It’s time for another beauty post, but I won’t be talking about skincare or makeup. Instead, I’m introducing the Japanese products that I use on my natural hair. (This post contains affiliate links.)
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(Throwback to the time I went glamping in Chiba and got the most perfect twistout thanks to the Marks&Web products available at our cottage!)
Why Go Natural?
Being pregnant and demands of working mom life were a big push in helping me make the decision to go natural.
More than 4 years later, I’m glad I made this choice. Factor in the fact that my daughter will grow up in a society where she is “different” and that some Japanese schools demand that students color/straighten* their hair, I’ve got to foster her confidence, and that starts with accepting my own hair texture.
(*You might find it hard to believe but a lot of Japanese kids are born with brown or dark brown hair and even curly hair, too! Truthfully there are plenty of kids that I’ve met in my teaching career that I thought were “mixed,” but they’re actually not. )
Now, accepting my hair texture is one thing, styling it is a completely different matter! Factor in being abroad, and it really can be tough finding the right products for my hair.
I experiment with hair oils and conditioners when I’m back in the US and stock up on my favorites. But, here are the Japanese products that I use on my natural hair (and daughter, too!)
For what it’s worth, I have 4a/4b hair, with random patches of straight(?!) hair near my temples. My daughter has 3a/3b hair.
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Japanese Products That I Use on My Natural Hair
Tsubaki Premium Moist Shampoo & Conditioner
Shiseido Tsubaki shampoo does a great job in helping my hair retain moisture. As a bonus, the scent is light and pleasant and doesn’t compete with the scent of other hair products. I use the conditioner to detangle my hair in the shower, then follow up with Tsubaki Premium Repair Hair Mask.
Try it! Available on Amazon | Amazon Japan
Tsubaki Premium Repair Hair Mask
TSUBAKI プレミアムリペアマスク
This is the final step of my wash routine on self-care Sunday. I use after conditioner to moisturize and give my hair a glossy finish. It’s not a leave-in-conditioner, nor do I need to leave it on my hair for 10+ minutes, which saves me a lot of time!
Try it! Available on Amazon & Amazon Japan (Limited Edition Sakura scent also available on Amazon Japan.)
Tsubaki Oil Damage Repair Water
ツバキオイル うるおい補修ウォーター
I previously used Oshima Tsubaki Hair Water to detangle and refresh dry curls in the morning. But, these days I really like this “damage repair” water. It comes in a 300 mL bottle and some drugstores also carry the 300 mL refill package. I also use this when I need to detangle Miss M’s curls. It doesn’t have much of a camellia scent, but it gets the job done! (I’m keen to know how Tsubaki’s Premium Hair Water compares, so I’ll be using it throughout the month. Verdict: It does NOTHING FOR MY HAIR.)
Try it! Available on Amazon Japan
Dariya Camellia Oil Hair Serum
椿オイル配合 ヘア美容液
Though this product says “serum,” it’s not an oil. Rather, it’s a milky liquid with the consistency of a light conditioner. I use this after washing my hair or after misting it with Oshima Tsubaki Hair Water, but it works better with Miss M’s hair type. It’s okaaay for adding moisture, but the scent makes up for it.
Try it! Available on Amazon Japan
Tsubaki Oil Mist
ツバキオイル オイルミスト
Unfortunately, this one is not available on Amazon, which is a shame, because I use it to add sheen to my hair after refreshing my curls. It also works well on flat ironed hair to give it a nice finish. As a bonus, it has a very pleasant floral scent.
Try it! Available on Amazon Japan
The Product Hair Wax
I tried this one when it arrived in the My Little Box for January 2021. The Product is actually a line of organic hair & skincare items that uses carefully selected ingredients from all over the globe. In the case of their hair wax, the ingredients are USDA grade shea butter, beeswax, vitamin E, tangerine esential oil, and aloe vera. According to its product description, the wax works as “lip care, hand & body cream, and can also be used for moisturizing exfoliates such as heels, elbows, and knees.”
I ‘ve been using this on wash day to set my two-strand twists and to refresh select patches of hair overnight. So, far, I am genuinely loving the results. It leaves my hair feeling smooth and with a nice sheen, too. As a bonus, I don’t have to worry about shrinkage, either! This is a product that I will definitely buy once this runs out, and I’ve also got my eye on their dry shampoo, too.
Try it! Available on Amazon Japan
I’m excited to try the Honeyce Hair Mask and Sakura Tsubaki Hair Mask. The camellia repair serum was the only one in stock and the consistency is rather thick.
Tips For Finding Japanese Products For Natural Hair
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What works for my hair may not work for you, but one thing that naturalistas have in common is that our hair CRAVES moisture!
You’ll notice that everything on this list is “tsubaki.” Tsubaki (椿) is the Japanese word for camellia, and camellia oil is one of Japan’s oldest beauty secrets. It’s absorbed quickly by hair (and skin!) so use it on dry hair or damp hair to lock in moisture.
Oshima Tsubaki Oil is made by the same company that makes the hair mist that I use. It’s 100% pure and made in Japan.
Oshima, by the way, is one of Tokyo’s islands and is home to Japan’s largest camellia garden. (It’s also a great place to check out hydrangeas as well.)
There’s plenty of camellia oil products here in Japan so definitely try a few to see if it helps with your hair, too!
In addition to camellia oil, when I’m looking for new products to try, I stick to products that have “uruoi” (潤い or うるおい) on the label as they’re formulated to keep hair moisturized.
Scalp Care
One more thing I like to look out for is damage repair: “ダメージ 補修” (dame-ji hoshuu). Last year, I got a PR package from VIJECT, a Japanese vegan haircare brand.
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This botanical series unfortunately doesn’t do much for my hair, but it’s been amazing to my scalp! No dryness, itchiness, or flakiness here. It also works wonders for my daughter’s curls and also soothes her sensitive and itchy scalp.
Discovered any Japanese hair products that work wonders for your natural hair? Please share — I’d love to know!
