A recent beauty trend that has gained traction is the use of rosemary for scalp massages. Rosemary is also trending as a special ingredient in strengthening and lengthening hair treatments. The claim is that rosemary has the power to accelerate hair growth. Myth or reality? The ancient technique of Hair Oiling has deep roots. Let's explore it together!

Does rosemary really make hair grow faster and stronger? In this article, we'll delve into how this belief has spread and how to perform a scalp massage with rosemary or rinse with rosemary water to test the actual effectiveness of what thousands of influencers assert. Here's what you'll find in this article:

• #rosemarywater: The TikTok Trend
• The Benefits of Rosemary
• Rinsing Hair with Rosemary Water
• Scalp Massage: Benefits and Functions
• Scalp Massage with Rosemary
• Conclusion: Does Rosemary Truly Accelerate Hair Growth?

#rosemerywater: The TikTok Trend

If you happen to come across the TikTok trend #rosemerywater, it seems that hundreds of thousands of people have finally discovered a way to expedite hair growth, thicken hair, and make it more voluminous, strong, and shiny. A dream come true? Probably not! When so many people visibly benefit from something as simple as rosemary water, there might be some truth to it!

The hashtag #rosemarywater has amassed a whopping 949.7 million views to date, with viral videos demonstrating how to create rosemary water, how to apply it, and showcasing beautiful, shiny hair. The most frequently recurring video is the recipe for making rosemary water at home: boiling rosemary yields a dark liquid used for hair rinsing. Many influencers with millions of followers have started performing this rinse daily and claim to have seen results as early as the first week. Can we trust this?

It appears that we can summarize the actions that numerous individuals take to achieve fabulous results from rosemary:

- Rinsing hair with rosemary water
- Scalp massage using essential rosemary oil.

Rosemary: Benefits of the Plant

Who would have thought that an ingredient we've always had in the kitchen would be the philosopher's stone for our hair? The ultimate solution for having strong, beautiful, and shiny locks was in the little plant we were growing on our terrace!

As we read in our Glossary, rosemary is an aromatic plant from the Lamiaceae family with highly fragrant leaves. Native to Mediterranean countries, it grows wild along the coastal strip and up to 1500 meters above sea level. The etymology of its name is quite controversial: according to some, it would derive from the Latin "ros" meaning "dew" and "maris" meaning "sea," that is, "dew of the sea." In any case, regardless of its origin, it's always closely associated with the sea.

It's a plant rich in essential oils, flavonoids, tannins, and also contains rosmarinic acid with antioxidant properties. Many studies have indeed shown that the active compounds in rosemary have the ability to inhibit superoxide anion, a highly toxic and reactive free radical responsible for cellular oxidation.

The versatility of this aromatic herb makes it a valuable ingredient for cosmetic use: it's an excellent astringent and skin purifier that can be used for treating oily skin. Rosemary hydrosol, obtained through steam distillation of the plant's leaves, can also be used as a tonic for acne care, as it soothes blemishes and counteracts the bacterial proliferation responsible for new pimples.

But let's get to us: rosemary hydrosol is also great for hair, especially in cases of oily or problematic scalps. Thanks to its disinfectant properties, it purifies the scalp and regulates sebum production. When used for rinsing, it stimulates hair follicle regrowth and is therefore recommended for baldness or alopecia. It can also be misted onto hair, as its acidic pH closes the cuticles and makes hair shiny.

When we read INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) lists, we can find the name "Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower Extract": this is rosemary extract obtained from the leaves and flowers of the Rosmarinus officinalis plant. It's an excellent scalp and hair follicle stimulant, and it also regulates sebum secretion and dandruff production. On the skin, the extract is used as a purifier in shampoos, shower gels, bath oils, and specific products for acne treatment, as an astringent in toothpaste preparation, and as an antimicrobial in anti-lice lotions.

Another name we find in INCI lists is "Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil": in this case, it's rosemary essential oil. It's an excellent anti-aging ingredient and helps combat skin dryness by providing antioxidants that make the skin more elastic. It also has a refreshing and antibacterial action; in cosmetics, it's used in toothpaste production as well. It's ideal for scalp massage due to its sebum-regulating and stimulating effects.

A separate note, the rosemary essential oil from La Saponaria comes from a Fair project in North Africa. This project ensures fair compensation for all workers involved in the process. The certified organic oils are carefully processed, and experienced agronomists regularly verify the quality of all crops. Thanks to this beautiful Fair project, small farmers can perform their work at their best, receiving training in new cultivation methods and benefiting from funds allocated for local health and education improvement.

The rosemary we use to produce hydrosol is lovingly grown on a small organic farm in Italy where the owners care for the land attentively to guarantee the highest quality of their productions.

Rinsing Hair with Rosemary Water

Given the undeniable properties of rosemary, here's the recipe that can be found on TikTok in particular and all over the internet in general for creating the now-famous Rosmary Water.

1. Boil a liter of distilled water.
2. Add a handful of dried rosemary leaves.
3. Let it infuse for five hours.
4. Once cooled, the mixture can be diluted either in water to form a rinse or in shampoo. In both cases, create a four-to-one ratio.
5. Use the rosemary water rinse on your hair after washing it with shampoo. Then, rinse.
   
   

Don't feel like making rosemary water at home? You can always use rosemary hydrosol: you can spray it directly on your hair as a final acidic rinse after shampooing. In this case, further rinsing with water won't be necessary. To learn more about acid rinsing, you can read our article here.

You can also spray rosemary hydrosol on your hair every evening or morning without having to wash them: hydrosol, in general, helps close the hair cuticles and makes them silkier and shinier. Rosemary hydrosol also has this specific stimulating action on growth.

Scalp Massage: Benefits and Functions

Scalp massage is an age-old practice that, in addition to being extremely relaxing, offers a wide range of benefits for hair and scalp health. Despite often being underestimated, this simple gesture can become a beauty and wellness ritual capable of not only improving the appearance of hair but also our emotional state.

Here are the main benefits of performing a scalp massage:

• Promotes blood circulation: Scalp massage stimulates blood circulation in the area. Good circulation is essential for providing hair follicles with the nutrients they need to grow and remain healthy. Improved blood flow can help prevent hair loss and contribute to the growth of stronger and shinier hair. This is where rosemary comes in; it undoubtedly helps, but consistently massaging the scalp also has undeniable advantages in terms of blood circulation. This is why consistent massaging yields measurable results in a relatively short time!
  
  
• Reduces stress and anxiety: The scalp is one of the areas of the body where tension and stress accumulate. A gentle massage releases this tension, promoting a sense of calm and overall well-being. Furthermore, massage stimulates the production of endorphins, the hormones of happiness, which help reduce anxiety and improve our overall mood. Less anxiety means less stress, and less stress means a reduction in hair loss! Remember that stress is among the causes of hair loss. 
  
  
• Fights dandruff and sebum buildup: Regularly massaging the scalp can help remove dead skin cells and sebum buildup, thus preventing dandruff formation. A deep cleansing through massage can also free blocked follicles, promoting the growth of new hair and maintaining a clean and healthy scalp. For a healthy scalp, it's also recommended to perform a scalp scrub once a month, capable of purifying and invigorating the skin by eliminating dead cells that would otherwise remain on the surface.
  
  
• Improves hair health: A well-massaged scalp helps improve hair health in various ways. In addition to promoting hair growth, the massage helps distribute the natural sebum, an oil produced by scalp glands, along the length of the hair. This contributes to keeping them hydrated and less prone to breakage or dryness.
  
  
• Enhances the effectiveness of hair products: Scalp massage can increase the effectiveness of hair care products, such as shampoos, conditioners, or specific treatments. Gently massaging the scalp while applying these products helps them absorb better and penetrate deeper into the hair roots.

Scalp Massage with Rosemary Oil

When we apply oil on hair, we talk about Hair Oiling, an ancient technique that is back in trend today for its undeniable benefits. The purpose of hair oiling is to protect hair bulbs, stimulating cell turnover and microcirculation. The oil, in fact, rich in essential amino acids, has a strong moisturizing and nourishing power on the scalp and hair roots. But its valuable benefits do not stop there: it also acts as a heat protector and restructuring for the hair, even on those more fine and stressed. Putting oil on your hair is good for the hair from top to ends!

Having established the undeniable benefits of scalp massage and its overall effects on hair well-being and growth, let's now explore how to perform a scalp massage with rosemary oil.

Simply take rosemary essential oil and, as is always the case with essential oils, dilute it with a carrier oil. Our TikTok friends recommend coconut oil, which is widely used and known to have many benefits for hair. Alternatively, you could use castor oil, which has specific functionalities for improving hair growth.

For a scalp massage with rosemary oil, you could use:

- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or castor oil
- 5 drops of rosemary essential oil

How to Perform a Scalp Massage with Rosemary Oil

Mix the obtained mixture in a small bowl, wet your fingers, and run them over your scalp.
Massage thoroughly across the entire scalp area, focusing on the hairline, the nape of the neck, and behind the ears. Another area to stimulate with particular attention is the frontal hairline. Gently massage with soft, circular motions.
You can also distribute the oil along the entire length of your hair.
Leave the oil on for at least 4 hours before proceeding with your regular shampoo and conditioner routine.

On our Instagram profile, we've also created a Reel specifically about scalp massage with rosemary:

Nothing stops us from using our fingers and a small bowl to apply oil for hair oiling, but if we want to follow the latest trend, we can also use an oil container with spouts to apply directly to the scalp. This makes it easier to distribute the oil over the scalp. There are also specific brushes available for scalp massages; some are made of silicone, though many people also use a bamboo hairbrush, which is great for massaging the scalp.

After applying the oil, we can massage it in with our fingers, or we can use these popular tools. Don’t forget to apply the oil to the lengths of your hair as well, then gather your hair into a wrap for at least 4 hours. Some people wrap their hair in plastic wrap or a shower cap, but this step is generally unnecessary if you don’t go overboard with the oil on the lengths; it's better to save materials and avoid unnecessary waste.

How often should you do hair oiling? You can do it 1 or 2 times a week depending on your specific needs. If your hair is very damaged and your scalp dehydrated, you can oil twice a week. If you don’t have specific needs but want fuller, stronger, shinier hair, once a week is enough.

Should you apply oil to the lengths of your hair when it’s wet or dry? In general, if you don’t use too much oil, you can also apply it to dry hair. This makes application easier in the winter or if you have issues with neck sensitivity. If you prefer to apply it on damp hair, there’s no substantial difference in the absorption of active ingredients either way.

Conclusion: Does Rosemary Make Hair Grow Faster?

Does rosemary make hair grow faster and make it stronger, more beautiful, and shiny? There are ongoing studies (for example, you can consult a study published on PubMed) that support the importance of rosemary in anti-hair loss treatments. In general, we can say that consistency is the key factor if you want to achieve longer, stronger, and shinier hair!

Massaging the scalp 1 or 2 times a week has undeniable benefits, and doing it with rosemary will certainly enhance its effectiveness. Hair masks, acidic rinses with hydrosols, and similar treatments will make the hair strands stronger. So, it's a great idea to choose natural oils and add a few drops of rosemary for your massage or incorporate rosemary hydrosol or rosemary water into your hair care routine.

With consistency, you can achieve significant results.

However, if you are dealing with significant hair weakening or excessive hair loss, you can perform similar treatments with more specific hair care products, such as the Anti-Hair Loss Lotion or the Soothing and Strengthening Lotion. When it comes to choosing shampoo and conditioner, you can opt for the Anti-Hair Loss Shampoo or the Solid Energy Shampoo and Strength Solid Conditioner, along with the Restorative Hair Mask. To learn more, you can read our in-depth article here.