Grow your hair with rosemary oil
THE use or rosemary oil for hair growth has blown up so much in recent times that black women have been gatekeeping one particular product on social media, to prevent its gentrification. Mielle rosemary mint oil has been reported to be so good that other cultures are catching on, and there’s fear that with this demand, prices will skyrocket. The magic potion is of course rosemary oil, which has been proven to help with hair loss.
“Various studies have shown that the use of rosemary oil will result in an increase in new hair growth, significant decrease in hair loss, and it’s natural, so there are fewer side effects than with other products,” said aesthetician Nicola Meredith.
“In fact, it has been successfully used for alopecia conditions for a long time.”
The rosemary (scientific name salvia rosmarinus) is a fragrant herb that is used in many cuisines. It adds great flavour to foods like lamb, pork, chicken and turkey, and the dried leaves can also be used for teas. Widely available locally, Meredith says you can make your own oil or hair spray from fresh rosemary, to help your hair growth journey.
Here’s how:
Rosemary spray
Boil fresh or dried rosemary in water for several minutes, then allow to cool. The mixture will be dark brown. Pour into a spray bottle and use daily to hydrate your hair while styling or, after shampooing, as a leave-in treatment.
Rosemary oil
To make rosemary oil you will need a carrier oil, like olive oil or coconut oil, as a base.
Ingredients
3 sprigs of fresh rosemary Enough carrier oil to fit your storage bottle.
Directions
1) Remove the leaves from the rosemary sprigs.
2) Put the carrier oil to heat, and add the rosemary leaves. Let simmer for several minutes, then cool and strain.
3) Put the rosemary oil into an airtight, preferably glass container, for storage.
You also have the option of just heating your carrier oil, then pouring it into a container, and adding the rosemary sprig, then sealing it. This way the rosemary will continuously release into the oil, increasing its potency. Ensure that the rosemary sprig is completely dry before you start this process.