Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth: What the Research Shows and Two Black-Founded Oils to Try
Hair-growth oils are everywhere. Here is what the studies actually show, where they fall short, and two Black-founded rosemary oils worth a look.
By Black Beauty Founders Staff
Rosemary oil for hair growth is one of the most talked-about scalp treatments right now, and one small clinical trial found it worked about as well as 2 percent minoxidil over six months. Before another bottle lands in your wash day routine, here is what the research on rosemary oil and pumpkin seed oil actually shows, what it does not, and which Black-founded rosemary oils are worth a look.
Quick Links
What the research shows about rosemary oil
What about pumpkin seed oil?
Two Black-founded rosemary oils to know
How to use rosemary oil safely
Our take
What the Research Shows About Rosemary Oil
The study most people point to was published in 2015 in the journal SKINmed. Researchers randomly assigned 100 people with androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of pattern hair loss, to apply either rosemary oil or 2 percent minoxidil twice a day for six months. Both groups saw a significant increase in hair count, and the difference between the two was not statistically meaningful. The rosemary group also reported less scalp itching.
That is encouraging, but it comes with caveats. One hundred participants is a small sample, six months is a short window, and the trial tested minoxidil at 2 percent rather than the 5 percent strength many dermatologists recommend. Rosemary oil is not FDA-approved to treat hair loss, and the trial was not designed around textured hair, so results may not translate directly. Larger studies are still needed.
What About Pumpkin Seed Oil?
Pumpkin seed oil is the other ingredient showing up in hair-growth conversations. A 2014 randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 76 men with mild to moderate pattern hair loss found that those who took 400 milligrams of pumpkin seed oil in capsules daily for 24 weeks had about a 40 percent increase in hair count, compared with about 10 percent in the placebo group.
Two details matter. The participants were men, and the oil was taken by mouth, not applied to the scalp. The study was also supported by the company that supplied the capsules, and the authors say the result needs to be replicated. Treat it as an interesting early finding rather than a proven treatment, and check with your doctor before starting any supplement.
Two Black-Founded Rosemary Oils to Know
Camille Rose, founded by Janell Stephens, makes Rosemary Oil Strengthening Hair + Scalp Drops in a 1.9 fl oz dropper bottle. The formula is built on castor seed oil and olive fruit oil with rosemary leaf oil, tea tree leaf oil and menthol, and the brand suggests massaging two to three drops into the scalp, edges or ends.
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Kreyòl Essence, founded by Yve-Car Momperousse, makes a Rosemary Peppermint Haitian Black Castor Oil in a 3.4 oz glass bottle. It pairs 100 percent pure Haitian castor seed oil with peppermint and rosemary leaf oils, and the suggested routine is massaging it into the scalp and eyebrows three to four times a week. Availability varies by retailer, so check the brand’s site first.
How to Use Rosemary Oil Safely
Skip undiluted rosemary essential oil on your scalp. It is highly concentrated, which is why pre-blended oils like the two above are the easier route. If you mix your own, a common guideline is three to five drops per tablespoon of a carrier oil.
Patch test on your inner arm first and stop if you notice redness, itching or burning. Pregnant or nursing women, and anyone with epilepsy or high blood pressure, are commonly advised to check with a healthcare provider before using rosemary essential oil.
Finally, an oil is not a diagnosis. Sudden or patchy shedding, a widening part or a tender scalp can point to conditions such as traction alopecia or central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, which is common among Black women. If you see those signs, book a dermatologist.
Our Take
Rosemary oil is not a miracle, but it is a low-risk, well-loved ritual with early evidence behind it, and two Black founders are making it easy to try. The bigger lesson is for the Black beauty ecosystem: the brands that pair honest claims with real research will have the edge as shoppers get smarter about what a hair oil can and cannot do.
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