Everybody desires long beautiful hair. To get smooth and long hair, it is essential to take care of your scalp. Sometimes taking so many therapies and using various products results in damage of scalp. Various natural elements can be used to make the scalp healthy. There is a 41% dandruff reduction using tea tree oil.
Tea tree oil is one such natural element which nourishes the scalp and makes hair strong and beautiful. Tea tree oil is used as an age-old beauty treatment for hair and skin. Using Tea tree oil for scalp treatment is very beneficial as it is antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial and helps in controlling dandruff and treating minor healing wounds on the scalp.
Some of the most common scalp problems are:
The main factors that lead to scalp damage are:
The various signs and symptoms that confirm scalp damage are-
Hair is one of the most cherished assets, especially for women. Long and smooth hair makes you look attractive and changes your appearance altogether. The growth and health of hair primarily depend on the health of the scalp(1). But sometimes it gets quite challenging to repair and maintain the health of the scalp.
Tea tree oil is a very beneficial natural remedy for the nourishment of scalp. Hair is a significant body part as it enhances your appearance and protects your head from cold and heat. Lack of proper diet and taking too much stress are the leading causes of hair loss, dandruff or lice on the scalp. Tea tree oil helps deal with dry or oily scalp by maintaining the pH levels of the scalp. It has antifungal properties and helps in controlling dandruff and lice.
Tea tree oil is a natural product used for hair care and is extracted from narrow-leaved tea generally found in Australia. It has been used for hundreds of years as medicine and is used in many shower gels, massage oils, soaps and shampoos. Tea Tree Oil is also an excellent cleansing agent due to its anti-microbial properties.
According to many studies, tea tree oil is helpful in fighting many bacteria, virus and fungi. Tea tree oil has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties which help fight many scalp related problems including head lice, minor wounds and dandruff.
The different types of tea tree oils vary on the basis of the concentration of various components present in it. It is the product formed by 98 compounds, terpinen-4-ol being the major component. The components vary in composition in different types of oil according to the table given below:
| Component | Concentration |
| Terpinen-4-ol | 35-48% |
| γ-terpinene | 14-28% |
| α-terpinene | 6-12% |
| 1,8-cineole | Traces-10% |
| terpinolene | 1.5-5% |
| α-terpineol | 2-5% |
| α-pinene | 1-4% |
| p-Cymene | 0.5-8% |
| Sabinene | Traces-3.5% |
| Limonene | 0.5-1.5% |
The concentration of various components depends on the type of use. If it is used as a cleansing agent or used for skin or hair treatment, the concentration of various components may vary. The colour and odour of the oil also vary on the basis of various concentrations of components present.
Tea tree oil is very beneficial in providing nourishment to the scalp. Its various components help maintain a balance in the pH of the scalp. Being a natural product, it has negligible side effects. The massage using this oil improves blood circulation in the scalp which in turn leads to a healthy scalp.
It’s antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties helps fight various scalp related problems including dandruff, minor wounds and head lice. It also helps in soothing inflammation caused by scratching and psoriasis. This oil improves the growth of hair and provides longer, thicker hair. It is also helpful in treating hair loss and scalp dermatitis. Tea tree oil also helps you get rid of problematic curly hair and split ends.
There are different ways you can use tea tree oil for healthy scalp:
It can be added to the shampoo in the ratio of 10 drops per 8 ounces of shampoo. Let the shampoo sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing with water. For quicker results, mix almond oil, olive oil, coconut oil and jojoba oil and add about 15 drops of tea tree oil(2). Massage with this mixture for several minutes and keep it overnight so that the scalp is fully saturated. Wash the hair usually the next day with shampoo.
Mix 10 drops of tea tree oil with one tablespoon of organic coconut oil. Mix well till both the oils blend correctly. Apply this mixture on scalp avoiding application to the hair as far as possible. You can let it sit for 30 minutes or overnight. Rinse thoroughly and then shampoo as usual. Repeat the procedure once a week.
[Read: Coconut Oil for Dry Scalp]
Mix three drops of peppermint oil and three drops of tea tree oil with one tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil. Add this mixture to warm water and mix well. Massage with this oil on your scalp and let it sit for 20 to 25 minutes. Wash it afterward using shampoo.
To your shampoo, add 3-4 drops of tea tree oil and 3-4 drops of lavender essential oil. Add a few drops of extra-virgin olive oil. Mix this mixture well and apply in your hair especially massaging the scalp area and wash your hair properly. Make sure to comb your hair properly with lice comb to eliminate all the lice from the head. Repeat this procedure for seven more days.
If you are using Tea tree oil for dry scalp treatment at home, make sure that it should be stored in a cool and dry place. It can be harmful to kids and therefore should be stored away from the reach of children. Tea tree oil should be used in small amounts. A patch test should be done before actual usage. It should be avoided by pregnant women, infants and young children. The oil is toxic if taken orally and should not be ingested. Also applying this oil is safe but might show some complications in some people. It should be washed using a mild shampoo and lukewarm water. It can be used topically by pregnant women but not orally.
Accidental application of tea tree oil near eyes should be avoided while massaging on the scalp. It should be diluted and should not be used in its concentrated form as it may cause irritation or itching.
Tea tree oil for scalp should be kept away from the reach of children as it might be harmful. You might need to shampoo your hair twice after using tea tree oil. For critical scalp problems, tea tree oil should be used with the advice of health care experts only. In most cases, tea tree oil has no side effects if used topically.
But still, it is advised to do a patch test behind the ear to check for any allergies. Pregnant women should not use it. People going through some treatment should consult health care experts first before using tea tree oil.
There are a variety of other home remedies which can be used to treat scalp problems. Some of the other home treatments are aspirin, baking soda, yogurt and egg, mayonnaise, olive oil and egg, lemon juice, apple juice, onion juice etc. Home treatments are better than using hair and scalp therapies as there are no side effects and you get a healthy scalp in no time.
Tea tree oil for scalp is beneficial to oil which helps make scalp healthy and improves hair growth. Its antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties help in the treatment of various scalp problems including dandruff, scalp infections or head lice. It also helps maintain the pH of the scalp.
It has no side effects as such apart from itchiness or mild irritation in some people and can be used by anybody except pregnant women and children. You need to wait a few weeks for seeing actual results. So, with a little precaution and proper use, tea tree oil can prove very beneficial in making the scalp nourished and for longer, stronger and beautiful hair.