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How Do I Choose the Best Shampoo with Tea Tree Oil?

Misty Amber Brighton
Misty Amber Brighton

When you are looking for a shampoo with tea tree oil, it can be a good idea to visit a health food or natural beauty store. These retailers tend to carry a wider variety of shampoos and better-quality tea tree products than a department store will. Reading the list of ingredients can let you know if the shampoo contains potentially harmful chemicals. Many brands also include vitamins and natural extracts along with the tea tree oil, which can help improve the overall appearance of your hair and health of your scalp.

Department stores and pharmacies often carry tea tree oil shampoo; however, many of these brands contain only a trace of this natural ingredient. As a result, you may not derive much benefit from using one. Shampoo from a natural beauty supplier or health food store may be more expensive, but it may produce better results. You may also find a wider variety of shampoos at one of these stores, so you can experiment with different brands to find a product that is right for you.

Tea tree oil may be useful in treating dandruff.
Tea tree oil may be useful in treating dandruff.

Regardless of where you purchase a shampoo with tea tree oil, it can be helpful to read the product label first. This can indicate whether the shampoo also contains harmful chemicals that could negate the effects of tea tree oil. Some chemicals you may want to avoid are sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, or ammonium lauryl sulfate, as these may cause eye or scalp irritation. You may also want to look for artificial dyes or fragrances, as these are generally not necessary and may also cause adverse reactions.

Besides tea tree oil, a shampoo might have other beneficial ingredients.
Besides tea tree oil, a shampoo might have other beneficial ingredients.

Some brands of shampoo also contain many of the "B" complex vitamins along with vitamins E, C, or D. These vitamins can help to nourish the hair and scalp, giving it a shiny and healthy appearance. This type of shampoo could also contain plant extracts such as grapefruit seed, lavender, or rosemary. Grapefruit seed can help improve hair's texture, while lavender and rosemary provide a fresh yet natural scent to this product.

Many people use tea tree oil to treat lice.
Many people use tea tree oil to treat lice.

Tea tree oil may provide a number of benefits in shampoo. It may be useful in treating dandruff, psoriasis, or a variety of other dry scalp conditions. Using tea tree oil for head lice is also thought to be effective, so you may want to try one of these shampoos rather than a commercial brand that contains insecticides.

Discussion Comments

donasmrs

@turquoise-- Yea, it is kind of expensive. But you don't have to pay a lot for tea tree oil shampoo. Just buy pure tea tree oil and add some to your regular shampoo. People do this all the time and it works just fine.

Make sure you do a skin test with tea tree oil first though because some people are very sensitive or allergic to it. It can cause skin irritation and rash if you're sensitive to it.

turquoise

@MikeMason-- Does tea tree oil shampoo work for excessively oily hair?

I want to try this shampoo too but the ones I've seen are too expensive.

stoneMason

Tea tree oil shampoo has been a saver for me. I live in a very humid climate and have been dealing with scalp fungal infections, itching and dandruff for several years. I tried prescription anti-fungal shampoos but they only worked for about a week or so and then would lose their effect.

Then I came across tea tree oil shampoo at my salon that's made by a salon hair care brand. The stylist also recommended it and I thought I would give it a try.

This shampoo relieved all of my symptoms and it has not lost its effects despite the fact that I've been using it for three months now. I'm continuing to use the same brand, I know there are organic/natural versions available but since this worked for me, I don't see a reason to change it.

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    • Tea tree oil may be useful in treating dandruff.
      By: Jasmin Merdan
      Tea tree oil may be useful in treating dandruff.
    • Besides tea tree oil, a shampoo might have other beneficial ingredients.
      By: Lucie Říhová
      Besides tea tree oil, a shampoo might have other beneficial ingredients.
    • Many people use tea tree oil to treat lice.
      By: Warren Rosenberg
      Many people use tea tree oil to treat lice.