Yesterday, Jada Pinkett Smith shared an adorable video to Instagram, where she’s seen getting her scalp greased by her daughter, Willow Smith, while on vacation in Greece. In the video, Smith is wearing box braids, which is a go-to protective style for Black women during the summer months. And while the hairdo is relatively low maintenance (making it the perfect hairstyle for vacation), your scalp still requires a bit of attention while rocking the look.
Box braids may last for weeks, but it’s important to clarify your scalp of dirt and oil to keep your hair healthy and flake free. In the video, Jada says she uses a little bit of tea tree oil when asked what she uses on her hair.
“You use Aragon oil now mom?” Willow asks while applying oil onto Jada’s scalp. “I thought you use Dr. Bronner’s.”
“Sometimes,” Jada replies. “And I want you to put a little bit of tea tree oil on there, just a little.” “I’ve been using that too,” Willow exclaimed. “It really helps.”
Tea tree oil has a number of hair health benefits. To start, it’s comprised of antimicrobial properties that helps rid the scalp of buildup. It also soothes inflammation caused by tension. What’s even better is that the tonic is inexpensive. Unlike other products that are touted as celebrity favorites, tea tree oil won’t put a dent in your wallet.
To keep your box braids fresh this summer, add one of the tea tree infused products below under $15 to your protective style arsenal.