Tsubaki Premium

Tsubaki means camellia in Japanese - specifically Camellia japonica, whose seed oil has been used in Japanese hair care for centuries. Camellia oil is rich in oleic acid (72-80%), a fatty acid with a molecular weight close to the natural sebum of the hair and scalp. This allows it to penetrate the hair shaft without leaving a heavy coating, unlike many mineral oil or silicone-based conditioning agents that sit on the surface.

In the TSUBAKI Premium line, camellia oil appears across shampoos, conditioners, treatment waters, and masks. The Repair sub-line uses it alongside protein-based actives (hydrolysed keratin or silk) to rebuild damaged cuticle structure. The Moist sub-line pairs it with humectants for extended moisture retention without additional weight.

The Repair sub-line (Premium Repair Shampoo, Repair Water, Repair Mask, EX Repair Mask) targets hair that has been damaged by heat styling, chemical treatment (bleach, colour, perms), or mechanical breakage. It uses protein-based film-forming agents alongside camellia oil to fill gaps in the hair cuticle and restore surface smoothness and tensile strength.

The Moist sub-line (Premium Moist Shampoo, Moist & Repair Conditioner, Moist and Repair bundles) targets hair that lacks moisture - common in dry climates, in winter, or on naturally coarse or high-porosity hair. The Moist formulas focus on humectant layering and oil sealing to extend moisture retention between washes.

A third, hybrid option: if your hair is both damaged and dry, the Moist & Repair Conditioner pairs with the Repair Shampoo to address both concerns in a single routine.

The Premium Repair Shampoo at 490ml is a large-format salon-adjacent shampoo. At daily use with medium-length hair, a 490ml bottle provides approximately 2-3 months of twice-weekly washing. It uses a surfactant system designed to cleanse without over-stripping the scalp's natural oils - relevant for damaged hair, which is already compromised in its ability to retain lipids.

Apply to wet hair, work into a lather starting at the scalp, then distribute through the lengths. Damaged hair benefits from a brief scalp massage to improve circulation, but avoid aggressive physical manipulation of fragile lengths during the lather phase. Follow with the Repair Water, Repair Mask, or Moist & Repair Conditioner depending on the level of conditioning your hair needs that day.

The Premium Repair Water is a leave-in spray treatment applied to towel-dried hair before heat styling. It contains a concentrated camellia oil and repair-active base in a lightweight water formula that distributes evenly through the hair without weighing it down. Spray on damp (not soaking wet) hair from mid-length to ends, comb through, and proceed to dry or style.

Leave-in treatments in the TSUBAKI format are a core Japanese haircare routine step - separate from the in-shower rinse-off conditioner, they provide sustained active delivery between washes. At 220ml the Repair Water is slightly larger than the Treatment Water (210ml) and uses the Repair-specific active profile. Use it immediately before blow-drying to provide heat protection and cuticle-sealing actives simultaneously.

The Premium Treatment Water (210ml) is the more general-purpose leave-in water in the TSUBAKI Premium range - not labelled as Repair or Moist specifically, making it a versatile choice for hair types that do not fall clearly into one concern category. The Treatment Water can be used as a midpoint between the Repair Water and a conditioning mist, and it is appropriate for normal-to-slightly-damaged hair that does not need the full Repair sub-line's intensity.

Apply to towel-dried hair from mid-length to ends. On fine hair, use a light hand - one or two spritzes - to avoid weighing the hair down. On coarse or thick hair, a more generous application covers the surface area needed for even conditioning.

Both the Premium Repair Mask and the Premium EX Repair Mask are 180g in-shower treatment masks for weekly or bi-weekly intensive care on damaged hair. The EX (Extra) designation indicates a stronger, more concentrated repair formula - the EX Repair Mask is suited for hair with severe damage, high bleach levels, or significant elasticity loss where the standard Repair Mask provides insufficient recovery.

Use once a week after the Repair Shampoo: apply generously from mid-length to ends, leave for 3-5 minutes, then rinse. The 180g size provides approximately 12-16 weekly sessions per jar, giving 3-4 months of weekly use. For very damaged hair, both masks can be used in rotation - the standard Repair Mask for regular weekly sessions and the EX for occasional deep-treatment sessions before a special occasion.

The Premium Moist Shampoo (490ml) and Premium Moist & Repair Conditioner (450ml) are the moisture-focused core products for dry hair without significant damage. The Moist & Repair Conditioner bridges both the Moist and Repair concerns - an important distinction: it conditions and adds moisture while also using Repair actives, making it the most flexible conditioner in the TSUBAKI Premium range if you are unsure which sub-line to commit to.

The Premium Cooling Mint Shampoo + Conditioner set adds a scalp-refreshing menthol dimension to the TSUBAKI Premium system. Cooling mint formulas are particularly valued in Japanese haircare for addressing scalp heat and excess sebum in humid summer months. This set suits oily scalp types or buyers who want a scalp-stimulating shampoo experience alongside the standard TSUBAKI camellia conditioning.

The TSUBAKI Premium collection includes bundled multi-product options: the Moist and Repair Shampoo + Treatment bundle and the Cooling Mint Shampoo + Conditioner set. Bundles lower the per-product cost and are designed for buyers who want to commit to a routine without purchasing each product individually. The Moist and Repair bundle is the most complete starter set for dry or damaged hair - it combines the core shampoo and treatment steps in one purchase.

For buyers new to TSUBAKI, a bundle is the practical starting point if you know your hair concern (damage or dryness). Single products are better for trying a specific step - for example, adding the Repair Water to an existing routine before committing to the full Repair sub-line.