Charcoal for Hair: Proven Benefits & Expert Usage Guide

Charcoal-infused scrubs, cleansers, sponges, pore strips are everywhere. But what is charcoal? Charcoal is an active powder that is a byproduct of carbon-containing materials. It’s a fine, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic ingredient. It has pores, and it is negatively charged, which helps attract toxins. In fact, that’s why charcoal is sometimes used in medical settings for pumping the stomach after someone has ingested medications or poisons.

Though charcoal first became popular in skincare products, it’s now showing up in hair care and scalp care products. “On the scalp, in particular, we have many, more pores than on other parts of our body—hundreds of thousands to millions total—with a more active sebaceous system than other areas, so we can be susceptible to effects of everything sticking to the hair and entering through our scalp from smoke and pollutants to chemicals from products or processing, bacteria, dirt, and sludge, or toxins,” says Craig Ziering, board-certified hair transplant surgeon and restoration expert.

Meet the Expert

• Craig Ziering is a board-certified hair transplant surgeon and restoration expert.
• Morgan Rabach is a New York-based board-certified dermatologist.
• Ginger King is a cosmetic chemist, owner of product development firm Grace Kingdom Beauty, and founder of lip care brand Fan Love Beauty.

Enter charcoal: the ingredient can act as a deep cleanser for our scalps. Keep reading for more about the benefits and uses of charcoal for the hair.

Charcoal

• Type of ingredient: Exfoliator
• Main benefits: Removes residue and buildup, deeply cleanses and volumizes
• Who should use it: Those with oilier hair and scalps, as well as those suffering from itchy scalp conditions such as , will most benefit from charcoal hair products.
• How often can you use it: Start with once per week, and work up to a couple of times per week.
• Works well with: Charcoal can be used with a range of other ingredients.
• Don't use with: There are no known ingredients that negatively interfere with charcoal.

Benefits for Hair

Charcoal has a range of benefits for hair, in that it exfoliates and detoxifies, removing oil, grime and buildup. It can also be used on those with itchy scalps.

• Deep cleansing: Charcoal often shows up in "detoxifying" products or products meant to allow the hair a reset moment. It’s useful for oily, grease-prone hair and hair that's laden with product buildup because it helps “draw oils and trapped dead skin cells away from the scalp,” says New York-based board-certified dermatologist Morgan Rabach.
• Absorbs oil: “It will also absorb excess sebum to help balance the scalp and keep the hair root and shaft from presenting as oily or appearing heavy and flat. It will also relieve build-up at the base of hair and scalp from excess product,” Ziering explains.
• Exfoliating: Unlike, say, a salt-scrub for the scalp, charcoal does not exfoliate in a traditional sense. Rather, Ziering explains, “it acts like a magnet attracting certain elements to be lifted and eliminated from the scalp, root, and hair shaft.”
• Deodorizing: As cosmetic chemist Ginger King explains, "charcoal is deoderizing," because it removes (sometimes smelly) impurities from the hair.
• Anti-Itch/Healing: Charcoal can also relieve painful or unpleasant scalp conditions. “It can remedy itching scalp and prove to be helpful with patient populations who have acne or a super oily case of seborrheic dermatitis,” Ziering says.
• Volumizing: Charcoal can also be used as a volumizer too! “Charcoal can help with thin, flat hair or oily hair and scalp. It will stack the hair and help it appear thicker and have more volume,” Ziering explains.

Hair Type Considerations

Charcoal is best for those struggling with balancing their scalps or suffer from scalp breakouts, dandruff, or excessive oil. As King notes, oily hair benefits the most, "because oily hair tends to smell if not cleaned properly." Charcoal, she says, removes impurities and the smell that comes with them.

That being said, most charcoal shampoos or treatments can be used on any hair type without overly drying the scalp or strands, without disrupting the variations in texture, pattern or cuticle of natural African American, or impacting color-treated hair.

Charcoal-infused products, Rabach notes, can also provide a natural alternative to medicated shampoos. All that said, it is still best to check a product label or inquire with the brand regarding whether or not a product is safe to use on color-treated hair.  

How to Use Charcoal for Hair

Generally speaking, charcoal-infused products fall into the treatment category. They do not need to be used daily—nor should they be. “Depending on your hair and scalp condition, charcoal can be used every seven to ten days in a scrub or as a clarifying shampoo,” Ziering says, “In more extreme circumstances,” he adds, “it will sometimes be used weekly or twice weekly for specific treatment or extreme circumstances where there is significant product buildup, excessive sweat (sometimes seen in athletes), or more extreme environmental pollutants.” 

• Use it as a scrub: You can use an activated charcoal powder to make your own at-home treatments. “It can also be used as a DIY hair scrub by mixing two tablespoons of activated charcoal powder with a base like coconut oil," Ziering says, explaining that it should then be massaged on the scalp, left to sit for about 20 minutes, and then rinsed out.
  
• Create a detoxifying shampoo: For a faster alternative to a scrub, Ziering recommends adding some activated charcoal powder to a gentle shampoo and shaking to mix before use.
• Reach for a product with activated charcoal: “Activated charcoal is what you want to use. Its structure is like a sponge; it has a very bumpy jagged surface, so toxins stick to before being washed away,” Rabach says, noting that anyone who also uses a scalp medication should use activated charcoal as it is “inert, so there are not reports of allergic reactions.” This helps prevent charcoal from interfering with the absorption of the medication. 
• Opt for binchotan charcoal, another top pick: “Binchotan charcoal is able to attract and draw impurities from the scalp, providing the optimal foundation for scalp health. Then, the follicles are free to focus on the hair cycle with more clean, clear, and unobstructed follicles in the release and growth phases,” Ziering explains. (Basically, by purifying the scalp, hair grows more easily). 

The Best Products With Charcoal

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment $32 Shop

This scalp serum (part of a four-piece collection made with binchotan charcoal) can be used on post-shower hair or as an overnight treatment. The binchotan charcoal works to detoxify the scalp and draw out impurities that can clog the hair follicle or cause buildup on the scalp. A blend of peppermint, spearmint, and tea tree oil reduces itchiness, irritation, and flakiness with the added benefit of a nice cooling sensation, and biotin supports hair growth.

Pantene Pantene Nutrient Blends Deep Detox & Renew Clarifying Silicone Free Charcoal Conditioner $10 Shop

Charcoal devotees can incorporate binchotan charcoal into their hair care routines at every step, thanks to this Pantene collection which includes a pre-wash and shampoo too. This lightweight conditioner helps nourish without weighing hair down.

Raincry Polishing Wash Shampoo $33 Shop

This color-safe, keratin treatment-safe “polishing wash” is all about boosting hair’s shine. Activated charcoal helps buff away impurities caused by pollution, hard water, and product buildup, all of which can contribute to dull-looking hair. 

Aquis Detoxifying Hair and Scalp Wash $28 Shop

This once-a-week deep cleanse features a superpowered trifecta of activated charcoal, witch hazel, and BHA salicylic acid, which work together to deep clean, absorb excess oil, sebum, and other impurities. 

IGK First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo $29 Shop

Cool girl hair brand IGK has three dry shampoo varieties, and this one is essentially the “extra strength” one. Charcoal powder lifts dirt and buildup, and white tea powder soothes the scalp. 

Hot Tools 24K Gold Charcoal Infused One-Step Blowout $75 Shop

Charcoal has even made its way into heat styling tools—like this one-step blowout brush that can be used directly on the hair for an easy blow-dry or to refresh second-day hair, which will benefit from the charcoal’s absorbent properties. 

Virtue Refresh Purifying Shampoo $28 Shop

This clarifying shampoo uses charcoal and Virtue’s Alpha Keratin 60ku ingredient, which strengthens hair and repairs damage. The result is hair that feels extra clean and healthy. 

Kérastase Pré-Cleanse Régénérant Hair Scrub $46 Shop

This pre-shampoo treatment works to deep cleanse (with charcoal!) revitalize, and stimulate the scalp. Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and abyssine act as anti-agers for the hair. 

FAQ

• Do charcoal hair products work on those with dry skin?

  While it might seem counterintuitive since it absorbs oil, charcoal actually soothes itchy and dry scalps, though it's safe on a range of skin types.

• Can you use charcoal on your hair every day?

  Charcoal is a clarifying product, so while there might not be any harm in overuse, experts advise using charcoal hair products once a week.

• Do charcoal products work on those with oily hair?

  Charcoal can help draw out oil and impurities from the scalp and hair, making it very beneficial to oilier types.

Charcoal Shampoo: The Under-the-Radar Secret for Clean, Bouncy Hair