Earlier this year, I started noticing severe hair loss and thinning. I took several photos of my scalp, worried about what was happening. The more I looked at the photos, the more I would end up deleting them because I was terrified by what I was seeing.

I was born with a full head of thick curly hair, so this was deeply unusual for me.

Needless to say, as unpleasant as it was to witness, I knew deep down that my body was trying to communicate something to me. I knew there was something emotional I needed to address. Out of the many things happening in my life at the time, I knew the one area where I had been in complete denial was a fortunately short-lived romantic relationship that was simply not going anywhere. The more time passed, the more chances I tried to give this person, the more I tried to humanize him and give him the benefit of the doubt… and yet, it still was not going anywhere.

I knew this relationship was the source of the stress my body was carrying. When I was with him, I would feel temporary relief. But the minute we parted ways, I would feel this heavy confusion, anxiety, and constant decoding, as if my intuition knew something was off. No matter what he said, something was not making sense.

My sleep was often interrupted by multiple wake-ups, replaying conversations and trying to make logical sense of things. But clearly, my body already knew this situation was not good for me, because alongside the hair loss, my plantar fasciitis flared up like never before.

Movement is extremely important to me, and I would force myself to walk through the pain. Sometimes I would keep walking until I was in so much pain, almost as if to prove a point to myself: I will get to the bottom of this. I knew that if I numbed the pain completely, I would miss what my body was trying to tell me.

I chose to keep feeling the discomfort because it was the only way I would understand what needed to change.

And lo and behold… I finally stopped being in denial and started being honest with myself. It was the relationship. Then came an unexpected six-week period of no contact with this person. At the time, it felt painful and confusing, but looking back, I genuinely believe it was a blessing in disguise.

Because it was during those six weeks, when I stopped absorbing his energy, that my plantar fasciitis slowly began improving. And not only that… my hair started growing back too.

While I was trying to figure this whole thing out, I turned to one of my favorite natural remedies for hair health: rosemary water.

HOW TO MAKE ROSEMARY WATER

Take a small bundle of fresh rosemary. I am quite particular about using fragrant organic rosemary, and I will happily go from market to market until I find rosemary that actually smells alive and aromatic.

Place the loose rosemary in a bowl and rinse it a few times to wash away any dust or dirt.

Transfer the rosemary to a pot and pour clean water over it.

Cover the pot tightly with a lid and simmer for 5–10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it sit overnight.

In the morning, strain the liquid. It should be a very deep burgundy color. Transfer it into a clean bottle and store it in the fridge. This is important to help avoid fungus or spoilage.

You can then use it in two different ways. Two to three times a week after washing your hair, pour a mug of rosemary water over your hair and do not rinse it out. Yes, it will be cold because it is refrigerated, but personally, I do not mind that. Alternatively, you can transfer it to a spray bottle and spray it directly onto your scalp a few times a week. Personally, I prefer the pour-over method.

Consistency is important if you want to see results: two to three times a week for at least a month. Your hair may shed more before it improves — that was my experience. And of course, always listen to your body. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa.

OTHER THINGS IN MY KITCHEN THAT HELPED

SORREL / KARKADE / BISSAP WATER

Use the same method as the rosemary water, but substitute the rosemary with sorrel, karkade, or bissap flowers. This is less for hair growth and more for shine. I personally would only use this once a week, and not during the same period as the rosemary treatment.

HAIR HEALTH FOODS

FRESH PARSLEY

On a plant-based diet, I intentionally reached for fresh parsley, which is a great source of iron. Iron becomes more bioavailable when paired with vitamin C, and while parsley already naturally contains vitamin C, it is a beautiful reminder that tabbouleh is actually an iron powerhouse.

PUMPKIN SEEDS

Pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, which plays an important role in hair health and growth. I snacked on them regularly and added them generously to salads.

VITAMIN C

You can actually meet your vitamin C needs quite easily if you eat enough fruits and vegetables daily. But if your hair is struggling, it is worth becoming even more intentional about it.

PLANT PROTEIN

Beans, tofu, whole grains, nuts… hair needs protein.

HEALTHY FATS

Olive oil, avocado, nuts, and seeds contain healthy fats and vitamin E, which support not only hair health, but also skin and eye health.

And while I could probably create an incredibly detailed diet plan if I wanted to, what truly mattered was becoming more intentional about how I nourished myself while keeping strong faith that my hair would grow back.

I am deeply passionate about plant remedies, so I genuinely believed it was simply a matter of time and consistency.

OTHER PRODUCTS — NOT NECESSARILY FROM THE KITCHEN, BUT STILL KIND OF…

Towards the end of my hair regrowth journey, I decided to start using an all-natural Ayurvedic hair oil. Intuitively, I felt my scalp needed hydration and nourishment. It was simply something I felt I needed to do next.

I found a beautiful natural “vitality grow” hair oil product from Khadi at my local health food store, though it is also available online. Some of the key ingredients are actually things you can find in your kitchen: fenugreek, rosemary, amla, and turmeric. The carrier oils include sesame, coconut, and sunflower, among others. Not sponsored- but honestly, it worked really well on my hair.

I still use this oil around three times a week on hair-wash days, massaging it into my scalp and leaving it on for a few hours before washing it out. Some people do not enjoy the smell, but personally, it does not bother me at all.