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Your hair needs oxygen and nutrients to thrive—both of which are delivered via blood flow to your scalp. With that in mind, it makes sense that there’s a direct correlation between your circulatory system and the health of your hair: the better your circulation is, the more efficiently these essentials are distributed to your follicles, which can encourage hair growth and improve the overall appearance of your strands.
There are a number of different things you do to keep things flowing properly, like treating yourself to some red light therapy or scalp massages, but slathering on a peppermint-infused serum might just be the most satisfying option of them all.
Why stimulate your scalp with peppermint?
You’ll often see minty ingredients on labels under different names, like peppermint oil, mentha piperita, or menthol. Regardless of how it’s listed, know that menthol—which is derived from peppermint oil, so will likely be present in any peppermint products even if they don’t explicitly say it—is really the star of the show. It’s responsible for the tingly, cooling sensation you get when you apply something mint to your skin, but also comes with some pretty legitimate hair-health benefits
According to a 2016 study, topical application of a product that has at least 4 percent menthol in it “causes blood vessels to widen, which increases blood flow” and can potentially lead to thicker hair (though more research is needed to confirm this assertion), and another 2014 study saw promising results related to peppermint oil and hair growth.
Beyond the positive effects that peppermint oil can have on your blood flow, it can also help fend off dryness and flaking on your scalp, reduce excess oiliness, and fight inflammation.
Shop peppermint serums
Convinced to try one for yourself? Browse these seven refreshing serums and balms so you, too, can stimulate your scalp with peppermint oil. Each and every one is packaged with either a pointed nozzle or dropper tool (which are great for applying between braids and under sew-ins and wigs) so you can get the goodness right to your scalp without wasting a single drop.
Canviiy ScalpBliss Itch-Calming Organic-Based Serum — $20.00
The minty sensation that ScalpBliss leaves behind on your scalp is otherworldly. It’s made with a blend of aloe, lavender, witch hazel, manuka honey, and—of course—peppermint oil. It was designed to moisturize dry scalps while soothing itch and irritation.
Act+Acre Cold Processed Scalp Renew — $48.00
This pre-shampoo product was made to gently exfoliate and refresh the scalp, giving you a head start on your wash-day routine. While peppermint extract and red clover relieve and soothe irritation, salicylic acid and papaya extract exfoliate, dissolve, and digest dry skin cells on the scalp’s surface.
Mizani Scalp Care Soothing Scalp Lotion — $24.00
Edwards loves this calming scalp serum from Mizani, a brand that works with. It blends menthol with eucalyptus for that tingly effect while aloe vera soothes and avocado oil moisturizes.
The Nue Co Supa_Thick — $45.00
This pre-shampoo serum is designed to reduce hair shedding by stimulating the scalp with a blend of peppermint, clary sage, and rosemary oils while Ayurvedic extracts amla, bhringraj, and brahmi support hair growth and scalp health. Plus, the formula gently exfoliates and rebalances the scalp microbiome. Massage it into the scalp, leave it on for 20 minutes, and then shampoo and follow the rest of your routine.
Bread Beauty Supply Cooling Greens Exfoliating Scalp Treatment — $28.00
Designed as either an overnight pre-wash treatment or a leave-on, the serum uses menthol and eucalyptus to stimulate and soothe the scalp. It also employs a super gentle mandelic acid and gluconolactone to exfoliate the scalp and chinaberry extract to neutralize free radicals that can cause oxidative stress.
Pattern Scalp Serum — $25.00
Invigorate your scalp with this serum that uses peppermint and rosemary oils to stimulate and cool the scalp while glycerin, aloe leaf juice, and castor seed oil provide deep moisturization. It also includes antioxidant-rich matcha, vitamin B5, and niacinamide to strengthen the scalp.
SH-RD Intensive Full & Thick Hair Essence — $60.00
Peppermint oil and menthol cool the scalp and stimulate blood flow while Capixyl and Capilectine, two bioengineered ingredients, promote hair growth and reduce inflammation. The formula also includes red clover extract to stimulate hair growth at a cellular level while inhibiting the over-creation of DHT, a hormone that’s a main instigator of hair loss.
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