Hair care has taken a new turn, and people are now back to trying all-natural ingredients to treat their hair better. If you’re planning to take a break from chemical-based hair products and give your hair the tender loving care to repair the damage, I’m here to help you.

As a professional reviewer, I go through many products, such as shampoos, conditioners, oils, and serums that help with hair damage. And I can tell you that there are so many ingredients to investigate! One of these is activated charcoal. 

Activated charcoal for hair is quite a controversial topic. People have mixed opinions on this one, and quite a few questions. Does it work? If so, how? Or does activated charcoal cause hair loss? If you too want to find answers to these questions, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve done my research on activated charcoal for hair and I have gathered the information you are looking for. So, let us dive straight into it: 

Table of Contents: 

• What is activated charcoal?
• How does activated charcoal benefit the hair?
• Does activated charcoal cause hair loss?

What is activated charcoal?

Most of us know what activated charcoal looks like. It is a very fine black powder used in different ways for beauty and wellness purposes. Most commonly, activated charcoal is used for teeth whitening and skin care. But, can activated charcoal be used for hair?

The fine black powder that we call activated charcoal is typically made from coconut shells, bone char, coal, petroleum coke, peat, or sawdust. These ingredients are processed at very high temperatures to turn them into activated charcoal. When put under very high temperatures, the internal structure of these ingredients changes. The size of their pores reduces, and the surface area increases. It results in a fine and more porous form of charcoal, which we know as activated charcoal. 

So, in simpler words, activated charcoal is a processed form of charcoal, and is more porous than the regular charcoal used to light up a fire. Though activated charcoal has been well-known and used for its purifying qualities for decades, it has made an appearance in the beauty and wellness industry only recently. 

From face masks to teeth whitening kits to hair care products, activated charcoal can be found as an active ingredient in many products these days. 

How does activated charcoal benefit the hair?

Popularly known for its detoxifying and purifying properties, activated charcoal helps with lackluster hair, breathing new life into it. Used in many hair care products these days, activated charcoal helps cleanse your scalp by removing chemical buildup, impurities, and excessive sebum. It allows your scalp to “breathe” and cleanses your hair follicles, supporting normal hair growth. 

Let’s first take a look at how activated charcoal benefits the hair and, later, I will answer the burning question – does activated charcoal cause hair loss?  

It is a powerful detoxifier 

The first point is a given! Activated charcoal has been well-known as a powerful detoxifier for decades. Experts suggest that when using activated charcoal for hair, it can absorb impurities up to 1000 times its weight. So, whatever buildup you have in your hair and scalp, activated charcoal can help you cleanse it. Whether it is chemical buildup, chlorine buildup after swimming, pollution, dirt, or even dandruff, activated charcoal will help deep-cleanse and detoxify your scalp, follicles, and hair shafts. 

It soothes irritated scalp 

If you’re experiencing dry, itchy, or irritated scalp, activated charcoal can help, as is known for its soothing effect on the scalp and for its ability to calm irritation.

It helps boost the volume of hair 

If your hair feels weighed down and flat, it is in desperate need of a charcoal cleansing. Charcoal helps you get rid of dirt, excessive oil, pollutants, and any other impurities that are weighing your hair down. It also cleanses your hair and scalp very gently, without stripping the natural oils from your hair and scalp. 

It makes your hair shiny

The buildup and deposits on the hair shaft make our hair look dull and damaged. And it makes sense! A coating of dirt, pollution, and chemical buildup sits on your hairs. Activated charcoal gets rid of these impurities not only from the scalp, but the hair shaft as well, bringing back the natural shine of your hair. 

I am sure that by now you kind of know the answer to the question “does activated charcoal cause hair loss?” But I’ll answer it nevertheless. 

Does activated charcoal cause hair loss?

The straight answer to this question is: no, it doesn’t! 

Activated charcoal, as we discussed above, is all about purifying and detoxifying your scalp and hair. So, when you use activated charcoal for hair, it acts as a deep cleanser and only aids hair growth by cleaning your scalp and follicles and letting new hair grow without any buildup blocking the way. Another advantage of using activated charcoal for hair is that it suits all hair types. 

So activated charcoal doesn’t lead to hair loss. Nevertheless, the way you use it might have an impact on its effects on your hair and scalp. 

So make sure you make the right choices. The two best ways to use activated charcoal for hair are:

• As an active ingredient in your shampoo;
• As a hair mask, mixed with coconut oil.

Once you try it, you can see for yourself which method suits you the best, and you can continue to use it to enjoy the benefits of activated charcoal for hair. 

Explore the WOW website for more natural hair care products and discover benefits of onion for your hair.