Cedar oil to slow down hair loss?

Atlas Cedar essential oil, a treatment oil for hair loss?

Originating from the Middle Atlas region of Morocco, Atlas Cedar essential oil is known for its woody scent and is believed to possess numerous hair benefits. Some sources even attribute it with the ability to combat hair loss. But what is the reality? Continue reading to learn more on this subject.

Published on October 24, 2024, by Marie, Scientific Editor — 6 min of reading

Is Atlas Cedar essential oil effective against hair loss?

Despite its benefits for the hair, no study conducted with Atlas Cedar essential oil alone has so far demonstrated that this botanical extract can combat hair loss.

On the other hand, there is a clinical trial conducted by ORMEROD and his team that focused on the combined effects of essential oils from Atlas cedar (94 mg), lavender (108 mg), thyme (88 mg) and rosemary (108 mg) in a blend of vegetable oils applied topically to 86 patients suffering from alopecia. The volunteers were divided into two groups and received either the blend of essential oils and vegetable oils or the blend of vegetable oils alone. After seven months, 44% of the subjects in the first group saw a significant improvement in their hair growth, compared to 15% for the control group.

The blend of essential oils thus appears to have had a positive effect in slowing down the hair loss of the volunteers. As for the specific action of Atlas cedar essential oil, it is difficult to determine. Indeed, it is equally possible that it contributed to achieving these good results as it had no effect on the blend. More studies, preferably conducted with Atlas cedar essential oil alone, are therefore necessary to determine its potential effect on alopecia.

How can we explain the potential effects of Atlas Cedar essential oil on hair loss?

If theAtlas cedar essential oil has potential to slow down hair loss, it may be due to its cedrol content. This is at least what a study led by ZHAO and his team on rats suggests. The rats were divided into three groups and the following formulations were applied to their backs after shaving: 5% cedrol cream, 2% minoxidil cream (positive control) and cream without active ingredient (negative control). The results are gathered in the table below and show a better efficacy of the cedrol-based formulation on the hair growth of the rats compared to the positive and negative controls.

Group	After 4 days	After 6 days	After 8 days	After 10 days
5% cedrol	0.7 ± 0.5	1.9 ± 0.7	2.8 ± 0.6	3.8 ± 0.4
2% Minoxidil	0.5 ± 0.5	1.7 ± 0.5	2.1 ± 0.7	3.3 ± 0.7
Negative Control	0.3 ± 0.5	1.0 ± 0.7	1.7 ± 0.7	2.1 ± 0.7

Évolution du score de croissance des poils des rats au cours du temps.

Source : ZHAO Y. & al. Hair growth promotion effect of cedrol cream and its dermatopharmacokinetics. Royal Society of Chemistry (2018).

The results of this study allow us to hypothesise that Atlas Cedar essential oil could have an effect on hair loss, due to the presence of cedrol in its phytochemical composition. However, this study presents some limitations. On one hand, the concentration of cedrol in the cream (5%) is significantly higher than that naturally found in Atlas Cedar essential oil (< 1%). Furthermore, this is an in vivo study on rats, not humans. The mechanisms of their fur growth may be slightly different from those governing human hair growth.

While the essential oil of Atlas cedar could potentially have anti-hair loss activity due to the cedrol it contains, the execution of comprehensive scientific studies is still necessary to confirm this.