Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Glycerin

OK. Glycerin. My grandmom used to add it lotion for extra moisturizing benefits. But what does it do for our hair?? Vegetable glycerin is found in many natural products, so I did some research...

Glycerin is a humectant, which means it draws moisture to itself. So... if it is on your hair, glycerin helps keep it hydrated by pulling moisture in from the air. Now, some say that if you live in a dry and cold climate, glycerin can suck the moisture out of the hair, and for this reason, people who live in these climates may choose to use glycerin products in the summer, but not in the winter. If it's humid all year, you shouldn't have an issue. You may also want to see if it's listed in the first three ingredients to know if there is a large amount in the product...

I started using products containing glycerin this winter and my hair is fine with it... You just have to know your hair. 

A lot of women buy pure plant derived glycerin from the drugstore and add distilled water to use as a spritzer. I haven't tried this yet. Karen's Hair Milk and Hair Nectar both have glycerin, and my hair loves this stuff when it's wet. I tried it on dry hair just to see how it would react, and my hair didn't appreciate it, though it smelled delicious!! It is a leave-in, so not necessarily for dry hair anyway. The Super Silky is glycerin-free, so I may try it to revive dry curls one day to see if glycerin makes the difference. (Rachel and I each own all three!! There will be a later blog on that I'm sure...) 

So that's pretty much it. I plan on getting a bottle of glycerin to try the spritzer idea when summer hits.  

Beautifully Captured lists some glycerin tips and products that contain glycerin here. There are also a ton of YouTube videos on making easy glycerin spritzes as well as a million recipes on natural hair forums like Nappturality...


1 comment:

  1. Glycerin has many applications. Some common applications are arts & crafts, e-cig, tobacco flavorings, commercial sprinkler systems antifreeze, peristaltic pump lubricant, bubble making, worm farm food, synthetic ice making, cosmetic, antifreeze, and sweetener substitute. USP labeling means the product conforms to FDA regulations for food, beverage, and medical applications.

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