If you’re looking to grow hair, you might just have a solution in your kitchen cabinet – if TikTok and some dermatologists are correct.
The herb might also protect hair from the sun, pollution, and other environmental elements, according to an article in Insider.
The study published in Skinmed found that rosemary oil was similar to the effectiveness of minoxidil for regrowing hair in men with androgenetic alopecia. The scalp was also less itchy after 3-6 months of use.
The study included only men.
Still, dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, told the Cleveland Clinic that it seems to work.
“The study really prompted people to look at rosemary oil for hair growth,” she said. “It became much more common in over-the-counter products after that, too.”
The Cleveland Clinic also reports that rosemary oil might help against dandruff and premature graying.
Dr. Khetarpal suggested massaging rosemary oil into the scalp, letting it soak overnight, and then washing it out. This should be done two or three times a week.
She also noted that only a few drops of rosemary oil are needed, and that the focus should be on the scalp rather than the hair, which rosemary oil makes look greasy.
It may take 6 months for “meaningful improvement,” Dr. Khetarpal said.
Meanwhile, TikTok users love hyping the oil’s hair care qualities. On the social media platform, videos with the hashtag #rosemaryoil have been viewed more than 2 billion times.
A version of this article appeared on WebMD.com.