“The tingle means it’s working.” Have you ever heard that before? Two tingling oils that are popular with curly girls are peppermint oil and tea tree oil, and while they both sound like great natural oils to use for hair and scalp, what do we actually know about their tingling effects? Let’s first find out what they are and can do.
What is peppermint oil?
Peppermint oil derives from the peppermint plant, a hybrid species of spearmint and water mint. It is historically used for medicinal purposes, it has a long history in even Chinese and Japanese folk medicine. Peppermint oil contains calcium, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, and omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A and C. It is also quite useful for headaches, muscle pains, allergic reactions, itchiness, scalp, and hair.
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Peppermint oil has that cooling effect that most are aware of, and with its antiseptic, regenerative, and stimulating effects, it is quite often used in relieving scalp irritations like dryness and dandruff. Those stimulating effects make it popular with hair loss sufferers for increasing blood circulation to the scalp and creating a healthier environment for hair growth.
What is tea tree oil?
Extracted from the leaves of the tea tree or Melaleuca alternifolia. This oil is known as a cure all and I have used it for gum issues and dandruff, so I am a believer in it. This natural oil is particularly effective against bacteria, fungi, and viruses and has antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, stimulant, and cicatrisant properties. It is used for acne, toenail fungus, ringworms, psoriasis, and dandruff and can be used on small cuts.
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Tea tree oil is excellent for hair and scalp, namely for relieving dandruff. Before I was using the CGM, I had a dandruff problem and hated using medicated shampoos. I started adding a few drops of tea tree oil to my palm when using my regular shampoo. Tea tree oil also has stimulating properties, which help increase blood flow to the scalp and create a healthy environment for hair growth. Just like peppermint, it has that cooling or tingling feeling when used on the scalp and hair. It is one of the natural oils quite often used for removing lice and soothing dry flaking scalps.
Is the tingling stimulating or irritating?
According to American Board Certified hair colorist and hairstylist Monaé Everett:
“Peppermint and tea tree oils are highly concentrated essential oils and it is suggested that carrier oils are used to dilute them. If applied to the skin or scalp alone, the tingling sensation could be a sign of irritation. So test your level of sensitivity to the oils first. Otherwise, the tingling feeling these oils create when diluted properly is a result of the antiseptic and stimulating properties of the oils.”
It is not advised to use peppermint or tea tree oils without diluting them in a carrier oil or product such as a conditioner unless instructed by a physician or cosmetologist. These oils are highly concentrated and still effective when diluted with carrier oils or hair products, so using them alone is unnecessary. With peppermint oil and tea tree oil they are just as potent and advantageous in conjunction with oils and products.
Do you like hair products with a tingling sensation? If you’re interested in learning about more hair oils that can help improve your texture, read how Chiara Scuderi discusses the benefits of rosemary oil.
