apply any topicals.
Best,
Rob
Thanks Rob!
Very much appreciated. I’ve had all the PCOS and Hypothyroidism like tests done. At one point they couldn’t decide if I did or didn’t have PCOS, but they said regardless of if I did or didn’t, they’d still treat it by the same meds I’m on now. I had a slight elevation on the testosterone levels and based it on having hyperandrogenism. I’ve been reading like I said on diff things I could take or do. Currently on a biotin pill by Regenepure (as well shampoo & conditioner) and soon to start on Collagen Types 1&3 which again has been mentioned can at least thicken the hair more than anything (I’m just testing that theory out to see).
Cheers once again for your advice 🙂
P.s. Sorry! If you know of any women who suffer from this and have used anything that may have helped them, would you mind letting me know? Thanks! 🙂
P.P.S. I just realised you have SIBO as a possibility. I’ve recently been diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) I have no idea how long I may have had it for, it was only recently when I finally decided to speak to my doctor about bad digestion etc. I have no idea if the two could be inter-linked, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I’m on a 2 week course of medication to see if it clears. Thanks for pointing that out, that never crossed my mind for a second!
Hey Maria,
Thanks for the updates. Yes, SIBO is incredibly common among thinning women with whom I’ve worked. I recommend reading that SIBO article, and engaging the comments section (where you can reach out to more women, too)!
Best,
Rob
Would it be counter-productive to apply a combined solution of Rogaine plus a diluted-Rosemary solution?
Also, Rogaine is to be applied twice daily. Should the Rogaine\diluted-Rosemary solution be applied twice daily? Or would it be worthwhile to apply one separate Rogaine solution and one diluted-Rosemary solution daily?
…Also applying the necessary massage techniques….
I don’t think so, as it seems that while rosemary oil and minoxidil likely have overlapping mechanisms of action, they don’t all overlap — meaning there could be benefit from using both.
You can certainly try applying rosemary oil twice-daily and diluted. Rosemary oil’s volatile oils have roughly 25% the half-life of minoxidil, so more frequent application for them is better. But if you’re going to apply both rosemary and minoxidil, stick to 2x per day for minoxidil no matter what. Once per day minoxidil use has yet to show improvements to hair (at least of the studies I’ve read).
I started using one teaspoon of castor oil as carrier oil with four drops of rosemerry and peppermint oil. I massaged it at night and wash hair in morning. But after a month or so I started to feel symptoms of ER then I stop applying mixture .
Hi Rob. I’m a little puzzled maybe you can answer this. If trying to lower pgd2 and raise pge2 wouldn’t these essential oils effect that? Since most of them are pge2 inhibitors as well. Thanks.
Hey Emilio,
Most of the assumptions around the benefits of raising PGE2 come from minoxidil’s hair regrowth results, sunlight exposure improves to hair health, and a “Prostaglandin Protocol” pushed by a guy named Swiss Temples.
But the reality is that very little data supports that increasing PGE2 is the main mechanisms of action for minoxidil and sunlight exposure. And on top of that, very few people have seen significant success from the Prostaglandin Protocol. From my understanding, the creator has stopped posting progress photos for the last year and a half (but I could be wrong here).
So I wouldn’t worry too much.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob,
As I had written earlier, I have been following a protocol of (20-25%) Rosemary oil 1x day and 1.5mm derma rolling 1x week. As I go through the weeks, I’ve been thinking about a couple of questions-
– How much derma rolling is enough or too much? Would you go by time (say 5-10 min) or 5 times in 4 directions or until you see red spots to indicate skin penetration?
– I usually disinfect my derma roller with surgical spirit (iso propyl alcohol) before and after use. That got me wondering if mixing it with rosemary at the time of application or before applying it before rosemary oil could improve absorption (at least 24 hrs after derma rolling of course). I recall one of your posts mentioning the use of Propylene glycol in Minoxidil to improve absorption. Just wondering if there are any benefits (or even toxicity issues) to using surgical spirit.
rgds
Saral
Hey Saral,
Studies suggest that once per week dermarolling with a 192-count 1.5mm needle length roller — for about 25-35 minutes — is enough to induce mild erythema (reddening), and regrowth in humans. So I’d shoot for this as a benchmark, with pressure and repeat rolling determined by how red your scalp skin is throughout a session.
Mixing with rosemary oil during your application might not be a bad idea — as the oil’s androgen-inhibiting effects might carry over into the healing process and improve hair loss outcomes. But the data here is limited, and without more studies, we just don’t know yet. If you try this, please let us know how it works! And Isopropyl alcohol as a disinfectant should be fine.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob!
I wrote a few weeks back asking about how to use rosemary oil and which derma roller would be best etc. I just wanted to ask if you could recommend a rosemary oil? If there’s some kind of brand that you know of that works well. If not, no worries.
Another question I had was about brushing ones hair. I’ve been told by some, that brushing your hair helps stimulate the scalp etc, but have heard from others that it has the opposite effect in that it pulls the hair and therefore can end up thinning it even more? What’s your opinion on that?
Kind Regards!
Maria
Hey Maria,
I’m sorry if I missed your comment from a few weeks ago. To answer your questions–
1) The guide in this article should explain how to use rosemary oil effectively. Please download it 🙂 All you need to do is enter your email in the opt-in above (inside the article).
2) The best dermarollers — at least according to studies in humans for hair regrowth — appear to be 1.5mm, 192-needle count rollers. I don’t have any brand preferences. I’ve gotten a few rollers of this size and length off WalMart’s online store.
3) Within normal amounts, brushing doesn’t really have any appreciable effect — positive or negative — on hair quality. So I wouldn’t worry too much. There are some readers here who do boar bristle brushing taps to purposefully inflame the scalp — and they use the brush as a device for mechanical stimulation to emulate a gentler dermarolling session. As long as you allow for enough healing time between tapping sessions, this should also be fine. And as long as you’re not creating excessive friction against the scalp with any brush, there’s no need to worry about (most) brushing habits.
Best,
Rob
Hi,
Your post is really helpful but im not sure if i should start any of it cause of my age being 18 years old.
Ive tried many oils (castor, tea tree, coconut) even shampoos and so on.
Nothing seems to help the hairloss.
This is quiet odd cause im still really young for significant hairloss. None of my relatives and friends have it. I do come along with stress and im trying to overcome it but i feel as if thats not the only reason. As i scratch my head i feel dryness and a scabby feeling just like peeling dandruff allover my scalp but there is nothing there when i take a look at it. Its really annoying. What is something light for my scalp you’d recommend for what I’ve described?
Many Thanks
Hey Charles,
My recommendations are all typically catered around someone’s comfortability with drugs versus “natural” treatments, topicals, supplements, and the time they’d like to commit toward hair restoration. So there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for any individual facing hair loss — at least organized by age.
My first recommendation would be to familiarize yourself with hair loss research (by reading more articles on this site, signing up for the email course, or just simply digging into the literature yourself). Once you better understand the condition, you can make better treatment decisions.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob,
No apologies needed! I was just trying to remind you who I was, but know you have a lot of people writing to you. I have bought myself Rosemary oil, but read on some of your carriers. I’ve been told Castor oil is another good one. Would you consider castor oil as a decent carrier?
Thanks once again for all the tips and advice!
Maria 🙂
Hey Maria — castor oil should be fine! I think cold-pressed pumpkin seed oil is probably one of the best carriers, but castor oil shares a similar fatty acid composition, and as a results, similar pro-hair properties. Keep me posted.
What about cold-pressed sesame oil? Can I use it as a carrier oil?
Hy robb i have been using rosmerry plus coconut as a carrier for 5 months almost .Before using my scalp was dry and flacky now it turns into oily one. I haven’t seen any significant improvement ,though.what you suggest should i stopped this or wait till 6months since its make my scalp oily and greecy .
Note : i also use 1mm derma roller weekly
Hey Snaptic,
It’s tough to say. Is your scalp oily from the rosemary + coconut oil, or has sebum production actually increased? To test this, take a week off from rosemary + coconut oil and see how your scalp responds. Keep me posted.
Hy robb i already leave my rosmerry+coco regime for several days and noted that within 3 days of shower my hairs seems grecy and oily
Now what is your suggestion is my scalap overproduction sebum if yes then what i supposed to do ?
Does resmery+coco change my scalap biology since it was flack and dry 4 months ago .
Hello
I found this article very interesting. Personally, I do believe in the natural benefits of natural oils such as rosemary on hair. I have a question. Some articles suggest that once a hair follicle has complete died there will be no way to revive the follicle back to its original state. In your belief , do you think this is acurate or is there a chance that a dead follicle can be revived through this natural process?
Thank you
Hey Dan,
Thanks for reading! Presently, the literature seems to suggest that hair follicles never die. We’ve seen this is mouse studies where miniaturized MPB human hairs are transferred to the backs of mice and regrow just as well (if not better) than non MPB human hairs. We’ve also seen this in an infamous case study showcased in the book — the case of a 78-year old bald man who fell asleep near his fireplace, burnt his head on hot coals, and over the next six months, accidentally regrew his entire juvenile hairline. So full hair recovery is certainly possible. It’s just a matter of uncovering the exact mechanisms.
Best,
Rob
HI Rob.. If I use Rosemary oil and my hair does start growing back and strengthening, do I need to keep using it to keep from losing it again?
Hey Deb,
It’s hard to say! It’s gone both ways for readers (some have maintained after stopping rosemary oil, others have lost a little of what they grew back). But in general, I think the challenge with any topical is dependency. That’s why I typically advocate for solutions outside of the topical / supplement model.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob,
You’ve said in the past that I should leave it 24hrs before putting any oils on after derma rolling. I’ve read elsewhere that says one can put on the oils straight after as once the skin has been pierced, the oils would have more of a chance to absorb? Or would they absorb regardless or just as well 24hrs after?
Regards,
Maria
Hey Maria,
The benefits of dermarolling come from acute wounding and thereby the upregulation of signaling proteins / growth factors associated with hair growth / anagen hair cycle phases. Some topicals act as anti-inflammatory, and can theoretically attenuate this “pro-inflammatory” process. That’s why I’m of the belief that holding off on topical application for 24 hours might help — especially for larger microneedling needles.
At the same time, some people use 0.5mm needles and roll lightly, then apply topicals immediately thereafter as a means to enhance their absorption. So it really just depends on what your goals are: 1) upregulate growth factors, or 2) enhance topical absorption. Either choice might get you to the same goal (regrowth).
Best,
Rob
Hey Rob,
I am about 4 months into the rosemary + coconut oil (1:4) & weekly 1.5mm dermarolling experiment. Yet to see noticeable results. So I am wondering whether I should modify things a little.
Have you come across any reports on the safety and efficacy of using a Salicylic or Glycolic acid peel either before derma rolling or before applying rosemary oil? Some websites recommend using a peel before derma rolling. Others combine it with Minoxidil.
Best
Rob where is my reply of previous post i am in deep trouble please suggest me i am attaching my old post
Hy robb i already leave my rosmerry+coco regime for several days and noted that within 3 days of shower my hairs seems grecy and oily
Now what is your suggestion is my scalap overproduction sebum if yes then what i supposed to do ?
Does resmery+coco change my scalap biology since it was flack and dry 4 months ago .
Hey Snaptic,
Based on the limited information I have, this likely isn’t the result of increased sebum output. Rather, it seems more likely that this is the result of topically applying coconut oil. Fat-based topicals can remain in the scalp for several days post-application, especially if that individual isn’t shampooing the oils out — or is using cold water to rinse their hair instead of warm water. This isn’t necessary an issue, but it might make your hair feel more oily.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob,
Thank you for the informative article . Pretty interesting observation on “everything regrows hair on rats – but rarely do those results carry over to humans.” which I can see what you mean by that.
When it comes to using rosemary or any type of essential oils, it’s probably safe to start with 3-5% dilution ratio for first time users . I read some people complaining about increased sensitivity when applied essential oils directly to the scalp.
Thanks again,
So, using an all natural shampoo should not be an issue. I have found many shampoo bars with excellent properties that I would love to share just let me know if I can share the link. I also know of a liquid shampoo that a friend of mine makes and sells and you can request additional add-ons to it. Hers consist of water, apple cider vinegar, with mother, castor, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, essential oils, mango butter, optiphen preservative, Glycerin, and silk proteins. These oils seems very good for the scalp. Also shampoo with beer give many vitamins, proteins, and enzymes for the hair and scalp. I have been losing a handful+ a day. When I started using all natural shampoos it slowed down very little but I also know your scalp and hair need time to detox from all the chemicals in store bought shampoos. My hair was thin to begin with and now even thinner and it does cause depression. But, I do have noticeable changes in texture, volume, and less hair loss by using all natural. If there are any oils in the one that I gave ingredients to please let me know. Now with me, I can tell you that I am under a lot of stress, I have autoimmune issues one being chronic angioedema along with an extremely high immune system which causes the mast cells to release way too much antihistamines. Then to add to that an ANCA test reveals a pattern that has never been seen or heard of before so the other autoimmune disease is still unknown. I like to wash my hair every day or at least every other day. But, please your thoughts on the ingredients I listed then I will give others through links where I started using shampoo bars.
Hi Carrie — as long as the homemade shampoo isn’t used too frequently (for instance, every single day), then it’s likely your shampoo isn’t going to negatively impact your scalp.
I’m also sorry to hear about your challenges with autoimmunity. Depending on your location, you may want to consider consulting someone from the Kresser Institute. They’ve had success in identifying (and treating) some autoimmune conditions, and at a minimum, can often give you directional insights into easy changes to improve symptoms.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob,
Something of a digression, but might you know how to test for the presence of minoxidil in a product? Or how one might go about doing such a thing? Having been what might be considered a good responder to minoxidil and used it for approximately 7 years, I recently had need to purchase another brand popular on forums and shed massively within in a month…I suspect this product does not contain quite contain what it claims, and would be happy to inform others on the usual fora if I can substantiate my suspicions. Of course, I’d like to be absolutely certain before doing such a thing.
In any event, I’ve been reading your articles with great interest and intend to embrace your methodology – I’ve taken photo’s and will update as necessary in the months to come. Very much appreciate the time and effort that has gone into such a resource.
Hey BB — without third party testing, I don’t know of any at-home kits to test for minoxidil.
Is it possible to switch back to your old brand? It may be that both brands contain the same amount of minoxidil, but that one brand has a better carrier (like propylene glycol), whereas the other has no carrier at all. This would lead to poorer absorption, and as a result, a decrease in results.
Best,
Rob
Hello Rob,
I am 1 month in rosemary oil and weekly dermarolling. I believe in this method and have recieved your email with the instructions. I have a question if I am to apply it twice daily how do I avoid looking greasy during the day? Apply more nightly and less daily?
Also what is your opinion on Nizoral schampoo?
Hey Matt,
RE: greasiness–
This is more or less unavoidable. One option is exactly as you outlined: apply more at night, and less during the day. Another option is to frontload your morning application, and then wait a couple hours and wash out the rosemary with water before going to work (the volatile acids in rosemary have a half-life of ~90 minutes, so you won’t be losing much effect here).
RE: Nizoral–
Nizoral is potentially a great solution — provided the user understands the results are dependent on continued use, and that long-term use may have the potential to remodel scalp tissues to over-express androgen receptors, so that when a user stops, hair loss may exacerbate. But it certainly works for many hair loss sufferers while they use it.
Best,
Rob
Hi
I’m writing to you from Iran. My story of hair loss started for 9 years ago When I got pregnant (I’m 35 years old now) It was really over a night. From healthy hair to a nightmare. I did abortion in week 7 of my pregnancy and I was hoping that the hair loss would be stopped but unfortunately it continued until today. I have meet many doctors and one of them did a hair biopsy and gave me androgenic alopecia diagnosis. I have also had high prolactin levels in some blood samples and normal in some others so they can not determine if I have hormone problems. I have used Rogaine but it has not helped me. Now I have received Sprinolactone (25mg per day) but after 2 months I have not seen an any improvement. is the hope out for me? I often want to die. I don’t want to get bald! Please, is it anything I can do?
Hi F — I’m very sorry to hear about your frustrations. Unfortunately, I’m limited in what I can recommend based on the limited information I have. It sounds like your hair loss may be stemming from PCOS, hypothyroidism, or both. Typically in the women with whom I work, hair loss is often compounded with SIBO, PCOS, hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, and/or nutrient deficiencies (typically iron, zinc, vitamin D, and/or vitamin B-12). I would look into these, as resolving those underlying conditions has almost always helped to improve hair loss outcomes in these women.
Best,
Rob
I’ve been using the rosemary oil in conjunction with a hair growing laser. I’ll have to try the massaging too. Something that I definitely have noticed helped to regrow hair is Hair Factors, made by Twin Lab. Before long, I started noticing several new hairs growing up where I parted my hair that were all the same length. I also noticed a little bit of belly hair that I hadn’t had before, but not all that much. I started using it years ago, but then for some reason it was just on back order endlessly, for like two or three years. I think I saw some kind of announcement from Twin Lab a while ago, something to the effect of them being back up and running after revamping their business. So I guess the Hair Factors should be available again? If you can get your hands on some, it definitely works.
Hey Rob,
I bought your book and have been reading your site. I always had very thick hair but balding has always been on my radar since most of my male family is bald except my mom’s four brothers who have full heads into their 60s in which I also have similar hair to. So I always hoped I would be like them. In college, around 20, I noticed the top of my head balding and got very concerned and used Rogaine for about 6 months. I constantly shed tiny hairs and it eventually filled in and I stopped using it for years and have been fine. I started to see the same issue, but again my hair is so thick it never freaked me out until I got a hair cut two weeks ago and without my glasses on saw a visible spot on top of my head–no hairline recession. Since then I have been devouring hair loss info and find the whole DHT only theory to be sorely lacking (almost like the whole bacteria theory for Acne…yes it is correlated but definitely not the only thing going on).
I am using Rogaine again and have incorporated the massages and did a derma roll last night and use Nizoral and caffeine shampoo maybe every other day (I do not sleep with Rogaine on). I also ordered Propecia in case I need it since my hair is so short now+the shedding from Rogaine and everything else, the spot is pretty significant and I am extremely horrified. Waiting for the rest of my hair to grow so it is covered.
My question is, if I take Propecia do you think this would be BAD for future hair growth? I really do not want to lose any more hair. I actually have low testosterone and slight thyroid issues/started to take the Armour again in case this could be contributing, so I think it is laughable to take something that would reduce androgens effects (when I would actually prefer MORE androgens in my life).
Sorry for the long post. I feel so stupid for this to be causing so much anxiety, it is just freaking hair after all.
Hey James,
Propecia is the best-studied and most effective drug to date for helping to slow, stop, or reverse male pattern hair loss — but for a percentage of the population, it comes with side effects. It needs to be taken forever, and once you stop taking it (for instance, to have a family), you’ll lose the hair you’d maintained within 3-12 months. Having said that, it stops hair loss in 90% of individuals and leads to an average 10% increase in hair count.
If you’re into a more natural route, massaging, dermarolling, and naturally-derived oral / topical 5-AR inhibitors might be a better route, though at the same time, these treatments are less studied. While they’ve worked wonders for some, they don’t work for every single person out there (but then again, nothing does!).
The best advice I can give is to keep educating yourself. These articles / article series might be of interest:
https://perfecthairhealth.com/part-1-of-4-attacking-dht-a-master-guide-the-best-and-worst-ways-to-fight-dht-for-hair-loss/
https://perfecthairhealth.com/natural-dht-blockers-vs-finasteride-they-all-cause-sexual-side-effects/
Best,
Rob
Hi there,
I always avoided DHT blockers in hair products for fear it would get absorbed into the rest of the body through scalp and black DHT everywhere and cause feminization side effects. When I first read rosemary in hair products on the scalp blocks DHT, I refused to use any products with it.
You say Rosemary causes no feminization? Does it only block or decrease the DHT in the scalp and no where else? DHT is important for some things, and I wouldn’t want to stop all test in body from converting to DHT. Just the scalp.
Sorry if this sounded stupid.
Thank you.
Hey K — I’ve yet to see a case where topical rosemary oil usage led to feminizing effects. I don’t think its DHT-reducing capabilities come anywhere close to finasteride. I’d check out this article if you have time:
https://perfecthairhealth.com/natural-dht-blockers-vs-finasteride-what-you-need-to-know-about-sexual-side-effects/
There are no stupid questions! Your concern is a good one.
Best,
Rob
Im somwhat skeptical on the photos they might be different people.
Excellent article! One of the best articles on the subject I’ve read thus far.
I would just like to share my success with herbal hair growth oils and must emphasize that patience and perseverence are most important. What doesn’t work after 3 months of use may start to work after 6 months of regular usage. Most results are even noticable until after 6 months and sometimes even longer! After experimenting with everything for about 1.5 years, my current regiment is Eternagrow ( which contains Rosemary) and minoxdil 5% and i have recovered quite a bit of my hair and I am still seeing slow but gradual regrowth on my crown area.
What an impressive article you’ve made here. I really appreciate your every single effort.
I have a question about the rosemary oil+microneedling treatment as I’m about to apply this.
As microneedling is kind of making tiny scars on scalp and that lead to the increase of the level of growth factor and other beneficial substances that will boost healing the scars and strengthen hair follicles as well. Here I wonder if these ‘scars’ would also bring about some inflammatory result on the scalp which is responsible for hair loss.
As the article mentioned, chronic inflammation on scalp is thought to be one of the main reasons of pattern hair loss. That’s why I find microneedling treatment(=microneedling induced scars + healing process) vs chronic inflammation induced hair loss to be contradictory. They both look related to inflammation.
Your feedback at anytime will be very much appreciated.
Once again, thanks a lot for your nice articles and study.
Hey Jacky,
It’s a great question. I believe I’ve mentioned it a few times here before (maybe in a different article), but acute inflammation and chronic inflammation are different in terms of the duration of inflammation produced and the inflammatory responses (signaling protein and hormonal response profiles). Acute inflammation from microneedling produces growth factors associated with anagen hair cycling initiation. Of course there’s a dose-dependent response curve, and too much acute inflammation will be counterproductive. But in the amounts produced by 1.5mm, 192-count microneedling devices — things appear beneficial.
Best,
Rob
Hello and thanks for the well written article and analysis of the research. I have also seen the iranian article and it inspired me to research some more. I started learning about better hair care for my own curly hair and I had such great results that I decided to try it on my reluctant husband. Using common sense I realized it wont be the oil alone but that he will need a lot of scalp stimulation. I also threw away all our shampoos and I wash his hair only with rye flour (rich source of panthenol) and marseille soap (sulfate free). I treat his hair with a protein treatment like fermented rice water (to strengthen the hair follicles) and I do daily scalp massages with Jamaican black castor oil, infused with vitamin E oil and a few drops of tea-tree and rosemary oil. Even after only a month I am seeing a lot of micro hairs regrowing in places where his scalp was already shiny! Will report back in a month 🙂
Congrats An! This is great news!
Hey Rob. So I have been using the rosemary oil treatment protocol for about two weeks, a 20% rosemary oil 80% emu oil dilution and it seemed like it was working on my hair at first, there seemed to be new growth that I had not seen before when I let my rather sparse hair grow back. I was thrilled but then I noticed my hair started to get quite dry and a little rough, even if I washed and moisterized it. It even looked like some of the thicker areas had started to thin a bit. So I stopped immediately and after about a week of not doing anything in particular my hair returned to its natural softness and the thickness (considering) returned. I’m wondering what could have went wrong. Could have been the wrong dilution for me? Could it have been the fact that I used refined cold pressed emu oil as the carrier instead of unrefined? Could have been that I didn’t use a good enough quality rosemary oil? Or could have been that I just don’t react well to the rosemary oil treatment well in general? Any advice would be very much appreciated, thanks.
I have a combination of genetic hair loss (male-pattern) as well as hair loss related to hypothyroidism (I am taking a T3 supplement). I have thinning throughout my hair with a receding hairline. Willing to try just about anything at this point as thinning hair with scalp showing is a huge self esteem issue for females. Do you have any specific suggestions? Also, there are multiple chemotypes of Rosemary. I had read that Verbenone was the best for skin and hair, but most of the hair loss formulas I had seen use the 1,8 cineole.
I already use an Ayurvedic supplement for hair and Minoxidil (the higher percentage, recommended for males) per my dermatologist.
I have allergies to band aid adhesive and hair dye. Currently coloring with Henna. I use a very gentle shampoo.
Hey Kathy,
Have you tried also taking zinc and/or a multivitamin alongside T3 or Thyroxine? The reason I ask is because there is limited (but convincing) evidence that thyroid medications demand more zinc use from the body, and that if someone isn’t experiencing benefit from thyroid medication in terms of hair recovery or other health barometers, a zinc supplement might help:
https://perfecthairhealth.com/diffuse-hair-thinning-check-your-zinc-levels/
Otherwise, I believe the 1,8 cineole chemotype was what investigators standardized in the rosemary oil-hair loss study.
Best,
Rob
Hello Rob and everyone,
I’ve started yesterday with the rosemary oil diluted in almond oil, in a 10% concentration, and I’m waiting for a scalp head massager to arrive to start with a double daily session.
I still have plenty of hairs, let’s say I’m in the situation you were Rob, with thinning especially on the crown.
I went on a full no shampoo routine, as you suggested, but I had problem this morning removing the rosemary oil just with warm water. My hairs still feel greasy and, obviously, look thinner like when you apply the oil on them.
Any workaround?
What if I just do massages and skip applying the oil? Or should I just use some baking soda or the rosemary shampoo you mentioned to remove the rosemary oil in the morning?
Thanks.
I apply the oil after I take a shower at night, and leave it in until I take a shower again next night. Is this harmful to leave it in 24 hours like this or should I wash it off in the morning?
Hi Rob,
Thanks so much for this article. This is very helpfull.
I was wondering… do you have any personal experience with rosemary oil yourself?
I still have decent hair, only on the front part of my head my hair is bit thinner than the sides and back of my head. For a while I’ve been study this subject and I also read about the use of fresh garlic, onion and apple vinegar juice, blending it and filter the juice and apply it on the scalp.
It’s a lot of work and the smell of course. However, the apple vinegar makes the smell less. Anyway, after a couple weeks I saw new tin hairs at my hairline, but it takes a lot of time to hold on this whole ritual. The garlic contains a lot of sulfer which increase the blood circulation so that the hairs grow better. But now I know that garlic, onion and apple vinegar doesn’t block the DTH levels.
Since I read about the rosemary oil, sounds this can be a much better solution. It smells nice to me and easy to use. My hair will look a bit thinner when you applied the oil, but the good thing, the hairs looks darker. I just apply it at the evening and let it for a whole night. In the morning I wash it with just a little of natural olive Aleppo soap and my hair looks pretty good when its dried.
I will see how it work out after a while. If it really can block the DHT than Im really satisfied. Cause as far as I understand is that DTH is one of the main problems of hair loss right?
And what about saw palmetto? I heard good thing about it too. Maybe use saw palmetto as a supplement during dinner and rosemary oil on the scalp would be great.
I believe that for everything must be a natural solution. So where are they making that minoxidil stuf from anyway? People can not just create something new from scratch, right?
Btw.. would you let me know if you receive this comment, cause the first time I didn’t see my comment.
Hi Rob. I noticed that post 1 year there doesn’t seem to be people posting about “great news it’s working” ?
I would have thought we’d being seeing some of these by now?
Any thoughts on minoxidil combo with rosemary oil?
Can’t find any studies where they’ve assessed them together. But a bit afraid of some unknown interaction between the substances inhibiting individual positive effects rather than synergizing.
Hi Rob,
Thanks for the article. Does Rosemary oil on scalp cause hair shedding like Rogaine? Thanks.
Hey Alvin – it’s hard to say! Part of the challenge is that, just like minoxidil, there are a range of possible first-level responses for anyone trying rosemary oil. For instance, with minoxidil, not everyone experiences hair shedding, but for those who do, researchers attribute the shed to telogen hairs transitioning more rapidly back into anagen hairs than they would during our normal hair cycle:
https://jddonline.com/articles/dermatology/S1545961617P0690X/
So in these cases, shedding might be a good sign of improved density to come. And the same relationship might hold true for rosemary (we just don’t know).
In general, I wouldn’t focus on short-term shedding while testing any topical. Instead, I’d focus on taking quality progress photos and giving yourself 6-12 months of time before fully evaluating your progress.
Best,
Rob
Thank you, Rob!
Hello Rob. I have been using peppermint tincture for the second week (putting it on the hair roots, partings). I remember that you once said in comments that peppermint is similar in properties to rosemary. Although you didn’t do the article itself on peppermint, because of the similarity to rosemary, do you think it is worthwhile to use peppermint tincture on a regular basis or is it necessary to take breaks for a month sometimes?
Hey Lexonnel,
It’s a great question. Peppermint and rosemary are from the same family and therefore share some of the same volatile acids. But in terms of efficacy in hair growth for AGA, only rosemary oil has been studied. Peppermint oil has only been studied on rats (and nearly everything grows hair on rats).
If you’re noticing some benefit to peppermint oil, then by all means keep using it. But if there’s not a specific reason why you’ve chosen peppermint oil over rosemary oil, I’d just switch to rosemary 🙂 At least in that regard, you’ll be using something that’s clinically studied.
Best,
Rob
“Dermarolling and massaging are both forms of scalp mechanical stimulation. … Two different hair loss treatments; yet two similar mechanisms of action at play. And when we compare those photo sets to our one-off case study, it’s harder to deny that these mechanisms of action may promote a strong, synergistic hair regrowth effect. The bottom line: research shows that mechanical stimulation (like massaging or dermarolling) increases the efficacy of vasodilators like Rogaine or rosemary oil.”
Reading this through again, there is a massive leap made here. The success of a topical vasodilator with dermarolling does not imply the same result with the topical plus massaging. They are both forms of mechanical stimulation, yes, but with a glaring difference. The dermaroller is making holes in the epidermis leading to MUCH greater absorption of the vasodilator topical. You simply cannot extrapolate from this that mechanical stimulation in general increases the efficacy of topical vasodilators. Puncturing the epidermis does.
That being said, I agree inflammation generation and vasodilation are synergistic for growth.
Hey Steve,
You’re right! I’ve updated the article to better reflect your points. Thanks for catching this.
Best,
Rob
Hi rob im on a natural treatment with topical and supplements. Only naturals and i have great results. I have hair who regrowth back in the part that i was losing ( in my crown ).
My topical oil is composed with odorless garlic oil, rosemary, cedar wood, pepper mint. Use it with something like olive oil. The garlic oil i purchased is mixed with olive oil i think.
And i take a supplement for people with prostate hypertrophy. It contain pumpkin seed oil, saw palmetto, nettle, heather, pygeum, zinc, vitamin E.
It needs at leats 3.5 months to see resultats. On me it worked and now i going to try to continue it with a dermaroller, and more supplements (vitamin B,…), and try to be more really more consistent.
I will keep you informed if you want?
Hey Walid,
That sounds great! Please keep us posted with how things progress for you. A lot of natural / herbal extracts have type II 5-alpha reductase inhibiting properties. While they’re often less effective than finasteride, they can work great for a lot of people – especially if you combine them with things like microneedling and/or massaging.
Best,
Rob
Hi Rob
I just discovered your site and it really interested me as I have started receding a little over the years from my 30s but not so much as you would notice. In recent years it has progressed and a few months ago I looked into Nail rubbing but found it hard to stay committed to doing that every day. Then a couple of months ago I ordered a 1 mm Derma roller which I used solely without any chemicals or products for a about a month. Then about a month ago I read that peppermint oil has had just as much success as Minoxidil and as I’m a bit concerned about the side effects I chose peppermint oil. I wash my hair once or twice a week with peppermint oil in my shampoo. I also started massaging my scalp with peppermint oil mixed with jojoba oil.
Maybe I’m imagining it but I feel little hairs on the hairline growing but maybe its just miniaturisation but I could have sworn I have a new hair! Oh I also started taking Biotin tablets as I heard good things about this! Its only been a week so far so not sure if they are having an effect but will give them a try for a few months.
I’m 42 now and I would love to get my hair back to the way it was or as close to it when I was in my younger years! My dad was 77 when he passed and had a full head of hair. But I think my grandfather on my mums side was bald.
I’ve also looked into diet and thought maybe I could be deficient as I’m a pretty fussy eater. Started eating spinach as it contains biotin and other vitamins. A lot of the foods that contain Biotin I don’t really eat. I normally eat chicken, fries occasionally but not much green vegetables. A few years ago I had anaemia which caused my hair to fall out a lot but the Doctors fixed this with blood transfusions, B12 injections and Iron tablets.
Hey Tony,
Thanks for reaching out. If you’re looking for dietary assistance, this article is one of the best resources here:
https://perfecthairhealth.com/best-diet-hair-loss/
I wouldn’t put too much stock into biotin supplementation. Having said that, iron deficiencies and vitamin D deficiencies can certainly drive a form of hair loss known as telogen effluvium. So you may want to investigate further there, and make sure you’re staying out of the danger zone.
Best,
Rob
I’m thinking about trying Rosemary oil for my hair loss. I have always had really thick hair. I recently had life saving abdominal surgery. I was in hospital for three weeks and in a nursing home rehab facility for six weeks. I was on all kinds of drugs of course. I noticed I was losing hair in the front. As a former hair dresser I knew what I was seeing and didn’t like it. I wear my hair short these days, but even it had been thick and wavy. I’ve been using Nioxcin shampoo and treatment. I have to be careful what kind of hair loss products I use because of some of the medicines I’m on. According to some nurse friends of mine it’s not uncommon to experience some hair loss after surgery with a general anesthetic . I was kept in a drug induced coma for four days so lots of drugs were used on me. I’m blessed to be alive but I want my hair back. I would appreciate any help uou can give me. Thank you. Billie
It’s funny I found this, because i was looking for shampoos on amazon. I had tried three and no luck. I was about to give up and found this aloe vera shampoo and was reading reviews. It was the highest rating of an affordable shampoo I had seen yet. In one of the reviews, someone showed pictures of him using this shampoo with Rosemary Oil on his head. I was amazed. So I looked up Rosemary Oil on amazon and found all these pictures of hair regrowth. I mean more than rogaine and other hair treatments. So I bought that aloe vera shampoo and Rosemary oil and started it 24 days ago. I’ve been amazed at the new hairs growing in on top. I was full bald with just some hairs on the side. I can now cover up most of my baldness on top. I’ve just been putting the rosemary oil right on top and rub it in. Leaving it on for 20 minutes and getting in the shower and putting the shampoo in my hair. Doing it twice a day. I would strongly suggest it. I’m 42 and I don’t expect all my hairs to grow back in, but already the improvement is insane.
Hi Rob,
I just want to mention one mistake. Quate: “This volatile oil (rosemary oil) contains a number of bioactive antioxidants – rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, ethanolic acid, 1,8-cineole, and camphor (to name only a few).”
It should be ethanolic extract, not acid. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691512009118
I am wondering what are the effects as one is taking the rosemary treatment for the first time. Will one lose hair similarly to what happens when initiating minoxidil treatment before the new hair starts to grow again? And if one decides to stop treatment, will there be hair loss again like seen when stopping minoxidil treatment?
Since rosemary oil works similarly to minoxidil by improving blood flow to the area, I am assuming it should then have similar side effects in this respect?
Hi Rob, could you maybe give me advice on what to do about my thinning hair? Have been using rogaine for almost a year and my hair has been shedding a lot and has not stopped. I recently started using Burdock oil and shampoo that has Saw palmetto extract. But still, after 3 months of use, my hair is falling out. I am not sure what to do at this point. I am starting to see more thinning on my crown. I also use derma roll but still nothing. I want to try rosemary oil, which is how I stumbled upon your website.
Hi, what variety of rosemary essential oil should be used? Thanks!
Hi Rob,
Can i do Derma rolling without applying any topical or Min / Fid treatment?
Thanks,
Akash