The Top Benefits of Using Tea Tree Oil for Hair Care

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that comes from the plant Melaleuca alternifolia, which is native to Australia. It has a naturally fresh and minty scent that is invigorating, as well as a range of anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties that make it popular for topical uses.

So, what can tea tree oil do for hair care – Is tea tree oil good for hair? Would applying tea tree oil to the hair and scalp make a positive impact? If you’re looking to update your hair routine with something natural, tea tree oil should definitely be a strong contender, and this guide will show you why.

The 5 Benefits of Tea Tree Oil for Hair

Here are the reasons why using tea tree oil for hair can transform the health of your locks and scalp.

1. It Fights Dandruff

Dandruff is a very common skin condition that causes white flakes to appear on the scalp and often comes with other unpleasant symptoms such as itchiness. A Malassezia yeast overgrowth usually causes it. [1] When looking for a solution to reduce dandruff, tea tree oil should be top of your list, as the antibacterial and antifungal properties actively fight the root cause of dandruff, leaving your scalp far cleaner and flake-free after use.

2. It Eliminates Lice

Lice is typically a problem that affects children, with up to 8% of any school-aged children experiencing lice at any given time. [2] Of course, lice can also infest adults, as they don’t particularly discriminate! While there are targeted solutions for lice, it helps to always have a bottle of tea tree oil around, as this oil can eliminate those small itchy creatures thanks to its natural insect-killing features.

3. It Treats Damaged Hair

Many people experience dry, damaged hair. While the best solution for very damaged hair may be waiting for new hairs to grow through completely, there are ways to treat these damaged locks, and that includes tea tree oil. It works due to its high absorbency rate, which means the tea tree oil is more likely to penetrate the hair shaft, leading to more moisturised, shiny, luscious locks that you’ll love.

4. It Targets Scalp Psoriasis

Scalp psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition that specifically targets the scalp, causing symptoms such as patches of thick scales and extreme itchiness. [3] There is no cure for scalp psoriasis, but there are effective treatments for managing symptoms, including applications of tea tree oil for hair skin, which helps alleviate inflamed skin due to its anti inflammatory properties. As a result, healthy hair can grow.

5. It Can Boost Hair Growth and Prevent Hair Loss

Are you dreaming of longer, thicker, healthier locks? Most people are! Tea tree oil can even help with boosting growth and preventing dreaded hair loss. That’s because of its ability to improve scalp health overall by fighting skin irritation, dryness, flakiness, and dandruff. When the scalp is healthy, the hair follicles have a better environment in which to grow hair. On top of that, tea tree oil can also stimulate blood flow to the scalp, allowing more nutrients to reach the follicles, leading to better growth.

Are you experiencing significant hair loss? If so, a more targeted treatment may be necessary. Download our hair track app to get in touch with expert hair specialists.

How to Use Tea Tree Oil for Hair

After learning about all the benefits of tea tree oil for hair, you may wonder, how do you actually use it? Before dropping pure tea tree oil ointment onto your scalp (which is a bad idea!), discover how to use it.

Before Anything Else: Perform a Patch Test

First things first – before you start applying any tea tree oil to your hair or scalp, perform a patch test. It is a simple process that ensures you don’t show any signs of an allergic reaction to the substance, such as skin irritation. To do this, place a couple of drops of tea tree oil onto your skin, such as on your arm. Then wait at least 24 hours, looking out for signs of irritation. If you show none, you can go ahead and use one of the methods below.

Choose a Tea Tree Oil

If you do not already have a tea tree oil in your home, you’ll need to purchase the right one at this stage. There are plenty of different tea tree oils on the market, and what you are looking for is a product that contains 100% distilled tea tree oil made in Australia, as this is the purest form that will provide the best results. Alternatively, consider purchasing a hair care product like shampoo that already contains tea tree oil for hair care.

Method One: To Fight Lice

If you’re looking to fight lice with tea tree oil, you’ll want to mix the tea tree oil with a carrier oil like vegetable oil, as this will lock in the product and prevent the lice from moving around or breathing. Tea tree oil is quite potent, so use mostly vegetable oil (around 30ml) with just a couple of drops of tea tree oil. Then, apply to your whole scalp, bringing the oils down to the end of your strands. From there, cover your scalp and hair with a shower cap, leave on overnight (or around 12 hours in the day), and then rinse off thoroughly.

Method Two: To Cleanse

You can routinely benefit from tea tree oil by using it to cleanse your scalp. Adding tea tree oil to your shampoo is the best way to do this – just ensure you don’t add too many drops. Then, whenever you wash your hair, you’ll reap the benefits of tea tree oil to your shampoo, such as a healthier scalp.

Method Three: To Relieve Itchiness

If you want relief from itchiness, perhaps due to dandruff or scalp psoriasis, mix a few drops of tea tree oil with additional ingredients such as coconut oil, honey, and yoghurt. These help nourish the scalp while providing much relief. You can massage this concoction into your scalp and leave it on overnight (after covering).

Method Four: To Boost Growth

For boosting hair growth, use diluted tea tree oil with another carrier oil. You could even mix with other oils that can encourage growth, such as castor oil, for best results. Either leave it on for several hours or wrap your hair and leave it on overnight. Then, rinse thoroughly and wash with shampoo.

Are There Any Risks to Using Tea Tree Oil?

As you can see, tea tree oil and hair health go hand in hand. You may wonder, though, are there any risks?

The greatest risk is an allergic reaction, which you can easily avoid by performing a patch test on the skin before you use the oil on the scalp. Skin irritation and rashes can sometimes occur when using tea tree oil that has not been diluted, too, so always dilute the tea tree oil with a carrier oil or shampoo to ensure it’s not too potent for your scalp.

Should You Use Tea Tree Oil as a Hair Loss Treatment?

Hair oil tea tree can be very helpful for boosting growth and preventing hair loss. However, that does not mean it’s the perfect https://www.hshairclinic.co.uk/hair-loss. It should preferably be used by those wanting to better nourish their scalps and grow healthier hair, rather than individuals who have experienced actual hair loss.

Hair loss is a problem that occurs for several potential reasons, including genetics, hormonal imbalances, medical conditions, and high levels of stress. Most of the time, a simple natural topical ingredient like tea tree oil is not enough to regrow the strands.

If you have experienced hair loss, your best step is to figure out why it’s happening, and you can do this by booking an appointment with your doctor. There, you can discuss what has led up to the hair loss, and the doctor can perform appropriate tests to determine what might be causing it. At that stage, you can figure out the right treatment plan.

What Are Good Hair Loss Solutions?

For those with hair loss, there are many solutions that can work very well. These include:

• Minoxidil
• Finasteride
• PRP (platelet-rich plasma) Therapy
• Low-Level Laser Therapy
• Steroid Injections
• A Hair Transplant

The best restoration option for you depends on your own goals and the reason for your hair loss. For example, if you’re experiencing male or female pattern baldness, a hair medication like minoxidil can work very well as it increases blood flow to the scalp. A hair transplant is also a great option, as it’s a minimally invasive surgery that provides permanent results that give you your own hair back.

Tea Tree Oil for Hair Health: Final Thoughts

Tea tree oil is a wonderful natural oil that tingles the skin once applied, making you feel fresher and more invigorated. When used topically on the scalp, it provides a wide range of benefits, from treating scalp conditions to fighting lice to boosting growth. If you’ve been looking for an all-natural hair care product, tea tree oil is a fantastic choice.

Do you need a more targeted hair restoration solution? Here at Harley Street Hair Clinic, we have provided many high-quality FUE procedures to patients who now can grow a full head of hair once more. To understand more about what we do, go to our patients gallery.

 

Sources:

1. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-dandruff-basics
2. https://bad.org.uk/children-with-smartphones-more-likely-to-get-head-lice/#:~:text=There%20is%20limited%20scientific%20data,%25%20in%20school%2Daged%20children.
3. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/psoriasis/symptoms/#:~:text=Scalp%20psoriasis%20is%20a%20type,while%20others%20have%20no%20discomfort.