Camellia Oil Is the All-Powerful Haircare Ingredient You Aren’t Using… Yet
Camellia oil is as romantic as it sounds. Derived from a Japanese flower, the oil has been used for centuries to beautify and contribute to hair growth. We got a full medical breakdown of its benefits from Dr. Craig Ziering, founder of Ziering Medical and renowned hair restoration specialist.
What Is Camellia Oil?
“Camellia oil is also commonly known as tea seed oil and is derived from a flowering plant most commonly found in Japan. The oil is released as the byproduct when cold-pressed from the camellia japonica seeds,” explains Dr. Ziering.
“It has been an advanced natural emollient used for generations as part of natural skin and hair health because of its high content of antioxidants fighting off environmental damages and fatty acid content which is composed primarily of oleic (omega-9). Oleic acid is used as an excipient in pharmaceuticals and as an emulsifying or solubilizing agent with a multitude of benefits that pertains specifically to hair and scalp,” he continues.
What Are the Benefits of Camellia Oil for Hair?
Camellia oil works double-duty. It can both support the condition of the existing hair while improving scalp health to help more optimal follicular vitality for future growth. “Oleic acid is an excellent transdermal delivery product and very effective in our cellular abilities to retain moisture and prevent transepidermal water losses,” he explains.
As the camellia seed oil acts as an emollient for both scalp and strands, it helps moisturize from follicle to hair tip. It restores and replenishes dry, dehydrated, and damaged cuticles along the outer layer of our hair, which is made of keratin protein.
Because damaged hair is weak, fractured, and fragile, it’s more prone to breakage. Camellia seed oil helps to restore the moisture levels, strengthens the strands and improves elasticity, density, and volume, as well as shine. That’s not all! It can work well to combat general scalp dryness and dandruff. “It will also help to clarify pores on the scalp and nourish dry dehydrated or otherwise damaged scalp as well as calming psoriasis, sunburn, eczema, or even healing for cuts,” adds Dr. Ziering.
Can It Help With Hair Growth?
Camellia seed oil is evidently all it takes. According to the doctor, it benefits everything. It can balance or restore moisture levels, support healing, fight inflammation, eliminate redness, dryness, flaking, and itching on the skin and scalp. In addition to the benefits above, we know that oleic acid, a strong transdermal delivery ingredient, can help with permeability. Here’s how it works, for all our science geeks. “5α-reductase breaks down testosterone with its byproduct, DHT, a major culprit in genetic pattern baldness, or androgenic alopecia (APA). Although there are many causes of hair loss, a large majority of cases are due to the sensitivity of DHT. Studies have shown that oleic acid and other fatty acids may also help improve the permeability and, therefore, the receptivity to other 5α-reductase blockers used in products and treatments. Enhancing bioavailability, reception, and potency with key ingredients used in treatment products can thwart the process of DHT binding to receptors which, over time, causes the hair to miniaturize until it ultimately stops growing,” Dr. Ziering shares.
How Should Camellia Oil Be Used?
The best way to incorporate camellia oil into haircare is to include it within hair care products like cleansers, conditioners, hair masks, or other hair treatments. You can also apply a few drops to the scalp or hair when damp after washing and either apply some dry heat or wrap in plastic covering for 30 minutes for a deeper hot oil treatment.
“Once the lipids permeate the hair strands, they will instantly feel softer and more hydrated. Over a few weeks, you will notice the appearance of more vibrant and dense hair. Hair strength will continue to build along with scalp health improvement. In some cases, relief from scalp irritation, itching, redness, flaking, or inflammation is achieved,” he explains.
“I incorporated camellia oil into my two-part advanced care hair support system, Follicle Cleans and Follicle Sustenance. Blended with a range of high-active ingredients, the system promotes optimal luster, shine, and healthy hair by purifying,s stimulating, strengthening, and nourishing follicular vitality,” notes Dr. Ziering.