Peppermint, the popular aromatic herb is much-appreciated in the food and beverage world for its distinct taste, smell, flavour, and cooling sensation. It contains a compound called menthol that is responsible for its unique qualities. You may have already come across shampoos, skin creams, and other beauty products containing peppermint oil. And you know it instantly – thanks to its pleasant fragrance and unique cooling effect it has on our skin and scalp. And of lately, peppermint is attracting substantial attention in the hair care segment too. Let’s look at how you can introduce peppermint in your haircare regime.
UNLOCK THE MAGIC OF PEPPERMINT FOR YOUR TRESSES
The pale yellowish colour peppermint essential oil is rich in iron, magnesium, minerals, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C. It also contains anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal, antiallergic, antioxidant, analgesic and anaesthetic, vasodilating and vasoconstricting properties.
Below are two effective ways to use peppermint essential oil for your hair:
Scalp massage: Add 2-3 drops of peppermint essential oil to a carrier oil of your choice such as coconut, jojoba, or shea butter oil. Apply this mix evenly on your scalp and massage well. You may feel a tingling and cooling sensation. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes and then wash your hair with shampoo.
Caution: Like any other essential oil, always dilute peppermint essential oil by mixing it with carrier oil to protect your skin from burning sensation. Avoid using it on infants and children as well as avoid contact with eyes.
Add to your shampoo & conditioner: You can directly add peppermint oil to your shampoo and conditioner bottles, but do not add too much. It is recommended to add about five drops to 30 ml shampoo or conditioner and enjoy the goodness of peppermint oil in every wash. READ MORE – Peppermint Hair water – clear dandruff and boost hair growth
HOMEMADE PEPPERMINT HAIR OIL
You will need –
- Dried peppermint leaves – 1 tbsp.
- Hair Oil – 1/4 cup
To make – Make a double boiler by adding water to a saucepan and then place a bowl on top of it. Add in the oil along with dried peppermint leaves and simmer it on low for 15 mins to infuse the leaves with the oil. Pour the oil along with leaves into a glass jar and let the leaves continue to infuse in the oil. Use this oil to massage your scalp, leave it on for 30 mins or overnight and wash it off.
PEPPERMINT OIL PROMOTES HAIR GROWTH
There have been quite a few researches on the effectiveness of peppermint oil on hair growth and the results are very encouraging.
- Studies show that regular topical application of peppermint oil for four weeks can stimulate hair growth and result in thicker and longer hair.
- Peppermint oil can be an effective remedy to get rid of dry, itchy skin and scalp.
- Vasodilators are known to improve blood flow. And the menthol present in peppermint essential oil is a vasodilator that increases blood flow to undernourished hair follicles thereby preventing hair loss and potentially improving hair growth. But if peppermint oil is applied in inflamed skin or muscle area, it leads to vasoconstriction rather than vasodilation. READ MORE – Top 10: 2 INGREDIENT TURMERIC BEAUTY PRODUCTS for clear, healthy, and flawless skin
In conclusion, even though we await more researches to unravel the complete magic of peppermint on hair health, you can go ahead and reap the benefits from the currently known ways of using peppermint oil for your tresses.