Does Peppermint Oil Help With Growing Your Natural Hair?
Having personally tried different oils within the natural hair community, from essential oils to carrier oils, I’ve uncovered some real gems.
And let me tell you, peppermint oil is one of my absolute favorites. It’s a powerhouse ingredient that works wonders for your curly hair, regardless of your hair’s porosity.
Pure peppermint oil not only nourishes and strengthens your strands but also helps to invigorate your scalp, promoting healthy hair growth.
And hey, have you heard? Peppermint oil, much like its counterpart rosemary oil, has taken the world of TikTok by storm, and it’s no wonder why – its refreshing scent and revitalizing properties make it a must-have in any hair care routine.
So, whether you’re rocking high porosity hair or a low porosity hair type, rest assured that peppermint oil has got your back.
Benefits Of Peppermint Oil For Hair
Peppermint oil has a range of benefits, most of them derived from its stimulating abilities. Peppermint oil can help to stimulate the scalp thus potentially helping with a better hair growth cycle.
- Gives you a healthy scalp: Research shows that peppermint oil offers many benefits for scalp health. With its anti-inflammatory properties, peppermint oil combats fungi and inflammation, giving you a healthy scalp. This oil’s ability to remove excess oil and product build-up may aid in fighting dandruff, while its menthol component provides a cooling sensation, relieving an itchy scalp. Pure peppermint oil’s soothing properties contribute to scalp health, promoting a comfortable environment for hair follicles to thrive.
- Potential for promoting hair growth: Studies suggest that peppermint oil could play a role in promoting healthy hair growth. Notably, a research study found that a peppermint oil solution exhibited more healthy growth compared to minoxidil, an FDA-approved hair-growth product. While conclusive evidence is still emerging, peppermint oil’s vasodilation effects on blood vessels show promise in stimulating hair growth and thickness. In an animal study, peppermint oil yielded results comparable to minoxidil, further indicating its potential in combating hair loss and promoting healthier hair growth.
- Gives you thick hair: Peppermint essential oil’s ability to stimulate blood circulation to the skin may contribute to increased dermal thickness, hair follicle number, and follicle depth, ultimately giving you thick hair.
- Reduces inflammation: The cooling sensation of peppermint oil provides relief from inflammation when applied topically, contributing to a calming effect on the scalp and reducing skin inflammation.
- Antibacterial properties: Peppermint oil’s antimicrobial properties are beneficial for maintaining scalp health by balancing the scalp microbiome, potentially reducing the risk of bacterial infections.
- Promotes healthy pH balance: Peppermint oil aids in balancing the pH of the scalp, which in turn regulates oil production, making it an effective solution for managing oily scalp conditions.
- Cleanses the scalp: With its natural cleansing properties and antiseptic attributes, peppermint oil effectively cleanses the scalp, maintaining a healthy microbiome and pH balance. Additionally, its cooling effect soothes inflammation associated with conditions like acne, contributing to overall scalp health and vitality.
Those were a lot of sciencey terms, I know. But my point was, from promoting scalp health to stimulating hair growth and enhancing overall hair quality, peppermint oil is amazing for your hair.
Whether you’re dealing with dandruff, or you want thicker hair, or simply aiming to maintain a healthy scalp environment, peppermint oil’s versatile properties make it a valuable addition to any hair care routine.
What Hair Type Is Peppermint Oil Good For?
Peppermint oil serves as a strong stimulant for the scalp and hair follicles, making it an excellent choice for promoting hair health.
However, it’s essential to note that peppermint oil may not be suitable for individuals with dry scalp or brittle hair, as it tends to work best on oily hair and scalp types.
Despite this preference, peppermint oil remains compatible with all hair types when used correctly and safely. It’s crucial to exercise caution when applying peppermint oil directly to the scalp, as it can cause irritation, particularly for those with allergies to essential oils or sensitive scalps.
If you tend to have greasy hair, peppermint oil offers great benefits.
Its clarifying properties effectively cleanse and invigorate the hair, removing excess oil and buildup without stripping away its natural oils.
By regulating sebum production, peppermint oil ensures a balanced scalp environment, leaving the hair nourished and hydrated without weighing it down.
Additionally, its cleansing action helps eliminate product buildup and residue, contributing to healthier, more vibrant hair.
is peppermint oil good for low porosity hair?
Peppermint oil is particularly beneficial for hair with high porosity.
High porosity hair tends to absorb moisture quickly but struggles to retain it, often leading to dry hair and frizzy hair.
Peppermint oil’s ability to balance the scalp’s pH helps regulate oil production, making it especially suitable for managing high porosity hair.
By maintaining the scalp’s natural moisture levels, peppermint oil helps prevent excessive moisture loss from the hair shaft, thus promoting healthier, more hydrated strands.
But, peppermint oil’s clarifying properties make it effective in cleansing the scalp and hair, which is essential for low porosity hair prone to product buildup.
It helps remove impurities and residue from the hair cuticle, allowing moisture to penetrate more effectively in the less porous hair.
Additionally, peppermint oil’s stimulating effects on blood circulation can aid in delivering essential nutrients to the hair follicles, promoting stronger, more resilient strands.
While peppermint oil may not be the best option for regular use for those with low porosity hair due to its potential to exacerbate dryness. It can be a game-changer for any hair porosity if you are seeking to enhance moisture retention and overall hair health.
I recommend using peppermint oil in your hair once a week if you have high porosity hair. But if you have low porosity hair, every two weeks would be better to avoid drying out your hair.
How To Use Peppermint Oil For Your Hair
Peppermint is a very easy oil to add to your hair care routine. Whether you want to add it to your DIY haircare treatments, use it in a pre-shampoo treatment or in your scalp massages.
You can also find various hair products with peppermint oil already added to them that you can try out.
Here are some ways you can add peppermint oil to your hair care routine:
- Scalp massages: Dilute a few drops in any carrier oil, and massage it into your scalp. Massage for anywhere between 5-10 minutes. Leave this in overnight and continue with your regular wash day the next day, find out why scalp oiling is so important for growing your hair here.
- Dilute in carrier oil: If you want to use peppermint oil on its own, it’s best to dilute it in a carrier oil like jojoba or argan oil. Since it is an essential oil, the best way to use this oil is to dilute it in your favorite carrier oil at a 1-2 percent concentration.
- Use hair care products with peppermint oil: Use products that contain peppermint oil. Or you can add pure peppermint oil to your hair products yourself, I like to add it to my leave-in conditioner.
- Make a DIY hair mask: Making a DIY hair mask using peppermint oil is easy. You can simply add the peppermint oil into your deep conditioner or make a DIY mask, by following one of the recipes below.
DIY Peppermint Oil Hair Masks
Refreshing Peppermint Oil Pre-Poo Hair Mask:
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 5-6 drops of pure peppermint oil
Instructions:
- Mix the coconut oil and peppermint oil in a small bowl until well combined.
- Heat the oil to turn it into a hot oil treatment.
- Apply the mixture to damp hair, starting at the top of your hair and working down to the tips.
- Gently massage the hair mask into the scalp for 5-10 minutes to stimulate blood circulation.
- Leave the mask on for 20-30 minutes to allow the oils to penetrate the hair shaft.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and shampoo as usual.
Moisturizing Peppermint Avocado Hair Mask:
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe avocado (or you can use avocado oil)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 drops of peppermint oil
Instructions:
- Mash the avocado in a bowl until smooth.
- Add the olive oil and peppermint oil to the mashed avocado and mix well.
- Apply the mixture to clean, damp hair, focusing on the ends and any dry areas.
- Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave the mask on for 30-45 minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and shampoo as usual.
Related Post: How Extra Virgin Olive Oil Can Improve Hair Growth
Hydrating Peppermint Yogurt Hair Mask:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 5-6 drops of peppermint oil
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine the plain yogurt, honey, and peppermint oil until smooth.
- Apply the mixture to damp, clean hair, focusing on the roots and scalp.
- Leave the mask on for 20-30 minutes to allow the ingredients to deeply nourish the hair.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and shampoo as usual.
- Follow up with conditioner if needed for added hydration.
The Best Products With Peppermint Oil
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1. Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
Rosemary oil and peppermint oil all in one bottle, yes, please.
This hair oil combines 2 powerhouse oils to give you a great hair product that stimulates hair growth!
2. Difeel Peppermint Scalp Care Leave-in Conditioning Treatment
The difel peppermint leave-in is made solely of pure oils. With peppermint oil being the main ingredient.
3. Mielle Organics Peppermint Almond Oil
Another mielle product, because they are just so good.
This product is sweet almond oil infused with peppermint oil and is great to use as a hot oil treatment.
FAQ About Peppermint Oil For Hair Growth
- Is peppermint essential oil good for low porosity hair?
Peppermint essential oil can benefit low porosity hair by aiding in scalp stimulation and maintaining a balanced pH, which helps with moisture retention.
- Does peppermint oil dry out hair?
Peppermint oil, when used in moderation and properly diluted with a carrier oil, typically does not dry out the hair. However, excessive use may lead to scalp irritation and dryness.
- Is peppermint oil good for high porosity hair?
Yes, peppermint oil can be effective for high porosity hair as it helps regulate oil production and cleanse the scalp, promoting healthier, hydrated strands.
- What happens if I put too much peppermint oil in my hair?
Applying too much peppermint oil to your hair can potentially cause scalp irritation and dryness, especially for individuals with sensitive skin or allergies to essential oils.
- Can peppermint oil damage hair?
Excessive use or direct application of undiluted peppermint oil may cause irritation and damage to the hair and scalp, so it’s important to dilute it properly before use.
- Can I put straight peppermint oil in my hair?
Pure peppermint oil should not be applied directly to the hair and scalp as it can be irritating. It’s best to dilute it with a carrier oil before use.
- What oil can I mix with peppermint oil?
Peppermint oil blends well with various carrier oils such as castor oil, baobab oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, grapeseed oil, apricot oil, and jojoba oil. Mixing it with a carrier oil helps reduce the risk of irritation and ensures safe application to the hair and scalp.
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