I lost half my hair & my mental health took a battering… but a secret family hair oil recipe helped it grow back
IT’S the so-called miracle product flying off shelves nationwide.
But does rosemary oil really live up to the social media hype and help strengthen our tresses?
With bold claims that it will help boost hair growth and thickness of follicles, women are using the oil, which has gone viral on TikTok, to restore their manes after suffering from hair loss.
In the past year alone, Google searches for rosemary oil have spiked by 395 per cent, while boots.com has seen a 579 per cent increase in those seeking the product.
Essential oil brand Tisserand Aromatherapy has seen sales of its rosemary organic essential oil double in a year, as customers stock up on the super-ingredient.
On TikTok, #scalpcare is trending, with over 1.6billion views and #healthyscalp has a further 164million.
But topping them all is #rosemaryoil, which has racked up over 2.8bn views thanks to the purported hair-growth benefits.
One woman who vouches for the credibility of the oil was desperate for her locks to start growing back after losing all her hair during cancer treatment.
Ruth Shoult reluctantly shaved her head after strands started coming out following her second dose of chemo and her human hair wigs were no substitute to a real glossy mane.
‘Hair loss can affect self-esteem’
“I’d seen people on TikTok talking about rosemary oil and how it can aid hair growth,” says the 42-year-old from Milton Keynes.
“I wondered if it might be a social media fad but my chemo nurses recommended it too, along with other breast cancer patients in support groups I joined.
“I ordered a bottle from TikTok Shop for £8 and said to myself, ‘What have I got to lose?’.”
Seven months after starting her hair oiling regime, the mum-of-three is delighted with her thick, soft regrowth so far, which has come back in grey curls.
“My hair is in better condition than before my cancer,” says Ruth, an operations administrator.
“I’d damaged my old hair with years of bleaching and now it’s in lovely condition. I’m convinced the oil has helped and recommend it to all of my friends.
“The fact it is a natural product was important as I’m wary about chemicals since my diagnosis last March.
“I can’t say for certain if my hair would be different without it, but I’ve enjoyed the ritual of massaging my scalp, applying it and leaving it in for half an hour before my shower.”
Converts like Ruth are falling over their locks to show their before and after hair transformations.
But is rosemary oil simply snake oil, preying on the vulnerability of those who are desperate to regrow their fallen locks?
According to haircare brand John Frieda, more than 70 per cent of women say thinning hair affects their self-confidence, making it understandable they would seek solutions.
“Hair loss can have significant emotional consequences, often affecting self-esteem and confidence,” says trichologist Hannah Gaboardi.
“The anxiety associated with hair loss can create a cyclical pattern where worrying exacerbates the problem.”
She says hormone changes during pregnancy, post-birth and around menopause, as well as stress, can be triggers.
Rosemary oil, extracted from the medicinal herb, has been used for centuries for everything from easing coughs to boosting memory.
Suggestion it could help with dandruff
When it comes to hair, the theory is that it increases circulation to the scalp, which helps nutrients reach follicles, promoting healthier hair.
It is also anti-bacterial, helping kill germs, as well as anti-inflammatory, which may reduce irritation and sensitivity, while the oil itself adds nourishment.
Science seems to back some of the claims.
An Iranian study compared the impact of rosemary oil with minoxidil two per cent — a topical prescription ointment — for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, more commonly known as male and female pattern baldness.
Men rubbed the treatments into their scalp twice a day, for six months — and scientists recorded a similar increase in hair thickness after six months.
Those who used the rosemary oil reported less itching and irritation.
This suggests it was more tolerable and could also help dandruff.
There was another study, of people with alopecia areata, where the immune system attacks the follicles.
It found that 44 per cent of those who applied a rosemary essential oil blend into their scalp daily for seven months showed reduced hair loss.
‘I wouldn’t leave the house without a hat’
This compared to 15 per cent in a control group who used neutral jojoba and grapeseed.
Nosheen Choudhry, 34, from London, turned to rosemary oil after struggling for years with alopecia and telogen effluvium — hair shedding, often caused by stress or illness.
She says: “I was 27 and large clumps were falling out, which really affected my mental health.
“I lost 50 per cent of my hair.
“At my lowest point, I would only leave my house wearing a hat, but most of the time I didn’t want to go out.
“I saw doctors to try to get help, but no one took it seriously.
“Eventually, I tried a hair oil recipe that had been in my family for generations.
“My mum started oiling my hair twice a week, religiously.
“There was a huge improvement.
“The hair loss slowed and eventually stopped.
“When it grew back, it was so much better than before.”
The transformation led the former haircare worker to launch her own brand, in September 2020.
Nosheen Hair Oil, has been certified by health regulators.
‘Treating hair from the inside out’
But it is important to note that those who buy rosemary oil in its undiluted form must apply it carefully.
“Make sure you are diluting it with another oil-based product and massaging it into your scalp,” advises Hannah Gaboardi.
“I recommend mixing four or five drops with a teaspoon of oil, like coconut oil.
“Scalp massaging alone can help increase hair thickness by stretching the cells of hair follicles, which then stimulates the follicles to produce thicker hair.”
But she adds that you need to take a holistic approach to improving hair growth, with a balanced diet and a lifestyle that limits stress and increases sleep.
“Treating hair from the inside out is, in my opinion, the best way to maintain hair health and to boost the hair’s condition at home.
“Also, seek professional advice to ensure there is no underlying health reason for continued loss.”
What the experts recommend…
Mielle Organics rosemary mint hair masque, £10.49: Leaves hair soft, shiny and frizz-free.
Aveeno Haircare Volumising+ Fresh Greens Blend shampoo with rosemary, £7.99: Gently cleanses and calms irritated scalps.
Boots rosemary oil for scalp and hair, £6: Pre-mixed so there is no risk you will apply too much.
Weleda rosemary revitalising hair tonic, £13.95: Has a water-like consistency that is great for those prone to oily roots.