If you have acne-prone skin, a simple toner made from witch hazel, rosewater, and rosemary can soothe inflammation and stop breakouts. To attempt to get a similar benefit from rosemary essential oil that you’d get from minoxidil, replicate the concentration used in the 2015 study by making a 2% dilution of rosemary essential oil in a base of jojoba oil or aloe vera gel. Apply the mixture to your scalp every night, and stick with this regimen for at least six months—that’s how long it took for study participants to achieve results. Of course, talk to your doctor before trying anything different from your routine. However, if the results don’t work for you, you should know that not everybody agrees that rosemary oil is good for hair loss. Integrative dermatologist Cybele Fishman, M.D., said while she has not found it effective for hair loss, “it is an impressive antifungal.” Regardless, regularly treating your scalp with an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and hydrating treatment (thanks to the aloe or jojoba base) is good practice. Or if your hair is on the drier side, and you’re looking to clean the scalp regularly, you might consider an apple cider rinse, combined with rosemary. When only the concentrated rosemary essential oil will do, use it. Otherwise, it’s much more sustainable to use the whole plant. Besides, rosemary is easy to grow—and there’s nothing more potent or satisfying than making remedies with herbs you’ve grown yourself!
