Prevalence and Self-reported Outcomes of Rosemary Use for Hair Care among Adults in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study
Yahya Argobi, Rana Alqahtani, Mona Aldukain, Renad Almerfaa, Ibtihal Alshehri, Reem Alalyani, Lujain Daghriri, Fatimah BadawiBackground:
Herbal remedies such as rosemary (
Purpose:
The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of rosemary use and evaluate self-reported changes in hair health among adults in Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
An observational cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous bilingual (Arabic/English) online questionnaire distributed through social media. Adults ≥18 years residing in Saudi Arabia were eligible. The survey collected sociodemographics, hair-related characteristics, prior hair loss treatments, and details on rosemary use. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used to compare rosemary users and nonusers. Prevalence estimates were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Among rosemary users, multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with reporting positive changes.
Results:
A total of 526 participants responded (90.9% female; 66.0% aged 18–25 years). Overall, 42.8% reported ever using rosemary for hair care (225/526; 95% CI: 38.6–47.0). The most common approach was using more than one preparation (56.4%), and 34.2% reported twice-weekly use. Among users with outcome data, 55.7% reported a perceived positive change (122/219; 95% CI: 49.1–62.1), whereas 46.1% reported perceived negative effects (101/219; 95% CI: 39.6–52.7). In adjusted analyses, participants aged 26–35 years had higher odds of reporting positive changes compared with those aged 18–25 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 3.55, 95% CI: 1.12–11.20), whereas prior use of hair loss treatments was associated with lower odds (aOR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.21–0.91).
Conclusion:
Rosemary use for hair care is common among adults in Saudi Arabia, with mixed self-reported benefits and adverse experiences. Age and prior treatment history may influence perceived outcomes. Prospective studies incorporating objective clinical measures are needed to clarify effectiveness and safety.