Tea tree oil is very versatile and it’s great for your hair! In this post, find out 9 amazing tea tree oil benefits for hair!
We all know what tea tree oil is because it is so popular in the beauty world. It is most famous for its powerful acne-busting properties but it also helps with a whole lot of problems including toenail fungus, cold sores, warts and others.
Did you know that it’s also great for your scalp and hair?! Yup! In this post, we’re going to see 9 tea tree oil benefits for hair issues!
9 Amazing Tea Tree Oil Benefits for Hair
See some amazing benefits of tea tree oil for your hair, from cleansing the scalp to fighting dandruff
1. Cleanses the Scalp
Tea tree oil is a powerful disinfectant! When you take a whiff of its sharp medicinal scent, you’ll automatically know it’s a strong antiseptic! This makes it good for cleansing the body, including the scalp. You can add 10-15 drops of tea tree essential oil to an 8 oz shampoo bottle.
2. Fights Dandruff
You must have seen tea tree oil added as an ingredient to many shampoos, especially anti-dandruff ones, right? That’s because it’s an effective antimicrobial and anti-fungal ingredient. It clears off dandruff naturally! Here’s a study showing tea tree oil is a successful treatment for dandruff. You can add tea tree oil to your shampoo as instructed as above. Or, make a DIY anti-dandruff shampoo as follows:
- DIY Anti-Dandruff Shampoo: Into a clean bottle, mix together ¼ cup liquid castile soap, ½ cup distilled water, 2 tsp vegetable glycerin and 15 drops of tea tree essential oil. Work a little of this mixture into your scalp then rinse off just like normal shampoo. You’ll see improvements within 3 times of use!
3. Reduces Oily Hair
Got oily hair? Use tea tree oil! It is a natural astringent which reduces oiliness on the scalp and hair strands. It also shrinks pores, which reduces the amount of sebum being secreted on the scalp.
4. Treats Scalp Fungal Infections
Another amazing tea tree oil benefit for your scalp & hair is that it fights scalp fungal infections. That’s because it has strong anti-fungal properties.
- Scalp Fungus Treatment: Get a small glass bowl and add 2 tsp of coconut oil then add 4 drops of tea tree oil. Now get a clean cotton ball and apply this mixture all over your scalp or only on the affected areas. Do this 2-4 hours before washing your hair.
5. Stimulates Hair Growth
Yes! Tea tree oil can also stimulate hair growth! When applied on the scalp (diluted), it gives a pleasant tingling sensation that is said to invigorate the hair follicles and promote hair growth. You can make a hair growth oil by combining tea tree oil with other hair growth promoting essential oils like rosemary and lavender.
- Hair Growth Oil: Into a clean bottle (preferably dark colored to keep out light), add 1 tbsp castor oil and 2 tbsp jojoba oil. Now add 6 drops tea tree oil, 6 drops rosemary oil and 6 drops lavender oil. Screw on the cap tightly and roll the bottle between your palms to mix it up. Massage this oil on your whole scalp then cover your hair with a shower cap. Wash your hair very well after 2 hours with a natural shampoo.
6. Relieves Itchy Scalp
An itchy scalp is one of the worst things to deal with! But guess what?! That tiny bottle of tea tree oil is an instant itch-reliever! Make this anti-itch hair spray and use it as many times as necessary to beat that itch!
- Anti-Itch Hair Spray: Get a fine mist spray bottle like this 2 oz amber bottle. Now add in 2 tsp witch hazel, 4 drops tea tree oil and 4 drops lavender oil. Fill up the bottle with distilled water. Shake well and spray onto your itchy scalp for instant relief!
7. Conditions Hair
Tea tree oil also conditions your hair and gives it a natural shine! Try adding it to your hair serum or make your own as follows!
- Tea Tree Hair Serum: In a 2 oz amber glass dropper bottle, add 1.5 oz jojoba oil. Next add 4 drops tea tree oil, 4 drops lavender oil and 4 drops geranium oil. Cap tightly and roll the bottle between your palms to mix well. Now smooth above 4 drops along your hair length then brush your hair for shiny healthy locks!
8. Kills Lice
You can use tea tree oil to kill off lice! Studies show that it can be effective in killing off lice in the adult and nymph stages. It also reduces the number of nits that hatch. You can try using this treatment to suffocate and eradicate lice:
- Head Lice Treatment: Into a bowl, add 2-3 tbsp of olive oil then 12-18 drops of tea tree oil. Mix well and apply all over the scalp and hair. Leave it on for an hour with your hair covered with a shower cap. Now comb it with a lice comb to remove lice and eggs. Wash your hair very well after wards with shampoo. Repeat this treatment for 5-7 days until the lice completely clears off.
9. Treats Scalp Eczema & Psoriasis
Treat scalp eczema and psoriasis naturally using tea tree oil. It also helps relieve itching. Simply mix a suitable amount of coconut oil with a few drops of tea tree oil (for every tsp of coconut oil, add 1-2 drops of tea tree oil). Now apply it on your scalp or affected areas and leave it on overnight. You may wash your hair the next day.
Where to Get Tea Tree Oil
Ensure to buy a bottle of 100% pure unadulterated high quality tea tree essential oil. If you see a bottle with only ‘tea tree oil’ written on it without the word ‘essential’ then it’s probably mixed with other ingredients and not the pure concentrated version. Buy tea tree essential oil from essential oil companies. Good and affordable brands are Now Foods, Plant Therapy and Eden’s Garden! I like Plant Therapy Tea Tree Oil the best.
Caution
- Before using tea tree oil for your hair, please make sure to do a patch test with it. This can be done by mixing 1 drop of tea tree oil in 1 tsp of any carrier oil like sunflower oil, olive oil, etc. Now apply this on your inner wrist/elbow.Wait for about 1-2 hours. If there’s any irritation caused by the tea tree oil, then you might be allergic so don’t use it.
- Tea tree oil is very concentrated so please dilute it before use. The standard dilution rate for adults is 2% which is 2 drops of tea tree oil for every 2 tsp of product like a carrier oil, or shampoo, conditioner, etc.
Sparkles says
These are pretty good benefits.