3B curly girl Kim (AKA CurlyConundrum ) shared this festive pre-poo recipe with our community. Peppermint oil promotes hair growth by increasing blood flow and circulation to your scalp.

When used as a pre-poo 20 to 30 minutes prior to shampooing, this curly mixology will deliver coarse, brittle hair with a blast of moisture. Since clarifying can strip hair of its natural oils, a pre-poo is useful for preserving what is necessary.

Peppermint oil is great for the winter season and leaves a tingling, refreshing sensation on the scalp! 

What You'll Need

  • 5 drops of peppermint oil (at Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe, or GNC)
  • 6 drops of coconut oil


  1. Mix 6 drops of coconut oil with 5 drops of peppermint oil. Remember, an essential oil isn't safe to use topically until you dilute it with a carrier oil. 
  2. Apply thoroughly from scalp to tips of your hair and let it soak for 20 to 30 minutes. 
  3. Give yourself a scalp massage for a couple of minutes to let the oil penetrate. Use the pads of your fingers (not your nails) to ensure that you're not creating an open wound by scraping your scalp. 
  4. Rinse out and follow up with your shampoo or co-wash.

Why it works

Type 3b curls tend to be more voluminous and have a smaller circumference than Type 3a curls--the size of a Sharpie marker. Type 3b hair is not as shiny as Type 3a curls, and the texture can be coarse and dense. In general, moisture has a harder time travelling down a curl, thus drying out easily throughout the day, especially the days following your wash.

Coconut oil contains the nutrients and fatty acids your scalp needs in order to retain moisture that lasts. It also penetrates and seals natural sheen into your hair, making it appear full of luster and light. In the colder months, the tingling feeling of peppermint oil helps to calm down an inflamed scalp (perfect for use after taking out your protective style)--it is a natural cleanser and antiseptic for removing product and dirt build-up.

This pre-poo will give your scalp a fresh canvas to work with, while the coconut oil seals in the properties of your co-wash that you use afterwards.  This DIY will soften your hair pre-wash, making it easier for detangling as well. 

Do you have a Curly Mixology you'd like to share with the NaturallyCurly community? Submit your recipe here!