Rosehip Oil For Hair: 4 Benefits For Healthy Strands & The Best Way To Use It

Navigating the world of hair oils can be, well, a bit overwhelming. There are dozens of oils that are chock-full of hair benefits from boosting hydration to minimizing breakage and everything in between. But there's a lesser-known oil that is beloved for its super moisturizing properties and health benefits for the scalp. Enter, rosehip oil. 

According to celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons, rosehip oil is derived from a cold-pressing method that removes oil from the rosehip. What is a rosehip, you ask? Well, it's the fruit of an actual rose. But don't get it confused with rose oil: The latter is extracted from the petals of the flower, while rosehip oil comes from the seeds and fruit of the rose. 

Thanks to the abundance of essential fatty acids found in rosehip oil (like gamma-linolenic acid1), Fitzsimons says this oil can double as a natural conditioner. Not only can these fatty acids help to nourish and soften the hair strand: They can help keep your scalp healthy and balanced2, too. 

We still need more research on this front, but many have anecdotally found rosehip oil helpful for hair growth. Given its antioxidant and moisturizing properties, this makes sense: Healthy hair tends to grow stronger, healthier, and faster, after all. 

Rosehip oil contains vitamins C and A3, which can help support collagen production (vitamin C, in particular, is an essential part of the collagen synthesis process). When you apply it topically on the scalp, it can aid your skin cells' fibroblasts (or what creates collagen) and stabilize the collagen you already have for one healthy head of hair.

As we alluded to above: "Rosehip oil is great for maintaining skin barrier health, which is essential for the scalp, as well," says celebrity hairstylist Sophia Porter. Not only is the oil super nourishing on the skin, but it also contains carotenoids with anti-inflammatory properties—these can come in handy when you're dealing with a red, inflamed, or itchy scalp. 

Both Porter and Fitzsimons agree: Given its ability to lock in moisture, rosehip oil is ideal for someone dealing with dry hair. However, you don't have to worry about this weighing down your hair or creating a greasy film on top of the strand. "Rosehip oil absorbs quickly, and it's super lightweight," Porter says. (It's a dry oil, remember?) 

Even though rosehip oil is lightweight—making it top-notch for thin and thick hair types—Fitzsimons warns that those with super fine hair should avoid using this oil. "The molecular weight of the oil can weigh super fine hair down and make it appear greasy and flat," he says. Instead, you may want to opt for argan or jojoba oil, as these are practically weightless on the strand.

There are tons of ways you can use rosehip oil; it truly depends on what your hair and scalp needs. If you're dealing with a dry or imbalanced scalp (or you're simply in the market for a tension-relieving scalp massage), apply rosehip oil to your fingertips and massage throughout the scalp. 

For coating split ends, apply a quarter-size amount to the ends of the hair and massage into the strands. If you have finer hair, you may want to use this as a deep treatment and rinse out after a few minutes; those with denser hair can apply and style as usual.