You don’t need to hear the biblical story of Samson and Delilah to know that hair is powerful. While many people embrace baldness, there is no denying that in the appearance conscious world we live in, what we have on top of our head holds a certain sense of power. Another fact is that we want to keep the strands we have and we want it to look fabulous.
When it comes to caring for my curls, I will try almost anything to keep it looking great but I’m not a big fan of chemical treatments. That’s why, when a natural remedy comes along, I get excited. Here are seven benefits to tea tree oil for your hair. In this article, we will also talk a bit about the scalp and even throw in some shampoo tips.
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7 Benefits Of Tea Tree Oil For Your Hair
Hair doesn’t come without issues. Some feel theirs is too curly while others think theirs is too thin. We want it to be less oily, fuller, and strong. Let’s admit it, there are some of us that just wish we had more. While this essential oil doesn’t cure all of the problems that come with owning a head of human hair, it can help you with the following issues.
Dandruff
This may seem like a scalp issue but the fact is, dandruff is just as much of a concern when it comes to what hangs from it. The flakes are unsightly and wind up all over our clothes. For lack of a better explanation, dandruff is a collection of dead skin cells from your scalp and there are several causes.
One of them is seborrheic dermatitis, which is irritated skin that gets oily. This is the most common reason for dandruff. Other causes include not washing your hair regularly, a fungus known as Malassezia, dry skin, and sensitivity to over-the-counter hair products. When you get to know tea tree oil, it isn’t a surprise that these sources are no match for its power.
Due to its ability to treat infections, accelerate the healing process, stimulate blood circulation, and terminate fungi, this extract is a powerful agent against those flakey invaders. One study involving one-hundred sufferers showed significant improvement after the extracts were introduced.
One way to utilize its benefits is to add a few drops to your favorite shampoo to get it into the scalp. You can also put a few drops into some fractionated coconut oil and massage it into those roots and follicles. Let it sit for a few minutes and then wash out. The idea is to find a great carrier to put the tea tree oil so that the pores can absorb the components.
Hair loss
No matter the situation, no one wants to lose their hair. There are a great many reasons why a person might start experiencing strands of hair falling out in the shower or when they brush or comb through it. You could be going through chemotherapy to fight specific cancer or dealing with emotional trauma, the reasons can vary.
Some people find their hair is starting to thin and know it since it can be hereditary or passed from parent to offspring. Another reason is a condition known as alopecia, which means hair loss, and there are three types to this: alopecia areata, totalis, and univeralis.
While it’s great to know the causes of these issues so we can get to the root of them, no pun intended, sometimes we just want a solution. In this case, tea tree oil has been used in many applications to regrow hair. Did you know that this extract is an ingredient in Minoxidil, which is specifically used to treat alopecia?
While this extract can’t take care of all the issues that might result in your hair thinning or coming out in chunks, there are areas where it can. A nice hair mask with some sweet almond oil, a little lavender, and lemongrass will make a nice DIY serum to stimulate hair growth.
Strengthens It
Not only does this oil stimulate hair grown for some folks, but it also takes the hair you have and makes it stronger, which leads to a healthier, shinier mane for the people around you to admire. There are so many benefits to this extract that makes your hair stronger that it’s hard to know where to start.
First off, tea tree oil is great for helping the body absorb needed nutrients. It also promotes fast healing, fights bacteria, fungi, viruses, and works as a stimulant. These are all ways it can help the hair on your head and allow it to grow stronger, as well as leave it looking shiny and healthy.
There are several household items you can mix with this extract to create a mask that will make your locks gain strength. Eggs are a great addition to a homemade hair fortifying recipe. Just crack an egg and beat it. Add 2-4 tablespoons of a great carrier like coconut or olive oil, or you can mix both types. Add 1-2 drops of tea tree oil and then apply the mixture to your hair. Let sit for as long as you can. Rinse and wash afterward.
Itchy Scalp
While the section on dandruff might have made your scalp feel a bit itchy, there are several other reasons why the roots of the hair on our head might start to itch. They include seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, tinea capitis, and allergies. When the itch starts to take over your head or skin under your beard, the volatile compounds found in this oil can help you make it go away.
This oil’s ability to reduce inflammation is what makes it so wonderful when it comes to itching, especially the kind found on your head. You can put a few drops into your favorite hair care product like a leave-in conditioner or curling serum. This is another area where massaging a few drops mixed into a carrier substance into the scalp could bring about quick relief.
Try to avoid scratching your head while the serum works its way into the scalp. Scratching just reignites inflammation and stops irritations from healing well. Plus, our hands are filled with germs and dirt, which could be even more bothersome to the scalp.
Hair Fungus Fighter
When hearing the word “fungus,” you might think of a mushroom. Or, your mind might have gone to that unsightly black mark on the nail of your big toe that one time. The fact of the matter is, both of those are fungi, just not closely related. With millions of fungi on Earth, that’s a big family tree.
Two types of fungi affect the hair and can even result in loss of your locks. First, we have ringworm, which some people think is an actual worm but it’s not. It’s an infection caused by fungi that can affect your scalp and pretty much any other area of your body. When it affects the scalp, the outcome could be the loss of hair in patches.
Another fungus that can cause infections in the fiber of the hair itself is trichomycosis. Also known as Piedra, it comes in black and white forms. The black is more common in tropical areas of the world while the white is typically found in southern US states and parts of Europe.
In one study, tea tree oil showed to have antifungal activity, which is great news for anyone suffering from these conditions we’ve just mentioned. It is known to work on fungi that don’t affect the hair as well.
Lice
This kind of issue is no more fun to deal with than any of the other issues we’ve discussed thus far. In fact, I’d wager that it is arguably the most annoying of them all. Lice are bugs, literally. Their favorite meal is human blood so they find homes in our heads, and it seems that people with small children suffer the most from this pest.
Lice are not carriers of viruses or bacterial diseases, nor is it a sign of uncleanliness. But they are super contagious and a pain in the behind to get rid of. Itching is one sign that you or your child might have a lice infestation. Put a comb through their hair and look for small eggs at the base of the hair shaft or on the scalp.
As it turns out, one study on the effects of tea tree oil on head lice showed that a 1% concentration applied to an infestation resulted in the death of all the head lice it came in contact with. Though, it is important to know your dilution ratios before applying any essential oils to anyone’s head.
Makes it Smell Good
Our final benefit for the hair is its ability to make it smell great. It is used in several shampoos including some with famous names on the label. It’s no wonder when you look at all the assets it brings to the table. But one we didn’t mention is that this extract is great for getting rid of bad odors.
The obvious way of utilizing this benefit would be to add a drop or two to your shampoo and yes, that would work. Another way to take advantage is during those in-between times when you can’t wash your hair. Maybe you walked past someone smoking a cigarette. A coworker brings a horrid smelling lunch to the cafeteria that day.
If you put a couple of drops of tea tree oil with ylang-ylang and lavender into an amber glass bottle and add a good carrier like jojoba, you will have an odor eliminator that lasts for months. Just shake the bottle and put a little bit in your palm. Smooth it through your dry hair and you will find any odors you think might be lingering on you will disappear.
Plus you’re hair will serve as a portable air freshener you carry with you everywhere. Foul smells in the public restroom won’t be a problem with a blend in your hair that includes this deodorizing scent.
A Final Note
There are so many essential oils that are beneficial for your hair including lavender, peppermint, and clary sage. Tea tree oil is one of the most powerful extracts available when it comes to aromatherapy treatments.
If you found this piece helpful or have used this oil on your hair, let us know below in the comments section. Do you know someone that will benefit from this information? If so, share it with them.
