How to Make & Use an Effective DIY Rosemary Oil for Hair
Get your hair growing like crazy with this DIY rosemary oil for hair. Mediterranean cultures have known about the benefits of rosemary oil for centuries and now it’s your turn.
Follow along to learn how to make rosemary oil and how to use it to promote hair growth, prevent premature graying, dandruff, and dry itchy scalp.
You probably already have the oils you need at home, and you can grow your own rosemary or pick it up at most grocery stores.
Best castor oil!
Tools and materials:
- Fresh rosemary stalks
- Olive oil or oil of your choice
- Castor oil (or your preferred substitution)
- Double boiler (or heatproof bowl and pan)
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoon
- Wooden spoon for stirring
- Glass jar for storing
- Dropper
- Spray bottle
- Leave-in conditioner
- Hair repair cream
- Plastic bag and portable dryer (optional)
1. Clean the rosemary
Wash your rosemary stalks well to remove any dirt or chemicals.
Then wrap your clean rosemary in a tea towel and squeeze gently to dry it and absorb any excess moisture.
2. Make the rosemary oil
Using a double boiler with water simmering in the bottom, put ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon of castor oil into the top of the pot. Make sure the water below is not touching your upper pot or bowl.
If you prefer, you can substitute the olive oil and castor oil for grapeseed oil or whatever oil you like.
Remove the rosemary leaves from two stalks by pulling down on the stalk to separate the leaves. Let the leaves fall into your pot of oils.
A great trick for removing rosemary leaves from the stalk is to push the stalk down through a whole in a slotted spoon, from the top of the stalk to the bottom.
With the water simmering below your top pot or bowl, stir the oils and rosemary with a wooden spoon.
Stir for 10 to 15 minutes until you see the mixture turn cloudy and less green. Then, turn off your burner and move the pot off the stove element.
Let it cool completely and then strain the oil into a glass jar to remove the rosemary leaves.
Use the back of a spoon to press all the goodness out of the rosemary leaves.
Add 3 small sprigs of fresh rosemary to the jar of rosemary oil, so that the rosemary continues to infuse into the oil. After about two weeks the rosemary will lose its oil and you can remove it.
You can store this rosemary oil for about one month.
3. Prep your hair for oiling
Use a spray bottle to moisturize your hair before oiling it so that you don’t risk sealing in any dryness.
Tip: You don't have to have your hair in braids at this stage. However, I find that when my hair is in braids or cornrows, this is the best time for me to test out oils and use oils more often. It doesn't matter if my hair feels weighed down and it's also easier to wash out.
You should get your hair very damp, not soaking wet, and then use your hands to work the moisture into your hair.
Next, rub some leave-in conditioner between the palms of your hands and work that into your hair.
I'm also adding a repair cream into the ends of my hair. However, if you don't have a similar product, you can just apply more leave-in to your ends.
You could also skip the entire moisturizing step if your hair already feels moisturized enough. This is just what works for me.
4. Apply your homemade rosemary oil
Use a dropper to apply your rosemary oil to your scalp. If your hair is in braids, like I had mine, then you can apply along the parts.
You need very little of the rosemary oil – about 2 to 3 droppers full will do your entire head.
Use your fingers to work the rosemary oil into your scalp.
Once your scalp is done, apply some rosemary oil to your front and back hairline as well. The edges are very delicate, so it's always good to apply a little more oil there.
Finish by giving yourself a good scalp massage. This step helps the oil absorb and adds stimulation for your hair growth, so don’t skip it! This is when you will start to actually feel the oil doing its job.
For more information on the technique, see my previous tutorial on scalp massage for hair growth.
If you want to speed up the moisturizing process, tie a plastic bag on your hair and go under heat for 20 minutes. I used a portable dryer for this step.
DIY rosemary oil for hair tutorial
Just look at how soft and supple this DIY rosemary oil made my hair. You can use it once a week to keep the moisture and hair growth going.
Please leave a comment to let me know if you tried making homemade rosemary oil for hair, and how you like it.
Enjoyed the project?
Suggested materials:
- Fresh rosemary stalks
- Olive oil or oil of your choice
- Castor oil (or your preferred substitution)
- Double boiler
- Double boiler (or heatproof bowl and pan)
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoon
- Wooden spoon for stirring
- Glass jar for storing
- Dropper
- Spray bottle
- Leave-in conditioner
- Hair repair cream
- Plastic bag and portable dryer (optional)
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