Melaeuca alternifolia, also known as tea tree oil, comes from the Melaeuca plant, a shrub native to Australia. You can use the oil for a variety of ailments of the scalp including fungal infections, dandruff, lice or itchy scalp. Commercial shampoos that contain tea tree oil have a very small percentage of the oil; this is to protect your skin from possible allergic reactions to the oil that can promote hair loss. Apply tea tree oil without causing hair loss by using caution and diluting the essential oil before it touches the scalp.
Tea Tree Shampoo
Place six to 10 drops of tea tree essential oil in your favorite 12-ounce bottle of shampoo. Use the dropper to place the drops inside the bottle. This makes the shampoo consist of approximately 5 percent tea tree oil.
Wet your hair. Place a nickel size amount of shampoo in the palm of your hand and use your hands to massage the shampoo into your hair.
Rinse the soap out of your hair. Apply hair conditioner and massage through the hair and rinse.
Spot Treatment
Identify the area in your scalp where you have a problem. This includes a spot of fungus or dandruff.
Apply a small amount of tea tree oil onto a cotton ball. Add a small drop of olive oil to the cotton ball.
Dab the treated cotton ball on the affected area. Rinse the area with warm water and dry. Apply each day until the affected area is clear.
Tips
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Dilute the tea tree oil in the shampoo to protect your skin. A 100 percent solution of tea tree oil can cause scalp irritation such as dermatitis, which can make hair follicles swell and cause the hair to fall out.
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Add a base oil, like olive oil, to natural tea tree oil when treating the scalp for infections, such as dandruff. This helps protect the skin from developing a rash or irritation, which can adversely affect hair follicles.