Can I spray rosemary water on my hair everyday?

Quick Answer

It is generally safe and potentially beneficial to spray rosemary water on your hair every day. Rosemary is known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties that can improve scalp health, stimulate hair growth, and reduce hair loss when applied topically. However, some people may experience scalp irritation or allergic reactions from rosemary essential oil. It’s best to dilute rosemary oil properly and do a patch test before regular use. Using rosemary water daily may dry out the hair if not properly diluted or moisturized.

What Is Rosemary Water?

Rosemary water is a diluted solution of rosemary essential oil and water. It is made by steeping fresh or dried rosemary leaves/needles in hot water, or by mixing a few drops of rosemary essential oil into water.

The main active ingredient in rosemary is rosmarinic acid, which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Other beneficial phytochemicals include camphor, caffeic acid, ursolic acid, and carnosic acid.^[1]

Rosemary water has become popular for its hair and scalp benefits. It is gentler than using the concentrated essential oil directly.

Benefits of Rosemary Water for Hair

Here are some of the top ways rosemary water may benefit hair health and growth:

May Stimulate Hair Follicles

Rosemary is thought to increase blood circulation to the scalp and stimulate hair follicles, potentially encouraging new hair growth.^[2]

One study found that topical application of rosemary leaf extract significantly increased the number of hair follicles in mice after 6 weeks.^[3]

The rosmarinic acid in rosemary is believed to help stimulate follicles and prolong the growth phase of hair.^[4]

May Slow Graying

The antioxidants in rosemary may help protect hair pigment from oxidative stress and slow the graying process.

Melanin is responsible for giving hair its color. Oxidative damage can degrade melanin over time, causing gray strands.^[5]

Compounds like carnosic acid demonstrate antioxidant activity that helps preserve melanin in hair follicles.^[6]

May Reduce Hair Loss

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common type of hair loss, caused by a combo of genetics and male sex hormones called androgens.

Rosemary is traditionally used to help treat alopecia. The rosmarinic acid may help block the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that causes follicles to shrink in androgenetic alopecia.^[7]

One study of patients with alopecia areata found that rosemary oil helped regrow hair in some cases better than the medication minoxidil after 6 months.^[8]

So for those experiencing hair thinning from DHT sensitivity, rosemary water could potentially promote regrowth when applied consistently.

May Support Scalp Health

Dandruff, dermatitis, and fungal infections can all detrimentally impact hair growth and quality.

Rosemary contains antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory compounds that may improve overall scalp health when applied topically. This helps create an optimal environment for strong, healthy hair.^[9]

The rosmarinic acid in rosemary demonstrates antimicrobial effects against common scalp infections like candida.^[10]

May Protect from Damage

Environmental oxidants and free radicals from things like pollution, UV rays, and smoke can damage hair follicles and cause brittleness.

Using antioxidant-rich rosemary may protect strands from some of this oxidative stress and environmental damage when used preemptively.^[11]

Does Rosemary Water Really Make Hair Grow?

While rosemary contains beneficial properties for hair health, more research is still needed to conclusively determine its efficacy for hair growth.

Some small studies demonstrate rosemary’s potential to increase hair count in alopecia patients. However, exact mechanisms are still not fully understood.

It’s possible the effects could be most noticeable for those experiencing hair thinning or loss. But for the average person, rosemary water may simply support scalp health and help maintain current hair quality and growth.

It likely won’t produce drastic increased growth on its own. But used as part of an overall hair care routine, rosemary can be a beneficial natural addition for healthy, vibrant hair.

Studies on Rosemary and Hair Growth

Here is a brief summary of some notable studies on rosemary for promoting hair growth:

– A 1998 study found that rosemary essential oil helped alopecia patients regrow scalp hair after 7 months of treatment.^[12]

– A 2015 study found rosemary leaf extract applied topically for 6 weeks increased hair follicles by 12% in mice.^[3]

– A 2016 study found that topical application of rosemary leaf extract helped prevent UVB radiation damage to hair follicles in mice.^[13]

– A 2019 study found that rosemary oil was as effective as 2% minoxidil for increasing hair growth over 6 months for androgenetic alopecia patients.^[8]

Much more research is still needed, but these studies show promising potential for rosemary’s hair growth properties.

How to Use Rosemary Water for Hair

If you want to test out rosemary water for yourself, here are some tips:

As a Scalp Spray

– Make rosemary water by boiling 1 cup water with 2-3 tbsp fresh rosemary. Let cool.
– Pour into a spray bottle and spritz onto scalp and hair before showering.
– Let sit for 5-10 minutes then shampoo as normal.

As a Rinse

– Steep rosemary leaves or add a few drops oil to 1-2 cups water.
– After shampooing, pour the rosemary water through your hair as a final rinse.
– For dry hair, follow with a moisturizing conditioner.

With Other Oils

– Add a few drops each of rosemary, peppermint, and lavender oils to 2 tbsp carrier oil like jojoba or coconut.
– Massage into scalp and leave for 30 minutes before washing out.

With Shampoo/Conditioner

– Add 5-10 drops rosemary oil to your regular shampoo or conditioner bottle.
– Shake well before each use to disperse the oil through your hair product.

How Often Can You Use Rosemary Water?

There is no official guideline on how often to use rosemary for hair. Most sources recommend 1-2 times per week as a scalp treatment to help avoid overuse.

However, using rosemary water as a quick daily rinse or spray is likely fine for most people. Pay attention to your scalp and hair health for any signs of irritation.

Reduce frequency of use if you experience any itching, redness, or scalp dryness after using rosemary water. Discontinue use if irritation persists.

Can You Leave Rosemary Water in Overnight?

Leaving rosemary water on the scalp and hair overnight could potentially enhance its benefits by prolonging contact time.

However, essential oils can sometimes cause skin irritation when left on for extended periods. It depends on the concentration and your individual sensitivity.

If using a diluted spray or rinse, an overnight leave-in treatment should be fine for most people. But test a small area first, and discontinue use if any irritation occurs.

If applying a higher concentration oil blend, it may be best to wash it out after 30-60 minutes max. Leaving highly concentrated oils overnight increases the risk of skin sensitivity.

Rosemary Water Hair Rinse Recipe

Here is an easy rosemary rinse recipe you can make at home:

Ingredients

– 2 cups water
– 2-3 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves or 1-2 tsp dried
– 5-10 drops rosemary essential oil (optional)

Instructions

1. Bring water to a boil. Remove from heat.
2. Add rosemary leaves and let steep 15-20 minutes.
3. Strain out leaves and pour liquid into a bottle.
4. Add rosemary essential oil if desired.
5. Shake well before using.
6. After shampooing, pour or spray rinse through hair. Leave for a few minutes before rinsing out.
7. Apply conditioner or other styling products as desired.

Does Rosemary Water Lighten Hair?

Rosemary does not contain any bleaching ingredients, so it will not dramatically lighten hair or cause blatant color changes. However, there is some debate on whether it may slightly enhance lightening over time.

Some theories suggest rosemary may help lighten hair a shade or two, or gradually highlight natural lighter strands. Possible reasons include:

– Antioxidants protecting melanin from oxidizing, preventing darker pigment formation^[14]

– Improved scalp circulation and removal of oil/product buildup could expose lighter hair shades^[15]

– Dihydroquercetin in rosemary may have slight depigmenting effects^[16]

However, more research would be needed to determine if rosemary use truly causes subtle lightening long-term. The effect is likely very minimal if any.

Those with darker hair colors are better candidates for any potential lightening effects. Blondes are unlikely to see a noticeable change from rosemary alone.

Does Rosemary Water Increase Dandruff?

Rosemary water should actually help decrease dandruff when used on a regular basis, due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Dandruff is caused by a fungal infection and/or irritated skin. The antifungal and anti-inflammatory activity in rosemary can calm the scalp and reduce fungus overgrowth.^[17]

Rosemary’s compounds like rosmarinic acid, camphor, and carnosic acid can all reduce common scalp infections.^[10]

However, always do a patch test before regular use. A small percentage of people may experience scalp irritation or allergic contact dermatitis from rosemary.^[18] Discontinue use if any adverse reaction occurs.

Conclusion

Using rosemary water as a daily scalp spray or rinse could offer benefits for hair health, including:

– Stimulating circulation and hair follicles
– Slowing graying from antioxidant activity
– Reducing hair loss linked to DHT levels
– Improving scalp health and infections
– Protecting from environmental damage

The research is still limited but shows promising potential. Rosemary water is generally safe for daily use for most people when properly diluted. It may enhance hair growth results when combined with other treatments like minoxidil or microneedling.

Pay attention to any scalp irritation with regular use. Adjust frequency as needed. Rosemary water is an easy, natural addition to any hair care routine for stronger, healthier hair.