Tea tree oil, scientifically known as melaleucaoil, is an essential oil that is finding many takers because of its benefits for skin and hair. It has a fresh camphoraceous odour and its colour ranges from pale yellow to nearly colourless and clear. It is made from the leaves of the tree, Melaleucaalternifolia which is native to Southeast Queensland and the Northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. Tea tree oil is not fit for consumption. In high concentrations, it can be toxic. But if used in a low concentration topically, it has many benefits.
Many beauty brands are using tea tree oil as one of their main ingredients these days. From moisturising creams to shampoos to face wash and as an essential oil to be added to hair oils, the tea tree oil has multiple uses. “With so many hair products flooding the market, one still wants to have a natural and DIY recipe to address their hair woes. Tea tree essential oil can be used effectively to treat various scalp and hair-related problems, such as hair loss, dandruff, scalp dermatitis, etc.,” Shubhika Jain, founder of RAS Luxury Oils explains. Amit Sarda, MD, Soulflower summarises, “Tea tree oil strengthens your hair and prevents damage from frizz, dandruff, loose ends and split ends. It is an effective cure for dandruff and lice. Tea tree oil makes dealing with itchiness, dandruff and dry scalp easy. It treats dry and oily scalps and restores the pH levels of your scalp.”
Benefits of tea tree oil for hair
Scalp health: Using tea tree oil ensures that your scalp remains clean and healthy. Jain points out, “Being highly anti-fungal and antibacterial, it is very effective in treating microorganisms that thrive on the scalp. Massaging with this oil will not only moisturise and soothe the dry itchy scalp but at the same time control excess oil production that can block hair follicles, preventing hair growth.” “Tea tree oil improves scalp health on the whole with its antimicrobial properties. The improvised scalp health makes the follicles more receptive to nutrition and the unclogged pores help promote unhindered hair growth,” Sarda shares, “It is non-comedogenic and hence, will not clog the pores thereby decreasing bacteria on the skin’s surface. The oil helps unclog pores and reduces itchiness and the resulting boils on the scalp.” Tea tree oil helps cleanse the scalp and clear the clogged pores that block hair growth. Dirty and clogged pores are also the reason for hair loss and dandruff. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to jojoba oil and massage it gently but thoroughly onto your scalp for 10 – 15 minutes. Rinse it off completely afterwards. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to your conditioner. Apply it to your hair after shampooing it. Leave it on for a few minutes before washing it off.
Battle dandruff: The anti-fungal and antibacterial properties of tea tree oil also help in getting rid of dandruff. It is a natural conditioner and moisturiser. It removes any agents that cause drying of scalp and its flaking. It also soothes the resulting itchiness if you do have dandruff. Add tea tree oil to your favourite shampoo. Gently massage it into the scalp when applying it. Jain explains how, “Add few drops of (maximum 5 drops) tea tree oil to your shampoo. Take the required amount of shampoo, mix tea tree oil apply and leave for 5 – 7 minutes. Rinse off with normal water.”
Get rid of lice: Lice on scalp are caused because of bad scalp health to begin with, and are spread by contact. They suck the blood from the scalp, and cause a lot of inflammation and itchiness. Tea tree oil contains 1,8-cineole and terpinen-4-ol which have insecticidal properties that help kill lice in the head. Mother lice lay their eggs along the hair shaft and they get strongly attached. This connection is broken by using tea tree oil on hair making it easier to remove the lice while combing. Take five to seven drops of tea tree oil and add to one tablespoon of any vegetable oil. Apply this to the scalp. Wear a dry shower cap and leave it overnight. In the morning, use an herbal shampoo to wash your hair. Repeat this three to four times a week to get rid of head lice.
Hair growth: Tea tree oil helps better blood circulation which in turn helps remove any toxins from the hair and the scalp.It also stimulates the dormant hair follicles. Sarda shares, “It’s antiseptic, anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties ensure that hair stays clean and healthy by reaching the roots in the scalp and promoting hair growth.”Better scalp health ensures in making the follicles receptive to nutrition, and unclogged pores help in promoting better hair growth. “Tea tree oil when blended with carrier oils like almond oil, jojoba oil, makes one such hair oil which promises to give you a healthy hair growth,” Jain informs. Warm the carrier oil of your choice for a few seconds.Add three to five drops of tea tree oil. Apply this to scalp and hair daily for three weeks for best results.
Longer, thicker hair: Tea tree oil also ensures that your hair gets longer, thicker and beautiful. Use a deep treatment for your hair. “Add a few drops to warm carrier oil and massage it into your scalp. Then wrap your hair up in a warm towel and allow it to sit for about 30 minutes so that the heat helps to open up hair follicles, helping the oils to penetrate the scalp. Do this once a week to have shiny and smooth hair,” Jain notes. If you’re looking for a regular treatment, she informs to “take three tablespoons of warm carrier oil of your choice in a small bowl and add seven to 10 drops of tea tree oil to it. Mix well and apply on the scalp, leave overnight. Shampoo as usual.”
To avoid hair loss: Better scalp health also ensures that there is no or very less hair loss. “Hair loss is a direct result of clogged follicles and an irritated scalp,” Sarda points out. You can use a tea tree oil and egg white hair mask to decrease hair loss. Take one or two eggs and separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Take the egg white, and add five drops of tea tree oil. Massage this mix onto the scalp for five to 10 minutes. Keep it on for 30 to 40 minutes before washing it off using an herbal shampoo. Do this twice a week.