Tea Tree Oil & Hair Restoration

Captain James Cook and his crew discovered the Melaleuca tree when they landed in New South Wales, Australia in 1770. They used leaves from the tree as a substitute for tea, which led to the tree's informal name. Natives of New South Wales used tea tree leaf extracts to treat cuts, burns and infections and modern research confirms that this oil fights bacteria, fungus and viruses. It also functions as a solvent. These properties help address some of the causes of hair damage and loss, including infections and dermatitis.

Hair Loss

Despite some claims that massaging tea tree oil into the scalp helps hair regrowth, there is no clinical evidence that tea tree oil combats genetic-related hair loss. It does, however, help guard against telogen effluvium, a non-genetic form of hair loss. Tea tree oil treats the fungal infection malassezia furfur, which causes seborrheic dermatitis, the main underlying cause of this type of hair loss.

Hair Damage

Hair follicles can become clogged by styling aids, dyes and other chemical treatments. Many of these products also dry and damage hair, causing breakage that thins the hair. Deep cleaning shampoos with detergents only compound the problem. Tea tree oil's solvent properties make it an ideal partner with a moisturizing shampoo to strip away residues without drying the hair shaft. It also unclogs pores in the scalp and encourages the flow of the body's natural moisturizing oils to restore damaged hair and prevent further breakage.

Dandruff

Dandruff is not only unsightly and uncomfortable. In severe cases, it can cause damage to hair follicles. Many factors contribute to dandruff and among them are pityrosporum ovale, a yeast, and trichoplyton spp, a fungus, both of which can live on the scalp. A low concentration of tea tree oil will kill fungi and pityrosporum ovales and restore healthy hair.

Lice

Lice are wingless insects that hide in the hair and live off blood they extract from the scalp. They are hard to eradicate and treatment sometimes involves shaving the head, but tea tree oil offers a less radical alternative. Shampoos with five percent tea tree oil are very effective at killing lice. Tea tree oil also can help prevent infections that sometimes occur from frequent scratching associated with lice infection.

Cautions

Despite its benefits, you should use tea tree oil with caution. Some people are sensitive to tea tree oil at full strength. Full-strength tea tree oil can cause skin irritation, itching or redness. To avoid a reaction, dilute the tea tree oil in another oil, such as olive oil, or use products that have a low concentration of tea tree oil. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use tea tree oil.