The Power of Peppermint: How Peppermint Oil Can Benefit Your Beard

Peppermint may be a miracle worker for your breath - but did you know it can also help you to grow a badass beard?

It’s true. The minty fresh magic of peppermint has been used in natural medicines and remedies for centuries, but peppermint oil can also be a game-changer for stimulating hair growth, reducing pesky inflammation, and preventing that dreaded beard itch.

Plus, it smells brilliant.

(Not necessarily a major selling point for aspiring beard-growers, but who says you can’t develop a majestic beard without smelling great at the same time?)

Let’s take a closer look at the beard-related benefits of peppermint oil, and explain how you take full advantage of this natural wonder ingredient.

Now, we know what you’re thinking.

There are plenty of wacky supplements and remedies floating around the beard industry, all promising to stimulate hair growth and leave you with dreamy whiskers.

And admittedly, rubbing peppermint oil on your face may sound like an old wives’ tale.

But here at Mission Beard, we don’t play around with our beard-care recommendations. We only discuss products that are evidence-backed and thoroughly tested, so when we claim that peppermint oil can support beard growth, you know it’s true.

To prove this point, we’ve pulled together 4 indisputable benefits of using peppermint oil on your facial hair. Read on.

Ok, we know we just promised rock-solid, science-backed benefits, but stay with us for a second.

Menthol, which is abundant in peppermint, is an organic chemical that has been proven to increase blood circulation beneath beards. Increased blood flow means nutrients can move around your body easier and get to the areas that need them - like your beard hair follicles.

(See where we’re going with this?)

When your beard is getting everything it needs, it’s inclined to grow, thrive, and look great.

It’s true - and the research is there to back it up.

One 2014 study compared the effects of peppermint oil on mice with those produced by minoxidil.

As a popular, proven hair growth supplement with a history of helping beard growth, you’d expect minoxidil to take the crown from an affordable essential oil. And trust us, we were just as surprised by the results.

After 4 weeks of applying a 3% peppermint oil solution to their hair, the test mice saw thicker, longer hair growth similar to the results produced by minoxidil.

Similar facial hair growth results at a fraction of the price tag? That’s got our attention.

Facial hair sucks up the sebum oil produced by your hair follicles to keep itself hydrated. As your beard gets longer, sebum becomes in short supply.

Whenever you reach that point, the skin under your beard will get dry and itchy.

Really itchy.

And nobody wants that.

Peppermint oil works to ensure that every hair follicle on your face gets the hydration it needs, meaning there’s plenty of moisture to go around. Skin that can retain its moisture will remain hydrated, which eliminates itchiness.

But that’s not all. Peppermint oil is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, so it won’t just keep itching at bay - it’ll also treat any existing itching you might be struggling with.

It’s time for the hydrating properties of peppermint oil to shine once again.

Beard dandruff can be just as irritating and embarrassing as regular dandruff, particularly when you’re wearing darker clothes. But don’t sweat - peppermint oil can help.

Alongside popular carrier oils like jojoba and argan oil which are commonly found in premium beard care products, peppermint oil will work hard to keep skin hydrated and healthy.

The result? The dreaded beard dandruff gets stopped in its tracks.

Peppermint oil will leave your bristles smelling fresh, cool, and clean. And the value of a nice-smelling beard should never be underrated.

But that’s not all peppermint can do.

Research has shown that inhaling the perfume of peppermint oil may boost cognitive abilities including memory, reasoning, and problem-solving. So not only will peppermint oil leave your beard looking silky and smelling great, but it may also boost your focus and concentration.

A bountiful beard and increased brainpower? Sign us up.

As with the likes of beard balm, beard shampoo and beard conditioner, quality is more important than quantity.

However, with essential oils, this is doubly important, and peppermint oil is no different.

Since they’re highly concentrated, applying pure essential oils like peppermint oil directly to your skin isn’t a good idea, as many of them contain allergens that can do more harm than good.

As a result, the general rule of thumb for essential oils is to use them at no more than 3% of the total mixture.

Don’t worry - we’re not going to leave you high and dry here. With the quick addition of a carrier oil or two, let’s take a look at how you can spin this up into an affordable, high-quality homemade beard oil.

This recipe roughly makes 1x 1oz (30ml) bottle of peppermint beard oil, but you’ll have plenty left for future batches.

Pro tip: Store your oils in a cool, dark location, and they should last up to 12 months. Plenty of time to circle back for more.

What you’ll need:

 Ingredients: 

• Peppermint essential oil:  get the smallest bottle you can find, because you don’t need much of this.

• Argan oil:  2oz

• Jojoba oil:  2oz

• Sweet almond oil: 2oz

Tools:

• Mixing bowl: don’t use a food bowl unless you want your next batch of cookies to taste like beard oil

• Spatula: for combining ingredients

• Pipette/dropper: for measuring quantities

• Glass bottle:  to store your finished product

• Label:  so your partner doesn’t accidentally cook with it

Now let’s make you some peppermint beard oil:

1. Using your dropper, measure out 5ml jojoba oil and 5ml argan oil.

2. Add these to your mixing bowl.

3. Measure out roughly 20ml sweet almond oil

4. Add this to your mixing bowl, and combine your 3 oils to make your base oil.

5. Carefully add in 10-20 drops of peppermint oil, depending on your desired strength

6. Add your finished product to your glass bottle and store in a cool, dark place

There you have it - your own peppermint beard oil!

*These may vary between peppermint oil bottles and should be taken as guidance only.

Now that we’ve covered the impressive benefits of using peppermint oil, it’s time to walk through how you can apply this natural goodness to your face.

Applying product to your beard may sound easy enough, but we want to make sure that you’re maximising the minty powers of peppermint oil. 

That’s why we’ve created this easy-to-follow 5 step guide:

Take your new peppermint beard oil bottle. Fill the dropper with as much oil as it can take, and prepare for stage two.

Empty the contents of the dropper into your free hand - and NOT directly onto your beard.

(Seriously. If we hear about any dropper-to-beard incidents, we’ll be very disappointed.)

Applying peppermint oil directly onto your beard can be extremely wasteful, so just drip a small amount onto your palms to start with.

Put the lid back on the bottle and rub the oil around your palms, distributing in-between your fingers so that your hands can perform the next step effectively.

Begin to massage the fragrant oil into your facial hair. Be thorough, making sure that every strand and whisker receives a dose of peppermint goodness.

To guarantee optimal peppermint distribution, comb the oil through your beard so that every individual whisker gets what it craves.

Safety first! We’re not trying to get in any trouble here.

As with any health products you plan to try, it’s important to make sure you know what the potential side effects might be.

If you’re allergic to mint, there’s a good chance you’re already aware of the fact. And even if you’re not, it’s still important to patch-test everything you plan to put on your skin.

Usually you’ll be fine, of course, but it’s never worth the risk of assuming.

Peppermint oil can be fantastic for maintaining a healthy beard, but like all essential oils, it needs to be used carefully. Always follow the packaging instructions, pay close attention to the fine print, and double-check the ingredients list.

Peppermint oil is topical, meaning it’s not meant to be ingested. Possible side effects of ingestion can include heartburn, nausea, and a range of other nasty scenarios.

To prevent an embarrassing visit to your doctor, always use peppermint oil the way it’s intended to be used.

The chemical pulegone found in peppermint is well-documented as being very toxic.

Whilst it's not illegal to use more than 1% pulegone in a peppermint oil cosmetic formulation, the FDA recommends keeping the amount below 1%, so keep an eye on this in your ingredients list. Dilution is key when this chemical is concerned.

When applied to the skin, peppermint oil may also sometimes trigger a rash or irritation. To be safe, test out a little bit of peppermint oil on a tiny area of your skin to check for a potential reaction.

Before you venture out to enjoy the benefits of peppermint oil, let’s take a quick look at some essential pieces of beard-grooming equipment.

When it comes to applying products to your beard, it doesn’t get much better than the trusty combination of a beard brush and a beard comb. If you’re equipped with a sturdy brush and a reliable comb, you’ll be ready for anything.

But this dynamic duo does much more than just straighten unruly beard hairs.

Using a beard comb and brush combination can help you to effectively apply products like peppermint oil, jojoba oil, extra-virgin coconut oil and beard oil. Peppermint oil can work wonders for your facial hair, but a beard brush and comb will help that oil to live up to its full potential.