You see it more and more often on TikTok and in Reddit threads about hair loss: peppermint oil is supposedly more effective than minoxidil. That claim is based on a single study cited everywhere, accompanied by a percentage that sounds impressive. There is just one problem. That study was never conducted on humans. We looked into where the rumor comes from and what has actually been researched in humans.
What is peppermint oil and why is it popping up everywhere?
Peppermint oil is the essential oil extracted from the peppermint plant and naturally contains a high concentration of menthol, the component that provides the familiar cool, tingling sensation on the skin. It has long been used in hair care for its fresh scent and tingling effect on the scalp. For a few years now, it has also been appearing as a treatment for hair loss, with the major hook being that some sources claim it works more powerfully than minoxidil.
The mouse study that started the rumor
The source of that claim is a 2014 Korean study published in the journal Toxicological Research. Researchers applied peppermint oil, jojoba oil, a saline solution, or 3 percent minoxidil to the skin of mice for four weeks. The group treated with peppermint oil showed the strongest increase in skin thickness, number of hair follicles, and follicle depth, with growth calculated at approximately 92 percent, compared to about 55 percent in the minoxidil group.
Those are the numbers you see everywhere in articles and videos. What is usually missing: this was research on mouse skin, for four weeks, with a minoxidil concentration of 3 percent, while most men today use 5 percent. Mouse skin reacts differently than a human scalp. Therefore, a percentage from an animal study says little about what would happen to you. It is a nice starting point for further research, not proof that peppermint oil works better than minoxidil for men.
What peppermint oil might do: menthol and blood vessels
The suspected mechanism behind peppermint oil lies in menthol. This substance activates a receptor in the skin that reacts to cold, causing blood vessels to dilate and temporarily increasing blood flow. Theoretically, increased blood flow would mean hair follicles are better supplied with oxygen and nutrients, similar to part of the mechanism behind minoxidil. The tingling sensation you feel after application is therefore not a meaningless side effect; it is precisely the effect thought to contribute to the result. However, a temporary warm or tingling feeling is something different than proven hair growth in humans.
Is there any research on humans?
Yes, and that research is less convincing than the mouse study suggests. In 2025, a randomized study was published in the Indian Journal of Integrative Medicine involving sixty women with diffuse hair loss—not hereditary baldness, as is the case for most men on this page. One group received a scalp massage with peppermint oil mixed with coconut oil three times a week for a month. The other group received the same massage with coconut oil alone.
Within the peppermint group, scalp itching decreased significantly and the number of hairs in the central area of the scalp increased. But when the researchers compared the two groups, there was no statistically significant difference between peppermint oil with coconut oil and coconut oil alone. In other words: both groups improved, and peppermint oil did not perform demonstrably better than the coconut oil it was compared with. That is a very different story than "better than minoxidil," and it also involved women with a different type of hair loss than most readers of this article have.
How to use peppermint oil safely if you still want to try it
Applying it pure is not recommended. Peppermint oil is concentrated and can cause irritation, redness, or a burning sensation upon direct contact with the skin. Follow these steps if you want to try it:
- Mix a few drops of peppermint oil with a carrier oil, such as coconut or jojoba oil, in a ratio of approximately 1 to 20.
- First, perform a small patch test on the inside of your elbow and wait 24 hours to see if your skin reacts.
- Massage the mixture into the scalp for a few minutes, two to three times a week.
- Wash it out after half an hour to an hour, or leave it in if your skin tolerates it well.
If you notice a burning sensation that does not go away, redness, or persistent itching, stop immediately and rinse your scalp with plenty of water. Do not use peppermint oil on the same day you use a derma roller, as damaged skin is more sensitive to irritation from essential oils. Also, do not combine it in the same application as minoxidil; wait a few hours between using both products.
Is peppermint oil suitable for early-stage hair loss?
If you are curious and looking for a low-threshold option, diluted peppermint oil is probably not a bad idea to try. The risk is small as long as you use it diluted, and the tingling sensation is perceived as pleasant by many people. But do not count on it to stop your hair loss. The evidence in humans is thin, concerned a different type of hair loss than androgenetic alopecia, and showed no clear advantage over a standard carrier oil.
For men with early, hereditary hair loss, a formula containing multiple evidence-based active ingredients is a more logical starting point than a single essential oil. Our Growth Serum contains, among other things, Redensyl and caffeine—ingredients that specifically target the hair growth cycle and DHT, rather than just a temporary tingling sensation. If you want to support the absorption of such a serum, microneedling with a derma roller is a step with more research behind it than peppermint oil. If you are debating between different natural oils, you will find a similar story in our article on rosemary oil: promising, but with less evidence than the marketing suggests.
Conclusion
The idea that peppermint oil works better than minoxidil comes from one study on mouse skin, not from research on humans. The only randomized study on humans showed no significant difference between peppermint oil and a standard coconut oil, and it also concerned women with diffuse hair loss. Peppermint oil is likely safe to try in moderation and diluted, and the tingling sensation is perceived as pleasant by many, but do not view it as a replacement for a substantiated approach to hereditary hair loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use peppermint oil if you have a sensitive scalp?
You can, but with extra caution. Dilute the oil more than usual—for example, 1 drop to 30 drops of carrier oil—and always perform a patch test on the inside of your elbow first. With a sensitive scalp, the risk of redness or a burning sensation is greater, so build up slowly and stop immediately if you notice irritation.
How long does it take to see results from peppermint oil?
There is no reliable timeline because there is no strong research on humans with hereditary hair loss. In the study involving women with diffuse hair loss, a change in itching and hair count was measured after just one month, but that says little about how long it takes for men with a different form of hair loss.
Can you combine peppermint oil with a hair serum?
Yes, but not in the same application. Apply them at different times of the day—for example, peppermint oil in the morning and your serum in the evening—so that the oil does not interfere with the absorption of the active ingredients in your serum.
Is peppermint oil the same as menthol shampoo?
No, they are not the same. Menthol shampoo usually contains a low, highly diluted concentration of menthol that remains on the scalp briefly for a tingling sensation, whereas pure peppermint oil is much more concentrated and must be diluted yourself before use. The effect of a shampoo is also shorter-lived than that of a massaged-in oil.
Can you use too much peppermint oil?
Yes, you certainly can. Using it too often or too concentrated increases the risk of an irritated, dry, or burning scalp without enhancing the effect. Two to three times a week in a diluted form is sufficient for most people; applying more does not make it more powerful.
Does peppermint oil work for an itchy scalp?
There is some evidence for that. In the study of women with diffuse hair loss, scalp itching decreased significantly after a month of using peppermint oil mixed with coconut oil. That effect on itching was more clearly demonstrated than the effect on actual hair growth.
Can you use peppermint oil if you are already using minoxidil or finasteride?
Yes, they can be used alongside each other, provided you do not apply the oil at the same time as minoxidil. Finasteride works via the bloodstream and is not affected by what you apply to your scalp; minoxidil works locally and may be absorbed less effectively if you apply greasy oil over or under it.
Why does my scalp feel cool after using peppermint oil?
That is caused by menthol, which activates a cold receptor in the skin without the temperature actually dropping. Your brain interprets that signal as coolness, which also explains the tingling sensation many users find pleasant. It is the same mechanism that gives menthol candies a cool taste.
Is peppermint oil a cheaper alternative to minoxidil?
In price per bottle, yes, but that says little about the value, because evidence for peppermint oil in humans with hereditary hair loss is still lacking. Minoxidil has decades of research and approvals behind it; peppermint oil has one small mouse study and one human study without a significant advantage over coconut oil.
Can you use peppermint oil via shampoo or conditioner instead of as a separate oil?
You can, and it is a milder way to start. Add a few drops to a dollop of shampoo just before use so that the oil is automatically diluted and remains on the scalp for less time than with a massaged-in application. The tingling effect will, however, be milder and noticeable for a shorter time.
