Tea Tree Oil Benefits for Hair and Scalp Health

Tea tree oil is a widely recognized therapeutic ingredient often found in lotions, soaps, hair products, scalp serums and topical medications. It's an active ingredient in Divi’s Scalp Serum, Shampoo & Conditioner, chosen for its potent medicinal properties and holistic health-promoting effects.

This remarkable oil was initially popularized as a natural antiseptic. It was found in first aid kits, wound-healing creams, and antibacterial gels long before it found its way into luxury skin treatments, shampoos and serums.

You may even have a dusty bottle of the pure essential oil tucked away in the back of your medicine cabinet!

In recent years, the scientific community has begun to understand how tea tree oil is far from a one-trick pony. It’s not just an antiseptic; it's also antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antifungal and anti-inflammatory.

It's a must-have ingredient in Divi’s lineup of products and practically guaranteed to be featured in the hair and scalp health industry's best products.

Where Does Tea Tree Oil Come From?

Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), which grows indigenously in the swamp regions of southeast Australia. Aboriginal communities native to this area have used tea tree oil as an antiseptic in treating wounds and skin ailments for hundreds of years.

Today, pure tea tree oil is steam-distilled from carefully harvested leaves grown on vast plantations in New South Wales and other parts of southeast Australia for use in medicines and personal care products worldwide.

The Medicinal Properties of Tea Tree Oil

Unlike many essential oils and plant extracts, tea tree oil has been the subject of intense clinical scrutiny over the past few decades. It has many well-documented medicinal properties, though in most cases, the precise biological mechanisms behind these properties are not fully understood.

The therapeutic properties of tea tree oil's main chemical compounds (eucalyptol, cineole, viridiflorol, nerolidol and terpinen-4-ol) are relatively well-understood. However, this evidence only hints at the true therapeutic potential of essential oil. Together, tea tree oil's compounds act with a synergistic effect greater than the sum of its parts.

Anti-Inflammatory

Tea tree oil is known to be a potent anti-inflammatory agent. Its anti-inflammatory properties are likely due to one of its main compounds, terpinen-4-ol. One study shed light on the mechanism behind this compound's action, demonstrating how terpinen-4-ol appeared to mitigate inflammation by suppressing key inflammatory mediators.

Eucalyptol, another tea tree compound, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties through pro-inflammatory cytokine suppression.

Antifungal and Antibacterial

Tea tree oil has long been hailed as an effective antifungal and antibacterial agent. No less than 327 studies have demonstrated its ability to quell harmful bacteria when used as a topical treatment.

Terpinen-4-il, tea tree's anti-inflammatory superpower compound, has also been shown to heighten white blood cell activity. In this respect, it can support the body's defenses in fighting bacteria, viruses, fungi and other unwelcome foreign invaders.

This antibacterial and antifungal action helps maintain hair and scalp health in people with dry skin conditions and can eliminate the bacteria and fungus causing dandruff, scaly patches and flaky skin.

Skin-Penetration Enhancer

A compound in tea tree oil called nerolidol has been identified as a skin-penetration enhancer. Skin-penetration enhancers are often used in skin and hair care products to improve efficacy by helping active ingredients to penetrate the skin and scalp. This means the tea tree oil in Divi’s Scalp Serum may also enhance the therapeutic benefits of other active ingredients by allowing them to penetrate the scalp's protective barrier.

Therapeutic Uses of Tea Tree Oil for Hair and Scalp

Tea tree oil can maintain scalp health and promote healthy hair growth in people with no pre-existing scalp conditions. It's also valuable for managing and treating common scalp issues, largely thanks to its impressive list of medicinal benefits.

Here are some of the conditions helped by the topical application of tea tree oil via a scalp serum, shampoo or conditioner, such as Divi’s Scalp Serum, Shampoo & Conditioner.

Dandruff and Flaky Scalp

Tea tree oil can be used to treat dandruff and prevent scalp flaking. In a study featuring 126 participants, diluted tea tree oil (in a 5% solution) led to a 41% dandruff reduction when applied regularly over four weeks.

Thanks to its myriad of health benefits, tea tree oil can effectively fight dandruff in several ways. A fungus called Malassezia can cause dandruff and worsen skin flaking. As an antifungal treatment, tea tree oil can eliminate this fungus and effectively treat dandruff.

Tea Tree Oil Shampoo for Itchy Scalp

The scalp flaking associated with dandruff is often worsened by scratching caused by an itchy scalp. This scratching damages the scalp, disturbs dead skin, and increases flaking. Tea tree oil is a natural conditioner that is intensely soothing and moisturizing. When used in shampoo, conditioner, serum, or scalp treatment, it calms irritation and promotes scalp healing by mitigating your urge to scratch.

Excess Oil Production

Tea tree oil benefits people with oily or greasy hair due to overactive sebaceous glands. This oil has an intensely clarifying effect which strips away unwanted oil from the scalp and surface of the hair. It also removes the chemical residue capable of building up from heavy product use, which is often the root cause of excess oil production.

Tea Tree for Hair Growth

We include tea tree oil in Divi’s Scalp Serum, Shampoo & Conditioner for its ability to promote scalp health and support healthy hair growth in several ways. It can help treat hair loss or thinning hair when poor scalp health is a contributing factor.

Promoting Hair Follicle Health

Like peppermint oil, tea tree oil has a stimulant effect, improving circulation and promoting blood flow to hair follicles. It also works to unclog hair follicles by removing sebum, dead skin and chemical residue. This is how tea tree oil, as an active ingredient within Divi’s Scalp Serum, can help cultivate the healthiest environment for your hair to flourish.

Thinning Hair Caused by Dandruff

Severe dandruff can result in hair becoming thinner or weaker, as dead skin can effectively smother hair follicles and disrupt normal hair growth. Tea tree oil promotes a healthy scalp and hair growth by fighting dandruff and removing excess skin flakes that interfere with hair follicle function. This is an essential reason why tea tree oil is present in Divi’s Shampoo.

Who Can Use Tea Tree Oil for Hair and Scalp Care?

Divi’s Scalp Serum, Shampoo & Conditioner have all been dermatologically tested and the active concentration of tea tree oil within our proprietary blends is suitable for all skin and hair types and is widely considered safe to use. If you’re new to Divi, we suggest beginning with our Scalp Serum, which is clinically proven to help improve the look of fuller, thicker hair and help support a healthy scalp on the outside and in.

Here’s an overview of our 30ml Scalp Serum bottle, a perfect starter option for anyone hoping to use tea tree oil for their scalp. Don’t forget Divi’s Shampoo & Conditioner, though, whenever you’re ready to expand on your daily routine.