Camellia (tsubaki) oil for hair: what it is, what it does, how we blend it
Camellia oil, tsubaki in Japan, is the traditional comb oil for long black hair: medium-light, nearly scentless and very high in oleic acid, so it smooths and shines without stickiness.
| Role | Base oil |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2 of 4, medium-light |
| Chosen for | Shine, less frizz |
| On the label | Camellia Japonica Seed Oil |
| In our blends | After Color 52.3% |
| Builder limit | Up to 85% of a hair blend |
What it is
Pressed from the seeds of Camellia japonica, the oil is about 80% oleic acid, one of the highest shares in the library, with little polyunsaturated fat. That makes it stable and silky. It has been used for centuries in Japan on hair and on wooden combs and blades. It is a different plant from the tea camellia, Camellia sinensis.
How it feels on hair
Weight 2 of 4, medium-light. It glides over the hair and leaves a glossy, smooth finish that feels dry to the touch after a few minutes. The scent is faint and clean.
Who reaches for it
Straight and wavy hair that wants shine and smoothness, bleached and coloured lengths that feel rough, and anyone who likes argan but wants something a little lighter and less nutty. It leads After Color at 52.3%.
Where it sits in our blends
After Color carries camellia at 52.3% (with Argan 26.2%, Marula 10%, Baobab 10%, and more). The blends with a product page can be bought as they are; every one of them can be opened in the builder and changed oil by oil.
How to compose with it
Camellia can take up to 85% of a hair blend as a base. After Color pairs it with argan at two parts to one, then marula and baobab as actives and neroli and geranium for scent. On its own it suits fine hair; with avocado it becomes a richer length oil.
Compose with camellia Find your formula
Weighed to the gram and blended to order in New Jersey, with the recipe printed on the label. For external use only; patch test before first use. Every oil, with its INCI name, is in the oil library.