Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract

What it is

Green tea comes from the same plant as black tea; the difference lies solely in the processing. Because the leaves are not fermented for green tea, a high proportion of polyphenols is retained, above all epigallocatechin gallate. That these substances act as antioxidants in the test tube is well documented.

The gap opens between this laboratory finding and what is printed on the pack. For an effect on human hair there are no robust studies — what exists are cell experiments, animal experiments and an observation in three people over four days.

Why

• Why the classification reads “low risk” with “low confidence”: an aqueous leaf extract in a small amount, applied externally and predominantly rinsed off, gives little cause for concern. At the same time, studies that would support that judgement are lacking. Here too: not examined is not the same as examined and unremarkable.
• The short fields were reworded. The function read “antioxidant, conditioning”, the reason “protects and conditions the scalp and hair”. “Protects” is an efficacy statement for which there is no evidence on hair. The new reason names what is actually documented: the extract contains polyphenols that act as antioxidants in laboratory testing.
• The difference between those two statements is the core of this record. A substance that captures free radicals in a glass dish does not automatically do so on a scalp, in a formulation, at cosmetic concentration and for the duration of a hair wash. Between the one and the other lie several steps that would have to be examined.
• What exists on an effect on hair is quickly listed: cell experiments on the inhibition of an enzyme, a feeding experiment in mice and an observation in three people over four days. None of these supports a statement about a hair care product. A 2025 review of green tea in skin care summarises the evidence for skin; for hair there is nothing comparable.
• For advice at the chair what remains is: green tea in shampoo is not harmful, and it is not an active either. It is a component whose claim rests on laboratory findings that have not made the journey to application.

When the assessment differs

• Known intolerance to tea plant components: rare, but possible. Anyone affected should also consider the extract in their care products.
• Irritated or broken scalp skin: through a disturbed barrier more components of the mixture reach the skin.
• Expecting an effect against hair loss: the claims circulating on this come from cell and animal experiments. They do not support a cosmetic product.
• Light or bleached hair: polyphenol-rich plant extracts can build up colour with frequent use. That is a practical point, not a health one.
• Salon staff: daily contact with many products containing plant extracts on the hands.

Open questions

• Plant part, solvent and polyphenol content of the raw material used: not documented. The epigallocatechin gallate content varies considerably between varieties and processing routes.
• Concentration in the specific product: not available.
• Evidence for an antioxidant effect on the scalp under conditions of use: none found here. The available findings come from the laboratory.
• Transferability of the results on skin care to hair care: not examined.
• Regulatory status: not checked; statements on use and maximum levels are not quoted second-hand.

Sources for this assessment

• Green tea as a cosmetic agent for skin aging — a scoping review, 2025. Übersichtsarbeit nach PRISMA-ScR zu grünem Tee und seinen Polyphenolen in der Hautpflege; für die Haarpflege besteht keine vergleichbare Zusammenfassung. Offener Zugang, abgerufen am 12.09.2026.

Related substances

Applies to: Plant extracts

• Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract — Conditioning, antioxidant
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract — Plant extract, skin conditioning
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice — Plant extract, moisturising
• Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract — Plant extract, skin conditioning

Further substances from the same group for which a long-form assessment already exists.