If you're looking to add essential oils to your hair regimen, one of the more popular ones to consider is Tea Tree Oil. As with most essential oils, tea tree oil can support a healthy, relaxed hair routine by promoting a healthier scalp, helping soothe dryness or itchiness, and adding fragrance to DIY hair treatments. Because they're highly concentrated, you can't apply them as is to your scalp or hair. I'll share more about that later on.
What is tea tree oil?
Tea Tree Oil is made from the leaves of the Tea Tree, which is a plant native to Australia and has been around for years, centuries even. The name came from a British explorer who saw the leaves from the tree being brewed by Australians for tea. He did the same and gave it to his sailors to treat scurvy.
Tea Tree is known for its antiseptic and antifungal abilities. In fact, I remember my mom using it to treat burns and scrapes I'd get as a kid. This is one of the reasons it's a good essential oil to incorporate into a regimen for relaxed hair.
The benefits of tea tree oil
One of the interesting things about tea tree oil is that the benefits you get from using it are more for the scalp than the actual hair strand- Helps reduce dandruff
- Unclogs hair follicles to aid hair growth and dry scalp
- Treat burns from chemicals or heat styling tools
- Destroys head lice
Related post: Tips For Combating A Dry Flaky Scalp
How to use tea tree oil
When I've used Tea Tree oil in my hair regimen, I didn't use it every wash day. Instead, I would reach for it when my scalp felt dry or itchy and would use it one of these three ways:
1. A hot oil treatment
Mix a few drops with a warm carrier oil such as olive oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil. Then massage the mixture onto your scalp and apply it to your hair, letting it sit for a few minutes before rinsing.2. A shampoo or conditioner mix
When cleansing your hair, mix a few drops into your shampoo when it's in your hand and then massage it into your scalp. You can also mix a few drops into your deep conditioner. I've added 2–3 drops to the amount of deep conditioner I'm using that wash day instead of mixing it into the entire bottle.3. Scalp massage
Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with a carrier oil like sweet almond oil or jojoba oil and massage it onto your scalp. Leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse it out.How to choose which tea tree oil to use?
If you're new to essential oils like tea tree oil, here are a few tips on how to get started
- Choose one brand instead of buying several
- Buy 100% pure Tea Tree oil or find a hair serum mixture
- Store pure Tea Tree oil in a dark glass bottle. Typically, this is how it's sold
- Check the expiration date
Tea tree oil safety tips
Because of the high concentration, you only need to use a few drops. A great way to ensure you're only using a few drops is to buy a bottle with a dropper or use a dropper when adding the oil to your shampoo or oil mix. It's also important to note that the high concentration can cause tea tree oil to irritate the skin. If that happens, you should discontinue use immediately.
Exposure to air, moisture, heat, and light can negatively impact the potency and quality of tea tree oil. It should be stored in a dark, airtight bottle and in a cool, dry, dark place.
Exposure to air, moisture, heat, and light can negatively impact the potency and quality of tea tree oil. It should be stored in a dark, airtight bottle and in a cool, dry, dark place.
So to sum it up
- Never apply Tea Tree Oil directly to your scalp
- Always dilute with a carrier oil
- Do a patch test before first use
- Keep away from eyes
- Stop using if irritation develops
More about essential oils
Resources: http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/amazing-benefits-of-tea-tree-oil-for-skin-hair-and-health/, http://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/tea-tree-oil.aspx
I recently added tea tree oil to my hair mixture but I hate the way it smells. Here's hoping it's a success, great post!
ReplyDeleteI'm also not a fan of the smell of tea tree oil. It's really strong and can linger for a while. What else do you use in your hair mixture?
Delete