Abstract
Introduction Alopecia is a common condition marked by progressive hair loss, influenced by aging, genetics, hormones, and environmental factors. It affects individuals of all ages, often impacting self-esteem and quality of life. Rosemary and lavender oils have gained attention for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, promoting scalp health, follicular stimulation, and hair regrowth. While rosemary oil enhances circulation and extends the anagen phase, lavender oil soothes the scalp and supports hair growth. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of rosemary-lavender oil and rosemary-castor oil in comparison of coconut oil in promoting hair growth and scalp health. Method This prospective, double-blind, randomized, three-arm, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of rosemary-lavender oil and rosemary-castor oil, in comparison with coconut oil for hair growth over 90 days. This study was conducted per International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Declaration of Helsinki (2013), and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines, the study received ethical approval (ACEAS IEC, February 10, 2024) and was registered with Clinical Trials Registry - India (CTRI; CTRI/2024/07/071115). Ninety healthy participants (18-55 years) were randomized equally. Study assessed the hair growth rate, thickness, density, length, scalp condition, and anagen:telogen (A:T) ratio using a phototrichogram (CASLite Nova, Catseye Systems & Solutions Pvt Ltd, Navi Mumbai, India). Visual/tactile assessments were done by a certified dermatologist. Statistical analysis used SPSS v29.0.1.0 (IBM Inc., Armonk, New York) and Excel 2019 (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington), applying paired t-tests (p< 0.05). Result The study demonstrated that rosemary-lavender oil and rosemary-castor oil significantly improved hair growth rate, thickness, density, length, and reduced hair fall compared to coconut oil (p<0.0001). Hair growth rate increased 0.22 ± 0.04 mm/day to 0.34 ± 0.05 mm/day or 57.73% (p<0.0001) change from baseline (CFB) in rosemary-lavender oil and 0.23 ± 0.04 mm/day to 0.33 ± 0.05 mm/day or 47.59% CFB (p<0.0001) in rosemary-castor oil. Hair thickness improved by 68.70% and 66.07% (p<0.0001), while hair density increased by 32.21% and 32.15%, respectively (p< 0.0001). Hair length showed a 28.78% and 37.67% increase, while hair fall reduction exceeded 40% in both rosemary groups (p<0.0001). Conclusion The findings demonstrate that rosemary-lavender, Rosmagain™, and rosemary-castor oils significantly provide beneficial effects in hair growth parameters. Their ability to enhance hair thickness, density, length, and reduced hair fall suggests they may serve as effective natural therapeutic alternatives for hair regrowth. With a favourable safety profile, these formulations offer a promising plant-based solution for good hair and scalp health. This formulation is designed to restore balance to the hair growth cycle, creating an optimal scalp environment for sustained and healthy hair growth.