You can make peppermint oil for hair at home by infusing dried peppermint leaves in a carrier oil over several weeks, or by speeding up the process with gentle heat. The result is a peppermint-infused oil you can massage into your scalp to promote circulation and support hair growth. Here’s how to do it, what the research says about why it works, and how to use it safely.
Cold Infusion Method (4 to 6 Weeks)
This is the simplest approach and requires no special equipment. Fill a clean mason jar halfway to three-quarters full with dried peppermint leaves. Fresh leaves contain too much moisture and can introduce bacteria, so dry your peppermint first by hanging bundles upside down for about a week, or spreading leaves on a baking sheet in a warm, dry room until they crumble easily.
Pour your carrier oil over the leaves until they’re fully submerged, leaving about half an inch of space at the top of the jar. Good carrier oil choices for hair include jojoba oil, coconut oil, or sweet almond oil. Jojoba closely mimics the natural oil your scalp produces, making it a particularly good match. Seal the jar tightly and place it in a cool, dark spot out of direct sunlight. Let it sit for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking the jar gently every few days to help the plant compounds release into the oil.
After the infusion period, strain the oil through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer into a clean jar, squeezing out as much liquid as possible. Discard the spent leaves. You now have a peppermint-infused oil ready for scalp use.
Warm Infusion Method (8 to 24 Hours)
If you don’t want to wait a month, gentle heat can extract the beneficial compounds much faster. Fill a mason jar halfway to three-quarters full with dried peppermint, then cover with your carrier oil, again leaving half an inch of room at the top. Place the sealed jar in a pot or slow cooker filled with a few inches of water, creating a water bath.
Set the temperature to the lowest possible setting and let the herbs infuse for 8 to 24 hours. The water temperature should stay below 100°F throughout. Going higher risks degrading the menthol and other volatile compounds that make peppermint useful for hair. Check periodically to make sure the water level hasn’t dropped too low. Once finished, strain and store exactly as you would with the cold method.
A Note on Infused Oil vs. Essential Oil
What you’re making at home is an infused oil, not a true essential oil. Commercial peppermint essential oil is produced through steam distillation, a process that concentrates the plant’s volatile compounds into a potent extract. Peppermint leaves contain roughly 30 to 45% menthol by weight in their essential oil, and that concentration is what gives commercial essential oil its intensity. A home infusion captures some of these compounds but at a much lower concentration, which actually makes it gentler and safer to apply directly to your scalp without the same risk of irritation.
If you already have store-bought peppermint essential oil and want a quicker route, you can simply dilute it into a carrier oil. A 3% concentration (about 18 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil) mirrors the ratio used in research studies. This is a faster alternative to making an infusion from scratch, though you lose the satisfaction of a fully homemade product.
Why Peppermint Oil Works for Hair
Peppermint’s active compound, menthol, creates that familiar cooling sensation on your skin. That tingling reflects increased blood flow to the area, which is exactly what hair follicles need to grow. More blood means more oxygen and nutrients reaching the follicle root.
A study published in Toxicological Research tested a 3% peppermint oil solution against saline, jojoba oil, and 3% minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine) on mice over four weeks. The peppermint oil group showed roughly 92% hair growth compared to 55% for minoxidil. Even more striking, the peppermint group developed 740% more hair follicles than the saline group and 307% more than the jojoba group. The depth of those follicles, a marker of how firmly rooted and healthy they are, was 236% greater than saline. These results were comparable to minoxidil across most measures.
This is animal research, not a human clinical trial, so the exact numbers won’t translate one-to-one to your scalp. But the biological mechanism, increased blood flow and follicle stimulation, is well understood and applies across species. The study also found no toxic signs from the peppermint oil, which is reassuring for topical use.
How to Apply It to Your Scalp
Part your hair into sections so you can apply the oil directly to your scalp rather than just coating your hair strands. Use your fingertips to massage a small amount (about a tablespoon for full scalp coverage) in circular motions for 3 to 5 minutes. The massage itself also boosts circulation, compounding the effect of the peppermint.
You can leave the oil on for 30 minutes to an hour before washing it out with your regular shampoo, or apply it overnight with a towel on your pillow. For the best chance at results, aim for consistency. Two to three applications per week gives your scalp regular stimulation without overdoing it. The animal study showing strong results used daily application over four weeks, so regularity matters more than any single session.
If you’re using a homemade infusion (which is milder), you can apply it directly. If you’re using a diluted essential oil blend, do a patch test first: apply a small amount to the inside of your wrist, wait 24 hours, and check for redness or irritation before putting it on your scalp.
Storage and Shelf Life
Homemade infused oils don’t contain preservatives, so they have a limited window of freshness. According to Oklahoma State University’s food safety guidance, homemade oil infusions should be refrigerated and used within three months. At room temperature, the window is significantly shorter, just 2 to 4 days, because oils infused with plant material can develop bacteria in warm conditions.
Store your finished oil in a dark glass bottle (amber or cobalt blue) in the refrigerator. Label it with the date you strained it. If the oil develops an off smell, changes color significantly, or looks cloudy, discard it and make a fresh batch. Making smaller quantities more frequently is safer than preparing a large supply that sits for months.
Who Should Avoid Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil should not be used on children under 30 months old. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, peppermint applied to young children can increase seizure risk, and some children have experienced allergic reactions, coughing, wheezing, and skin burns from essential oils. For older children, use a very diluted preparation and watch for any respiratory symptoms.
Adults with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema or psoriasis on the scalp should start with a small test area. The menthol in peppermint is a known irritant at higher concentrations, which is another reason a homemade infusion (naturally lower in menthol) can be a gentler starting point than diluted essential oil. If you experience burning rather than a mild cool tingle, wash the oil off immediately and try a weaker concentration next time.