Can Lavender Be Combined Without Losing Its Effect?

Lavender and Androgenetic Alopecia: How Does It Really Work?

Lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ), known for its relaxing aroma, has also gained attention for its potential benefits in treating androgenetic alopecia, a common form of hair loss influenced by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This type of alopecia mainly affects men, although women can also experience it, and it is linked to a genetic sensitivity to DHT—a hormone derived from testosterone that shortens the hair growth cycle.

The use of lavender in essential oils has been proposed as a natural remedy to stimulate hair growth and combat scalp inflammation. But what happens when it is combined with other products or treatments? Does it lose its effectiveness, or can it be enhanced?

What Is DHT and Why Does It Cause Hair Loss?

DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is a hormone formed when an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase converts testosterone into DHT. While this hormone plays an important role during fetal development and puberty, in adulthood it can cause unwanted effects like prostate enlargement and hair loss in genetically predisposed individuals.

In people with androgenetic alopecia, DHT binds to the scalp's hair follicles, shortening their growth cycle and causing each new hair to be thinner than the last, until hair stops growing altogether. The most common treatments aim to reduce DHT production or block its action on the follicles.

What Does Science Say About Lavender and Hair Loss?

Scientific research exploring the relationship between lavender and hair loss is still in its early stages, but the available findings are worth considering. One of the most frequently cited studies is a 2016 experiment by Kim and colleagues, published in Toxicological Research. This study used hairless mice as a model to investigate whether the application of lavender essential oil could promote hair growth.

Over a period of four weeks, the researchers applied diluted lavender essential oil—mixed with jojoba oil—daily to the shaved skin of the mice. By the end of the experiment, visible hair growth was observed in the group treated with lavender oil, compared to the group that received no treatment. This growth was also confirmed through histological analysis, meaning the tissues were examined under a microscope to verify follicle regeneration.

These findings suggest that lavender may help stimulate hair growth, potentially due to its anti-inflammatory properties, its relaxing effect on scalp muscles, and its possible ability to improve microcirculation. However, it’s important to note that these results come from an animal study. Mice have different hair growth cycles than humans, and their responses do not always accurately reflect what might happen in people. Additionally, the study did not examine lavender's effects on DHT levels, which is the main hormonal cause of androgenetic alopecia.

Therefore, while the evidence is promising, it remains limited and cannot be used to claim that lavender alone can treat androgenetic alopecia in humans. So far, there are no large-scale clinical studies analyzing the effect of lavender oil in people with this type of hair loss, nor that compare its efficacy to approved medications like minoxidil or finasteride.

Even so, its safe profile and the lack of serious side effects reported in these initial studies make it an interesting candidate as a complementary treatment, especially for people seeking natural approaches or who are sensitive to conventional medications.

Does Lavender Lose Its Effectiveness When Combined with Other Ingredients?

A major question is whether combining lavender with other components—natural, synthetic, or vitamin-based—affects its ability to support hair growth. To answer this, it’s helpful to understand how lavender works. It is believed that its main effects are anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory, which may create a healthy environment for hair follicles.

For this reason, combining it with ingredients that do not interfere with these mechanisms should not reduce its effect, as long as proper formulation is respected and scalp irritation is avoided.

What Happens When Combined with Synthetic Treatments Like Minoxidil or Finasteride?

Minoxidil is an FDA-approved topical vasodilator that stimulates hair growth by improving blood flow to the follicle. Finasteride, meanwhile, is an oral medication that blocks the 5-alpha reductase enzyme, thus reducing DHT levels.

Is the combination safe? So far, no studies suggest that lavender negatively interferes with these treatments. In fact, it may be complementary: while minoxidil and finasteride address the hormonal root of the problem, lavender may help soothe the irritation some users experience with synthetic treatments.

Can It Be Used with Vitamins Like Biotin or Zinc?

Yes. Vitamins such as biotin (vitamin B7) and zinc do not interfere with lavender. On the contrary, they may act synergistically. Biotin is essential for the health of hair, skin, and nails, while zinc is involved in immune processes and tissue repair, including hair follicles. Some multivitamin supplements already combine lavender with these nutrients in small doses.

And What About Other Natural Remedies Like Rosemary or Saw Palmetto?

Both rosemary essential oil and saw palmetto extract (Serenoa repens) have been researched as natural alternatives to blocking DHT.

A 2015 study compared the effects of rosemary oil with 2% minoxidil in people with androgenetic alopecia. After six months, both groups showed comparable improvement in hair count. Like lavender, rosemary has anti-inflammatory properties and may help partially block DHT.

Saw palmetto, on the other hand, has been studied in humans and shows mild potential for inhibiting 5-alpha reductase, although with less potency than finasteride.

There is no evidence suggesting it interferes with lavender; in fact, some commercial products already combine them.

What Does Marketing Say vs. What Does Science Say?

In the marketplace, it is common to find natural hair products that promise to stop hair loss using lavender, rosemary, biotin, and other plant-based ingredients in formats like shampoos, tonics, and serums. Labels often highlight benefits like "stimulates growth," "natural DHT blocker," or "strengthens the follicle."

However, from a scientific standpoint, many of these effects have not yet been fully validated in humans. Animal studies or preliminary tests offer clues but do not replace large-scale clinical trials. Lavender, for instance, has not been shown to block DHT directly in clinical studies. Its benefit seems to be more about improving scalp conditions—reducing inflammation and enhancing microcirculation—than about direct hormonal blocking.

That’s why it’s important to differentiate between marketing claims and scientific evidence. While natural products can be useful allies, they do not replace medically approved therapies like finasteride or minoxidil, which have demonstrated effectiveness in extensive clinical studies.

User Experiences

Community feedback shows that lavender oil is frequently discussed alongside other essential oils like peppermint, rosemary, and pumpkin seed oil, and users commonly combine them without concerns about reduced efficacy. In a discussion titled “Peppermint Oil vs Lavender Oil vs Rosemary Oil vs Pumpkin Seed Oil – Which one/combination is best?”, users shared personal regimens and experiences mixing multiple oils for hair thickening or regrowth. One user mentioned using all four oils simultaneously, noting an improvement in scalp health and hair texture. They typically mixed the oils with a carrier like coconut or castor oil, applying them several times a week. There were no reports of interference between the oils; instead, users often believed that combining them created a synergistic effect.

Another user expressed a preference for combining lavender and rosemary oil due to their anti-inflammatory and circulation-boosting properties. They observed that consistent use over several months led to visible thickening of hair strands, though they emphasized that it required patient, regular application. Some commenters raised concerns about irritation or sensitivity, especially when using undiluted essential oils, but this was resolved by proper dilution with a carrier oil.

In a separate post, a user shared a detailed 3-month progress routine that included peppermint, jojoba, and lavender oil alongside finasteride, minoxidil, stemoxydine, and microneedling. The routine yielded "stunning" results according to the user, and other commenters praised the inclusion of oils as a complementary therapy. Lavender was specifically noted for its calming scent and soothing scalp effects. Again, there were no comments suggesting that lavender lost effectiveness when used in combination with others.

Lastly, an older thread explored why more people don’t use oils in general. While some users were skeptical of oils replacing pharmaceutical treatments like finasteride or minoxidil, others vouched for lavender and its companions, citing personal success with minimal side effects. The consensus across posts was that while individual results vary, combining lavender with other oils is common practice and does not seem to reduce its benefit.

Final Considerations Before Combining Treatments

Combining lavender with other treatments, whether natural or pharmaceutical, appears safe in most cases, provided appropriate concentrations are used and potential scalp reactions are monitored. As a general rule, it’s advisable to patch-test any new product on a small area of skin first.

Moreover, it’s important to have realistic expectations: lavender may help, but it does not replace clinically proven treatments for hair loss. Its best role seems to be as a complement—soothing inflammation and providing sensory and emotional benefits through aromatherapy.

References

Akbarzadeh, M., et al. (2021). Effects of Lavandula angustifolia and Melissa officinalis on sleep quality in patients with insomnia: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Integrative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joim.2021.05.007

Lee, Y. S., et al. (2020). Effect of aromatherapy on the stress of nurses working night shifts: A randomized controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 53, 102514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102514

Chioca, L. R., et al. (2012). Anxiolytic-like effect of lavender essential oil inhalation in mice: Involvement of serotonergic but not GABAergic transmission. Phytomedicine, 20(3-4), 303–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2012.11.013

Kasper, S., et al. (2015). Lavender oil preparation Silexan is effective in generalized anxiety disorder—A randomized, double-blind comparison to placebo and paroxetine. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 18(3), pyu041. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyu041

Posadzki, P., Alotaibi, A., & Ernst, E. (2013). Adverse effects of aromatherapy: A systematic review of case reports and case series. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/946537