Peppermint Oil for Hair Growth: Does it Work?

The idea of being able to use a piece of nature to restore hair growth is a wonderful idea. It may be a reality, too, with peppermint oil for hair often being used by both men and women to stimulate the hair follicles and boost growth. The question is, is peppermint oil hair growth a real thing, or will it do nothing for your locks? Discover everything you need to know right here!

What is Peppermint Oil?

Peppermint oil is also called antispasmodic. It comes from the peppermint plant and is often used to treat digestive problems, including flatulence and IBS symptoms. [1] It has a nice, refreshing minty scent that you’ll notice smells similar to your regular toothpaste.

Is Peppermint Oil Good for Hair?

Actually, yes! Peppermint oil – particularly essential peppermint oil – is frequently used in beauty treatments, including those on the hair. You’ll find that peppermint oil is a common ingredient in shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, and other hair treatments. There are many benefits to using it on the scalp and locks, including:

It is Anti-inflammatory

Peppermint oil is a natural anti-inflammatory. If your scalp experiences inflammation, the oil can settle that.

It Balances pH

You want to maintain a balanced pH on the scalp, and peppermint oil can help you achieve that. That’s because the oil is an alkaline substance with a pH of 8. Applying peppermint oil with a carrier oil can, therefore, prevent the scalp from becoming too acidic.

It’s Antimicrobial

Peppermint oil is antimicrobial, which means it can kill bacteria and mould. Unfortunately, bacteria and fungal infections of the scalp are common – peppermint oil can keep those at bay. So, if you’re susceptible to bacterial growth on the scalp, using peppermint oil in your usual routine is an excellent idea.

It Smells Great

There is no denying the refreshing scent of peppermint oil. If you use it on your scalp, you will end up with hair that smells lovely and minty. It’s quite an invigorating and stimulating scent, too, making it a good one to use in the mornings.

Hair Growth

Finally, peppermint oil may be worth using for hair growth. We’ll go into this more in the next section!

Does Peppermint Oil for Hair Growth Work?

With all of the above benefits, it’s clear that peppermint oil is good for the hair. In cases of inflammation and other scalp issues, peppermint oil may ease symptoms and, in turn, allow the hair to grow more healthily. So, what about hair growth?

Yes, there is some evidence to suggest peppermint oil can boost hair growth. This is thanks to the main component of menthol in it, which can improve blood flow to the scalp, which then stimulates the hair follicles and encourages hair regrowth. The result is thicker, denser strands.

This is backed up by some studies. In one study, peppermint oil was shown to effectively stimulate hair growth in animals and shown to facilitate hair growth, contributing to an early anagen stage in the hair growth cycle. [2] While more evidence is necessary to definitively say peppermint oil can regrow the hair, everything points to the fact that, yes – it can help. All of the helpful properties alongside the studies currently available show that.

How to Use Peppermint Oil on the Hair: 3 Methods

If you’ve experienced hair loss (or want to prevent it), you can easily use peppermint oil in your hair care routine. Before you pour drops straight onto the scalp and hope for the best, first learn the best ways to apply it. Essential peppermint oil is quite strong so you should be careful!

Method One: A Peppermint Oil Hair Massage

The first involves pouring a couple of drops of peppermint oil into a carrier oil, which dilutes it. The best carrier oils for this purpose are coconut oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil. Once combined, apply the peppermint oil directly to the scalp and massage through. Ideally, do this for at least ten minutes (the scalp massage will also stimulate blood flow). You can run the oil through the strands, too, to increase hydration. Once you have finished, wash the peppermint oil with warm water and follow with your usual shampooing and conditioning routine.

Method Two: Find a Hair Product Containing Peppermint Oil

You can easily use peppermint oil for hair by purchasing an ordinary hair care product that uses peppermint oil as an ingredient. For example, you might pick up a shampoo, conditioner, fully formulated hair oil, or hair mask with the stuff in.

Method Three: Combine with Your Shampoo

If you have a bottle of shampoo and peppermint oil, you can easily incorporate peppermint oil into your haircare routine. Do this by applying one or two drops of peppermint oil to the shampoo and then using it like normal, washing it out before conditioning. It’s super simple!

If you begin using one of these methods and want to see the effect it has on your scalp and locks, consider downloading a hair track app like ours.

Side Effects of Peppermint Oil

Before using peppermint oil on the scalp and hair to promote hair growth, it’s best to be aware of the potential side effects. While peppermint oil is deemed non-toxic and safe, you may experience some of the following:

• Mild Irritation
• A Rash
• An Allergic Reaction – this is very rare, and most people will know they have a mint allergy.

There are also some symptoms you may experience if you ingest peppermint oil, such as heartburn, nausea, dry mouth, and abdominal pain. However, you shouldn’t experience that when using peppermint oil on the scalp.

Should You Use Peppermint Oil on the Hair?

So, should you use peppermint oil for hair growth? That depends on your level of hair loss. For people who are worried about experiencing hair loss or have noticed a little thinning, peppermint oil makes an excellent natural solution that may make a real difference.

However, keep in mind there isn’t quite enough evidence to show that peppermint oil will 100% restore hair growth. As such, you may not want to rely on it if you have significant hair loss. For example, if you have male pattern baldness that has led to a receding hairline and a bald patch on the crown, you probably won’t find a miracle in peppermint oil. In cases like these, opt for another hair loss treatment.

Other Solutions to Hair Loss

Rosemary Oil

Another oil that can boost hair growth is rosemary oil. Like peppermint oil, there have been studies showing its effectiveness, although rosemary oil has been successfully trialled on humans, so it has a little more backing. You can use rosemary oil in the same way you would peppermint, by applying it to the scalp with a carrier oil.

Hair Loss Medications

Specific hair loss medications have been specifically formulated to target hair loss and are recommended by doctors. A common over-the-counter formula is minoxidil, which is typically applied topically and restores hair growth in both men and women. There’s also finasteride and dutasteride, which are just for men (as they block the male hormone DHT), but you need a prescription to get hold of those.

Light Therapy

Low-level light therapy is a hair loss solution that involves targeting your hair follicles with light lasers, which can stimulate the blood flow to the scalp and, in turn, increase growth. It has many success stories so it is worth trying.

Steroid Injections

In some cases of hair loss – particularly alopecia areata – your doctor or dermatologist may recommend steroid injections. These are injected straight into your scalp where necessary and can increase hair growth. You’ll need multiple treatments, with your dermatologist giving you a dose every 4-6 weeks.

A Hair Transplant

A hair transplant works excellently for male and female pattern baldness. It’s a surgical procedure that involves tiny incisions on the scalp where the healthy hair follicles are grafted and placed into the balding section. After this, the hair can grow there like normal. They are very popular because the results last a lifetime, so you won’t have to worry about keeping up with a medication.

Peppermint Oil Hair Growth: In Summary

Peppermint oil has many benefits for the hair. When used correctly, it may even boost hair growth. However, be aware of its limitations – while peppermint oil has fantastic properties and can help you achieve a healthier scalp, it likely won’t grow out entire bald patches. If you have a little thinning, it can be an excellent product to use, but if you are actively balding, you may want to look for another hair restoration solution elsewhere.

At Harley Street Hair Clinic, we are experts in hair loss and its solutions. We pride ourselves on providing excellent hair transplant treatments to our patients, leaving them with full heads of hair that last forever. If you’re interested in our services, check out our patients gallery to see what we can do for you, and feel free to get in touch!

Sources:

1. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/peppermint-oil/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4289931/