What is most effective for hair growth?

If you’re trying to grow your hair, castor oil and rosemary oil are natural hair remedies that provide moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. Rosemary oil is more likely to promote hair growth from the hair follicle, while castor oil helps moisturize and strengthen hair to promote healthy growth.

Both castor oil and rosemary oil are touted as natural remedies for hair growth. However, research supporting these claims is limited.

Rosemary oil is more likely to help improve hair growth because it increases blood flow to the scalp and nourishes the hair follicles. This is the same way hair growth medications like Rogaine (minoxidil) work to stimulate hair growth.

In a 6-month study including men suffering from male pattern hair loss, rosemary oil treatments were found to be just as effective as 2% minoxidil. However, higher doses of minoxidil 5% have not been tested.

There is no clear evidence that castor oil helps hair grow. Castor oil primarily helps moisturize the hair and scalp, which can promote healthy hair growth.

Rosemary oil is an essential oil made from the rosemary plant (Rosemary officinalis L.) with various healing properties.

Potential benefits of rosemary oil on hair growth include:

• Stimulates and regenerates hair follicles: Rosmarinic acid, found in rosemary oil, helps increase blood flow to the scalp. This helps nourish and stimulate hair follicles, thereby promoting healthy hair growth. Improving blood flow can also help regenerate hair follicles in people suffering from male pattern hair loss.
• Blocks androgens: Rosemary oil contains 12-methoxycarnosic acid, which may help block androgens that cause hair loss in both men and women. High levels of androgens can shrink hair follicles, shorten the growth phase and increase the shedding phase.
• Reduces and relieves fungal infections: Rosemary oil has antifungal properties that can help reduce fungal growth linked to dandruff and scalp infections. The anti-inflammatory properties can also help soothe irritation, itching, and dryness that can affect scalp health and hair growth.

Castor oil is a thick oil made from the seeds of the castor plant (Common tick). When ingested, castor oil acts as a laxative and promotes bowel movements. Castor oil is also used as a moisturizer when applied to the skin or hair.

Potential benefits of castor oil for hair growth include:

• Hydrates hair follicles: Castor oil contains many fatty acids, including ricinoleic acid, which help the hair and scalp retain moisture. By coating the hair and sealing in your natural oils, castor oil also helps improve shine and protect your hair from breakage.
• Prevents scalp infections: The ricin and ricinoleic acid in castor oil have antimicrobial properties that can help prevent bacterial and fungal infections of the scalp, which can contribute to hair loss.
• Soothes irritations: The ricinoleic acid in castor oil appears to help reduce inflammation and repair a damaged skin barrier. This effect can help soothe and heal an irritated scalp.
• Blocks enzymes linked to hair loss: Limited research shows that linoleic acid in cator oil may inhibit prostaglandin D2 synthase (PGD2). This enzyme can slow or stop hair growth. People with androgenetic alopecia, which is male or female pattern hair loss, have high levels of PGD2 on their scalp.

Rosemary oil is very concentrated and can irritate your scalp if used alone. Try adding a few drops of rosemary oil to argan, coconut, or jojoba oil and focus on massaging the mixture into your scalp. Allow the treatment to sit for approximately 5-10 minutes before rinsing. You can also add rosemary oil to the shampoo and wash as usual.

Castor oil is very thick and sticky and should also be mixed with a few drops of castor oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil, jojoba oil or argan oil. Next, massage the oil mixture into your scalp and apply it to your hair. Leave on for 5 to 10 minutes before shampooing.

If you have fine hair, using castor oil more than once a week can cause buildup and tangling. Hair types that need more moisture, such as curly or frizzy hair, can use castor oil 2 to 3 days a week.

You can also mix castor oil, rosemary oil, and a carrier oil to get the most benefits from both oils. However, if you suffer from hair loss, talk to your doctor before using castor or rosemary oil. You may have an underlying health problem that requires different treatment.

Rosemary and castor oils are generally safe, but both products can irritate the skin and cause allergic reactions. Allergic reactions to castor oil are more likely if you are allergic to the castor plant.

Highly concentrated rosemary oil is more likely to irritate your skin and should be diluted with a carrier oil or hair product. Always do a patch test to see how your skin reacts before applying a new product to your scalp.

Signs that may indicate an allergic skin reaction to rosemary or castor oil include:

• Redness
• Burning
• Itch
• Open wounds

Castor oil can also cause hair to tangle into a stiff, impossible-to-separate clump. This is called acute hair felting and can result in unwanted haircuts.