Here Is How To Use Tea Tree Oil For Hair, And Its Benefits?

There has been a belief for ages that scalp-related problems are genetic. While there is no concrete evidence that supports this claim, it cannot also be written off completely. However, in today’s world, pollution and other environmental factors play a critical role in your scalp’s health. If you are also facing persistent issues related to your scalp, you have reached the right place. It is because today, in this article, we shall be talking about the importance of using tea tree oil for hair.

Tea tree oil is a highly popular essential oil and is a common ingredient in most shampoos that are marketed to be effective against dandruff and hair fall. It is known to be highly effective against most scalp-related problems. We shall talk about the same in detail in this article. However, before we talk about how to use tea tree oil and its benefits, let us first understand it more in detail.

What Is Tea Tree Oil?

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that is extracted from the leaves of a tea tree. A tea tree, which is scientifically known as Melaleuca alternifolia, is native to Australia, especially in the Queensland region.

The tea tree oil is extracted using a process called steam distillation from the wood and fresh leaves of the tea shrubs. The extracted oil is pale yellow or clear in color and has a fresh camphoraceous odor.

It is known for its medicinal values and is widely used in curing cuts, burns, and boils as it has antiseptic properties. Apart from that, it is also used in treating fungal infections, cold sores, dandruff, blisters, bacterial infection, etc.

Now, let us understand why tea tree oil is so popular and what are some of the benefits of using this oil.

Tea Tree Oil Benefits For Hair

In today’s date, there are so many products that are available for hair and scalp. However, most of them contain chemicals that can be harmful to the scalp. These chemicals can potentially deprive your hair follicles of the nutrients that are much needed for your hair to be healthy. And if you use such products often, or if you dye your hair often, you are taking the risk of hair fall problems.

However, tea tree oil is a naturally extracted oil that does not contain any harmful chemicals. This helps in fighting dandruff, hair fall, etc. Apart from that, using small amounts of diluted tea tree oil also helps in avoiding a buildup of chemicals on the scalp and dead skin. Besides, the oil also helps keep your hair healthy and moisturized, which results in the prevention of hair fall.

Another benefit of using tea tree oil is that it helps us get rid of dandruff. We all know that dandruff is formed due to the accumulation of scaly and dead skin on your scalp. If you leave this situation untreated, it can also hinder and result in hair fall.

However, using a shampoo that contains tea tree oil contains both antifungal and antibacterial benefits that will help you get rid of dead skin on your scalp, which in turn promotes hair growth. Apart from that, you can also use tea tree oil for the following:

Daily Cleansing

Tea tree oil can be used for daily cleansing, as well. For this, you just have to mix a small portion of tea tree oil with your shampoo and mix it until you see that the mixture has achieved consistency. Next, apply the mixture on the wet scalp, and it will help you clean the hair follicles and improve the health of your hair over the course of time.

For Scalp and Hair Dryness

Tea tree oil is a popular medicine used to treat hair and scalp dryness. The oil provides necessary nutrients to the scalp that removes blockages from the hair follicles. It also prevents hair from becoming hair brittle and dry and prevents breakages.

To treat the issues related to scalp and hair dryness, you have to mix a few drops of diluted tea tree oil with your regular coconut or olive oil and gently massage it onto your scalp for around 15 minutes on your hair. Next, wash your hair with a gentle shampoo, preferably one that contains tea tree oil, and repeat this process daily. You will start noticing the changes in your scalp health in some time.

For Oily Scalp

While tea tree oil is beneficial for treating dry scalp, it is equally beneficial when it comes to getting rid of oily scalp. The oil is known for controlling the excess oil production by sebaceous glands and helps in keeping the scalp moisturized. Apart from that, the tea tree oil is non-comedogenic, and it does not let clog the pores on the scalp. It also helps in getting rid of bacteria on the surface of the skin.

To do this, you have to mix tea tree oil with honey and baking soda and apply it to your scalp. Then, gently massage it for around 10 minutes, and leave it for around 30 minutes to dry. Then, wash it off, and repeat this process twice a week. This will help maintain the pH of the scalp and remove the excess oil from it.

Hair Growth Treatment

We all face issues related to hair fall and often hair growth, as well. The good news is that you can use tea tree oil for hair fall. Tea tree oil is known to improve blood circulation and also remove toxins from the scalp. It stimulates inactive hair follicles and stimulates healthy hair growth.

To do this, you have to mix the tea tree oil and mix it with carrier oils like coconut oil, sesame oil, or almond oil and apply the mixture to your scalp. Post this, massage your scalp for around 10 to 15 minutes, and repeat this for a few days regularly.

You will notice the changes over the course of time, and for better results, we recommend you give yourself a hot oil treatment by warming the oil before applying it to your scalp. Doing this will also help your scalp get rid of any fungi or bacteria that usually get deposited over time.

How to Choose the Best Tea Tree Oil for Hair?

There are several options of tea tree oils that are currently available in the market, but not every product is good. Some are of good quality, but the ones that are not up to the mark can either be ineffective or have severe side effects. So, let us understand how to choose the best tea tree oil for hair.

Usually, tea tree oil can be found either in raw form or in the form of shampoos. So, if you are out in the market to purchase a shampoo with tea tree oil as its content, it is very important to have a careful look at the label of the product.

On the label, look if you can find Melaleuca alternifolia written. If yes, that product is eligible for purchase, as Melaleuca alternifolia is the Latin (scientific) name of tea tree oil. Next, you must look if that product contains 100 percent tea tree oil. If you are able to find such a product, you must grab it.

Apart from that, look for the oil to be extracted using the steam-distillation process. And most importantly, choose a product that contains the tea tree oil from Australia. It is because tea tree oil has its origins in the Queensland region in Australia. So, if it is from Australia, the possibility is that the quality of that oil is high, and it is pure.

How Can You Use Tea Tree Oil For Hair?

If you already have tea tree oil with you, it is important that you know how to use it. Now, we are going to help you understand just that.

If you are trying to get rid of dandruff, it is suggested that you use a shampoo that contains five percent tea tree oil. If you lather on your scalp for around three to four minutes every day for around four weeks, you will see that your dandruff problem has reduced significantly.

On the other hand, if you are using it to get healthy hair, it is suggested that you mix the tea tree oil with either almond oil, coconut oil, or another similar oil in the ratio of 1:10. Use this mixture every day for at least four weeks, to get the best results.

It is to be noted that you should not use the tea tree oil directly on your scalp, as it has a very high concentration. You must always dilute it before application, as doing it otherwise might result in scalp irritation and cause other side effects.

Side Effects of Tea Tree Oil

Like all good things in this world, even tea tree oil comes with its own set of limitations. The tea tree oil is a highly concentrated solution, and you should never apply that directly onto your scalp or any other part of the body.

You should keep in mind that this oil is meant only for topical use, and ingesting it can even lead to a person getting into a coma, apart from causing loss of muscle control and balance. Besides, if you are allergic to benzoin, eucalyptol, or any plant from the myrtle family, it is best to avoid the tea tree oil, as you will be allergic to this oil in all probabilities.

Conclusion

Tea tree oil is highly effective when it comes to treating dandruff and obtaining healthy hair. It will also help you in getting rid of dry scalp and oily scalp. However, you should make sure that you do not apply the oil directly onto your hair, as it will have a very high concentration. You should always mix it either with oil or shampoo before applying it to your scalp.

Apart from that, make sure that you always use high-quality products that contain pure tea tree oil. It is because tea tree oil also has a few side effects, which can cause irritation to your scalp. Apart from that, if you are allergic to oils or any chemicals, it is advisable not to use the tea tree oil, as it can result in loss of muscle control and balance.

To summarize, the oil is beneficial when it comes to treating several scalp conditions, but you should be cautious while using the tea tree oil for hair, as it can have several side effects, as well.

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