Tea tree essential oil bottle with green leaves and a comb, emphasizing hair and scalp care.

Benefits of Tea Tree Oil in Hair and Scalp Care

By KNIGHTSMEN GROOMING October 11, 2023

Short answer: Tea tree oil is an essential oil steam-distilled from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a tree native to Australia. It has a fresh, sharp scent and is used in small, diluted amounts in hair oils, balms and shampoos. Research on hair and scalp use is limited, and it is not a medical treatment.

Tea tree oil has a loud reputation online, usually tied to big claims about scalp care and hair growth. This guide leaves those claims aside and covers what the oil is, how it smells, how it is used, how to choose and handle it safely, and what the research does not show.

Key takeaways

Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia and is steam-distilled. It smells fresh, sharp and herbal, and the scent fades quickly in a finished hair oil.
Never swallow it and never use it undiluted. Old or poorly stored oil is more likely to irritate skin.
NIH's NCCIH page on tea tree oil does not mention hair growth, hair care or dandruff, and no oil grows hair by itself.
A hair oil conditions and adds scent. It does not replace shampoo or advice from a doctor.
Choose a diluted, ready-made product that names the oil on the label, and patch-test it first.

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What is tea tree oil?

Tea tree oil is an essential oil made by steam distillation of the leaves of the tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says the tree is native to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia and that Aboriginal Australians traditionally used its leaves. It is a different plant from the one used for drinking tea.

Harvard Health notes that tea tree oil is commonly used in skin care and hair care products, and is sold both as pure essential oil and diluted in creams, gels and cleansers. Like all essential oils it is a highly concentrated plant extract, so hair products use only a small amount.

Topic	Tea tree oil at a glance
Botanical name	Melaleuca alternifolia
Made from	The leaves, by steam distillation
Scent	Fresh, sharp and herbal; fades quickly in a finished hair oil
Where it is used	Hair oils, balms, shampoos and conditioners
Handle with care	Never swallow it. Dilute it, patch-test it and store it away from heat, light and air
In our range	Organic Hair Oil \| Tea Tree and Organic Hair Balm \| Tea Tree

What does tea tree oil smell like, and how does it feel in a hair oil?

Tea tree smells fresh, sharp and herbal. It is the sharpest of our three scented hair oils, and the scent fades quickly once the oil is on your hair.

The base oils decide the weight and finish of a hair oil. Tea tree essential oil is thin and volatile, so it contributes scent, not body. The product page for our Organic Hair Oil | Tea Tree describes a clean, sharp, herbal scent that fades quickly.

If that is too sharp for you, lavender is softer and bergamot is citrusy. Our Hair Oil Discovery Set includes all four scents (bergamot, lavender, tea tree and unscented) in 5 ml bottles. We compare them in our guides to lavender oil and bergamot oil in hair and scalp care.

How is tea tree oil used in hair and scalp care?

Mostly for its scent, and as a traditional ingredient in scalp-care products. It turns up in hair oils, balms, shampoos and conditioners.

Hair oil. Used as a light daily oil or for pre-wash scalp oiling. Ours is the Organic Hair Oil | Tea Tree.
Hair balm. A styling balm with a light hold. Our Organic Hair Balm | Tea Tree has a shea butter and beeswax base, and its product page says the scent is light and fades within the hour.
Shampoo. Tea tree is also one of the oils in our Rosemary Hair Growth SHAMPOO with Vitamin E, Tea Tree and Cedarwood, the wash-day step.

If you would rather have no scent at all, our Organic Hair Oil | Classic is fragrance-free.

What does the research on tea tree oil show?

Less than the marketing suggests. NCCIH's tea tree oil page reviews the uses people promote it for, says the evidence for most of them is limited or unclear, and does not mention hair growth, hair care or dandruff. Harvard Health likewise says more human research is needed to understand its benefits and safety.

Tea tree oil has also been studied in laboratory work and in small trials of skin products. Those studies do not tell us what a hair oil does on a man's scalp, and none of it makes the oil a medical treatment.

No oil grows hair by itself. If you notice sudden hair loss, patchy loss, or a scalp that is red, sore or stays itchy, see a doctor or dermatologist.

Is tea tree oil safe to use on the scalp?

In a diluted, ready-made product it is widely used, but it is a strong oil. NCCIH says most people use tea tree products on the skin without problems, but some develop redness or irritation, and reactions may be more likely if the oil is old or has been exposed to heat, light or air. Undiluted tea tree oil can irritate the skin and should be diluted with a carrier oil, according to Harvard Health.

Never swallow it. NCCIH says swallowing tea tree oil can cause confusion, unsteadiness and coma.
Keep it from children and pets. Cleveland Clinic says to keep essential oils away from both, and that they are toxic in large amounts.
Patch-test. Try a small amount on your inner forearm before it goes on your scalp.
Protect eyes and ears. Harvard Health says tea tree oil should not be used in the eyes or ears.

How do I choose a good tea tree oil product?

Read the ingredient list before the front of the bottle. In Canada, cosmetic ingredients are listed by INCI name, so look for tea tree oil under its botanical name, Melaleuca alternifolia. "Parfum" or "fragrance" alone tells you less: Health Canada says it means the product contains a fragrance or a masking agent.

Diluted and ready to use. For the scalp, choose a blended hair oil or shampoo rather than pure essential oil.
Certified organic. The COSMOS ORGANIC mark shows the certifier's name and the organic percentage. Our guide to certified organic oils explains more.
Fresh and well stored. A tightly closed bottle kept away from heat, light and air stays fresher, and NCCIH links old or exposed oil to more skin reactions.

Our oils and balms are COSMOS-certified organic and handcrafted in small batches in Toronto. They contain no mineral oil, parabens or synthetic fragrance.

How do I use tea tree hair oil?

Pure tea tree essential oil is too concentrated for the scalp, which is why a pre-blended product is the safer choice. After a patch test (the American Academy of Dermatology suggests a small amount on the inner forearm, twice a day for four to five days):

Start with clean, towel-dried hair.
Put a few drops in your palm or directly on the scalp.
Massage with your fingertips in circular motions for two to three minutes, then comb through.
Leave it in. Use it daily or every second day, following the label.

A little goes a long way: more oil will not do more, and too much will leave hair greasy. When cold, dry weather leaves skin feeling dry, the American Academy of Dermatology advises warm rather than hot showers and moisturizing while skin is still damp.

Does tea tree oil replace shampoo or other scalp products?

No. A hair oil conditions and adds scent; it does not cleanse, so you still need to wash. Keep using a shampoo you like, and use the oil before or after washing as its label directs. A simple routine is to wash, towel-dry, add a few drops of oil, and finish with a little balm if you want hold.

Natural does not mean harmless, and a plant oil is not a substitute for advice. Because dandruff can have different causes, and is not caused by poor hygiene according to the NHS, persistent, greasy or itchy flaking, or a red or swollen scalp, is a reason to see a doctor or pharmacist rather than add more products.

Frequently asked questions

Does tea tree oil help hair grow?

Tea tree oil has not been shown, on its own, to change how hair grows, and NCCIH's tea tree page does not mention hair growth, hair care or dandruff. No oil grows hair by itself. Tea tree is in a hair oil mainly for its fresh scent, while the carrier oils condition the hair. For sudden or patchy hair loss, see a doctor or dermatologist.

Does tea tree oil help with dandruff?

Research on tea tree oil and the scalp is limited, NCCIH's tea tree page does not cover hair growth or hair care, and a cosmetic hair oil is not a treatment for dandruff or any scalp condition. Dandruff can have several causes, so if flaking is persistent, greasy, itchy or red, see a doctor or pharmacist about a suitable product.

Can I put pure tea tree oil on my scalp?

No. Pure tea tree oil is too strong for the scalp. It can irritate the skin if applied directly and should be diluted with a carrier oil, according to Harvard Health. A ready-made hair oil has already been blended for you. Patch-test first, and keep it out of your eyes and off broken skin.

How often should I use tea tree hair oil?

Use a few drops daily or every second day, following the label. If your scalp feels sensitive, start with every second day and see how it goes. More oil is not better: a small amount is enough, and too much will leave hair greasy and weigh it down.

How should I store tea tree oil?

Keep the bottle tightly closed in a cool, dark place, away from heat, light and air. NCCIH says skin reactions may be more likely if the product is old or has been exposed to heat, light or air. Keep it out of reach of children and pets, and never swallow it.

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Sources

Knightsmen Grooming products are cosmetics. This guide is general information, not medical advice. If you have a skin or scalp condition, or sudden changes in your hair, see a doctor or dermatologist.