How to Use Camphor Oil for Hair Growth, Loss, Dandruff, and More

Camphor oil is extracted from the bark and stem of camphor trees before it is processed by steam distillation. Camphor trees, scientific name, Cinnamomum camphora, are species of broad-leaved evergreens with stout branches, fissured bark, and glossy leaves.

They are native to Japan, China, and other subtropical East Asia regions but have spread to several other countries, including the United States.

 Over the years, camphor oil has found several use cases, from skin and hair care to pain relief for people with chronic muscle and joint pains.

This guide will explore how to use camphor oil for hair growth, hair loss, dandruff, and much more.

What Does Camphor Oil Do For Your Hair? 

Camphor oil soothes your scalp, removes dandruff, cleanses your scalp, helps with hair loss, and strengthens your hair strands. For more than a century, camphor has been used to solve skin and hair problems, thanks to its antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

For people with dry, brittle, or weak hair strands or scalp problems, camphor oil mixed with other essential oils is an excellent hair treatment. In addition to 100% pure oil, you’ll also see camphor products marketed as brown, yellow, or white camphor oil, camphor powder, camphor tablets, and we’ve seen people selling the wood of camphor trees.

If you’re wondering whether camphor is good for your hair, here are some additional details about its benefits.

1. Soothes Your Scalp and Removes Dandruff 

Oily and irritated skin is a cause for concern for many women, especially if it’s accompanied by a build-up of dead skin cells and an itchy, flakey scalp.

Dandruff, one of the fungal infections, is caused by seborrheic dermatitis, which turns the skin red, oily, and scaly. While dandruff and the other scalp yeast infections are stubborn, camphor oil has proved to be an effective treatment option.

One study found that camphor oil has highly potent anti-fungal properties and is effective against a wide range of fungi. To treat dandruff and scalp issues, you need to mix camphor oil and lemon juice for optimal results.

Below are the ingredients and instructions.

Ingredients  

• 1 teaspoon of camphor oil 
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• Egg Yolk (optional) 

Directions

• Beat the egg yolk, then combine it with the camphor oil and lemon juice in a bowl.
• Apply the mixture on your scalp, lightly massaging the mixture in and around the hair roots. 
• Work the mixture throughout your hair, applying the recipe evenly.
• Wear a plastic shower cap or cover your head with a clean microfiber towel.
• Wait for 30 to 50 minutes before rinsing your hair and scalp with a mild shampoo.
• Condition your hair afterward. 

2. Cleanses Your Scalp and Hair

Camphor exhibits several biological properties such as antimicrobial, insecticidal, and antiviral activities. Camphor oil is widely used as a fragrance in cosmetics and is a common ingredient in household cleaners.

Its natural compounds also make it a potent cleansing agent that can work magic on your scalp and hair. If you struggle with head lice, mixing camphor oil with coconut oil will help kill the lice. 

Directions:

• Mix two tablespoons of coconut oil and one tablespoon of camphor oil. 
• Apply the paste on your scalp and leave it overnight. 
• Wash your scalp and hair with lukewarm water the following day.
• Condition your hair. 

3. Helps with Hair Loss and Hair Thinning 

Men and women often begin to notice thinning of their hair strands as they grow older. While camphor oil isn’t a magic hair product that will speed hair growth overnight, it creates an environment that’s perfect hair growth.

For instance, it boosts blood circulation, which enriches the hair follicles with the necessary nutrients for improved hair growth and regrowth.

Similarly, camphor oils can increase collagen production, which holds the dermal layer and hair follicles together. Collagen levels reduce as we age, making the hair follicle brittle.

This may also result in the dermal layer dryness, which leads to hair loss (also called hair fall in certain cultures). Applying camphor oil on your scalp and hair helps keep the hair strong and healthy, from the roots to the ends of your strands. 

Ingredients:

• Two tablespoons of camphor oil 
• One tablespoon of burdock oil 
• One raw yolk 
• 5 to 6 drops of rosemary essential oil                                                               

Directions:

• Break the raw yolk, then add camphor and burdock oil. 
• Stir the mixture, then add the rosemary essential oil while stirring to get an even mixture. 
• Apply the paste on your scalp as you massage lightly.
• Work the paste through your hair as you pay attention to your scalp and hair roots.
• Wait for 30 to 50 minutes before rinsing your hair and scalp with a mild shampoo.
• Condition your hair.

Remember, hair loss can result from hormonal changes, genetics, medical conditions, aging, or more. A hair loss recipe isn’t a quick fix, neither is it guaranteed to work in every situation. 

4. Improves Hair Texture 

Your natural hair can become dull and lifeless due to ongoing wear and tear from styling, handling, and other environmental reasons.

When mixed with other essential oils such as coconut oil and rosemary oil, camphor oil can soften and smoothen your hair, along with mitigating hair damage.

Some of the camphor elements, such as bisabolol, a naturally occurring protein common in certain essential oils, softens the hair giving it a lasting shine. 

5. Strengthens Hair Roots 

Combining camphor oil and other ingredients: egg yolk, olive oil, and yogurt have been shown to strengthen the hair roots, thanks to the much-needed nutrients penetrating the scalp and enriching the hair follicles. 

Does Camphor Oil Penetrate the Hair Shaft?

Hair shaft penetration is a huge consideration for many people looking to enrich their hairs with essential oils and benefit from the antifungal and antibacterial properties, vitamins, and amino acids.

Despite being an essential oil, camphor oil doesn’t penetrate the hair shaft. Camphor is an isoprenoid compound classified as a terpenoid ketone, composed of two or three hydrocarbon units, which don’t penetrate the hair shaft.

Some of the essential oils that penetrate the hair shaft include coconut, avocado, olive, and meadowfoam seed oils.

Essential oils that are considered triglyceride, the main constituent of body fats in humans, have a high affinity for hair proteins. Additionally, oils with a straight liner chain and low molecular weight, such as coconut oil, can easily penetrate the hair shaft.

On the other hand, mineral oils, being hydrocarbons, have no affinity for hair proteins and won’t penetrate the hair shaft. 

Other essential oils like sunflower oil, although being a triglyceride, have a bulky structure due to double bonds in their molecular structure; hence, they won’t penetrate through to the hair follicle.

A rule of thumb is to mix camphor oil with essential oils with high shaft-penetration potentials, such as olive and coconut oil. 

How to Use Camphor Oil for Hair

Camphor oil is best used alongside other essential oils or ingredients such as lemon, egg, and yogurt. This oil can also be used with many different hair types or textures.

If you have dry, weak hair, you can use camphor oil and other ingredients like egg yolk and coconut oil to strengthen the roots and get some extra moisture in the hair follicles and hair roots. 

When making a camphor oil hair mask, ensure that the solution is thick and more of a paste so that camphor doesn’t get into your eyes or mouth, as it can cause irritation.

Before applying the mask, wash your hair and do not dry it thoroughly. This ensures that the hair is pliable, so it’s easy to work with. 

For optimal results, always massage the scalp while applying the camphor hair mask. After the treatment, cover your head with a plastic bag or a microfiber towel.

To avoid difficulties when washing the mask, apply the shampoo directly to the hair strands and rinse them gently with warm water. You can also use lemon or diluted vinegar solution instead before conditioning your hair.

Camphor Oil Hair Mask Recipes

Camphor oil can be paired with several other essential oils and natural ingredients, and it’s easy to apply these recipes to the hair and scalp. There are several recipes you can make from different ingredients and for various uses. 

As we’ve seen above, you can make a camphor oil mask for many hair conditions or problems – from dandruff and itchy scalp to dry hair and hair loss. Below are several common camphor hair mask recipes:

Lemon-Camphor Hair Mask Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice 
• 1 tablespoon of camphor oil 
• 3 tablespoons of coconut oil

Directions:

• Warm the coconut oil to a slightly higher than room temperature. 
• Add 3 to 5 drops of camphor oil. 
• Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, then stir the mixture. 
• Massage your scalp with the mixture for a few minutes. 
• Work the remaining through your hair, particularly the base of the hair. 
• Wrap your hair with a warm towel and wait for about 20 minutes. 
• Rinse off your scalp and hair with a mild shampoo.
• Condition your hair.  

Rinse your scalp and hair with apple cider vinegar to further enrich your scalp with beneficial nutrients. This recipe is often used to encourage hair growth. 

Camphor-Castor Filming Mask

Another common hair mask is a combination of camphor oil and castor oil with a few other ingredients such as raw egg yolk and rosemary oil. This recipe is mainly a hair loss remedy that, besides cleansing the scalp, stimulates blood flow and has been shown to promote hair growth. 

Mixing camphor oil with high potent essential oils like rosemary oil and castor oil comes with several benefits. For instance, castor oil is a natural moisturizer containing humectant such as ricinoleic acid that prevents water loss through the outer skin layer.

Castor oil also has some antifungal properties, which can be very beneficial for people with scalp fungal infection. 

Besides making a potent hair mask, you can also make camphor oil shampoos for both oily and dry hair. However, the shampoo you’ll get is mild, and for the best results, you want to alternate this with a commercial shampoo.  

To make a camphor oil shampoo for oily hair, mix the following: 

• 2 teaspoons of camphor oil 
• 2 tablespoons of water 
• 1 raw egg yolk 

To make a camphor oil shampoo for dry hair, mix the following:

• 1 teaspoon of camphor oil
• 2 tablespoons of burdock and almond oil
• 1 raw egg yolk 
• 4 to 5 drops of tea tree essential oil

Is Camphor Oil Good For Hair?

Camphor oil is safe for external use, i.e., when applied topically on your skin or hair. However, it should also be in low concentration.

Undiluted camphor or products containing more than 11% camphor can severely affect the skin, causing irritation or skin redness. Before using camphor oil on your skin, you want to do a skin patch test or consult your medical doctor (or dermatologist).

Apply a small amount of low concentration camphor oil on your inner forearm, then wait to see if there’s any reaction. To ascertain that your body doesn’t react to any of its compounds, wait for up to 24 hours to see if there’s any reaction, such as itching, skin redness, or burns.

Camphor oil is available in four different types: white, yellow, brown, and blue fractions. Yellow and brown types contain high levels of safrole, a carcinogen that’s harmful to human health. Ingesting camphor or applying it to an open wound could lead to complications.

However, this will depend on the level of concentration and several other conditions such as pregnancy, age, and body sensitivity. Children below the age of 2 should not be exposed to camphor as any little ingestion or intake through the nose, mouth, or an open wound could cause seizures. 

To ensure safety, do not use camphor oil, camphor hair mask, or homemade camphor oil shampoo if:

• You have allergic reactions to the smell of camphor 
• You have high blood pressure or various convulsive diseases 

You should also dilute the oil before using it so in case it accidentally gets into your eyes, you won’t suffer from adverse side effects.   

Does Camphor Mitigate Premature Gray Hair?

People struggling with premature graying may benefit from applying camphor oil on their scalp and hair. There are some medical ways of reversing this condition, such as hormone therapy and re-pigmentation therapy, but going natural is always the better option.

Below is a recipe to help treat premature graying. 

Ingredients:

• 4 hibiscus flowers (preferably fresh)
• 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil 
• 1 tablespoon of camphor oil 

Direction: 

• Warm coconut oil slightly above room temperature. 
• Add hibiscus flowers to the coconut oil and stir it for approximately 1 minute. 
• Add camphor oil and let the mixture cool down to room temperature.
• Use the mixture to massage the scalp and hair roots gently.
• Wait for 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing off your scalp and hair with a mild shampoo. 
• Repeat this procedure periodically (e.g., once per week) to reduce the appearance of gray hair.

Graying of the hairs can start at any age and can be caused by a range of factors. In some cases, deficiencies of vitamins B-6, B-12, E, and D can cause premature graying.

Other causes include genetics, autoimmune diseases, stress, smoking, and thyroid disorders. Camphor oil strengthens the hair follicles and improves your scalp’s health. It also conditions your hair, making it soft, manageable, and healthy. 

Related Articles

• Best Essential Oils for Hair Growth and Thickness
• How Often To Use Coconut Oil for Hair Growth
• How To Use Peppermint Oil for Hair Growth

Final Thoughts

Camphor oil is often sold as a 10% solution for skin and hair care, and you always want to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If you have questions or concerns about the potential uses of camphor, be sure to discuss this product with a medical professional to avoid allergic reactions or other complications.