The 3 Different Types of Camellia Oil & Which is Best for the Hair

Did you know there are 3 diferent types of camellia oil and there is one type that’s best for use on hair? I cover these types of camellia oil in this article plus the best brands to include in your hair care regimen.

Camellia oil is produced from the seeds of the camellia flower, which grows in China and Japan. The wild-harvested seeds are cold-pressed without any heat or refining.

Camellia oil is an excellent emollient oil for hair. It helps smooth down the hair cuticle, promotes shine, and keeps flyaways in check.

For more on what is camellia oil and the benefits of camellia oil, have a look at Rejuvenate & Nourish Your Hair with Camellia Oil.

Not many people know this but there are 3 different kinds of camellia oil on the market.

The camellia plant has many different varieties from which each kind of camellia oil is produced.

Though they are all known as camellia oil, they are very different from each other.

1. Camellia Sinensis Oil

This is produced from the seeds of the Camellia Sinensis plant while the leaves are used to produce tea like green (matcha) tea, white tea, yellow tea, pu-erh tea, black tea, Darjeeling, oolong, etc.

The other names for this species of camellia include tea plant and tea shrub.

The oil pressed from the seeds of this variety of camellia sinensis plant is known as tea oil, not to be confused with tea tree oil from Australia which is an essential oil.

2. Camellia Japonica Oil

Camellia japonica oil is the most common oil and is aka Tsubaki (soo-baw-kee) in Japan is indigenous to China and Japan.

The flower is red in color with petals attached to the base of the flower in a cup-like shape.

The camellia japonica flower can also be white, pink, yellow, lavender and several other colors.

Fast fact – the Camellia japonica is the state flower of Alabama, USA.

Camellia japonica oil has moisturizing and anti-aging properties and is popular in skin care. It stimulates renewal of skin cells and renews dry and dull skin.

This study highlights the immense benefits of camellia japonica oil in preventing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) when applied topically.

Where to Buy Camellia Japonica Oil?

You can find camellia japonica oil online at Amazon and iHerb. The best brand of camellia japonica oil includes:-

3. Camellia Oleifera Oil

The oil produced from this variety of Camellia flower is edible with properties similar to olive oil.

Chinese and Japanese people also use this type of camellia oil in cooking.

This type of camellia oil is rich in omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, squalene, and vitamins A and E.

The oil from this variety is aka tea seed oil. It’s ideal for dry hair and skin with its light texture and non-greasy feel.

Where to Buy Camellia Oleifera Oil?

You can find camellia oleifera oil online at Amazon and iHerb. The best brand of camellia oleifera oil includes:-

The camellia oleifera oil recommendations above are for external use only. Do not cook with them.

Which is the Best Camellia Oil for Hair?

While you can use all 3 types on hair, the best camellia oil for hair is produced from the Camellia oleifera plant and the camellia japonica plant.

Camellia oil can also be used on the skin and nails. Read How to Use Camellia Oil for Skin Care for more on this.

Where to Buy Pure Camellia Oil?

You can find the camellia brands recommended in this article as well as similar brands at the following online locations:-