Tea tree oil is good for a lot of things from pimples to dry skin… but is it good for your hair? Sometimes it’s nice to be able to answer questions with a resounding, “Yes!”
That said, tea tree oil is not for everyone. The smell is strong, and some people find it unpleasant. It is poisonous if ingested – so you need to be careful to keep it out of your mouth and out of reach for children.
That said, there are a lot of good ways to use tea tree oil on your hair.
Does Tea Tree Oil Help with Dandruff?
We’re not saying tea tree oil is a effective treatment, but a lot of other people sure seem to think so.
At the beauty and wellness website Byrdie, for example, they had this to say:
Tea tree oil has the ability to transform your hair, starting at the scalp. Its antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties make it a potent treatment for dandruff, improving overall scalp health.”
Healthline is a little less glowing, but agrees that tea tree oil can help fight dandruff:
Experts aren’t sure why some people have dandruff and others don’t. It may be related to increased sensitivity to a type of fungus called Malassezia that’s naturally found on your scalp. Based on this theory, tea tree oil’s natural antifungal properties make it a good option for treating fungal scalp conditions, such as dandruff.”
And science backs them up.
A study in 2002 showed that shampoo made with 5% tea tree oil reduced dandruff by as much as 41% when used daily for 4 weeks. But tea tree oil can be too harsh for people with sensitive skin – causing skin irritation. So, as with any new product, we advise you try it and watch the results closely.
Does Tea Tree Oil Make Your Hair Grow?
Experts speaking to Cosmopolitan magazine said that dandruff treatment via tea tree oil is one way to help your hair grow. “Dandruff plays a huge part in inflammation of the scalp and hair follicles, which totally affects the quality and density of hair,” so making your scalp healthier can help regrow hair.
While there are not yet studies proving the correlation between tea tree oil and hair regrowth, many dermatologists find that it helps their clients prepare their scalp for healthy growth. Often (even if there is little or no evidence of dandruff), scalp irritation can play a role in hair loss. So doing anything you can to prevent irritation can promote hair regrowth.
Can You Mix Castor Oil and Tea Tree Oil for Hair Growth?
Because tea tree oil is so strong by itself (and because it tends to irritate sensitive skin), most experts recommend blending it with another oil if you are not using a commercially made shampoo.
While many, like the Cosmopolitan article, recommend grapeseed oil or almond oil, castor oil is gaining in popularity. Castor oil is especially good at moisturizing dry hair, especially for Black people or others with hair that tends to become dry and brittle.
Speaking with Oprah, experts say that – much like tea tree oil – castor oil isn’t known to create hair growth but to soothe the scalp. Castor oil has many anti-inflammatory properties… including high levels of omega 6, omega 9, and vitamin E. Combining it with tea tree oil can increase the soothing effect, improve moisturization, and help promote a healthy scalp for hair growth.
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