The severe chemicals found in hair products or dyes can strip your follicle of essential nutrients and cause inflammation. Using small amounts of diluted tea tree oil down the shafts will help prevent the buildup of build-up and dead skin cells which keeps the scalp healthy.
If you are using Tea Tree oil for the first time, do a simple patch test. This can be done by applying 3-5 drops of tea tree oil and watching for any signs of redness or irritation for 24 hours. If there is no reaction then it should be safe to use on a larger surface area such as your scalp.
Never apply 100% Tea Tree Oil directly onto your hair as it will cause severe itching and flaking from dry skin. You must first dilute it with a carrier oil such as coconut oil or other substances such as aloe vera gel or apple cider vinegar before application.
At the start go for 5% concentration. This translates to 5 milliliters (mL) of tea tree oil per 100 mL of the carrier substance. You may also try adding 5% concentration (5mL) in 100 mL shampoo.
For dandruff hair, apply a shampoo with 5% tea tree oil to your scalp. Lather for 3 minutes daily for 4 weeks.
For healthy hair, dilute tea tree oil with a 1 to 10 ratio of tea tree oil to almond oil or another similar oil. Use the mixture every day to get the best results.