Have you ever tried essential oils to treat your hair problems? Essential oils are strong oils of herbal plants that have immense health and beauty benefits and used for centuries. With today’s lifestyle habits and contaminated atmosphere, even children are experiencing hair issues, sometimes as severe as alopecia. Natural and safe remedies like essential oils give highly effective results in treating hair issues. Peppermint oil for hair care is one such remedy known to have numerous benefits on the hair.
Peppermint oil extracted from peppermint leaves is a highly beneficial herb used all over the world from thousands of years. Peppermint is used to treat various illnesses like digestive issues, respiratory problems, headaches, stress, inflammation, etc. Today, peppermint oil is widely used in the health and cosmetic industry for its refreshing flavour and cooling effects. The properties of peppermint oil cure a variety of hair problems, which makes it one of the important ingredients in commercial hair care products.
Let us see more about this valuable oil, its benefits, and its uses for hair care.
How Peppermint Oil Benefits Hair?
Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts of certain herbal plants. These extracts hold the flavor and essence of the unique properties of the herbal plants. The essential oil has been used for centuries to enhance health and beauty. The most common essential oils are rosemary, peppermint, tea tree, jasmine, chamomile, sandalwood, etc. The essential peppermint oil has tremendous benefits on hair and skin. It is a rich source of menthol, a compound with unique cooling and vasodilating effects. It is high in nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, beta-carotene, calcium, iron, potassium, manganese, magnesium, etc.
See More: Avocado Oil For Hair Growth
Let us look at the various advantages of peppermint oil on hair:
1. Treats Hair Loss:
Peppermint oil is rich in menthol, which is a very useful vasodilator; This widens the blood vessels and increases the blood flow in the scalp and hair follicles. It benefits the hair by nourishing and repairing the undernourished and damaged hair follicles and stimulating hair growth. It also helps promote thick and healthy hair growth. Menthol also helps in strengthening the roots and preventing hair fall. It treats hair thinning.
2. Improves Scalp Health:
The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of peppermint oil help in treating inflammatory and infectious scalp conditions and improving scalp health. It is also a very good cleanser, which helps in removing the dirt, grease, and dead cells from the scalp and keeping the scalp clean. Peppermint oil has a cooling and soothing effect on the scalp and roots.
3. Conditioning The Hair:
Peppermint oil is a natural conditioner, which helps in moisturising the scalp and hair cells, thus treating dry hair and dry scalp effectively. It strengthens the hair cells with sufficient conditioning and treats dry scalp issues like dandruff, itchy scalp, flaky scalp, etc.
4. Controls Oily Hair and Scalp:
Peppermint oil is a natural astringent that helps in absorbing the grease and excess oil from the scalp and hair follicles. It neutralises the pH levels in the scalp and controls excess sebum production. This helps in keeping the scalp and hair clean and free from grease and dirt.
5. Treats Parasitical Infestations:
Peppermint has insecticidal properties making it is a very effective cure for head lice infestations. The powerful fragrance of peppermint helps ward off tiny infestations that can damage the scalp.
Using Peppermint Oil to Promote Hair Growth:
Though peppermint oil is included in various commercial hair care products, these products may only contain slight amounts of peppermint oil, which may not be beneficial enough. To achieve effective results of peppermint oil, you must use pure organic essential peppermint oil at home. There are various ways of using peppermint oil along with other effective ingredients to improve hair health. Let us look at some:
1. Pumpkin Seed Oil and Peppermint Oil for Hair Growth:
Pumpkin seed oil is very effective in nourishing hair follicles and promoting strong and healthy hair growth. It is rich in vitamin E and beta-carotene that help in making the hair soft and thick. Pumpkin seed oil and peppermint oil together make an excellent hair pack for combating hair loss and promoting hair growth.
Ingredients:
- Four tablespoons of pumpkin seed oil.
- Five drops of peppermint oil.
Preparation Time: 20 minutes.
Directions of Use:
- Mix pumpkin oil and peppermint oil.
- Apply it on the scalp thoroughly, and make sure it is applied on the hair as well, covering the hair from root to tip.
- Massage the scalp for 5-8 minutes so that oil is absorbed by the scalp well.
- Leave it on for one hour.
- Wash off with a mild herbal shampoo.
Frequency of Use: Thrice a week.
See More: How To Use Jojoba Oil For Hair
2. Coconut Oil and Peppermint Oil for Hair Growth:
Coconut oil is rich in essential fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals that nourish hair cells, hair follicles, and scalp effectively. It treats hair loss by promoting longer and stronger hair growth. It moisturises the hair and strengthens the hair strands, thus preventing hair breakage. It also controls the sebum levels on the scalp. Coconut oil and peppermint oil make a very effective scalp massage pack that treats hair loss effectively.
Ingredients:
- Four tablespoons of coconut oil.
- Five drops of peppermint oil.
Preparation Time: 20 minutes.
Directions of Use:
- Mix coconut oil and peppermint oil thoroughly.
- Apply it on the scalp thoroughly, and make sure it is applied on the hair as well, covering the hair from root to tip.
- Massage the scalp for 5-8 minutes so that oil is absorbed by the scalp well.
- Leave it on for one hour.
- Wash off with a mild herbal shampoo.
Frequency of Use: Thrice a week.
3. Aloe Vera and Peppermint Oil for Hair:
Aloe vera is high in anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. This helps in keeping the scalp clean and healthy. It also soothes and moisturises the scalp and hair, and strengthens the hair follicles and hair cells. It treats various inflammatory scalp conditions that affect hair health and hair growth, thus treating hair loss. Aloe vera gel and peppermint oil make a perfect hair mask, which keeps the scalp healthy, promotes hair growth, and makes hair soft, shiny, and smooth.
Ingredients:
- Four tablespoons of aloe vera gel.
- Five drops of peppermint oil.
Preparation Time: 20 minutes.
Directions of Use:
- Mix aloe vera gel and peppermint oil.
- Apply it on the scalp thoroughly, and make sure it is applied on the hair as well, covering the hair from root to tip.
- Massage the scalp for 5-8 minutes so that oil is absorbed by the scalp well.
- Leave it on for 30 minutes.
- Wash off with a mild herbal shampoo.
Frequency of Use: Twice a week.
4. Castor Oil and Peppermint Oil for Hair Loss:
Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, which helps in blood circulation to the scalp and stimulating the hair follicles for hair growth. It strengthens the hair against hair fall. The proteins and fats in castor oil help nourish the hair cells, making them strong and less prone to breakage. Peppermint oil and castor oil pack for scalp give highly effective results in promoting hair growth and treating baldness.
Ingredients:
- Four tablespoons of castor oil.
- Five drops of peppermint oil.
Preparation Time: 20 minutes.
Directions of Use:
- Mix castor oil and peppermint oil.
- Apply it on the scalp thoroughly, and make sure it is applied on the hair as well, covering the hair from root to tip.
- Massage the scalp for 5-8 minutes so that oil is absorbed by the scalp well.
- Leave it on for one hour.
- Wash off with a mild herbal shampoo.
Frequency of Use: Twice a week.
See More: Is Olive Oil Good For Hair
5. Tea Tree Oil and Peppermint Oil for Itchy Scalp:
Tea tree oil is high in anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties. It cleans the scalp and treats infections on the scalp very effectively. It is a very powerful remedy for scalp conditions like psoriasis, eczema, dandruff, itchy scalp, fungal infections of the scalp, etc. Tea tree oil also helps soothe the scalp cells and reduce inflammation. Peppermint oil and tea tree oil make a very good hair pack to treat dry and infectious scalp conditions and make the hair and scalp healthy.
Ingredients:
- Four tablespoons of coconut oil.
- Five drops of peppermint oil.
- Three drops of tea tree oil.
Preparation Time: 20 minutes.
Directions of Use:
- Mix tea tree oil and peppermint oil thoroughly.
- Apply it on the scalp thoroughly, and make sure it is applied on the hair as well, covering the hair from root to tip.
- Massage the scalp for 5-8 minutes so that oil is absorbed by the scalp well.
- Leave it on for one hour.
- Wash off with a mild herbal shampoo.
Frequency of Use: Once a week.
Precautions: Always do a patch test for tea tree oil to check for any allergic reactions.
6. Peppermint Oil Shampoo for Dandruff:
Another best way of using peppermint oil is to mix it directly into the regular shampoo for hair wash. Peppermint oil has high moisturising properties, which help treat dryness on the scalp. It is an excellent cleanser that helps clean the scalp of grease, dirt, and dead cells that cause dandruff. The anti-inflammatory properties of peppermint oil help soothe the scalp and effectively treat dandruff and keep the scalp healthy.
Ingredients:
- One ounce of a mild herbal shampoo of your choice.
- Five drops of peppermint oil.
Preparation Time: 15 minutes.
Directions of Use:
- Mix shampoo and peppermint oil thoroughly.
- Wet your hair with water.
- Take the required amount of this mixture and work it on the scalp.
- Gently rub the scalp to form a lather.
- Rub it on the hair thoroughly, making sure the hair is covered from roots to tips.
- Leave it on for two minutes.
- Rinse it off with water.
- Repeat, if required.
Frequency of Use: Twice a week.
7. Peppermint Oil and Jojoba Oil for Hair Growth:
Jojoba oil has a high content of vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, copper, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants that help nourish the hair, scalp, and hair follicles, promoting hair growth. The antioxidants in jojoba oil help eliminate the free radicals and aid in damage control and damage repair. It is also very effective in treating viral infections on the scalp that can damage the scalp and affect hair growth. Peppermint oil and jojoba oil make an excellent hair pack to increase natural hair growth.
Ingredients:
- Four tablespoons of jojoba oil.
- Five drops of peppermint oil.
Preparation Time: 20 minutes.
Directions of Use:
- Mix jojoba oil and peppermint oil thoroughly.
- Apply it on the scalp thoroughly, and make sure it is applied on the hair as well, covering the hair from root to tip.
- Massage the scalp for 5-8 minutes so that oil is absorbed by the scalp well.
- Leave it on for one hour.
- Wash off with a mild herbal shampoo.
Frequency of Use: Twice a week.
Additional Benefits of Peppermint Oil:
Let us look at some tips and other benefits of using peppermint oil:
- Always use essential oils by diluting them in carrier oils like coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, etc.
- Do not use essential oils in the area around the eyes as they are very powerful and may cause side effects.
- Avoid essential oils on infants and children.
- Some people can be allergic to essential oils, so a patch test is advised.
- Peppermint oil is very beneficial to the skin as it controls acne and brightens the skin tone.
- If you are experiencing slight burning or stinging sensation, itchiness, and redness on the scalp or skin as soon as you apply peppermint oil, worry not, as it is normal.
Peppermint oil is a very safe and effective home remedy to promote hair growth and cure hair problems. You must make sure you are using it right and following all the instructions, especially the rule of diluting the peppermint oil in a carrier oil. Always buy organic and check labels for acceptable grades for skin contact. If your hair issues are chronic, it is safer to consult a doctor and find out the underlying causes. Sometimes, hair problems are due to a health condition or illness, and only when the disease is cured, does the hair comes back to health. So it is important to maintain a healthy body for healthy hair.
