Last Updated on January 16, 2019 by
Tea tree oil is one of the most popular ingredients found in many of the top selling shampoos for hair loss treatment and anti dandruff formulas. But does tea tree oil for hair loss work as a solution? Also, does it have properties that enhance hair growth? There are a lot of claims out there about tea tree oil. We take a closer look at this essential oil and the benefits it has for hair and scalp.
In this article you’ll find more than just information about tea tree oil. We’ve also selected the 10 Best Tea Tree Oil products for your hair. You can find a comparison table up next, and further down after our in-depth research you’ll find reviews on these same products.
Tea Tree Oil Product Comparison Table
Here we have our top 10 suggestions for Tea Tree Oil hair products. They are listed by price per ounce ascending. We update our pages as often as we can, but keep in mind the prices might not be 100% accurate.
Image | Product | Type | Cost/FL Oz | Popularity |
---|---|---|---|---|
Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo & Special Conditioner Duo | Shampoo & Conditioner | $0.81/FL Oz | ||
Tea Tree Oil Hair Loss and Dandruff Shampoo by Krieger and Sohne | Shampoo | $1.01/FL Oz | ||
Oleavine Antifungal Tea Tree Oil Soap | Shampoo | $1.22/FL Oz | ||
Sun Essential Oils 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil | Oil | $2.50/FL Oz | ||
First Botany Cosmeceuticals Tea Tree Oil | Oil | $3.08/FL Oz | ||
Regenepure Intense Volumizing Conditioner for Hair Loss | Conditioner | $3.13/FL Oz | ||
Tea Tree Essential Oil Therapeutic Grade by Radha Beauty | Oil | $3.24/FL Oz | ||
Art Naturals Tea Tree Essential Oil Pure & Natural | Oil | $3.55/FL Oz | ||
Keeva Deep Conditioning Hair Mask | Hair Mask | $4.74/FL Oz | ||
Now Foods Tea Tree Oil | Oil | $6.53/FL Oz |
What is Tea Tree Oil? The Benefits of Tea Tree Oil for Hair Growth and Hair Loss
Tea tree oil, sometimes referred to as TTO, is an essential oil with a distinct camphoraceous odor and is native to Australia. This odor is very potent and is akin to a strong fresh minty smell. It is sometimes used in aromatherapy. The oil is extracted from the leaves of Melaleuca Alternifolia mostly located along the northeast coast of New South Wales.
Tea tree oil has been discovered to have antimicrobial properties. It can actually be toxic to the human body when taken orally. However, small amounts are used in cosmetic, hair loss, dandruff and beauty products. Tea tree oil has also been used as a herbal treatment for many skin conditions for many years. It has successfully been used to treat skin ailments such as mild to moderate acne, athlete’s foot, dandruff, and toenail fungus. Tea tree oil is known to cure cradle cap problem in infants.
Active compounds in tea tree oil include terpenoids such as eucalyptol, cineole, viridiflorol, nerolidol, and terpinen-4-ol. These terpenoids are what give tea tree oil its antimicrobial properties. The terpenoid eucalyptol is also responsible for the antiseptic properties found in tea tree oil.
It has been found that a few drops of tea tree oil (you don’t need much!) is conducive to faster hair growth. It nourishes the roots and hair follicles, aiding them in producing strong, thick hair.
How Do I Use It?
Many people ask how to use tea tree oil for hair growth and it is a pretty simple procedure. Just take a few drops on tea tree oil in your palm and simply massage your scalp thoroughly. This will aid in blood flow.
You will also feel a wonderful tingling and refreshing feeling on your scalp. That is tea tree oil working its magic.
One tip to remember is that if you buy high concentrate tea tree oil you’ll want to mix it with a “carrier oil.” This carrier oil such as Argan oil, olive oil, or jojoba oil, will dilute the concentration. Otherwise, it may be too potent and cause scalp redness.
Protect and Restore
The thing about hair is that it is susceptible to damage from a variety of antagonists. While hair does a great job of defending sensitive scalp skin, it does take a beating. Smoke, dust, sunlight are just a few of the environmental elements that can cause damage. Tea tree oil is a fantastic organic oil that will heal hair from root to tip. It will reinvigorate hair that has been damaged by commercial products such as chemical treatments, color treatments, cheap shampoos and conditioners, hair straighteners, and hair dryers.
Benefits of tea tree oil for hair growth:
- Antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-infection properties
- Soothes itchy scalp
- Reduces dandruff and flaking
- Treats oily scalp issues
- All natural no chemical or artificial substances
- Increases blood flow and nutrients to the hair follicles
- Removes dead cells that may contain fungi and bacteria that clog follicles
- Reduce hair fall from thinning and damaged hair
- Stimulate hair growth cycle
- Balance scalp pH level
- Enhances the appearance of hair making it look silky
Tea Tree Oil for Hair Loss: Does it Cure or Slow Hair Loss?
While tea tree oil works for hair growth, tea tree oil’s effectiveness in preventing hair loss and/or restoring hair is dependent upon the cause of your hair loss. If you have a scalp condition such as seborrheic dermatitis, tea tree oil will cure hair loss caused by this condition. Seborrheic dermatitis is a condition where there is a build up of dead cells on the scalp which can lead to temporary hair loss. Tea tree oil may not be effective for other types of hair loss like genetic pattern baldness and autoimmune disease related hair loss.
If someone or a company is claiming their tea tree oil product will “cure” your hair loss they are just trying to increase their sales. If tea tree oil did that it would be a lot more than $10 bucks or so a bottle.
So the short answer is tea tree oil likely won’t cure a severe case of genetic balding.
However, have a healthy scalp is a holistic approach to treating hair loss wisely. Since it has so many benefits for the skin, tea tree oil is wonderful mechanism for keeping the scalp clean and free of scalp DHT. It is an anti-fungal, much like ketoconazole that is found in the shampoo Nizoral.
Tea Tea Oil Risks: Is Tea Tree Oil Safe for Your Hair?
Tea tree oil applied topically has been shown to be generally safe across the board. It is much safer than many commercial hair products. Only mild side effects occur such as redness or blotchiness on the skin applied. This is usually because the person was using a high concentration tea tree oil and forgot to dilute it with a carrier oil. If you do experience irritation from applying a low concentration oil, discontinue use. These side effects should clear up in 24 hours. If not, consult your family doctor or dermatologist.
Many dermatologists and hair stylists will recommend tea tree oil products for dandruff management. While tea tree oil may have zero toxicity when applied to the skin, it is toxic when taken internally via the mouth. So don’t go chugging a bottle of tea tree oil anytime soon or you’ll find it is quite unpleasant.
How to Use Tea Tree Oil
There are a number of ways to use tea tree oil and apply it to the hair and scalp. Most of them are pretty straightforward. The simplest way is to take a few drops in the palm of your hand, spread it across both hands, and massage it into the scalp thoroughly. Here are a couple other ways to apply tea tree oil:
- Use twice a month or weekly warm oil treatment. Mix your tea tree oil with a carrier oil such as jojoba oil make sure the solution becomes all one color. Heat the oil. Now rub the mixture into your hair and scalp. After that, cover and wrap your hair with a warm towel. Wait about 20 minutes then gently rinse the oil from the hair. This has an amazing deep conditioning effect on the hair. It will hydrate your hair and make it appear extremely silky.
- Use weekly in the shower. There are special tea tree shampoos and conditioners you can buy but you can also do it yourself. Take your bottle of tea tree oil in the shower with you. Place 2-3 drops in the palm of your hand and massage into scalp. Let it sit for a couple minutes before rinsing. Then finish your shower routine.
Top 10 Most Popular Tea Tree Oil Hair Growth and Hair Loss Products
Here are the top 10 tea tree oil picks for this year. Most of these products are high concentrate oils though there are a few hair masks and shampoos that also made the list.
We’ve put them in order of cost per fluid ounce to make your shopping easy. Something to remember, is that essential oils stretch very far, so while the price per ounce is higher, it is well worth the investment. All of the oils we have suggested are pretty comparable, so your choice may come down to brand preference or consumer popularity.
1. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo & Special Conditioner Duo
Salon quality combined with potency of an essential oil such as tea tree. This blend of ingredients includes Peppermint, Lavender and Jojoba, all extracts that also help stimulate hair growth and prevent hair loss. Having tea tree in your shampoo and conditioner means that all parts of your hair routine will be stimulating your scalp and roots.
2. Tea Tree Oil Hair Loss and Dandruff Shampoo by Krieger and Sohne
This salon quality shampoo is preferred by men far and wide to help stimulate hair growth and healing. It’s gentle enough that you can use it daily. There is also a conditioner that can help moisturize and lock in the effects of this shampoo.
3. Oleavine Antifungal Tea Tree Oil Soap
TheraTree uses a rich foaming action to help the Tea Tree Oil penetrate deeply through the hair strands and onto the scalp. With mint, it actually will double as a great way to prevent dandruff and be able to soothe any itchiness.
4. Sun Essential Oils 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil
Essential Oils are potent, and this one is no exception. It’s 100% Tea Tree oil, and Sun Essential Oils backs their product by an 100% refund guarantee if you aren’t satisfied. No questions asked. The smell is strong, but not watered down by alcohol or anything else.
5. First Botany Cosmeceuticals Tea Tree Oil
This is an untainted essential oil form First Botany, coming from Australia right to your home. It’s theraputic grade, meaning it’s potent and great for massaging into your hair.
6. Regenepure Intense Volumizing Conditioner for Hair Loss
Regenepure is an intense Biotin Conditioner, with Tea Tree oil, that helps volumize hair and stimulate new hair growth. This conditioner can be paired with any shampoo, or a tea tree treatment to help cleanse of harmful toxins before moisturizing.
7. Tea Tree Essential Oil Therapeutic Grade by Radha Beauty
Radha Tea Tree oil is made from steamed distillation of fresh leaves.It’s completely unfiltered and undiluted. We strongly recommend that you dilute this with an unrefined oil such as coconut oil to help it stretch further and to make it easier to apply.
8. Art Naturals Tea Tree Essential Oil Pure & Natural
ArtNaturals is a brand we prefer again and again for many different hair products. Their Tea Tree Oil is 100% unrefined oil straight from Australia. It’s chemical free and comes with a glass dropper for easy application to your scalp.
9. Keeva Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
Keeva has combined the power of tea tree oil with Argan oil, coconut, avacado, and keratin. This hair mask is a deep conditioning treatment that is gentle enough that you can leave it on for up to 30 minutes before rinsing. It will help nourish your scalp and hair to prevent hair loss due to breakage.
10. Now Foods Tea Tree Oil
Now is 100% pure Tea Tree Oil, non GMO, and steam distilled. It’s high quality and reasonably priced.