I’ve waxed lyrical about my combs, now let me move on to how to use camellia oil.

A long time ago, when Japanese women wore their hair in traditional styles or had their long hair done up, there was no shampoo and no conditioner. So, they rarely washed their hair.

How did they do their haircare?

It was, of course, camellia oil that played an active part in women’s haircare back then.

First, they rubbed the oil into their scalps until it diffused into their hair.
They would run a boxwood comb infused with camellia oil gently through their hair. That comb is said to be the detangling comb I introduced in Chapter 1 on June 11th.

Camellia oil is known for possessing properties similar to sebum and therefore being highly moisturizing. It is said that by rubbing camellia oil into your scalp, both dirt and dandruff are removed from the scalp and can be carried away using a boxwood comb, without causing static electricity.

However, neither camellia oil nor boxwood combs were for the average person. They were rather expensive and beyond the reach of ordinary people.

During the Heian period, the grounds of our shop were a part of the Imperial Palace.
I imagine that as long as a thousand years ago, ladies of the Imperial family and court nobles maintained their osube-rakashi – a distinctive hairstyle similar to that of a traditional Japanese doll with long, black hair – with precious camellia oil and a boxwood comb. When I think of that, I feel the historic essence of Kyoto deliver a sense of romanticism to the history of oil.

These days, our hair is constantly under attack from hair color and perm treatments.
Even in this modern context, the ancient camellia oil has its place.
It is so easy to use.
After washing your hair with shampoo and/or conditioner, dry it with a towel. If your hair is long, blow dry it a little.
Now that your hair is half-dry, apply one or two drops of Pure Camellia Oil to your scalp and massage it in carefully with your fingertips.
Afterwards, apply a little oil to the ends of your hair, and then let your hair dry. Now it’s time to marvel at how shiny and lustrous your hair is!