​Rosemary Oil and Hair Growth is all the talk these days.

Last August I included an article in my newsletter under 3 Hair Trends That Will Be Everywhere This Summer about Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth.

Below is the article "Should I Use Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth?" from Healthline.com

​Should I Use Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth?

​Topically applied rosemary oil may help support hair growth and prevent hair loss. But applying too much can cause side effects.

Rosemary essential oil and hair

Rosemary is a culinary and healing herb. This woody perennial is native to the Mediterranean region, where it’s been used as food and medicine for centuries.

Much like oregano, peppermint, and cinnamon, rosemary is frequently found in essential oil form. Essential oils are highly concentrated and distilled extracts of volatile plant compounds. These are used for cooking, cleaning, beauty, health, and other purposes.

Rosemary essential oil is a common variety you can purchase and use as a home remedy. The oil’s health uses range from antioxidant benefits and anti-inflammation to memory enhancement and more.

In recent years, there have been claims that the oil may be great for hair growth. Some say it could even prevent hair loss, pointing to Mediterranean cultures’ use of rosemary in hair rinses to promote hair growth for hundreds of years as supporting evidence.

Can rosemary oil treat hair loss?

​The idea that rosemary oil encourages hair growth may come from the rosemary’s basic health benefits. The plant in essential oil form is said to:

• have anti-inflammatory properties
• promote nerve growth
• improve circulation

Like peppermint essential oil (also used to promote hair growth), rosemary essential oil strengthens circulation. As a result, it could prevent hair follicles from being starved of blood supply, dying off, and leading to hair loss.

Beyond stimulating hair growth, rosemary essential oil is used to prevent premature graying and dandruff. It may also help dry or itchy scalp.

Do studies support the claims?

According to some scientific evidence, rosemary may benefit nerve tissue.

Carnosic acid, an active ingredient in the plant, healed tissue and nerve damage in one study. This ability to heal nerve endings may rejuvenate nerves in the scalp too, in turn possibly restoring hair growth.

More revealing recent studies show that rosemary directly helps protect against hair loss. One 2015 trialTrusted Source pitted the essential oil against minoxidil, commercially known as Rogaine. Both were used on human subjects with androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness).

Results showed that rosemary essential oil was just as effective a minoxidil. During the process, it helped the side effect of itchy scalp more successfully than minoxidil.

Another studyTrusted Source of rosemary leaf extract (different from the essential oil) showed it stimulated hair growth. This occurred when hair loss was triggered by testosterone (as in pattern baldness). This study was performed on mice, however.

Two separate clinical reviews — one from 2010Trusted Source and one from 2011 — also acknowledge rosemary’s hair growth potential. The former cites a study with successful hair regrowth in people with alopecia who used essential oils. One of these essential oils was rosemary.

In the latter review, rosemary essential oil was described as a hair loss restorative. This was due to its circulation-improving effects.

How should I use rosemary oil for hair loss?

​Here are a few ways to try using rosemary essential oil as a hair restorative and thickener. Try any of these treatments one to two times per week to start out. Use them more often when desired or you’ve become comfortable using them.

1. Massage it directly into your scalpAfter mixing about 5 drops of rosemary essential oil with a teaspoon of carrier oil (like jojoba oil or coconut oil), massage evenly into your scalp after bath or shower. Rinsing out the oil afterward is optional — though if you do rinse, let the oil sit on your scalp for at least 5 to 10 minutes beforehand.

2. Mix it into your shampooThis can also apply to conditioners, lotions, or creams. Play it safe and don’t add too much. Keep to about five drops per ounce of product. Afterward, use the product like usual. You can also add 2 to 3 drops directly to any hair product when you apply a dollop of it on your palm before use.

3. Add it to your own homemade shampooThere are many recipes online for a shampoo base. You can also add essential oils for your preferred health and beauty benefits. These may incorporate a mixture of baking soda, coconut oil, essential oil, and possibly other oils. Try this one at Tiny Apothecary.

What should I know before using rosemary oil?

Avoid getting essential oil in your eyes. If contact occurs, quickly rinse your eyes with cold water.

Likewise, be careful not to apply too much to your scalp. Rosemary essential oil has been known to irritate the skin. It may cause discomfort, but no health dangers. To avoid skin irritation, dilute the oil with a carrier oil or other product before applying it.

Not enough is known about the safety of using rosemary essential oils while pregnant or breastfeeding. Though using the essential oil for hair loss is only done topically, be cautious — its effects in this regard are still unknown.

The bottom line

​Rosemary has been used by many to promote hair growth successfully. Using rosemary essential oil could very well do the same for you.

Science and personal experience together both strongly suggest the essential oil does protect against hair loss, particularly that related to male or female pattern baldness. It may even be effective for alopecia.

Rosemary essential oil is a simple remedy that you can use at home, and it may even be competitive with commercial products. What’s more, it’s quite safe when used correctly and yields very few side effects.

With so many men’s and women’s hair products on the market these days it can be difficult to keep track of them all.  Most people seem to have a basic understanding of products like gels, pomades, creams, leave-in conditions and why they are used – but what about lesser known products like texture powders and dry shampoos?  What’s the purpose of using these products and how can they help me get the hairstyle that I want?  Well, hopefully we’ll be able to break the difference between the two hair product types so that it’s simple and easy to understand – having the proper information will help you make the right decision as to whether or not texture powder or dry shampoo should be added to your daily hair care routine.

What is Texture Powder?
Texture powder is an incredibly fine, lightweight dry powder that doesn’t have a fragrance and has a tacky feel to it.  It’ll leave your hair with a dry, matte finish with a texture that reminds us of cotton candy (that’s probably the best way we can describe it).  The main ingredient for most texture powders is silica silylate, which is a type of silica particulate that has unique physical properties.  Its rough, jagged edges allow it to effectively bind to the hair shaft and create a sort of friction between them.  What’s great about these powders is that they are so effective at binding to the hair that only a little amount is needed to get the desired volume effect. 

What is the Purpose of Texture Powder?
Several men’s hairstyles (and women too) require a lot of volume in their hair to get the right look.  For certain hair types (particularly those with finer hair) creating and holding volume throughout the day is extremely difficult.  Finer hair tends to lay flat and lifeless so an added boost is needed.  Using the texture powder as a pre-styler is one of the best options for providing that initial volume to your hairstyle.  Note that sometimes these texture powders are called boost powders, texturizing powders, or volumizing powders but their overall purpose is the same - to instantly give extra oomph to your hairstyle. 

How Does Texture Powder Work?
Apply the texture powder by sprinkling it specifically at the roots or all over your head in a fine dusting –  just make sure you cover any section of hair that you want to add volume.  Spread it around with your fingertips to ensure there isn’t a high concentration of it within one location and to ensure even coverage (you don’t want to see any white clumps due to too much powder in one place).  The product will add a sort of friction to your hair, so don’t be too rough or you’ll feel like you’re pulling your hair out.  Using a scrunching method is recommended if running your fingers through it is too difficult.  What you’ll instantly notice is that your hair will feel thicker and have greater volume than ever before - this is due to the silica effectively binding to the hairs together causing it to stack vertically on top of itself rather than falling flat.  Essentially, this sort of friction allows the individual hairs to “support” each other vertically which results in volumized hair, and prevents the hairs from sliding past each other and laying flat. 

What is the Purpose of Dry Shampoo?
The other dry product that seems to be super popular (and a little misunderstood) is dry shampoo.  They are typically alcohol or starch-based products that come in three forms: a dry powder, an aerosol spray, or in a liquid.  Dry shampoos are sometimes seen as a complete substitute for wet washing your hair – this couldn’t be further from the truth. 

You still need to shampoo and condition your hair and scalp on a regular basis to remove excess oil, dirt, debris in order to keep it healthy and clean. But if you are looking to freshen up your look at the end of the day or even lengthen the time between washes, then dry shampooing your hair might be a good option.  While dry shampoos do not actually clean your hair and scalp, they do temporarily make your hair feel less oily and greasy by soaking up excess oil that tends to weigh down your hair. 

How Do You Use Dry Shampoo?

Apply the dry shampoo to any oily, greasy section of your hair particularly the roots.  If using an aerosol dry shampoo, keep the canister about 6” away while spraying to prevent too much dry shampoo from collecting in one area (comb or brush any areas where too much is added to evenly spread it around).  The dry shampoo will effectively soak up the oil in the hair resulting in a refreshed look without all of the hassle of washing, conditioning, blow-drying, etc. 

What are Alternatives to Dry Shampoo?
In the past, many home remedies for dry shampoos existed and they consisted of things like talcum powders, starches, clays, and vegetable powders.  But with the resurgence of these products, companies have found ways to put those natural ingredients into an aerosol so that you can apply them more evenly without over-doing it.

Final Thoughts
It’s obvious that these two products are quite different, and they are definitely items you should consider adding to your hair arsenal.  Texture Powder is great for adding volume to your hair which is perfect for men and women whose hair tends to lay flat.  While Dry Shampoo is an excellent choice for those who need to freshen up without having to go through a shower routine to make their hair look great.  Either way, try them out for yourself and see what you think.

from Mister Pompadour

If you decide that you want to make your hair less frizzy or straighter, you may choose to go to a professional stylist at a hair salon for a hair straightening or smoothing service. Most hair smoothing or straightening products release formaldehyde gas, a known human carcinogen as classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, into the air during the hair straightening or smoothing process. Formaldehyde exposure can cause both short- and long-term effects that may impact your health.

What Happens During the Hair Smoothing Process? 

Your stylist usually applies a hair straightening or smoothing solution to your hair and follows it with a heat processing step—typically performed with a flat iron device that seals the solution into the strands of the hair. When the solution is heated, the formaldehyde in the product is released into the air as a gas. If the salon is not properly ventilated, you, your stylist, and others in the salon are at risk of inhaling the released formaldehyde.

Why Exposure to Formaldehyde is Dangerous

When formaldehyde is released into the air and is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 ppm, it can cause serious irritation of your eyes, nose, and lungs. It can also cause skin sensitivity or allergic dermatitis.

Formaldehyde Exposure: Potential Short-and Long-Term Effects

The greater the exposure to products that contain formaldehyde in terms of both length of time and concentration, the higher the potential health risks. Individuals who have experienced formaldehyde exposure have described reactions such as eye problems or irritation, nervous system problems (for example, headaches and dizziness), respiratory tract problems (sore or scratchy throat, cough, wheezing), nausea, chest pain, vomiting, and rashes. Chronic effects associated with formaldehyde can include an increased prevalence of headaches, asthma, contact dermatitis (a red, itchy rash caused by direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it as a result of sensitization) and possibly cancer.

It’s important to note that some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde, whereas others have no reaction to the same level of exposure. If you are sensitive to formaldehyde, you should not use this type of product.

Steps to Take If You’re Thinking of Using Hair Smoothing Products 

1. Don’t do it yourself. Don’t apply them yourself at home. Go to a licensed hair professional in a salon. Hair professionals should be trained to take precautions such as wearing gloves and safety glasses, as well as making sure that there is proper ventilation when applying hair smoothing products. For more information, please visit OSHA Hair Salons: Facts about Formaldehyde in Hair Products.
2. Read the list of ingredients. While the FDA discourages consumers from buying these products for home use, if you are considering purchasing a product from a store or online to apply yourself, read the required list of ingredients. If there isn’t one, don’t buy the product. If the hair smoothing product lists one of these ingredient names on the packaging or company website: formaldehyde, formalin, or methylene glycol, then it means the product contains formaldehyde or will release formaldehyde. Of note, not all hair smoothing products contain formaldehyde, which is why you need to read the label to see what is in the product. 
3. You may also want to ask your salon professional these questions: Does the product contain formaldehyde? Is there an ingredient list available for this product that I could read? Would it be possible for me to review the Safety Data Sheet for this product?  Have you been trained to apply this product, and do you know the necessary safeguards to minimize exposure to formaldehyde? May I see your training certificate from the manufacturer and the directions for product use? Does the salon have proper ventilation? Do you periodically test the air for adherence to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s limits for formaldehyde? Do you have an alternative hair smoothing product that does not release formaldehyde when heated?
4. Report bad reactions. If you experience a bad reaction to a hair smoothing product, stop using the product and report your symptoms to your health care provider. You can also report your symptom to the FDA by contacting the Consumer Complaint Coordinator in your area or by  reporting them online at MedWatch, the FDA’s safety information and adverse reporting program. You also may call MedWatch at 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form by mail.

​See a fact sheet and an infographic for more information about hair smoothing products and formaldehyde.

Is your hair dry and brittle, or maybe you struggle to detangle your locks and tame the frizz? Deep conditioners come to the rescue.

Implementing these treatments in your regular hair care routine will take it to a whole new level. All you need to do is find the right products to suit your hair type and deep condition your hair regularly. Let’s explore the variety of deep conditioners and find out which will work for you best.

Benefits of Deep Conditioning

Would you agree that a proper skincare regimen can’t consist of only a moisturizer, right? Equally, shampoo and conditioner are only the bare basics for your hair care routine, deep conditioner being an important product to add to it.

Deep conditioning masks are applied for a certain amount of time to deeply penetrate the hair shaft and nourish and moisturize your strands. Deep conditioners have a thicker and more concentrated formula that contains hydrating and nourishing ingredients to prevent breakage, make hair softer, less tangled, and easier to style.

If the hair is lightened and faces frequent heat styling, you should never skip a deep conditioner. If you do, fixing brassy hair or going lighter without going through intensive deep conditioning to restore the health of the locks first may completely ruin your hairstyle and bring you even further away from your hair color goals.

To build your winning haircare routine, you need to figure out what are your main struggles: whether it’s high porosity, dull look, or split ends – you need to face the problem to tackle it. A deep conditioner can help with all of these challenges, but hair types matter a lot here, too, as fine, frizzy, or coarse hair would require a different approach.

How to Deep Condition Your Hair

Our team has researched and picked the best ways to deep condition hair, from the top-rated salon procedures to DIY recipes you can do at home. We hope you can choose some that will work best for your locks.

#1: Store-Bought Deep Conditioning Masks
If you need to deep condition your hair, a hair mask might be the easiest and the most common solution. The difference between a deep conditioner and a regular conditioner is that it has a more reach and concentrated formula. Here are some of our favorite deep conditioning masks:

Normally, you’ll need to use a deep conditioner once or twice a week. Using deep conditioning more often can cause a buildup in your hair, which consequently will cause more harm than benefit.
​
Here are the steps to apply your deep conditioner:

• After you wash your hair, remove the excess water and apply the product mid-lengths to the ends and comb through.
• Let the hair mask stay in your hair for at least the time recommended by the manufacturer (at least 30 minutes or longer), as it needs time to penetrate the cuticle and process. We don’t recommend leaving any deep conditioning treatments overnight, as sleeping with wet hair can result in physical damage to hair.
• If you have low porosity hair and struggle with product absorption, cover your hair with a plastic cap to let the natural heat from your head help open the cuticles or use a hooded steamer or a blow dryer to steam your locks.
• Rinse with cool water, shampoo and condition your strands as usual.

#2: Olaplex

​An absolute hair hero of the last few years, Olaplex, has indeed seriously changed the game for many of us. Its patented formula can noticeably repair even severely damaged hair, reduces breakage, and protects hair structure.
​
Most of the reputable hair salons offer professional Olaplex deep conditioning as well as Olaplex additives that can be used during any coloring process. Also, their No3 Hair Perfector is a product designed to be used at home and is one of the best intensive hair treatments to date.

Here is how to deep condition with Olaplex at home:
​

• Apply it on damp hair from root to tips and leave for as long as possible (at least 10 minutes).
• Rinse with cool water, shampoo, and use your everyday conditioner.
• Use it once a week or more often for very dry, damaged hair.

#3: Coconut Oil

​We totally swear by coconut oil as the best natural ingredient for hair care. It contains fatty acids and Vitamin E – ingredients that moisturize and hydrate hair as well as reduce its damage. Eventually, it facilitates length retention, as it helps you maintain the health of your hair for a longer time and you need a haircut less often.

Here is how to use the natural oil as a DIY deep conditioner:
​

• Buy extra virgin coconut oil – the one that hasn’t been chemically processed and still contains its most valuable ingredients.
• Melt and apply it from the mid-length to the ends and leave for 30-60 minutes.
• You can also put on a shower cap and cover your hair with a warm towel to increase the effect. This step is essential for those with coarse, low porosity hair, as heat promotes product penetration.
• Follow with shampoo and conditioner.

#4: DIY Deep Conditioning Mask

While there’s a vast variety of ready-to-use deep conditioners from high street to luxury products, making your own product feels like a very special self-care ritual.

Here is the recipe:

• ½ cup of shea butter
• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons of castor oil

Enriched with vitamins A and E, shea butter has excellent emollient qualities. Castor oil strengthens the hair follicles and facilitates hair growth. Both these ingredients, alongside the benefits of coconut oil, make your hair shiny and strong, prevent sun and pollution damage.

Here are the steps to prepare and apply apple natural oils deep conditioning:

• Whip shea butter, melt coconut oil, and mix all the ingredients.
• Apply on dry hair from the roots to the tips. You can also massage the treatment into your scalp.
• Leave it for 45 minutes. Ideally, wear a plastic cap and wrap your hair in a warm towel to facilitate the processing of the treatment.
• Rinse thoroughly using shampoo and follow with a conditioner.

This DIY conditioning treatment is good for any hair type, especially if your hair needs a shield to prevent losing hair’s moisture. However, if you have the oily scalp of very fine hair, it might feel too heavy for you.

Of course, there are more homemade hair mask recipes that often include ripe avocados, honey, castor and olive oil. These will be a good addition to your healthy hair journey, but they will unlikely work as a deep conditioner substitute, as many ingredients do not have fatty acids needed to penetrate the hair shaft.
​
We hope you found some useful information in this article. As we all know, the key to success is consistency: use a deep conditioner once a week and you will soon see a noticeable difference in your hair. Not only will it get shiny, less tangled and more manageable, but you will also be able to grow your locks longer.

Hair plays an important role in our physical appearance. It ranks highest among the possible ways for women to express themselves, even found to be more important than smiling, clothes, complexion and makeup. It is also one of the few areas where women have some level of control by altering the length, style and color. By doing so, they can change the perception of themselves and ultimately showcase confidence and express their personality. Additionally, hair alters how women are perceived by others, their competency, individuality and character.

Hair health plays a large part in this created confidence and competency either from self-assessment or by others. These findings have been confirmed in research. For example, one study demonstrated that images of undamaged hair shown to 50 men and 50 women were perceived as younger, healthier and more attractive than images of damaged hair.1 There are many research articles and reviews that consider hair changes as a function of age, such as graying, diameter and density changes, but these articles do not link biology changes to hair, habit changes or even cultural environment associated with age and beauty.2 Thus, the objective of this article is to explore in more detail how perceptions of healthy hair vary as women age; what the contributing factors are, both culturally and biologically; and how this leads to different hair damage issues women face, as well as product solutions. The underlying premise is that perceptions of healthy hair and the product choices made are determined both by the cultural environment and the changing biology of hair.

Hair Damage Assessment

The first question is whether a women’s perception of their hair health changes as they age. A U.S. study of more than 500 women aged between 18-75 asked the women to assess their amount of damage on a five-point scale from no damage to severe damage. The percentage of women who answered "moderate to severe damage" was 20-25% for all age groups; the percentage decreased at ages 60-65, with 15% claiming "moderate or severe damage." In addition, 50% of this older group claimed to have no damage at all. Therefore, from 60-65 years, it appears women experience less damage but at all other ages, the level of perceived damage is consistent.

A related question was how concerned users were with hair damage and not unexpectedly, the older group was significantly less concerned about damage than all other ages. Most concerned were those in the 18-35 age group followed by the 35-60 age group. The younger age group also felt they had to work harder to get the style they wanted, indicating a generally higher dissatisfaction with their hair.
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Read more in the February 2022 digital edition >>>