First it was rethinking silicones… now it’s mineral oil! Check out this excerpt from the natural hair science website The Natural Haven;
Be adventurous – try mineral oil……………yes mineral oil/vaseline/dax pomade. It is a better ‘sealant’ than many natural oils. Let me repeat that in bold – mineral oil prevents water evaporating from hair much better than most natural oils. I know that you know that I generally do not recommend mineral oil because I prefer natural oils but I need to set the record straight mineral oil as far as maintaining water inside your hair is supreme. If you are struggling with keeping dryness at bay and have no qualms with mineral oil – try it, it may work for you.
Click here for the full piece.
I also found an interesting article about this on beauty science site The Beauty Brains;
We often see the advice that people should avoid mineral oil at all costs. This idea is propagated by numerous “natural” companies. Well, this advice is just bogus. It’s not based on any scientific studies. Mineral oil is a perfectly fine ingredient and has been used in cosmetics for over 100 years.
They go on to list the 5 Top Myths associated with mineral oil, and suggest that its demonization may have to do with profit for natural hair companies;
They want you to buy from them instead of the big manufacturers. This is the primary explanation for mineral oil bashing. Little companies have to find a way to convince consumers to use their products instead of the less expensive, name brands produced by large manufacturers. They can’t possibly advertise as much as the big guys so they need other ways to motivate consumers. Spreading rumors, half truths, and lies about mineral oil (and a host of other ingredients) will scare a significant amount of people.
Here’s the link to the full Beauty Brains article.
Ladies, what are your thoughts? Do you think naturals’ fear of mineral oil is baseless? Really looking forward to the responses on this one!
96 Responses
Sorry for the typos.
My cousin has extremely long hair and she uses blue magic. Today, I went back to buying products with mineral oil, because the natural oils have not given me the level of moisture use to have before starting to use all nature oils.
Based on my research, I will use a mixture of coconut, castor, and other oils as a pre-poo, because of their nutrients and will stop my hair from absorbing too much water and losing protein when shampooing, then I will use a moisture based conditioner and possibly use cholesterol that contains mineral oil last to seal in the moisture.
My hair has always grown quickly, but I have never allow it to go long. Now for the first time in my life I am going to stop cutting it.
I have been natural for over 4 years and read up on everything in regards to taking care of my natural hair. Of course, nothing good was said about mineral oil. I proceeded to toss every hair product that contained it. But shortly after, I noticed my hair was dry, brittle and breaking in spite of all the things I was purchasing, devoid of MO, that was supposed to bring my hair back to life. One day I broke down and used a product that contained the taboo MO and in less than a week, my hair was back to being soft and manageable again. I had to rethink what I was doing. I thought back to the old days when folks were using things that contained MO on their hair and it seems, most had very soft and beautiful hair, no matter what type it was. I think the damage to black hair started with us using chemicals, then we tried to find stuff that would combat the damage. But this meant using things that were made to work on hair strands that had been chemically treated. It seemed the combo of the two just went a step further to mess up our hair even more! So, I’ve gone back to the basics, as they say, and I couldn’t be happier. “Old school” works best for me!
Yes I use mineral oil only on my hair after shampooing and my hair has never been healthier. This person is understating mineral oil. Mineral oil is the best detangler and moisturizer. It is all natural and does not clog pores. For ppl who say that it does not work, I suspect incorrect usage. Mineral oil needs to be applied to clean hair. Coatings from frequent product usage may make it less effective. My hair is very very vulnerable to build up and it can happen in just a day. I do not use conditioners or other hair products because in order to get the no split end benefits, it needs direct access to my hair right after shampooing. In addition I do not moisturize it again after the first application because with any product a barrier has already been set. How quickly your hair needs to be rewashed depends on how much build up you have, and your individual hair. Dermatologists recommend that everyone wash hair and scalp two to three times a week regardless of your hair texture. The key is to use a mild cleanser and do not expect it to work long term with conditioner washing. I personally believe it is impossible to moisturize hairor skin without cleansing first. I use Yes To Carrots Scalp Relief Shampoo. If I vary my usage and try to add any other products or conditioners I get split ends. They are not caused by mineral oil. They are caused by build up. The moral is wash your hair. A mild cleanser should not strip sebum especially if you do not wash every day.
Mineral oil isn’t biodegradable… and so are sulphates. That’s the biggest problem.
the thing with the mineral oil is it just leaves me and my scalp feeling greasy, but just as brittle as ever. And don’t even get me started on the nasty feeling that Vaseline can give(can’t touch anything after). >_< natural oils leave me feeling clean and moist and it actually softens instead of just slicking it. Sure it costs more and has to be reapplied a bit more often, but i think i'm better off without mineral oil.
I was shocked last week when I tried Organic Root Stimulator Smooth and Hold Pudding (which has mineral oil as it’s third ingredient, preceded by water and coconut oil) and my hair was the softest it’s ever been! I normally dc with coconut oil added to my conditioners. I am a coconut oil lover, but my hair never felt this soft and amazing. And it lasted for days. I’m definitely rethinking the issue. I was with sulfate shampoos (didn’t in the past, but I have been for over a year)so I’m not worried about it. I live in a very arid climate, and I need the sealing power. The softness left me floating on cloud nine, lol. I have been retaining good length (about 1-2 inches past bsl) so I’m not down with breakage, so I’ll be watching it closely, but I was quite satisfied with my foray into the land of mineral oil.
Well, for me, no Mineral Oil and Petroleum. However, in the past, when I used Sulfate shampoos, it worked wonders. Also, growing up I pressed my hair and of course then, I used grease.
I think people should use whatever works for them. I do not understand why mineral oil is so bad all of a sudden when there were naturals back in the day using products with mineral oil. Some people had long hair and others were short. I say if it works, keep using it. I am tempted to get the Blue Magic Coconut Grease. I like the smell.
I do too, lol. But remember there is actually a difference between mineral oil and petrolatum which is in Blue Magic. Petrolatum and lanolin are the best moisturizers but they do not wash out as easily as the isolated component, mineral oil. Therein is the problem…if it is hard to remove it will build up and dry your hair out. You can compensate by using less, or you can just use mineral oil which washes out easily. My info on how I use is down below under anonymous. You can use the laxative brand which is thicker and perfume free (as opposed to Baby oil). I think this works better for dry curly hair because I do not have type 4 hair and yet I find baby oil to be too light. It also irritates my skin.
The laxative form is sold at any store. If anyone wants more infoon how to use MO correctly and get low to no split ends (the main reason I use it), check out my youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/chamarieq
Back in the day, i always moisturized my hair, i did not seal. I used Moisture Max, white bottle with blue letters. i brushed my hair, yes i brushed my hair but it was with a wig brush and i did not yank it. I did wear buns and ponytails the entire winter and spring, when summer came
I worn my hair down most of the time, I continued the moisturizing adding oil, most of the time a little mineral oil and at times a oil mixture like hot six or something. My hair and my daughters grew well and is healthy, hair length to our bras straps and waist. I never allow relaxers til after 16 weeks. different strokes for different folks. when a company purposely set out to lie to people and spread untruths about a product that is most dishonest. i am natural now, transitioning and still trying to figure out what the heck works best for my hair.
I’m one of those people who grew up using products that contained both mineral oil and pertoleum jelly (Dax, Soft Sheen, Sulfur 8, etc)before and after relaxing and never had a problem with hair health. Then I went back to natural last year and got fanatical about avoiding those products and my natural hair just isn’t as healthy as I think it should be. I’m planning to go back to basics and see what happens.
Funny, mineral oil gives me no trouble when used as a sealant but coconut oil on the other hand **side eye**. I’m glad I found a replacement for coconut oil because it was giving my skin hell and made my hair greasy even in small amounts. Doesn’t seal as good as mineral oil either.
I love mineral oil as a sealant but don’t like when it’s mixed into hair products since I like to use it as a final step. I use it only after I have applied a water/oil spritz and a heavy, natural moisturizer. Sealing with unscented mineral oil has been working better than anything else. It’s thicker than baby oil (reminded me of castor oil a bit) and has no smell. I only use it a max of 2X weekly since my hair stays hydrated for longer periods of time. Even in this daily 100+ heat. It doesn’t give me breakouts either whereas coconut and olive oil hate my skin.
It’s good for cleaning out waxy ears, moisturizing skin and for use as a laxative, it softens and lubricates just about anything lol. And I copped it from CVS for a few bucks. Another multipurpose hair product FTW.
I hate mineral oil…it just sat on my hair and greased up everything it touched. I had to stop using grease on my scalp because it irritated it so much…it gave me horrible, horrible dandruff that took forever to go away. I don’t put anything on my scalp anymore, definitely not mineral oil. All my experiences with mineral oil and petrolatum have been like what I’ve been told about the products. They just didn’t work for my natural hair anymore.
Also, if it seals moisture in, after it’s on your hair it would keep from any moisture from getting back in…unless you wash it out or dries or absorbs?
I used natural and organic products on my hair. Because they don’t have mineral oil in them, most rinse out easily and I don’t need use the harsh shampoos to wash them out. They’re usually biodegradable so the don’t linger in the environment and pollute the water.
I have nothing against it personally, it just doesn’t work for me. My hair and body also hates jojoba oil which is all natural.
If the product works for your hair I say use it whether you’re relaxed or natural. Alot of the so called bad products really do well on the hair esp. if you know how to take care of it. So if mineral oil works for you then use it, because it does not hurt my hair.
My skin is very acne prone and would never go back to mineral oil products, I don’t care what the “new information” say. Plus mineral oil dries my hair out like crazy, plus I have to use a harsh shampoo to get it out. There are too many oils out there that doesn’t do that to me.
that Dax Pomade is sooo hard to wash out of my hair.
I never really bought into the hype about mineral oil being bad for the hair/scalp, nothing but scare tactics. It may work for some and it may not as with any other product, its best to use what works best for you rather than relying on what a person says or thinks about a product.
When I was younger my mother used good ole fashion ultra sheen hair grease on my hair/scalp on wash days and my hair never suffered,, it was mbl and the pores on my scalp were never clogged my hair grew just fine lol.
Natural oils quickly evaporate on my hair, I would have to apply them nearly everyday as if I used nothing on my hair, and natural butters like shea would take daysss to fully absorb in my hair and it would leave build up. I still use natural oils, just on wash days to help with detangling process and sometimes when I d/c, but as for sealants vaseline/grease is best for my hair than natural oils. I love using vaseline as a sealant for my ends, it makes my hair feel great! I moisturize my hair every other day and I don’t have to reseal until my next wash day. My hair isn’t greasy or heavy, I don’t go overboard with it a little will go a long way and I don’t have any issues with washing it out, it’s not like I’m using mud on my hair or a whole jar of grease, I’m an avid co-washer and it works just fine for cleansing my hair/scalp. And btw my hair is grazing waist-length and I’m sure it’ll continue to grow to even longer lengths, so the whole ‘using grease blocks pores/stunts growth’ mantra is just a myth :).
Sorry I’ll pass. Pink oil and greasing just did’nt work for me when I became an adult. To much dandruff and to much grease and dirt, which is fine when you pay someone else to do your hair. I could never see myself going back to pink…sure I had that fresh glossing relaxed hair glow but my scalp was in hell. NO MAS!! NO MAS!!
I have both low end, mid range and some expensive splurges and I cant go back to mineral oil.
Logically, you would think if mineral oil was not that bad for your hair and small natural companies would use that ingredient because its cheaper. Business 101, minimize your cost to maximize your profit. So thats a bunk theory. I used products with mineral oil in the past and my I hate the greasiness of it. I hate touching my hair and still being able to feel crap on top of it. Same with silicones…. tried em and they just dont work with me.
Mineral oil creates a heavy, oily, greasy, film on my hair… no thank you.
I think the article below gives a better explanation of the story behind mineral oil. Ultimately, as every naturalista will tell you…it’s about what works for you!! Mineral oil has a bad rap for a reason! There are a number of us who did not have good results using it. For me, it did not retain moisture, contributed to some breakage, and just did not help my hair feel healthy. Science aside, our experiential evidence holds the greatest weight in determining which products to buy and consequently, which companies to support.
Also, the two articles featured above don’t really provide a strong argument or scientific evidence FOR using mineral oil. Again, retaining moisture is important, but overall health of our hair and bodies should be the goal. Take a look at this article and feel free to share your thoughts: http://thenaturalhaven.blogspot.com/2009/08/mineral-oil-is-evillllll-or-maybe-not.html.
Um. No thanks. I appreciate that it might be a great sealant, but I would prefer to use products that benefit the overall health of my hair as well. Since using all natural products including product lines like Shea Moisture, I have seen a definite improvement to the overall quality of the feel and texture of my hair. No more dry, brittle hair. Honestly, I’m not sure why it is that petroleum based products will give shine, but soon after leave the hair dry and brittle, but it does. I can’t go back to Dax…sorry :/
w a need to simplify and reduce the cost of my hair regimen, I have used the greases which do help my hair feel soft and supply. I, like most you had long natural hair as a kid, and my mom used pretty much the basics, blue majic, sulfur 8, pink lotion, and other cheap greases etc. There was less of a thing for moisturizers and my hair did well. so like all of you, i try out everything and use what works for me.
I have loc’s so any type of heavy oil in my hair is a no-no. I make a spritz from aloe juice and olive oil for daily moisturizing. But for my boy, whose head I keep shaved real low, mineral and petroleum based products work very well for him. My friend’s daughter has natural hair down to her butt and she swears by old school grease made from mineral and petroleum products to maintain her child’s hair. It works for some and not for others.
I think if you have a product that works but contains one of those ingredients then stick with it. If your hair/skin doesn’t like the ingredients, don’t use them. If you read the labels on your favorite lotions I bet that one of those ingredients are within the first 3 ingredients listed – from your “sensitive skin” Jergens to Bath & Body Works, etc. I have no problems with it. Sometimes a good product is a good product and a bad one is a bad one, regardless of mineral oil/petroletum content. I’m biased though – I’m not an “everything must be natural” person.
+1 I totally agree.
Yeaaaaa I can’t. Nothing on me likes mineral oil/petroleum…I’m used to using plant-based items. My mom and grandma actually makes their own castor and coconut oil…so I guess I’m biased
Incredible how hard working small black businesses who simply produce products to meet the demands of a tiny section of the population (natural haired women who want to avoid chemicals in their hair products) are being blamed for this trend.
As far as I know, none of these hair companies run widely read blogs, advertise on tv or billboards or can afford to plaster black magazines with their advertising. So how have they ‘influenced’ people. If anything it’s the other way round. Women who became influenced by the growing concerns about harsh toxic chemicals in hair and skincare products, first becoming mixtresses in their kitchens and then deciding to set up companies to sell their own products.
I love how people like the beauty brains, chemists who works for large pharmaceutical companies making the ‘wonderful’ chemical filled products that are polluting our environment and making so many of us toxic and sick, get to defend their corporate masters and attack their small time competitors on this blog. Will any small natural haircare companies get a right of reply?
You’ve got a point. This is not the first article here to dismiss or challenge natural products. Discussion and debate is healthy but it shouldn’t be one-sided. I’d like to hear from natural companies/chemists and people with all natural regimens on why it is important to them and to our hair to go organic! Just for another side to this story.
I certainly never felt that I was being conned by any of the existing natural companies because I’m not curl defining or using products that are more aggressively marketed. It’s the unnatural offerings for our hair that did many of us wrong and caused us to seek natural alternatives in the first place.
Most naturally derived ingredients work well for most people. However, they are still chemicals even though they are derived from plants. That means that they can also be allergenic or toxic.
From the FDA website:
Are cosmetics made with “organic” ingredients safer for consumers than those made with ingredients from other sources?
No. An ingredient’s source does not determine its safety. For example, many plants, whether or not they are organically grown, contain substances that may be toxic or allergenic.
http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm203078.htm
You seem to be using ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ interchangeably, which is not accurate.
Actually I have never worked as a scientist for any pharmaceutical company at all. I used to research in University and that was independent research with no funding at all from pharma.
I think that natural companies similar to large corporations have to sell their products and on both sides there is a lot of scare mongering.
In truth, cosmetic grade mineral oil is not toxic and is approved even for human consumption.
A natural company that says ‘we choose to not use mineral oil as it is a by product of fossil fuel’ or ‘because we believe that plant based oils are better’ is making claims that are perfectly fine in my book either factual or opinion but not a lie. However to say, ‘we do not use mineral oil because it is toxic’ that is actually lying to the consumer.
I think that everyone has a right to know facts which is what unbiased scientists do. I always choose coconut oil, it prevents hair from breaking and protects hair during and after washing, properties that mineral oil does not do to the same extent. At the same time I have seen the research which shows mineral oil is better for moisturising (sealing), so I cannot lie and pretend that coconut oil is the best for everything.
Science is about lack of bias, companies need to make claims which are factual and your personal decision as a consumer is entirely personal (you can choose to be as biased as you like but no one should tell you or propagate a lie just so that you buy their product).
If there is a company that has made that claim, it might be better to reference that company then making statements that smear all these small businesses.
Actually I have refused to place ads for 2 specific natural companies who have questionnable ‘all natural’ product claims (in my view). I will not name them because that is free advertising for them, the less people know about them, the better.
I would rather name the do gooders like Oyin handmade. Jamyla gave me a fabulous interview on how she ended up making hair products based on kitchen ingredients by learning about their properties and combining and testing them in different proportions to find the correct mix which works (all catalogued in notebooks as any scientist would).
The point of my comment was not to say natural companies are bad.
Okay. Thanks for the clarification. I love your blog!
I Agree. Companies will sell you anything! Their a business. Also you should only do to your skin an hair what works well for you.
Trial & error. If it doesn’t work, move on to the next. Research the ingredients and if a product who’s base ingredient has not worked well for you before may not work well for you again. look @ what your buying so that you can avoid being a product junky. or have a bunch of junk products.
+1
I will not be going back to minerial oil. Not because ‘natural’ hair companies has demonised- I’d like to think I’m a little more resilient to advertising these days. But because mineral oil/ petrolatum is a by-product of Oil.
I’m not to pleased with the way the ‘West’ gets hold of oil and it’s quickly running out so we’ll have to find alternatives anyway.
I understand that I can’t completely exclude oil use out of my life but I’m doing my best bit by bit to find replacements.
It’s great to read something that’s both enjoyable and provides pragmatisdc soilutons.
Why do people always seem to condescendingly throw in the word bandwagon when others do something they don’t?
Mineral oil was garbage for me and I won’t be returning to it. Silicones are easier to return to.
I also hate when people use the term ‘new naturals’ or expression concern for all the ‘new naturals’ that are going to jump on this or that bandwagon. Condescending as hell. That I have been natural for just a year doesn’t mean, I don’t have a brain.
+1
The stuff dries out my skin and hair. That is why I don’t use it. If it works for you, great. Just like shea butter is great for my dry/eczema skin but not for my hair. My opinion is use what is good for you first and foremost, then what works for you.
I think it can be great for very dry skins. It makes wonders on the feets.But i could never put that on my hair anymore. It get it too greasy and catches and keeps all the dust. Id rather use jojoba or ,okay its expensive but it was used for centuries,plus its chemical composition is really close from our hydro lipidic preotection film. To me getting my to mineral product kinda feels like taking a bath of gaz. Apparently the myth worked on me.
Eh, it seems like every 5 seconds one product is considered bad and should be avoided and then all of a sudden it’s actually good for you. It’s kinda annoying and predictable. Personally, I like using baby oil occasionally on my skin, but that’s about it. At the end of the day it’s about using products in moderation.
Watch out for ‘Why Sulfates are the best thing for Curly Hair’ posts in a few days.
I forgot to add, it will be sponsored by Pantene.
Huh, another marketing ploy. No surprise there. I think that it could be a great sealant *for some* but I have really porous hair and the last thing I need is it sucking up something I’ll have to use a harsh/drying shampoo to get out. Scientific evidence or lack thereof aside, all the proof I need is how my hair has flourished ever since I stopped using products that contain mineral oil so I will not be being “adventurous” anytime soon.
I’ve never liked the smell and sticky feel of hair grease. When I was using hair grease, I didn’t know how to take care of my hair, so it didn’t notice if it had any adverse effects. Since learning to take better care of my hair, I haven’t touched a jar of grease, let alone something with mineral oil/petrolatum as one of the first few ingredients (to my knowledge). I have no idea if it would be good for my hair or not, but I’ve found products I like that don’t have mineral oil, so I have no desire to explore products with it.
My major reason for never going back to hair grease: Elementary school gym class. I remember doing sit ups on those blue mats; I was ridiculously self-conscious about leaving a circle of grease on the mat. I now love having touchable hair, and I love not breaking out on my forehead.
LOL! The infamous hair grease circle. But I agree with your point, I don’t know if mineral oil will be good for my hair or not, but so far the products my hair responds to doesn’t have it. I feel no need to explore products my hair doesn’t seem to miss.
It’s funny because a couple days ago I almost purchased oil by Taliah Wajid, and the first ingredient was mineral, so I put it back on the shelf. Instead I purchased Shea Moisture Reconstructive Elixir (that works very well to seal moisture).
I’ll stop using naturals oils in my hair when they stop working for me – which probably won’t be anytime soon, lol.
*mineral oil
nice. you know her Healing OYL used to be w/o mineral oil. I dont know when it changed. but I use to buy and use it.Used it as a hot oil. Then one day jut casually checking the back i noticed it. I know use Africa’s Best Ultimate herbal oil. But I’m gonna have to try the shea moisture. I use their body products but haven’t used their hair products yet.
I haven’t really tried mineral oil on my hair (I mostly use natural products which happen to not have mineral oil in them( I also kind of avoid it. I tend to think of those products as not of good quality- who knows maybe I’m missing out?)) but it makes my skin feel suffocated, and makes me sweat more during the summer.
When I started taking care of my natural hair seriously, I decided to join a few forums and read natural hair blogs. I was bombarded by info about staying away from mineral oil. This came as a surprise to me coz my mom used it on me when I was a kid and I had past shoulder length hair for a very long time. My mom and all my aunts back in Africa have past BSL hair and they all use pomade with mineral oil both for their scalp and a little bit for their hair. I told my mom about it and she just laughed and asked why then their hair was growing that long! Nway, I still use my Indian Hemp Kuza pomade. My hair was upto my jaw 8 months ago coz I had to cut it as I didn’t have mom around to take of it. lol!(I moved from Kenya to Canada), I had never even washed my hair own hair when I was back home coz salons are dirt cheap. It is now past my shoulder! I say, do what works for you. Just do you!
@Gati…I used Indian Hemp Kuza Pomade back in the day and my hair loved this stuff!! I might have to purchase again! That’s the first thing I noticed when I went natural is stay away from mineral oil. So do you twist with the Indian Hemp Pomade?
Nothing seals my ends quite as good or keeps my lips as soft as vasoline. My hair never had problems with mineral oil but when I heard it was “bad”, I reluctantly gave it up. I think we have to use what works for us. Back in the day, my mother used water and grease on our hair and our hair was down our backs and we’re still alive to tell about it. If mineral oil never did you dirty, why quit it? I’m an advocate for using what works for you.
Girl I tried this last night & let me tell you my hair was so soft & fluffy this morning, it also had a nice sheen; I love it! Rebraided my hair tonight & didnt have to add any additional moisture so I will definitely be trying this .99 cent sealer again, thanks for the tip!
Yeah, funny this weekend I sealed my hair with Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme, on Sunday. I’ve been sleeping without a scarf and I haven’t remoisturized and my hair has NEVER, and I mean NEVER been this soft. However, i tried to use another mineral oil based product not too long ago and my hair felt like straw. I think what may have made the difference was leaving the conditioner in my hair and putting the Miss Jessie’s right on top. AND, my hair isn’t greasy at all.
I think it depends on what you want for your hair. For me, mineral oil makes my hair look dingy and weighed down. It feels greasy and doesn’t absorb well at all. If I can find something that seals moisture in (for me, castor oil), doesn’t have the drawbacks that mineral oil has AND doesn’t come from fossil fuels? Then I’m going to go with that.
Well,when I decided to go natural and started researching on the internet and I was really looking for some great alternatives to mineral oil. While mineral oil didn’t harm my hair as far as I could see,I really hated having greasy/tacky hair.So during my transition I started using oils and butters…and guess what? since then, I am dandruff and acne + bacne free!!!Now I’m 9 months natural,loving to touch my hair and no more itchy scalp….I’m happy that it works for some and I say go for it if you like it, but I’m not going back to it b/c it doesn’t work for ME!!
Glad I didn’t give my trusty Softee coconut oil the boot! 🙂 Use what works, ladies!
I don’t avoid mineral oil. It is not in any of the products I like, but I don’t avoid. I do avoid companies that make products with mineral oil and still charge a premium. If I am going to buy a product that is mineral oil based, it must be $3 for 16 oz or no thank you.
What is with this bashing of small businesses in favor of the corporate big boys. So, it is good and dandy the large corporations sell and market things to you, but when it comes to mainly black-owned, female small businesses, they become the enemy at every turn.
Sometimes I wonder for my people. SMDH.
Here you on the small business bashing…
I third that comment. Large Corporations are the main ones lying and cheating the consumers. Then they use their commercials ( which run over and over and over again until they are embedded in your subconscIous) to make you buy products that may actually make your hair “softer, more luxurious” , but by any means necessary. Even if the long terms effects of using it are toxic to the body (sulfates, parabens) they’ll still market it. If we, the consumers keep supporting the small independent all natural products, the large coporations will start using their money to research how to make all natural products that really work well at more affordable prices. Win-win situation.
When I used to use mineral oil and petroleum-based products, my scalp was always covered in flakes. Since avoiding these products, I no longer have dandruff or itchy scalp. My skin’s noticed a difference too. Now that I use coconut oil as a base in my makeup remover and moisturizer, I no longer have breakouts.
I’ve noticed the flakes with mineral oil too. All ‘good ole grease’ did was make me too embarrassed to wear a black shirt.
I always thought relaxers were what made my scalp flaky, but my bf who had long natural hair for years always developed huge flakes when he used mineral oil based grease, but they stopped when he switched to Luster’s S-curl activator/moisturizer.
My man and I still slather on Vaseline and baby oil in the fall/winter because they seem to be the last ones standing, protecting our naturally dry skin, after a day in typical Canadian winter. It just never occurred to me to try it on my hair to combat the excessive winter dryness as well. Will def give it a shot this winter and see how my hair responds.
I find that mineral oil works great on my skin, but not in my hair.
+1 I can use baby oil etc on my skin all day but my, negative. Only when I blow dry I use it and that’s the Chi Silk Infusion.
I always thought the attack against mineral oil was baseless. I used good ole grease and my hair thrived. But I was also using a sulfate shampoo to clarify. I understand that it may harm some, but I never got how folks would make the leap that it wad bad for all. Then again, that’s how bandwagons are born.
I use mineral oil products from time to time. I don’t think they are the devil, either. I don’t like them for regular use, but I do use them from time to time, and when I do, they work just fine, except they do seem to attract dirt and dust more than natural oils.
What I never understand about oils and sealing moisture in is this: If you apply water to hair and then oil in order to seal it, then does the hair stay moisturized without having to re-moisturize and re-seal days later? Like, usually, I apply glycerin water, and then seal with an oil. Should I redo this a couple of days later? Or should I just wash it and start over?
that is ALWAYS my question! Then if you do it on Monday do you have to wash it again and do the whole thing again by Wednesday? Are we supposed to just moisturize on top of it? Wouldn’t that then be a waste of product since our sealant is blocking things out?
Sorry for the fifty questions in one but I’ve always wondered
I rinse out my hair every other day because I work out a lot, but I would like to know the answer to that question in the event I am going somewhere and I don’t workout for a week.
The problem with mineral oil is not that it blocks the exit of moisture i.e. but it also blocks the entry of moisture also, perpetuating a cycle of dryness. Then it creates a film that requires a surfactant namely a shampoo that includes harsh sulfates to remove it. The actual mineral oil is not evil per se but you have to know what it will and will not do. I personally prefer effectively layering a moisturizing product and an oil based sealant that will quickly wear off providing an opportunity to remoisturize with having to wash every time.
Le Le to answer your question, yes if you feel it necessary, you should repeat the cycle after 2-3 days. The effects of a humectant and oil mix (which is what you are using with glycerin, water and oil) usually last for 24-48 hours depending on your environment.
The reason to wash your hair all over again comes in if you want to redeposit the surfactants in conditioner which make hair feel soft. You can of course cheat and use conditioner as a leave in but you will need to be careful about build up later (as long as you are shampooing with any shampoo or soap at least once a week, it should not be too much of an issue to use conditioner as a leave in)
Oh, ok. My mind kind of hates the idea of moisturizing, sealing, and doing it over again. It just seems like product, over product, over product. I can see why washing my hair twice weekly might be a good idea…except that I don’t have time for all that.
It’s cheaper for oil companies to throw mineral oil in cosmetic products than it is to dispose of it.
I’m not supporting them.
Besides, it makes me breakout and backacne isn’t a good look.
+1
I recently tried a product with mineral oil & my hair loves it. As with ANY product, you just have to understand what its uses are how to use it properly. Everything isn’t going to work for everybody’s hair either. some will like mineral oil, others won’t.
I done rethunked (lol) it. I used grease all the way up until i went to college. Then i started experimenting and ditched the grease. At the time grease wasnt doing anything for me. but now im right back to grease just with alot more knowledge on how to use it well. I am now using it in place of shea butter (which left my hair soft but ashy looking) to seal. After wetting, leave in and a light oil—> GREASE. i think if used right mineral oil is beneficial. My hair is back to happy in terms of moisture.
I’m gonna try this. I have been trying EVERYTHING, and my hair still does not seem to retain enough Moisture. And I purchase all of the go to ALL NATURAL stuff. I’m going to do an experiment for a month with Mineral oil and see what happens….
I bought into the whole no mineral oil/no petrolatum hype early on and my hair suffered and so did my pocketbook. I recently went back to my mineral oil/petrolatum and Im not looking back…my hair loves the stuff (silicomes and sulfates too). My wallet and my hair is thanking me…
lol I bought into the no mineral oil and no petrolatum bandwagon too. Now a closet full of hair products later I cant really say what I feel bc I keep looking for the next best product… I do agree with the post’s logic that it just might be a tactic of small business to sell their products.
When I wear braids my no.1 hair grease is Africa’s Best Super Gro (even though they cant seem to spell grow that joint smells fantastic!) found at your local beauty store for like $4 and the first ingredient is- drum roll- petrolatum. I love it though so maybe I should just start using it when my braids are out.
Natural hair care products have been taking a toll on my wallet and I would much rather use that money towards shoes. So yeah Ill rethink mineral oil (even there are a couple natural products I just cant live without). Furthermore, I have just decided NO MORE PRODUCT BUYING… until I make a dent in what I have and also consider products I can find locally. I moving towards sustainable hair care yall
I hated when a product didn’t work for me because I was not going to buy another one until that one was done. Thankfully, I have found my holy grail conditioners (only commercial products I use) and I am not looking anymore. I use a castor/argan/camellia oil mix to seal my hair and it seems to work very well.
Petroleum works well for me if I’m gonna have my hair braided w/ weave for awhile. But I only use it when I’m out of shea. Which I have found in all my years(10)of being natural has worked best. I can only use light oils on my scalp. But I feel you on the silicon, it does wonders for my hair. so I say try it ALL. Different products and regimens work differently for everyone. You never know how it may turn out. I’ve recently taken a dive into Creme of nature Argan oil shampoo. in which i wrote off creme of nature moons ago because of their ingredients. But this shampoo gives me the moisture than many other sulfate ¶ben free,all natural whatever cleansers and shampoos have not given me.
MY doctor actually recommends mineral oil for this same reason. It is a good emollient (sp?) for the hair and skin. My daughters had horrible excema and after about a week of bathing them, then not drying them off, then rubbing their arms and legs down with mineral oil, it seemed to practically disappear.
That makes sense. Eucerin contains petrolatum and mineral oil as ingredients, and that stuff works great for my whole family including my kids who have eczema.
I don’t think you need mineral oil for that. I used to have horrible eczema as well but swore off mineral and soap a few years ago. It did nothing for my skin but make it itchy. Instead I use a soap-free washing gel and almond oil on my wet skin. It works wonders as it has softened my skin tremendously. The mere feeling of mineral oil makes me cringe now, I can’t stand the stringy feeling. No more mineral oil for me.
Maureen, what is the name of your soap-free washing gel?
An awesome soap free wash is Softsoap’s line of shower gel. Better late than never.
I agree with Lele and Cris; my son has eczema and I was spending loads of money on all these natural products only to have his eczema worsen. Finally, in frustration, I bought a jar of vaseline(petroleum jelly) and his eczema healed up immediately. So now I’m stuck with all this shea butter…
It’s because mineral oil doesn’t work for my skin that I skipped it for my hair, and specifically, my scalp. My understanding, is that it’s great at sealing, but that the skin finds it hard to produce its own oils after prolonged use, and you end up in a vicious cycle. Also, it seals moisture in, but prevents any more from being absorbed, and doesn’t nourish in any way. I found this all to be true for me.
dries my hair out to the BONE. but i do know that it seals well. even still, i don’t recommend it for kinky hair unless it’s a last resort because natural oils will always be the better choice. however if it works then i see no harm in it.
it just tears my hair to shreds. it’s been so long that i’ve used a product with mineral oil that i don’t even consider it an option anymore. the last time i tried some miss jessie’s – the queens of mineral oil – tore my hair up. i.just.can’t.
http://www.kisforkinky.com/2010/11/miss-jessies-stretch-silkening-cream-review-1-of-2/
+1. Girl leaves my hair feeling horible…