Top 10 Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil for Hair & Scalp

In this article, we shall be looking at the top 10 ways to use tea tree oil for hair and scalp. 

Tea tree oil is known as the knight in shining armour when it comes to beauty woes!  

It possesses strong antioxidant, antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. This means it can rescue you from almost every skin and hair condition out there. 

It’s one of the best essential oils for your hair and scalp because it helps a variety of issues such as dandruff, itchy scalp, scalp eczema, scalp psoriasis, oily hair and more. 

Check out some of the benefits of tea tree oil for hair and scalp below:

7 Benefits of Tea Tree Oil for Hair 

Before we look at ways to use tea tree oil for hair & scalp, let’s check out some benefits of tea tree oil for hair care:

1. Treats dandruff

The antifungal properties of tea tree oil fight Malasezzia, the fungus/yeast that causes dandruff. 

2. Promotes hair growth

Applying diluted tea tree oil on your scalp encourages proper blood flow to your whole scalp, which ensures each and every hair follicle receives nutrient-rich blood that it needs to function properly. 

Tea tree oil also stimulates the hair follicles, even the ones that have gone into the telogen or ‘dormant’ phase, to wake up and function again, producing strong healthy hair.

3. Cleanses scalp and clears clogged pores

Another benefit of tea tree oil is that it is cleansing in nature. It has a sharp clean herbal scent which shows it’s full of disinfecting substances that help clear up gunk from within clogged pores. 

It helps detoxify the scalp, removing excess oils, dirt, dead cells and impurities from deep within the hair follicles. 

4. Kills bacteria, fungi, and other microbes

The powerful antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial properties, make tea tree strong against any microbes that irritate the scalp and cause hair issues. 

It’s effective against fungal & bacterial infections that affect the scalp. 

5. Soothes and calms itchy scalp

One of the best essential oils for itchy scalp is tea tree oil.

For one, it has antimicrobial & antifungal properties that kill off the fungi or germs causing the itching. 

Secondly, it helps clear away gunk stuck within the hair follicles that may be causing irritation and itching.

It is also good for solving dry scalp issues which may bring about itchiness.

6. Controls oily scalp & hair  

Tea tree oil is astringent in nature. This means it helps shrink large pores and prevent them from pushing out a lot of sebum that contributes to an oily scalp and hair.

Excess oily scalp may lead to clogged pores, dandruff, scalp acne and other undesirable conditions. 

7. Treats inflammatory skin conditions 

Scalp eczema and psoriasis are common conditions that affect the scalp. Applying diluted tea tree oil can help reduce inflammation, redness and irritation associated with these conditions. This is because tea tree oil contains strong anti-inflammatory properties. 

10 Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil for Hair & Scalp 

Below are 10 effective ways to use tea tree oil for hair & scalp issues!

1. Tea Tree Oil and Water Hair Spray 

What you need 

• 4 oz distilled water (where to get it)
• 20 drops tea tree essential oil (where to get it)
• 4 oz amber spray bottle (where to get it)

Directions 

Fill a spray bottle with distilled water then add 5 drops of tea tree oil for every ounce of water. Shake well and keep it in a cool dry place. Spray it on your scalp when needed to control itching, oiliness, irritation and more. 

Though it’s recommended to mix essential oils with a carrier oil before use. Tea tree oil can be ‘mixed’ with water because it is one of the few oils that some aromatherapists say can be used undiluted on skin. There is a possibility that it can irritate your scalp, so make sure to do the patch test before application, or reduce the amount of tea tree oil drops to 15 or less. 

 2. Tea Tree Oil Hair Mask

The combination of tea tree and lavender is effective in promoting hair growth, treating dandruff, alleviating itchiness, reducing inflammation and controlling an oily scalp.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (where to get it)
• 3 drops of tea tree essential oil (where to get it)
• 3 drops of lavender essential oil (where to get it)

Directions

Gently warm the coconut oil by placing it in a bowl, then placing the bowl in a pan of hot water. Once warm, add the essential oils and mix. Apply it all over your scalp so that your scalp is fully coated, then slather the left over oil on your hair length. Keep it on for an hour then wash your hair as usual. Use a natural sulfate-free shampoo (where to get it) for best results. Repeat 2-3 times a week.

3. Tea Tree Oil for Hair Growth

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (where to get it)
• 2 teaspoons of castor oil (where to get it)
• 3 drops tea tree essential oil  (where to get it)
• 2 drops rosemary essential oil (where to get it)  

Directions 

Mix all the ingredients well. Saturate your scalp with the mixture, then apply the leftover oil on your hair length. Cover your hair with a shower cap or wrap it in an old T-shirt/non-fluffy towel. Keep it overnight and wash it off with a natural sulphate-free shampoo (where to get it) the next morning. You can double wash your hair to remove all oils completely. Repeat it 2-3 times a week.

4. Tea Tree Oil for Dandruff 

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (where to get it)
• 2 teaspoons castor oil (where to get it)
• 3 drops tea tree essential oil  (where to get it)
• 2 drops lemongrass essential oil (where to get it)

Directions 

In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients. Fully coat your entire scalp with the oil blend. Apply the remaining oil to your hair length. Keep it on overnight and wash it off the next morning with a natural anti-dandruff shampoo  (where to get it). Repeat 2-3 times a eeek. 

Mix all the ingredients and apply to scalp and hair. Keep it overnight and wash it off with herbal or organic shampoo. Repeat it 2-3 times a week.

5. Tea Tree Oil Shampoo 

Ingredients

• 8 oz of your shampoo or a natural sulfate-free shampoo
• 10 drops of tea tree oil (where to get it)

Directions 

For every 8 oz of your shampoo, add 10 drops of tea tree essential oil. This creates a 2% tea tree shampoo. For dandruff-clearing purposes, a dilution of up to 5% tea tree was seen to be effective in a certain study. Don’t go above a 5% dilution. 

6. Tea Tree Oil Hair Mask 

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons of rhassoul clay (where to get it)
• 2 teaspoons of raw organic apple cider vinegar (where to get it)
• 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel (where to get it)
• 5 drops of tea tree essential oil (where to get it)
• 5 drops of cedarwood essential oil (where to get it)
• Enough water to form a paste 

Directions

Dump the rhassoul clay in a non-metal bowl. Next add the apple cider vinegar, aloe vera gel, tea tree oil and cedarwood oil. Add water a little by little while mixing to form a spreadable paste. Don’t add to much water or it’ll become watery and be hard to apply. Apply it on your entire scalp and use the remaining on your hair length and ends. Wrap your hair into a bun/tie it up with a crocodile clip and cover it with a shower cap. Wait for an hour then wash it off very well using lots of water and a natural sulfate-free shampoo (where to get it). Repeat once a month for clean refreshed scalp and hair. 

7. Tea Tree Oil Scalp Detox Scrub

*not safe for color-treated hair because baking soda can strip out hair color.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of baking soda (where to get it)
• 1 tablespoon of your shampoo or a natural sulfate-free shampoo (where to get it)
• 3 drops of tea tree oil (where to get it)

Directions

Combine the ingredients and distribute the mixture evenly on your hair, focusing on the scalp. Take a couple of minutes to work the scrub onto your scalp to remove accumulated product and dead cells. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. 

8. Tea Tree Oil for Itchy Scalp

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of pure aloe vera gel (where to get it)
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerine (where to get it)
• 5-10 drops of  tea tree essential oil (where to get it)

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and store in an air-tight jar. For extra relief and extended shelf life, store it in the fridge. To use, apply a suitable amount to irritated spots or all over your whole scalp, massaging and rubbing in with clean finger pads. Leave it on overnight and wash it off well in the morning with shampoo. Use a natural sulfate-free shampoo (where to get it), if possible.

9. Tea Tree Oil for Scalp Inflammation 

Ingredients

• 1 ripe avocado
• 2 drops tea tree oil (where to get it)
• 2 drops peppermint oil (where to get it)
• Nutribullet blender (where to get it)

Directions 

Begin by halving a ripe avocado, removing the pit and scooping the flesh out into a Nutribullet. Now blend, blend and blend till you get a smooth lump-free avocado puree. Dump the puree into a bowl and add the essential oils. Stand in front of the bathroom sink or kitchen sink and gently coat the soothing avocado mixture on your entire scalp. Slather the remainder onto your hair length. Cover your head with a shower cap and leave the treatment sit for an hour. When the time is up, wash it off very well with cold water. Then shampoo your hair very well to get rid of the oiliness. Use a natural sulfate-free shampoo (where to get it). Repeat this once a week to soothe and cool your scalp.

10. Tea Tree Oil for Lice 

*this is a 3% essential oil dilution so it is very strong. Consult your doctor before using it on young children. The recommended essential oil dilution for children is 1% and for adults it is 2%.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil (where to get it)
• 9 drops tea tree essential oil (where to get it)
• 9 drops of peppermint essential oil (where to get it)

Directions

Begin by combing hair with a lice comb to remove any lice and nits. When you are done with that, combine everything in a bowl and fully coat your entire scalp with the mixture. Slather the remaining oil on your hair length. Cover your head with a shower cap and leave it on for 2 hours. When the time is up, wash your hair very well with shampoo. Follow the procedure every day for 7 days. 

I hope you found this article, ‘Top 10 Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil for Hair & Scalp’ useful!