The activated charcoal trend is taking over the hair care industry, and you'll now find it in shampoos, scalp scrubs, and masks. Activated charcoal (and activated charcoal powder) works like a magnet for oil. Oil, dirt, and product buildup stick to its surface, so it can lift them off your scalp when you rinse.
The ingredient is suitable for all hair textures, from loose waves to tight coils. It can't treat dandruff, though, and it can leave a dry scalp even drier, so we'll show you when to reach for it and when to skip it.
Many women have also started using activated charcoal for hair growth, hoping it will help with thinning or hair loss. Here's the short answer: activated charcoal won't make your hair grow faster, because your hair grows from follicles under your scalp, where a wash can't reach. What it can do is keep your scalp clean while your hair grows. In this article, we'll show you how to use activated charcoal products within your hair care routine, plus four recipes you can make at home.
If you're in a hurry, we like the SoapBox brand of activated charcoal shampoos, conditioners, liquid hand soaps, bath bombs, bar soaps, and body washes.
These charcoal products are gentle and easy to incorporate into your beauty routine if you're not interested in DIY recipes and treatments. Use this link to learn more about these products, read reviews, and check current pricing.
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Key Takeaways
- Activated Charcoal Benefits: Suitable for all hair types, activated charcoal deep cleans the scalp by grabbing onto product build-up and excess oil so your shampoo can rinse them away. It's a popular ingredient in hair treatments, but it cleans your scalp; it doesn't make your hair grow faster.
- Scalp Health and Hair Growth: A charcoal wash can leave an oily scalp feeling cleaner, but it won't prevent or treat dandruff. For flakes and itching, use a dandruff shampoo, and see a board-certified dermatologist about any thinning or hair loss.
- Usage in Hair Care Products: Activated charcoal is an excellent choice for inclusion in various hair care products, including clarifying shampoos and scalp care products. It works well with traditional shampoos and can be added to them for a deep cleanse, especially for oily skin and greasy hair.
- DIY and Natural Products: For those preferring natural products, DIY charcoal treatments using ingredients like coconut oil, aloe vera gel, and clay can clear the buildup that leaves hair dull or limp, so your curls get their bounce and shine back.
- Considerations for Different Hair Types: While beneficial for most, those with light or color-treated hair should use charcoal treatments cautiously to avoid staining. It works on every curl pattern, and most curly hair does best with a charcoal wash once or twice a month, the same as any clarifying wash.
What Is Activated Charcoal?
Activated charcoal, also known as activated carbon, is an odorless fine black powder (i.e., activated charcoal powder) that's made from coconut shells, peat, coal, sawdust, or petroleum coke.
It can be made by processing carbon-rich materials at very high temperatures to make common charcoal.
The charcoal is then activated using hot air, steam, or a chemical method. The process opens up tiny pores inside the charcoal, which gives it a huge inner surface area.
High porosity and surface area make activated charcoal more absorbent than ordinary charcoal. While you can break down common charcoal to increase the surface area, it won't match activated charcoal.
Activated charcoal usually has 900 to 2,000 square meters of surface area per gram. To picture it, the inside surface of 50 grams of activated charcoal (a little under 2 ounces) would cover more than eight football fields.
That surface works by adsorption, which means things stick to the outside of the charcoal instead of soaking into it. Activated charcoal grabs best onto large, oily molecules, which is why it can help lift oil and product buildup off your scalp.
Doctors use activated charcoal to treat poisoning and overdoses. The person swallows it, and it holds onto the drug or toxin in the gut so less of it gets into the blood. On your scalp, all it does is hold onto oil and buildup until you rinse it away. It isn't a medicine for a scalp infection, so if your scalp is sore, red, or oozing, see a doctor.
How to Use Activated Charcoal for Hair Care
There are multiple ways of using activated charcoal for your hair. The simplest way is by using charcoal-enhanced hair care products. You can also turn your usual non-sulfate shampoo into a deep cleanser by adding some activated charcoal.
If you are a fan of natural hair masks, you can add activated charcoal to your favorite hair mask recipe. You'll still get the benefits of the other ingredients, and the charcoal adds a little extra cleaning for your scalp.
Activated Charcoal Hair Benefits
Activated charcoal has been praised for numerous health benefits, including emergency poison treatment.
This ingredient is used for detox, whitening teeth, and cleansing the skin in the beauty industry. For example, it's common to see the ingredient within skin-detoxifying face masks.
However, activated charcoal has multiple benefits when used on the scalp and hair. The biggest one is helping clear scalp build-up and excess oil.
This ingredient doesn't directly boost hair growth. Your hair grows about ⅓ to ½ inch a month, depending on your hair type, and a charcoal wash doesn't change that. What it can do is keep your scalp clean and comfortable while your hair grows.
Here are some more benefits of using charcoal for hair care.
1. Hair and Scalp Detoxifier and Cleanser
Activated charcoal acts as a magnet by attracting impurities on your hair and scalp, like dirt, grime, excess oil, and product buildup. Then your shampoo and water carry it all away when you rinse.
Today, you'll often see activated charcoal in detox beauty and hair care products. That's because it helps clear away the oil and product buildup that can leave your hair looking flat and dull.
When used for hair care, activated charcoal works well to clear excess sebum (the natural oil your scalp makes) from your scalp. That makes it a good fit if your roots get oily a day or two after you wash.
Sometimes, you might feel that your hair isn't getting clean enough or is getting dirty too quickly. While most commercial shampoos are effective, they may not remove all the buildup on your hair.
When that happens, a charcoal wash works as a clarifying wash, which is a deep-cleaning wash you do once in a while instead of on every wash day.
2. Enhance Scalp and Hair Health
A constant buildup of dead skin cells, excess oil, dirt, and sweat can leave your scalp itchy, flaky, and less than fresh. Washing it away regularly is one of the simplest things you can do for your scalp.
Activated charcoal helps lift impurities like dirt and oil buildup off your scalp so you can rinse them away.
Hair loss is a different problem. It starts at the follicle under your scalp, and the American Academy of Dermatology says the first step is finding the cause, which a board-certified dermatologist can help with.
3. Promotes Hair Growth for Voluminous Shiny Hair
Activated charcoal won't make your hair grow faster, but it can help your hair look fuller and shinier. Heavy oil and product buildup weigh your curls down, so they look flat and limp. Clearing that buildup lets your curls lift at the root and shine again.
Some shampoos and hair products can strip the natural oils from your scalp, leaving it dry and itchy.
Activated charcoal grabs onto oil too, so it's a better fit for an oily scalp than a dry one. If your scalp already feels tight or flaky, space your charcoal washes far apart or skip them.
4. Soothe Irritation, Itchy Scalp, and Dryness
Activated charcoal can ease itching that comes from sweat and product buildup, but it won't soothe a dry scalp, and it can't treat dandruff. A dry scalp happens when the skin on your scalp loses too much water. Hair products that strip your scalp's natural oils and cold, dry weather can both cause it.
Scalp dryness has no direct link with hair loss, but it impacts the health of your scalp. A dry scalp often leads to itchiness and over-manipulation, which can lead to hair damage.
Dandruff is different. It's linked to a yeast that lives on almost everyone's scalp, and charcoal doesn't treat it. Dandruff improves with a dandruff shampoo, one with an active ingredient like zinc pyrithione or ketoconazole. If your hair is curly or coily, the American Academy of Dermatology suggests using it about once a week, if your hair tolerates it.
Sweat, pollutants, oils, and product buildup can clog the pores on the scalp and lead to irritation.
Often, using commercial shampoos may not be enough to unclog the pores and remove the buildup, causing scalp irritation. With activated charcoal's absorbent properties, a charcoal wash can leave your scalp cleaner. If your scalp feels dry instead, a gentle shampoo without any medicine in it is the better fix.
Activated Charcoal for Hair Growth and the Best Way to Use It
Activated charcoal often shows up in hair care products sold for growth, mainly because it pulls oil and other impurities off the scalp.
Basically, a regular deep clean keeps your scalp clean and comfortable while your hair grows, but it won't make your hair grow faster. There are several methods of using activated charcoal for hair growth.
The first method is to put one tablespoon of activated charcoal in regular sulfate-free shampoo. Then, wash your hair with the charcoal shampoo blend as usual. Massage it into your scalp, rinse until the water runs clear, and follow with your usual conditioner.
However, always remember that charcoal is likely to stain your hair and can be stubborn to clean. Therefore, if your hair is light or blond, it is best to avoid using charcoal in this manner.
How often should you use it? Treat a charcoal wash like any clarifying wash. For most curly hair, once or twice a month is a good place to start. If your roots get oily fast and your hair still feels soft afterward, you can try it once a week. If your hair or scalp starts to feel dry, go back to once or twice a month.
You'll see the difference over the next day or two. Your roots should look less flat, and your scalp should feel cleaner. If you're dealing with flakes, itching, or hair loss instead, the chart below shows what to try first.
Original Curl Centric chart
Is a charcoal wash right for what you’re seeing?
Find the row that matches your scalp or hair, then start with the last column. A charcoal wash helps with the first row. For the rest, you’ll want something else.
| What it might be | What you notice | Why it happens | What to do first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil and product buildup | Your roots look flat or greasy a day or two after you wash, or your styling products feel like they’re coating your scalp. | Oil from your scalp and leftover product sit on your hair between washes. | This is where charcoal helps. Mix 1 tablespoon into your sulfate-free shampoo once or twice a month, rinse until the water runs clear, and then condition. |
| Dandruff | Flakes and itching that keep coming back, even right after you wash. | Your scalp is reacting to a yeast that lives on almost everyone’s skin. Charcoal doesn’t treat that. | Use a dandruff shampoo with zinc pyrithione or ketoconazole, about once a week if your hair is curly or coily. See a dermatologist if it hasn’t cleared in about four weeks. |
| Dry scalp | A tight, itchy scalp with flakes, often in cold, dry weather or after you switch shampoos. | The skin on your scalp has lost too much water, and charcoal takes away even more of your scalp’s oil. | Skip charcoal for now, and switch to a gentle shampoo without any medicine in it. |
| Charcoal left behind | Gray specks or a gray tint on your hair or scalp after you rinse, most easy to see on light, bleached, or color-treated hair. | The fine black powder can get trapped between your strands. | Shampoo again and rinse until the water runs clear. Next time, try the mix on a hidden strand first. |
| A reaction to the mix | Burning, stinging, redness, or a rash after you put it on. | Your skin may be reacting to something in the mix, such as an essential oil. | Rinse it out right away and stop using it. See a dermatologist if the rash doesn’t clear up. |
| Hair loss | More hair in your comb or the drain than usual, a widening part, thinning edges, or bald patches. | Hair loss starts at the follicle under your scalp, where no wash can reach. | See a board-certified dermatologist. Finding the cause is the first step to treating it. |
Activated charcoal cleans your scalp. It can’t treat dandruff, a dry scalp, or hair loss, and it won’t make your hair grow faster. If you’re not sure which row you’re in, a board-certified dermatologist can tell you.
DIY Activated Charcoal Hair Mask
While still potent when used on its own, combining activated charcoal with other natural ingredients can give you better results. This charcoal mask is a blend of coconut oil and activated charcoal.
Coconut oil has numerous hair care benefits, including helping brittle hair resist breakage, so you can keep more of the length you grow.
Ingredients, Preparation, and Usage Directions
- 2 tablespoons of pure coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons of activated charcoal
Heat the coconut oil to melt it, add the activated charcoal, and stir thoroughly to make a thick paste. Using your palm, apply the paste onto your scalp and massage thoroughly in circular patterns.
The massage helps loosen flakes and buildup so they rinse away. Leave the mask on for about 30 minutes before rinsing off with water and a mild shampoo. You may need to shampoo twice to get all the oil and charcoal out.
DIY Activated Charcoal Recipes
While you can buy a shampoo infused with activated charcoal, you can also make your own. Most charcoal shampoos can be used on any natural hair type. Over the years, dry shampoos have become popular for their multiple benefits.
Here are a few charcoal shampoos you can make at home:
Activated Charcoal Dry Shampoo
This charcoal-infused dry shampoo is meant for darker hair, since the charcoal and cacao help it blend in instead of leaving a white cast. It soaks up oil at your roots between wash days. It doesn't clean like a real wash, so you'll still need to shampoo, and the essential oil is there for scent, not moisture.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of activated charcoal powder
- ½ cup of cornstarch
- ¼ cup of cacao powder (you can increase or reduce depending on the color shade of your hair)
- 2 tablespoons of kaolin clay or bentonite clay
- 30 drops of lemongrass essential oil or lavender oil
In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and whisk well to make an even mixture. Using a funnel or spoon, put the mixture into a shaker with a tight lid.
To use the dry shampoo, sprinkle a small amount on your roots where they look oily. You can use your palm to rub the mixture and help spread it on the scalp. Brush or shake out any extra.
Activated Charcoal Shampoo for Deep Cleansing
Charcoal shampoos remove accumulated oils, dirt, and grime on the scalp. This recipe makes a strong clarifying wash, so save it for when your scalp needs a deep clean.
Ingredients
- Two tablespoons of activated charcoal
- One cup of castile soap
- ¼ cup distilled water
- 3-4 drops of tea tree oil
In a clean bowl, add all ingredients and whisk continuously to get a thorough blend without lumps.
Using a funnel, transfer the mixture into a shampoo bottle. Use it as an occasional clarifying wash instead of your everyday shampoo.
Castile soap is a true soap, so it's alkaline (the opposite of acidic), with a pH of about 8.5 to 11. Your scalp and hair are naturally a little acidic, and alkaline products can raise the friction between your strands, which can lead to frizz and breakage. So always follow this wash with conditioner. If your hair feels rough or tangles easily afterward, make the recipe with your usual sulfate-free shampoo instead of castile soap.
Activated Charcoal Detoxifying Hair Mask
As a deep cleanser, activated charcoal can absorb oil and surface dirt. When used on an oily scalp, charcoal soaks up the extra sebum sitting on your skin, but it won't change how much oil your scalp makes or balance your scalp's pH.
We leave baking soda out of this mask. Like castile soap, baking soda is alkaline, so it can rough up your strands the same way. The charcoal does the cleaning on its own.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup quality aloe vera gel
- ½ cup activated charcoal
Preparation and Directions of Use
In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and whisk continuously until you get a thick, evenly mixed paste. Depending on your preferences, you may add more aloe vera gel, but you may use distilled water to balance the viscosity if the paste seems too thick.
For easier application, divide your hair into smaller portions and use your palm to coat your scalp and hair with the mask, ensuring generous coverage.
Cover with a shower cap and leave the paste on for about 20 minutes, then wash it off with warm water and shampoo. Use this mask once or twice a month, like any clarifying treatment, and follow it with conditioner. It cleans your scalp, but it won't repair damaged hair.
Is Activated Charcoal Good For Your Hair?
Activated charcoal is good for your hair if your scalp gets oily or your products build up. Its main downsides are dryness and staining. Still, people are different, and there's always a chance of an allergic reaction to a beauty product, often to an added ingredient like an essential oil.
Some people have highly sensitive skin and scalps that react with most products. If it is your first time using activated charcoal hair products, it is prudent to do a patch test before using it on your scalp.
Since a charcoal mask works like a clarifying treatment, start with one or two times a month. If you realize that your scalp and hair are getting dry after using activated charcoal, you can lower the usage frequency.
If your hair is dark brown or black, any charcoal left behind won't show, so you can use it without worrying about staining.
On the other hand, if you have blond, light-colored, or bleached hair, you might need to wash off the charcoal multiple times.
Otherwise, the first rinse may not clear all the particles; thus, a dark color might show in your hair. You'll also want to be careful if you have color-treated hair, as the charcoal may alter your hair color.
What to Expect and When to Stop
After a charcoal wash, your scalp should feel clean, and your roots should look lighter and less flat for the next day or two. That's normal. So is gray rinse water; keep rinsing until it runs clear.
Stop and rinse it out right away if your scalp burns, stings, or turns red or itchy. If a rash doesn't clear up after you stop, see a dermatologist. If your scalp feels tight and dry or your curls feel rough, use charcoal less often and switch to a gentle shampoo for a while.
Skip charcoal on a dry or sore scalp and on broken skin. If your hair is light, bleached, or color-treated, try the mix on a hidden strand first.
See a board-certified dermatologist if flakes and itching haven't cleared after about four weeks of dandruff shampoo, if your scalp looks inflamed, or if you're losing more hair than usual. On darker skin, inflammation can look pink, purple, or lighter than the skin around it instead of red.
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Final Thoughts
Over time, your scalp can accumulate hair product residue, dirt, and natural sebum. Left too long, this buildup can leave your scalp itchy and your hair flat and dull.
If you want to clear that buildup, use a deep cleanser that won't dry out your scalp.
Activated charcoal (and activated charcoal powder) is a good option for that, especially if your scalp gets oily. It won't make your hair grow faster, but it can keep your scalp clean while your hair grows. For thinning or hair loss, see a board-certified dermatologist.
To reap the benefits, try incorporating activated charcoal into your hair care routine with one of the hair masks discussed in this article. Alternatively, you can add activated charcoal to your regular shampoo.
