I have returned with another trending do-it-yourself (DIY) hair treatment that I noticed circulating on social media, and that is the rosemary water for hair growth.
August 2020, I announced on this platform that I was going to pursue the rice water challenge for hair growth on my natural hair, as I was not convinced a staple food, like rice could improve hair quality and promote hair growth.
Despite the volume of favorable outcomes that were shared online, specifically on YouTube, I was still a bit skeptical. The only way I was going to turn a skeptical prospect like myself into a believer, was to ultimately incorporate the rice water treatment into my hair regimen; being cognizant of the fact that: 1) what may work for others may not necessarily work for me and 2) all hair is not made equal.
If you care to know, three months of the treatment did not result in hair growth for me but it did warrant other benefits that were documented in this post that can be found here.
Nonetheless, here we are again, I have swayed myself to take part in the hype of using rosemary water on my natural hair; and assess for myself if there is any truth of what it claims to do, or if it is just simply a myth.
In this post, I will share everything you need to know about rosemary water; how to make it, its benefits, and how I intend to use the treatment. Continue reading to find out more.
What is Rosemary?
Salvia rosmarinus, better known as rosemary, a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), is an aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean region. The fragrant dark green, needle-like shaped leaves are widely used as a seasoning in a variety dishes like chicken, steaks, soups, casseroles, potatoes, etc.
Besides its long history of culinary use, the herb has been praised for its medicinal priorities; it alleviates muscle pain and spasm, improves memory, supports the immune and circulatory systems, and stimulates hair growth.
Benefits of Rosemary Water for Hair
Rosemary water is cited to offer many beneficial properties to encourage hair growth and the overall health of the hair. Researchers have found that rosemary oil is just as effective as minoxidil (an active ingredient in Rogaine) — which is a medication used to stimulate hair growth in men and women and to slow down baldness, so adding a few drops of rosemary oil may potentially strengthen the effectiveness of the DIY treatment. However, I am yet to find out.
Benefits of rosemary water:
- Contains anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties to alleviate dandruff and an itchy scalp
- Promotes hair thickness
- Increases blood circulation to the scalp which stimulates hair growth
- Adds shine to hair
- Reduces hair shedding and split-ends
- Consists of antioxidants which aid to protect the hair and the scalp from environmental stressors
- Strengthens hair
How to Make Rosemary Water Treatment
What you’ll need:
- Saucepan
- ½ – 1c Water *measurements varies*
- Rosemary sprigs/leaves
- Strainer
- Funnel
- Spray bottle
- *Optional* Rosemary oil
Disclaimer: There are more than one way to prepare this DIY treatment. However, this is the method I intend to use on my hair.
Preparation:
- In a saucepan boil ½-1 cup of water on the stovetop on medium-high.
- Rinse and add a handful of fresh sprigs/ leaves of rosemary to the boiled water.
- Boil for approximately 15 minutes
- Set aside the saucepan, cover with lid, and let the rosemary steep in the water for 30-45 minutes.
*I believe the longer it steeps, the more potent it will be* - Strain the rosemary water and discard the leaves.
Transfer the rosemary water into a spray bottle using a funnel, and there you have it, rosemary water is ready for use!
How I intend To Use the Rosemary Water Treatment
I shaved my head at the beginning of the year, and since then it has grown quite a bit; however, the thinning hair (due to traction alopecia) along my hairline has not caught up with the rest of it — where growth and density are concerned). With this in mind, I intend to focus the rosemary water specifically in that region to measure growth.
How to Use:
- Apply directly to the scalp, then gently massage in with fingertips
- Apply three times a week, either morning or night
- Store rosemary water in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. After that, use as a rinse after shampoo and/or rinse-out conditioner, and proceed with rest of wash day regimen
Stay tuned for FUTURE POST
(Rosemary Water Update)
Look forward to a hair update in a future post, where I will be sharing my results and thoughts after using the treatment.
In the Comments Below
Let me know if you have tried rosemary water on your hair, and what was the outcome for you? And if you have not, is this a treatment you plan to integrate into your hair regimen?
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