Commenter Andrea T said;
“Why is everyone surprised that some people have nice hair from using old school products?… My mom used ultra sheen on us and I used it for years and years and had good results (hair was long and thick and like she said, flattened/straightened out nicely after a couple of days post wash and application).
I get that nowadays there is a big emphasis on natural oils, and they can be nice, but it’s not like no one had long and healthy hair using the old stuff. Everyone is different…so why is everyone so surprised? I wish that all of these blogs would stop acting like no black women had long healthy hair until people had the internet and layered 20 products on it. I’m kind of amazed at all of the talk about such complicated regimens, but am glad that some of the women featured here have pretty healthy hair and don’t spend all day applying products to it.
The only thing I like about the “new age” natural products is that the scent is lighter and in the summer, they are less greasy. But I’d use TCB or Ultra Sheen in a hot NY minute in the winter time.
Can I please ask, what exactly is your response to people who had healthy hair growing up, didn’t have trouble retaining length, and did it with nothing but a boar bristle brush, a goody plastic comb, and some Ultra Sheen?”
Commenter v.c. said;
“I’m all for the natural-oils and natural hair products, don’t get me wrong, but I’m getting tired of people acting like your hair is going to fall out if you use products that have things like petroleum, mineral oil, etc. in the product, as if its the shocker of the century that people can have healthy hair and maintain it from basically the “bad” products.
I think everyone focuses so much on being against the “old fashioned” products that they forget that everyone is different, not all of us can financially afford to spent $15-$20 per bottle of a fancy organic shampoo or conditioner, and let’s face it, for some people, the “no-no products” works perfectly fine for their hair. It’s all about preference. We need to stop encompassing everyone into the all-natural bubble and realize that at the end of the day, we, and our hair, are individuals, and what may work for you will not work for others, and that’s OKAY.
In my own experience petroleum laced products weigh down the hair in a way that water-based products (like many popular leave-ins) cannot. And sometimes I do want that weight, particularly if I’m styling. While I wouldn’t use hair grease as a leave-in I understand how it is useful in providing temporary hold and shine.
Do you use products with petroleum and mineral oil? In what capacity? Do they work for you?
72 Responses
I had to get some tracks put in for a fashion show nov 11th and i used the glue remover stuff that was based in mineral oil, i have washed my hair atleast 15 times and it is still icky greasy and sticky due to the mineral oil…i hate it any advice on how to properly remove this gunk from my hair
I remember using Ampro Pro Styl gel. It made my hair flake badly, especially the clear ice, so my mom had to mix water and vaseline with it.
I wouldn’t go back to using the gel, I do like the curly custard but I have found ways to deal without it when there is a tight budget.
Not sure if its considered old school but I love that Hollywood Beauty Tea Oil and I even figured out how to make my hair look straightened with it. <3
[img]http://bglhonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/gacevyso.jpg[/img]
I am 39 years old and have had problems growing my hair due to lack of knowledge. Frm Jerry Curls,to perms,braids,twist, to weaves…….you name it I had it. During my last pregnancy four years ago my stylist refused to perm my hair until I gave birth. Frustrated with her choice I began researching alternative hair styles I stumbled upon lace front wigs. Wore them during my entire pregnancy while my natural hair lie braided underneath. Six weeks after giving birth my stylist premeditated my hair and to our surprise it was shoulder length! MY NATURAL HAIR HAS NEVER BEEN SHOULDER LENGTH!!!!!! I WS SOO EXCITED……until it started falling out in clumps! My stylist tried to explain that my hair only grew that well because of the increased hormone levels due to the pregnancy! That rationale went in one ear and out the other. This is what actually put me on this natural hair journey! After 3 years of trial and error, you tube videos, and homemade ancestor inspired remedies I am back at shoulder length! And Nooo I’m not expecting!LOL So due to texture of my hair the old school petroleum based products only added weight to my hair and not growth because it provided no moisture to my dry tresses.
I say different people , different habits, different opinions , different choices , different options , different techniques, different day, different results. Everyday you are unique. That is also why there are so many options, so you can go and find out what works for you and what you like best.
Let me first say that I love this blog site.I have been reading it for two days straight. I couldn’t wait to get on this morning, I have learned so much, but I was getting a little overwhelmed and discouraged because I relax and color my hair vs being natural. While avoiding any chemical on the hair will prove best for the hair; I dont want to go natural. It’s a beautiful look, but not for me. So I was glad to see that a lot of bloggers still rely on old skool products, and they use what works best for them. I want the best of both worlds. I want relaxed hair and I want healthy hair. Sooooo I will put into action a regimine of my own based off of the things that I have learned on bglh. First I will drink more water, take a multivitamin, eat more fish (omega 3’s), use the apple cider vinegar with mother and other herbs for a follicle cleaner, I am going to try the JASON conditioner, and I will continue to use BB on my scalp cause I LIKE IT…lol. Soooo Im mixin old skool hair care with some new skool hair care…and maybe just maybe I can have my cake and eat it too. This is a really awesome site. I feel like I have been hangin out with some real Sista friends. Thanks all.
I guess this really means that what matters is haircare practices and not products.
Personally, I’m not against using “grease” and old school products. I’m trying to figure out what I did when I was younger to achieve manageable hair pre-relaxer days. That’s hard to do being that I moved from Ohio to Florida. It’s all about what you are trying to achieve (manageability, moisture, hold), where you live (varying climates make a big difference on what’s effective) and your individual hair type. I’m not into the 4b/4c ordeal. Use what works for you and your purpose!!!
I’ve finally gotten to the point where I’m tired of only using strictly natural ingredients and avoiding the ones that I’d like to use because they have mineral oil or petrolatum in them.
I still prefer the less sticky feel of non-greasy products to greasy types, but I don’t mind using a little Perfect Results or Blue Magic. I use them sparingly (not globs of it), and since I wash my hair at least 1-2 times per week, the product doesn’t stay in my hair for more than a day or two.
I think we need to use what works for our hair. There have been times when I’ve used all natural products and hated the way my hair looked and felt.
I SOOOOOO….. agree with Andrea T! As a cosmetologist, I always say, Hair is going to grow regardless of what you use!!!! Greasing your scalp will not harm your hair. I have a friend who is faithful to so many product that she as become a product junkie! Your hair can grow down your back with shampoo, conditioner, grease and moisturizer! I have seen it happen. THERE IS NO SECRET TO GROWING HAIR!!!!!! I have been natural a year and my hair is exactly where it needs to be length wise, and in great shape. I havent cut my ends since I went bald a year ago. My hair looks great! I only use product when needed and I just let my hair grow! Just leave it alone! Before our generation (Im 21) and the generation before us, (my mother is 39), Black Women did not complete an “ingredient analysis” before using products, they put those fingers in the hair and worked them! Products are not what damage Black hair or any hair for that matter, improper care is and will always be the problem. Im stating, there is nothing wrong with products (u buy what u like) and there is nothing wrong with chemically treated hair. Just because a women is rocking a perm does not mean shes lost in the white society and still hasnt found her true beauty, it means she has made her choice! I think our Black women are missing the point today! Your “Black Beauty” is not defined now because you have the guts to wear your natural hair out! ugh! I got so frustrated reading this blog that I went wayyy off topic but my main point is, If we didn’t have laptops, forums, internet today. What would you put in your hair?
When i clicked on this blog and i saw the ultra sheen i almost passed out because i use it in my hair. Well i have used it a couple of times and all i could remember is my hair was ok. It’s a throwback product that i have no issue using because my mother used it in my hair. And from what i can remember my hair was thick and long back then until the relaxer. With all the new discoveries in natural and organic products on the rise it gives us a choice. As a therapist we learn mineral oils clog your pores and cause dryness quicker than other products that’s why baby oil isn’t good for babies and petroleum jelly also. With that being said the more knowledge we have we should utilize it even if its just in reference to hair. Doctors’ don’t go backwards once discovering new medicine they move forward! If they are people who are making these new organic discoveries for our hair lets use it so we can get where we need to be in our process!! MUAH!
Well, as we’ve kept pointing out, everyone is different, but my favorite brands of old school grease are Ultra Sheen (the green is “greasier” I think), TCB, and B and B. More recently, a friend turned me on to Do Groo and it reminded me of the old school products too. Just like when i was growing up, grease is a bit trickier when it’s hot but is easier to deal with in winter. I just don’t like to have a lot of anything on my face or hair in the heat and humidity.
Your hair may not stay straight because it just doesn’t want to, but hopefully you’ll be happy with the results that you get.
I recently tried Eco Styler gel and it seems like an easy product to use that didn’t make my hair hard or tacky or dry or any of the things that I always associated with gel(I never used gel at all in the past on my natural hair or relaxed hair so I have no history with them at all and what the possible long term effects could be, but plenty of people featured on this site use Eco Styler and seem to be doing fine).
Also another factor could be how your hair is cut if it is cut in a particular way.
I agree with the above posts. Everyone’s hair is different, and I find that the advice I get from other naturals even if they have the same hair “type/texture/look” as mine still may not work for my hair. I have hair idols as well, but often can’t follow thier regimens cause my hair does her own thang, and needs to be treated as such. Thinking about this and reading this post has got me thinking. I just complained in another post about my issue with getting the result from stretched styles. Perhaps going back to some of my old school products could help me have defined, weighed down (I have so much volume that sometimes I like it to be weighed down) stretched style. Does anyone have any suggestions for “ol skool” products that could work? Such as a brand of hair grease, Jam, etc….?
**APPLAUSE**
I co-sign with everything in the last 3 paragraphs that Inez says. From a 4B sista, things are just different. And it’s OK to affirm this difference.
“This is kind of a secondary issue, but I feel that people are also trading in the obsession with how long is your hair to how big/curly is your afro and how long did it take for you to get there. That has been a blog topic as well. And again, when you have no information, and haven’t seen your hair in a while, it’s understandable that you want some kind of benchmark, but my concern is that people will wonder why they don’t have waist length hair after a year or two and conclude incorrectly that they should be using one thing and not another (which may be true for them, but also may not be). Everyone’s hair is growing, but we all have different kinds of hair, different amounts of hair, and ultimately hair that grows at different rates or some people may just have hair that is more resilient and easier to retain as it grows out.” – Andrea T
I’m glad you brought up the length obsession and the BAA obsession of many natural women. In the internet age everyone has the same few hair idols, celebrity or just a youtuber/forum user. Just because there is a girl on Youtube who uses excessive amounts of heat on her hair or is 4b and waist length, does not mean every natural woman can achieve that. There is one site that has made length its entire goal and I feel sorry for those paying their $$$ thinking that because a bunch of women on a forum say they can get to waist length, they can. They embark on a journey of complex regimens and methods, hop on and off bandwagons only to feel defeated and go back to relaxers when they realise they’ve been natural for 2-3 years often shorter and their hair is scraping ear length. Meanwhile they see women with looser textures or those who just genetically were designed to have longer hair getting to these apl, bra and waist lengths and being held up as hair idols by the rest. Many natural women are now brainwashed into thinking we can all be waist length if we just use product x, buy into brand y, do what (insert idol) is doing, protective style 365 etc etc ad nauseum.
There is too much pressure and anxiety over reaching goals that are only attainable to the minority. Nor does it help to have women who naturally have always had long hair relaxed and now natural tell many (on shared forums) who have never had and will never have long hair that they can do it. Any negativity towards the ability to all be waist length is shot down and unwelcome on that site. People are bcing only to realise that they will not be bra strap by christmas and with shrinkage, their hair looks like a TWA again. They are too carried away with the story of that one girl who transitioned for 8 months and is now near shoulder length even though her hair stats, health and genetic make up is unknown to them.
I’m tired of the mottos and mantras on forums which dodge issues at hand and convince vulnerable people that they too can have defined 4b (really?!)curls if they just scrunch kinky curly in a certain way or that they can get to waist length if they only believe. Every forum has its agenda which members must adhere to so people cannot say how they really feel and that leaves some naturals feeling unsupported whether it’s because of their hair type or inability to grow and retain like others.
Being honest, I have extremely tightly coiled 4a/b hair, wearing my hair out will result in mammoth detangling sessions let alone froing it. I see many 3s and 4as with BAA and know that the manipulation they have to do and I have to do is very different. Most of those types are able to wash their hair loose (seen on many a youtube tut). I cannot. It is a massive taboo to claim that anyone has an easier time of natural hair care but let’s be honest, some types will grow to untold lengths with little exertion and some will with a lot of care and others never will. I wonder why everyone is made to feel that if they don’t have that BAA, those defined curls or that major length then as a natural they are whatever, not as worthy as the so called hair idols.
This is not just about product propaganda and profiteering it is about the whole natural internet phenomenon that is happy to leave whole swathes of people behind feeling inadequate because they (and their hair) just don’t measure up.
are saying that not every one can be bra strap or waist length? i’m really confuse about your comment.i’m interested to know what website you are speaking of
I have to say that I have always been natural but damaged my hair with so bad practices. But I tried using all natural stuff an yet it left my hair crazy every time. My mom kept telling me I need to do what she did to my hair as a child an use the products she used an stop tryin to do all this other stuff cuz its not working. Of course, I told her no I cant use any of those old products plus I had purchased so many natural products that I felt silly if I didnt use them. But everything I tried left my hair brittle hard constantly tangled an not really moisturized despite the fact I was moisturizing like crazy. Nonetheless, I was having problems with my hair falling out so I finally let my mom take over my hair an she is using all the old school stuff an my hair is so much better. I just dont think everyones hair can handle the same stuff so if the old stuff worked for you then keep using it. I still wash my hair every week an do the necessary things to keep it healthy but I use old school products. Its not hurting my hair like the lady stated above an it is helpin because my hair is back to normal an growing daily!
I having the same experience…..I’m going back to the old stuff and giving my natural friends and family my $50 puddings, smoothies, butters etc…
What Kind of products do you use?
For all the discussion of hair types, length and products, I rarely see anyone talk about overall health. Any one of us can glop on products and still not see great results because of poor nutrition and health. Taking care of ourselves from the inside out generally affects our hair and skin. “All natural” on the outside does not make up for “all natural” on the inside. Veggies, fiber, water, etc and exercise can do much more than worrying about GOOD and BAD products. Plus the cost of some of these items is out of the range of many people. Read the labels, test things out on your hair and decide what works for you. Hey, I use S curl right from the grocery store and its just fine. It has glycerine just like all the homemade items and online items that are touted as “THE formula” for hair growth. “Do you” and leave the judgments out of the conversation.
I agree 100%
I think genetics, diet, stress, & overall health affect your hair growth more than products.
Look at other races, not all of them have the same hair or texture which is why there are so many different products for them. People are not healthy tend to have thinner hair overall from my experience.
I believe nutrients from the earth will have the biggest effect on your ability to grow hair. There is no miracle product or regiment out there…and I refuse to spend $50 for a jar of curling custard.
I’m the other person who was quoted on this blog, and while I don’t mind, I see that most people are missing the point and context of the original comment, even though it is stated in the first line of this post. Sondi/Shondi (it says one thing on her highlight and another in this article), mentioned having always been natural and having always used basic, old school hair products. And her hair was lovely and seemed to grow quite well.
Many commenters in that thread expressed surprised that she’d had so much hair (had recently cut off 10 inches) using products that many of them clearly believed to inhibit hair growth. And I replied that not EVERYONE had had bad hair experiences as a child using “bad” products, and not everyone had no hair before the internet came along.
I feel as though everyone keeps pointing out to us a point that we both made in our quoted comments. Everyone’s hair is different, and a lot of things work differently for other people.
I’ve seen people on this website clearly state that mineral oil breaks off your hair, and that it won’t let your hair grow. Many, many times. So I just expressed that much like Sondi, when I was her age, I’d never had a relaxer, had only used Ultra Sheen, and had really nice hair that grew just fine(and I’ll say that for me, that seems to be true no matter what I use).
And I can see that for people who had perms put on their hair when they were 9 or 10 years old, they are suddenly trying to figure out how to maintain their natural hair, and they look to other people for answers. So it’s good that they remember that no one else can realy tell you what is going to give you what you want. Maybe the answer is a $50 jar of curling custard, and maybe it’s a $3 jar of Ultra Sheen. But no one should be surprised that one things works well for one but not another, or that some people can use anything to great results. There are a myriad of reasons why that is true and there is no point in rehashing them, just as there could be a myriad of reasons why you don’t use mineral oil based products (allergies, it disagrees with your hair, concern for the environment, etc.). Some essential oils are toxic to you as well, and cannot EVER be applied to your skin. The FDA is probably your best resource for this information, or perhaps your doctor still remembers it from biochemistry class.
This is kind of a secondary issue, but I feel that people are also trading in the obsession with how long is your hair to how big/curly is your afro and how long did it take for you to get there. That has been a blog topic as well. And again, when you have no information, and haven’t seen your hair in a while, it’s understandable that you want some kind of benchmark, but my concern is that people will wonder why they don’t have waist length hair after a year or two and conclude incorrectly that they should be using one thing and not another (which may be true for them, but also may not be). Everyone’s hair is growing, but we all have different kinds of hair, different amounts of hair, and ultimately hair that grows at different rates or some people may just have hair that is more resilient and easier to retain as it grows out.
Black women spend so much more money on hair products and beauty products than anyone else in this country(its hard to pin down figures but I once read that they account for 40% of the beauty “spend” each year, yet black people as a whole are only 12% of the population), and I hate to think of people feeling as though they have to spend money that they might not have (let’s be honest, times are tough for a LOT of people these days) to get a look that might just be impossible for them to achieve. If you see someone on this sight who has hair that you like, just because you imitate their regiment (whether it’s natural products or mineral oil), doesn’t mean you will ever have the same look, length, fullness, etc.
Back in the day when I used the petroleum laden products I had more hair …thicker, healthier and longer
Today I’m happily incorporating some of the old products back into my regimen…
If someone claimed that motor oil could make a black woman’s hair grow faster than usual, a certain number of them would stock up on it pronto! Then they’d get defensive if others said otherwise, because they’d claim their regimes are making their hair grow, it works for them, and they hate being told that using motor oil doesn’t actually work.
Alrighty, then.
I’m thankful for the natural heads in the past who’ve highlighted what’s up with using petroleum based products. I found their advice to be helpful, and it was always done with a neutral you-can-take-it or leave-it demeanor. I keep wondering who are all these naturals, who are supposedly dictating to the relaxer or “my Momma used Crisco and we wuz fine” heads, that they keep getting mad at?
Use what works for you. If you like motor oil, keep it moving. No one is putting a gun to your head.
I don’t necessarily think these ingredients are bad, but I just think there are other oils or products that work better for my hair. People should use what works best for themselves and not how other naturals may judge them for using something that’s not natural. I also think that it depends on how the product is being used. Before I was natural and I used products with “bad ingredients” to try to moisturize my hair (because that’s what the package claimed to do) but it wouldn’t work. But with research, I now understand that these ingredients would be useful to seal in moisture, but they don’t provide it.
It’s not just the effect mineral oil has on your hair and it’s growth, it’s the effect it has on your body as a whole. This excerpt was taken from http://www.herballuxuries.com/about-mineral-oil.html and explains the effect of mineral oil on the body and skin:
“Mineral oil acts as a thin layer on the skin. It is difficult to absorb and clogs the pores, which slows the skin’s ability to eliminate toxins. Remember, the skin is the body’s largest organ and plays an important role in maintaining overall health! Once the oil is absorbed, it is broken down by the liver and passes through the intestinal tract, it will absorb all of the fat-soluble vitamins found there. It is essentially stealing important vitamins from the body, which the body will not be able to replace. This can eventually lead to nutritional deficiencies.”
I personally don’t use it because of the negative effects and also because I don’t like my hair and skin to feel greasy — even in small amounts mineral oil does this because it’s not easily absorbed by the skin. But like many other posters have said, just because it says it’s natural doesn’t mean it is. So even if you are using “natural” oils it’s important to do your homework and find out for yourself what’s in what you’re using. Much love to all my Naturalistas!
I agree with Alice, everyone is different. When I first ‘went natural’, I was a teenager with a healthy scalp and would use any products my mother bought; nearly 10 years later, I can’t just use anything in my hair because I have Seborrheic Dermatitis. Not to mention, I’ve become more aware of the potential for adverse health outcomes caused by prolonged use of certain chemicals (this doesn’t mean that everything ‘natural’ is completely safe either).
@ Gabriella- I don’t think me and the other commenter were trying to be “too angry and judgmental” as you put it. I’m not knocking down people who use all natural products (I’m one of those people who uses all natural products ALL the time!) or who pile on so many products on their hair. We aren’t knocking down anybody! If that’s how you took our comments, fine, fair enough, but on the other hand it seems like you weren’t getting the point. The point is, everyone is what works for some people may not work for others. Although it is good to emphasize using all natural products, there’s nothing wrong with using the products with mineral oil and other bad products as well. Believe me, I have seen plenty of people put down others for not using the all natural stuff, and i think it’s about time to bring to light that we are all individuals and that at the end of the day, to each their own. If our comments were so angry and judgmental, I highly doubt that they would have been published. Just because we have strong opinions doesn’t mean that it has to be taken as negative, angry, and judgmental.
I believe that whatever floats your boat… if it works well for you and your hair go for it. I mean how is that really hurting me? I personally do no use those products b/c after not using them I see that some of the ingredients is where my scalp issues came from. However I’d never put anyone down for using that. Just b/c it doesn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for you. Do ya thing boos and have that healthy hair!!! That’s really why I went natural to begin w/ is to have healthy hair. (relaxers and ME just didn’t work)
Hmmmm…This is crazy how there will ALWAYS be some type of divisiveness amongst black women and hair LOL…So its not ENOUGH that one decides to not get a relaxer, but she has to follow some “policy code” on what products to use for HER hair?? This is funny. I wonder when we will truly be free with our hair 🙁 I use what WORKS for my hair and my coils and curls are doing just fine!
In some ways, I think the emerging natural haircare industry is becoming yet another way to hold black women’s time and pocketbooks hostage. All these double-digit-priced products and labor-intensive regimens . . . along with costly natural hair salons that deliver sticker shock to provide simple styles like cornrows or two-strand twists . . . are becoming practically as much of a captor as the creamy crack continuum.
I have locs, so my haircare routine is rather straightforward and simple. My daughters have manes of thick and long hair, and I do not purchase $58, $30 or $15 products for it. I do use some cheap hair grease anyone can buy at Target, along with shea butter and pretty inexpensive oils. The costliest product I buy on any regular basis is Knot Today by Kinky Curly at around $12 per bottle.
My hair was thicker when I was a child, but I think that had more to do with being younger, keeping hair in braided styles and very rare use of heat than it had to do with the products. On the negative side, I always had dandruff. Always. My scalp would flake immediately after washing, even. That only got worse as I got older.
Since I cut out the mineral oil and petroleum (and ‘cones) and since I no longer need strong detergents to wash those things out, I have no dandruff at all and haven’t had it for several years.
I also am conscious of the impact hair and body products have on the environment and on my own body. A single product may not be the devil, but what is the cumulative impact of all the chemicals we’re exposed to?
It hasn’t taken super expensive products either. Coconut oil is my fave for body and hair. I can get it for 45 cents per ounce in a large (54 ounce) container which is comparable to and may be cheaper than hair grease.
In the end, each person can weigh the pros and decide what works for them.
Nice post! I agree with people who vote the old school stuff down because of the smell and the feel. Also I think that kind of grease would really cause me to break out these days whereas my skin as a child was more resistant..
I use Pink Oil in my hair at the moment, and I find that it works the best for my hair, its length, and my lifestyle. I tried to swear by shea butter at one time, but my body chemistry did not agree with it and my hair would smell offensive after a few hours of its application. So even though I felt guilty about going back to the “bad” stuff at first, it was the best thing for me.
Wow, reading all these comments is really intersting. I love hearing everyone’s opinions about this. I agree that this is only a “touchy” subject in the Natural hair community because of all the “new age” hair practices out there. I think that “back in the day” when people were using a lot of mineral oil based products, they were also keeping their hair regimens EXTREMELY simple thus the extreme length retention & thickness. So, it wasn’t that these products were doing anything special back in the day.
Today, I think people are just so obsessed with manipulating their hair to the point of destruction and once they re-enter the natural realm they assume that petrolatum products were to blame for the fact that their hair was unhealthy and not their hair care practices. People have literally “demonized” mineral oil without a proper understanding of the purpose of these products.
Mineral Oil, petrolatum, and the numerous other related derivatives of petroleum oil are used as a SEALANT. these products cannot bring or take away moisture from your hair (only water can truly “moisturize”). these products merely function as a way to keep the moisture in your hair while giving it that added “sheen” that black hair tends to lack. Yes, these products can clog your pores which is why you shouldn’t necessarily apply them directly to your scalp but your pores can get plugged from build up of other products as well which is why regular washing (WITH SHAMPOO) is so important.
These ingredients are also not harmful or toxic like I’ve heard people say so many times (unless you are allergic to them or have sensitivities). Altogether, I think that there is absolutely nothing wrong with using products containing these ingredients. Black hair is so multidimensional that no one product can satisfy the market (hence the black hair care industry being a multi-billion dollar industry), people should really just get the best information they can about hair care practices and products (not just opinions but actual reliable, scientific facts if you really care that much) and create a simple routine that works for them.
All of the information that is available online through blogs, YouTube and the numerous other outlets should just be taken as guidelines for hair care practices and not absolutes.
Best of luck to everyone on their hair journey 🙂
Oh also! I just thought I would add that I think a lot of naturals opt for using all natural products as a way of taking a more holistic approach to hair care. In my experience, your natural hair journey literally opens up a whole new way of approaching life that doesn’t only have to do with hair but with so many other aspects of our lives. I think the mindset of healthy hair practices tends to transcend into other things like our overall health and nutrition as well. That, and the fact that a lot of these natural ingredients do have some pretty stellar properties that are great for our hair and body 😀
Growing up we used all kinds of greases from the beauty supply and my mom favored this Bergamot blue grease. My hair is thick and strong so I never had a problem. But once I became older and started taking care of my relaxed hair I realized that none of these greases did much to moisturize my hair and keep it from feeling dried out.
A yr or so before I did the big chop I discovered Carol’s Daughter’s Healthy Hair Butter and saw the difference, it really moisturized my hair. I also found another conditioner that had natural ingredients and saw the difference in moisture.
When I went natural I discovered that my hair is just naturally dry like a sponge and it needs creamy buttery types of oils to keep it feeling moisturized and healthy. I discovered greases even natural ones like Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Honey don’t really work for my hair so I choose not to use them anymore unless I just want a little shine when I’m slicking my hair back into a puff. When my sister’s hair was natural old school greases did her fine, but they’re just not my cup of tea, if I could spend less on a drugstore grease I probably would, but my hair definitely benefited when I started using natural oils
Actually, I agree with the two comments from these ladies. I think it is the case of if it works for you then do it. I still use grease and my hair is growing and benefiting fine from it…shrugs… I think many people are on this “only use certain product” or “organic” trip for your hair just because it says it is for natural hair or that it is all natural, so that means it is the best when in some cases it isn’t. Yes, petroleum and mineral oil does clog pores and can weigh your hair down if you don’t counteract it like washing your hair or using products to upset the balance or watching the amount you apply. But MOST products leave build up in your hair if you don’t switch it out from time to time. But Andrea T point was excellent, I think are still surprise that you can grow your hair natural and long by using old school products and methods instead of other methods that is often stressed more than others. Hell, when I was younger all my mom used was water and grease on my natural hair and it grew great until the perm so again to each their own
everyone’s hair is different. what works for one person may not work for me. i have eczema so products with mineral oil, petroleum and frangrance cause an immediate reaction on my scalp and skin. thats why I dont use products with those ingredients.
Also do you guys realize that a lot of the ‘chemicals’ are just mixtures of natural-found-in-the-earth ingredients that have been re-bonded by systematic scientific methods? Mineral oil and petrolatum are naturally occuring, it’s just that you extract it from a source and rid it of it’s impurities (that actually cause the harmful effects) by rebonding and other methods. Just to through some science in here.
I think people are getting ahead of themselves since this whole shift towards everything being ‘natural’. Mineral oil in its unrefined state clogs the pore, not it’s refined, cosmetic state (find it in most hair products). Cosmetic refined mineral oil actually conditions the hair, seals the moisture, and helps in detangling. But there are some natural unrefined/refined products that also do these things. I understand you guys don’t trust all the chemicals, but there are some chemically enhanced things in our socety that has greatly improved our lives (just because you can’t pronounce the name doesn’t mean it’s bad). The ‘natural’ shift tends to make people become disillusionized and we never really think what is really considered ‘bad’ or ‘good’ for ourselves. We tend to listen to what others (in their own misinformation)seem to know instead of looking it up ourselves. Not everything that is natural is always good for you, just like not everything chemically made is good for you. I cannot eat certain legumes (in their natural raw state) as a raw foodist because they can poison and kill me.
As for the over complicated regimes, yes they do seem to be a stretch, but if the person has the time/money to do that then that’s them. Personally I shampoo with Head&Shoulders Dandruff shampoo (as well as Aubrey OPrganics HSR)and rub a pint size of shea butter on each section of my hair. I completely elimidated conditioner and I might start using some oil/grease to grease my scalp, but that is about it. My momo(grandmother) used chicken fat and lard on our scalp and it actually sealed in the moisture well (especially the winter). These are two things that are considered natural yet to some people are considered bad. It’s all about perception along with facts.
When I was little my mom used to put blue magic hair grease in my hair matter fact most of the people i knew with long thick hair did and i sure blue magic has petroleum..When i first natural i never heard about petroleum and mineral oil being bad nor did I hear about curl types…Personally right now I try not to use grease with petroleum or mineral oil on my hair only because its too heavy on my hair but don’t get me wrong I still will use product like du grow that contains mineral oil due to the fact it also contains henna and horsetail but while i’, using the greses that contain mineral oil i have my spray bottle handy or hair my wet to add the water that these products need because water is what keeps the elastisity in our hair when its dry its easy to break off and not grow
Never been a big fan of hair grease. I only used it on my relaxed hair to base my scalp and edges. I mostly used oil sheen sprays when I wore my hair straight. Of course my Mom moisturizes her face with petroleum every day and her skin looks fine but I rather but coconut oil on my face, I love the smell and it doesn’t make me break out.
My hair loves coconut oil, Shea butter and conditioner. Aloe Vera makes my scalp itch. Sometimes I get build up from the Shea butter so I’m going to try ACV rinses.
Do what works for you, it is your hair.
I just did the big chop (almost 2 weeks ago) while I am still researching, and learning about my hair, I want to stay away from products that contain petroleum in them. I’m not saying they are harmful, but I don’t want to take any risks, seeing as I am still new at this.
People cite clogged pores and dryness as the reason to rule out mineral oil and petrolatum based products, but those two things should not really be an issue if you wash(not co-wash) your hair with shampoo at least once a week. I have 4c hair & for me mineral oil/petrolatum based products worked best to seal in moisture after applying a leave-in condition to my hair first as well as provide great sheen; great especially in the winter time. I didn’t clog my pores because I shampooed & conditioned my hair on a weekly basis. Like the the last commenter states, what will work for some may not necesarily work for others.
Thinking back to my first 11 years of life – Nope. They gave my hair sheen, yes, but that was about it. It certainly didn’t make combing this bush on my head (which is how I viewed my hair at the time) any easier. Even though my mother never applied much to my hair and scalp, living in a country set to Blazing Hot and Sunny 90% of the time turned even the barest application into a pool of grease on my scalp. I don’t miss ’em. However, products work differently on different heads so if old school works for you, then use it.
As for my routine and supplies – I just spritz, rub on some natural oil and go. I don’t have the time/patience for a regimen, but I make a point of doing a DC at least 1x per week. The most expensive product I have in my arsenal is my regular brand deep conditioner. The rest of the stuff is what you can find in your supermarket and supply store – olive oil, castor oil, unrefined shea butter, glycerin and distilled water. Some people become product junkies and locked into a complex regimen because those are the paths that they choose.
Hmm… so I think I’ll try it, old-fashioned grease, that is. And if I don’t like it, I’ll just switch back! There *dusting off hands*, problem solved.
This is interesting. I now wonder what my hair would look and feel like if I went back to using those products.
Ok, I agree that people should work with what works best for them personally. I grew up on some coconut oil, dax hair grease and sulfur 8 for occasional dandruff and I also slapped on my fair share of petroluem jelly to slick my hair back into a bun. In the 90s, we graduated to African Pride products. I try not to get too hyped, dimissive or condescending of certain products. I do try BUT as I told one of my girl-friends the other day, we are living in a really different world today and evironment and we should always remember that. There are excess chemicals everywhere in all kinds of crap. I look at using natural hair products as another way to minimize my intake of uneccessary crap despite what else I cannot control.
For example, I drink loads of hot tea and go to a tea spot regularly–which is also why I finally switched to a natural balm (and cheap! Smackers naturals!)…you know how many times I sipped hot tea, and watched the kaleidoscopic, chemical-looking film from my balm or gloss swirling around the top of the cup and shuddered but kept drinking anyway? Before this, I could NOT afford 3.99 + natural balms. I just couldn’t even though I wanted the switch for a while now and I am a serious balm addict too. You know how many unecessary chemicals go into other brands I’d use, then I ingest all of that. We all do, whenever we eat and drink (or kiss!)–it leeches into stuff, then us.
Minimizing my chemical impact on my hair products is another layer of this process for me, and the envirnment which I have become increasingly concerned about. When I can, I try to support sustainability too, cheaply, if I can. I do it for me. In hindsight, Dax and all those things weren’t bad for me hair-wise per se, I was (and am) a life-long natural and my hair always grew relatively well back then. But now, I choose not to have petrolem products and other chemicals seeping into my scalp and self if I can help it.
As a natural for almost a year, I have made a conscious decision not to use products that contain mineral oil, petroleum, parabens and sulfates. People are choosing to use all natural and organic products for a reason. Choose and do what is best for you but dont knock the people who are seeking to be healthier and use healthy products.
Yes, great results came from products with these ingredients but after people find out what these ingredients truly do, they decide it is better to leave them alone…the same with food and people shying away from ingredients that are more harmful than helpful. Think about it…We all want to do and be better to live better and healthier lives. Let People Live 🙂
i think the subject at hand is if these products are as bad as some of the blog, forums,commenters,you tubers, etc claim that they are.
I mean if it was good for the ladies before us, why is it not so good for us now?
Like most of us are saying, if it works for you…then use it!!! I believe the platforms used to attain all the information are just suggestions. There is no right and wrong way to care for YOUR hair, if you are able to achieve thick, health hair by using the grease off of a McDonald fry then by all means DO YOU!!!! LOL!.
Since becoming natural I’ve learned that there are some products i’ve used in the past that do not benefit the health of my hair, and there are those products that i used before my relaxer, during my relaxer, and now because they work. I don’t want to spend so much time over analyzing products, there is so many good things to over analyze in my life besides my hair products……
There’s another perspective to throw into the debate. Part of my healthy hair journey means choosing products that are healthy for me and for the environment. I have been transitioning for nearly 10 months now and have been attempting to take a holistic approach to the change – in how I treat my hair, my body, my mind, and what surrounds me. I am embracing in my hair’s natural appearance and don’t want to treat it in a way that is harsh or with harsh products. I have concerns about the effect that the extraction of and dependance on mineral oils/petroleum in a variety of products have on nature. For that reason, I try to stick the fewer ingredients/products the better and pay attention to how they are produced.
Just for the record, my mother used ultrasheen blue on my hair as a child and it didn’t do any harm – switching to relaxers did all the damage.
Bizous xoxo
I used to use Kinky Curling custard for wash and goes. My results were great, but the drying time was crazy. I started used Miss Jessie’s for wash & goes and it drys much faster & the results are wonderful. Plus, I’m able to apply it right in the shower in less than 10mns. Now, Miss Jessie’s has mineral oil and a lot of the “bad stuff” that Kinky Curly doesn’t have. For a while, that kept me away from using their stuff, but I’m at the point where I need to use things that are simple and effective. I say find what works for you and stick with it.
I am with nicola i don’t think anyone sounds harsh or angry there was a question posted they answered it, thats it
I agree with Gabriella. The posters souded harsh. They made it seem like people with hese regimens are silly and rankly they sounded bitter with their not eveyone can afford to spend 20 dollars on their hair line. I’ve never heard any natural haired lady force anyone to buy certain products. Its all good that they can use grease on their hair but there’s no need to be bitter as Gabriella said.
@gabriella, no one was being angry or judgmental in their postings they all just stated their opinions on the topic.
i think Gabriella put it best… honestly people are looking for some kind of miracle cure to grow their hair long and are looking for a product to villainize when their hair doesnt grow at the speed/thickness/whatever they want. currently those products are mineral oil and petrolatum.
but everyone is different and needs to find a regimen that works for them. as a child my hair was thick and down my back with the use of products like blue magic, ultra sheen, and pink lotion… as a permie it was down my back with hollywood beauty brand castor oil and even straight up VASELINE when i didnt have anything else… and now as a natural again im sticking with my castor oil and water-based, tea tree oil/glycerin spritzers.
its all about what works for YOU…
I commented in the post that even though i love my KBB products, my Carol’s Daughter (some products), Ojon, and other pricey hair products, my hair just simply loves moisture and from time to time when my pay check doesn’t agree with the pricier items i have no shame in using my ultra sheen, royal crown,or blue majic!
Like Irendi stated (btw, beautiful name!) it’s about what works for YOU!! my mother, grandmother,and my beautiful great grandmother used these products as well. My great grandmother would faithfully use a can of Crisco cooking grease to press her thick, waist length 4b hair every saturday!!!
My mom and grandmother has pictures of their beautiful thick giant afros and all they could afford was ultra sheen, royal crown, and castile soap.
I guess as time evolves, we as black women have found more simple ways of maintaining our hair without all the grease, crisco, pigfat…..WHATEVER!. but a the same time there is nothing wrong with those of us who have decided to keep using the oldie but goodies to achieve healthy hair.
I think when you learn better, you do better.
That’s not to say that the old products didn’t work, let’s face it, they were staples back in the day. But we know now, that petro clogs hair follicles and that some of the chemicals are not what you want in your body or on your hair.
But whether or not you use “old” or new natural products is on you.
Now I do happen to agree with the comments on the complicated regimens.
I am not quite understanding the constant co-washing of hair 3 and 4 times a week, and these long arse routines people are doing every day. Is it really necessary?
I want my natural hair to be healthy, but I also am seeking to find a simplified product routine that works for me.
If going through all that rigmarole is what it takes to keep ur hair on point, then more power to you I guess, but that cannot be me.
When I was younger, my mom used Bronner Brother’s Super Gro Hair Conditioner (we used to call it B&B) which has petrolatum as its first ingredient and mineral oil as its second. That was the only consistent thing I remember putting in my hair pre-relaxer and my mom and I still swear that that’s what kept my hair strong. As a matter of fact, I got two jars at home and might bust that out again now that I’m all natural!
i am SO glad you brought this up! i personally don’t use such products, but never look down on someone for using Blue Magic and the like. our parents used it on us and we had healthy hair. why? because they also shampooed our hair with a good strong shampoo. remember wash days? shampoo, sometimes twice, condition, then a good greasing. these things went hand in hand and our hair flourished. now, it’s okay if you wanna use no cones, no poo, or what have you, but don’t knock the old school products. moreover, the healthiest head of hair i’ve ever seen was on a person who washed their hair with Lever 2000 soap… every head is different indeed.
i really don’t care what hair grease, shampoo and oils i use long as its on sale or low prices plus my hair is not coming out. Reading all don’t use this or that stuff is crazy to me. If you hate product does not mean bash it or make others believe the only thing around.
I cant even think of buying no hair products without those ingredients just cost too much.
just my opinion,
The commenters sound way too angry and judgemental, it’s not that serious. If you massage cow dung and a blend of 1000 oils into your hair every night or you just use that Blue Magic like momma, no one else needs to know or cares. Sure when I see some of these new age regimens I’m thinking ‘when does she sleep?’ but similarly if I see someone using all that old grease and granny and mom’s methods, I wince to remember how my hair was never moisturised but a greasy dry hot mess. Do what works for you but don’t knock another person for their choices.
I have always said that the products deemed as “bad” now, kept my hair thick and luscious when I was little and getting my hair pressed weekly.
I currently do not use products with mineral oil and/or petroleum, but I do still have these products in my stash.
Here I go again being the old lady on the scene…(pulling up rocking chair)
I went natural LONGGGG before all this information was available online. You know how one of the most common complaints for new naturals, esp. type 4 naturals, is dryness? I NEVER EVER had this issue as a new natural and I figured out why: When I had a TWA I was using Moisture Max (and, when that stopped working due to the increased length of my hair, Pink Oil) on my damp hair religiously. Both of those products had and still have mineral oil. Nowadays y’all young’uns call it “moisturizing and sealing.” lol
The ONLY reason I don’t use products with mineral oil, PETROLATUM (note the spelling), paraffinium liquidum, etc. anymore is because I cannot abide the smell, not because I’m afraid it’ll clog my pores and impede hair growth. Obviously that wasn’t the case for me as a natural…and technically it wasn’t the case for me as a relaxed head either. I suspect I’ve always had healthy-growing hair…it was IMPROPER HANDLING (and, yeah, too-harsh relaxers) that kept me from retaining length.
Look…if Ultra Sheen, Dixie Peach, etc. works for folks, go for it. There’s no law saying you have to use shea butter, castor oil, etc. on your hair if you’re natural. Do whatever works for you! (sheesh) 🙂
I’ve been trying to avoid them since I’ve become more educated on natural hair care. I think I have one shampoo that still has some mineral oil in it, and that is about it. But they raise a good point about old products.
I use products without pertroleum and mineral oil. Mainly because my scalp is sensitive and they make me itch like nobody’s business! I prefer food grade products honestly. Good ole honey, yogurt, EVOO, EVCO, aloe vera juice/gel, etc. I do use Herbal Essences totally twisted but other than that I stick to what doesn’t have my scalp looking like a snow storm.
If those things work for you I say go ahead. We are all different and I too had a head full of lush long natural hair using old fashioned grease!
I’ve been curious about this same question for a while. Especially when it comes to cones. Most of the product in stores (including outside of the ethnic section) has cones! Can they really be that bad? I guess the only way to figure it out would be to give it a try and see what happens
Since doing more research on hair and transitioning, I haven’t used petrolatum/ mineral oil products on my hair (body- Yes!). I’ve only been transitioning since May. However, when I look at past pictures of my hair, it has been its healthiest when I took care of it, regardless of the products. I wore wash & go’s w/ baby oil gel worked into it for a while! My hair was long, healthy, thick, and pretty.
I’ve also had the same results when I used more modern products. In the end, all that matters is what works FOR YOU! If it works, and you are happy, then tell everyone else to bug off! YOU are the person who has to take care of your hair.
In winter, if needed, you better believe I’ll use a hair grease, and I don’t care who objects.
My mother used Ultra Sheen and Eucerin cream in my hair when I was young, but my hair was always dry, but retained length because it was braided up almost 24/7. I tried using Ultra Sheen in my hair again when I went natural and it just didn’t work, especially because I was wearing my hair out as opposed in braids. I tried products with even a small amount of mineral oil in them and my hair would become so unbelievably dry, so I found other products that worked, which are more water based and makes sense for my super dry hair. My mom and sisters have relaxed hair, still use Ultra Sheen and other old school products and their hair is perfectly fine.
This is my 2nd time doing a b/c and going natural July 2010. The first time May 2008, I was so frustrated about the money that I was spending ( not having done research prior to my b/c on products) that didnt work that I permed a year later. This time I did/doing research and still was feeling frustrated from the overload of information on all the things that I should not use, but then looking at the cost of all the things that were “better,more natural” for me hair. Like Ivy my husband cracks up at me when I was on the blogs,Youtube almost daily writing down products to try. I would try them and my results would be minimal to none at all, especially for the dryness. I have what im guessing is 4-something hair and I recently brought some old fashion sta-sof-fro for my twa and it’s been the best thing I could have done for moisture in my hair at only $3.59. Im going to stick with this product during my twa days and once my hair grows im not going to count anything out(except sodium lauryl sulfate)when it comes to what might work on my hair. Im was getting so stressed reading lables and not knowing if my hair is protein or cone sensitive that I dont know what to do. I enjoy the blogs to see what other naturals are doing and their beautiful hair photos but back in my young natural days I know my mom used the blue/green grease and my hair was moist, thick and healthy.
My mother used Ulta Sheen on my hair until I started doing it myself, and my hair was strong, healthy and down my back! I agree that sometimes Old School is the best school!
Since starting my healthy hair journey, I haven’t used petroleum or mineral-oil. Honestly, I don’t miss it.
I found the two comments hilarious. While I do not use any products with petroleum or mineral oil I must say I don’t use any of the fancy named prodcuts either. People are always amazed when they ask me what do I use in my hair and I respond Olive Oil, water, aloe vera gel and occassionally shea butter.
It’s so true, our emphasise on these new natural hair products have given us a false hope that anything outside of the natural realm will cause your hair to fall off. The truth of the matter is while some non natural prodcuts won’t hurt your hair most of the time they will not help your hair either.