How to promote healthy hair care with glycerine and 3 excellent DIY glycerine moisturizing recipes for dry hair.
These glycerine recipes will revive your curls and bring the bounce back to dry and dull hair.
Glycerine is an ingredient you would have noticed in the ingredient listing of some of your deep conditioners and leave-in conditioners.
It’s sometimes referred to as glycol or glycerol. It is also used in the formulation of soaps and skincare products.
What is Glycerine?
Glycerine is a thick, odorless, and colorless liquid obtained from plant oils such as coconut oil, soy, and palm oil.
It can also be obtained via animal plants and synthetically via petroleum.
Glycerine is a humectant meaning it draws in moisture from the air into your hair and helps retains it as well.
Glycerine is a common ingredient in both skin and hair care formulations. It’s an ingredient in Arewa Hair Styling Oil as well.
On hair and skincare products, glycerine may also be labeled as glycerin, glycerol, glyceryl alcohol, glycerolum, and vegetable glycerin.
What Are the Benefits of Glycerine for Hair?
1. Glycerine Helps Hair Retain Moisture
Glycerine retains moisture in the hair shaft and prevents split ends and hair breakage. Glycerine prevents TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss) from the hair.
2. Glycerine Conditions Hair and Eliminates Frizz
Glycerine is an excellent conditioner that makes hair glossy, soft, and shiny. It also eliminates frizz and enhances curl patterns.
3. Glycerine Enhances Hair Growth
Glycerine can be used as-is but it’s sticky and great. It works better when mixed in with other hair care products to boost hair growth goals.
Glycerine keeps hair hydrated and hydrated hair means less breakage and better retention.
4. Glycerine Conditions Dry Scalp
Glycerine helps condition a dry scalp and eliminates itchy scalp and dandruff.
This study goes into detail about how using glycerine as a leave-in conditioner improves dandruff issues.
Glycerine also helps regulate oil production on the scalp.
5. Glycerine Prevents Hair Fall
When Glycerine moisturizes dry and dull hair, conditions the scalp, and fortifies the hair strands, it prevents hair fall and helps eliminate hair fall.
Combine glycerine with hair strengthening natural oils like hemp seed oil and coconut oil to get the most of this benefit.
DIY Glycerine Leave-In Moisturizer
Glycerine works best as a leave-in conditioner and a hair styling product.
Do not use glycerine for heat protection but you can add 1 – 2 tablespoons to deep conditioners for hair steaming.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of rosewater or distilled water
- 1 tablespoon of glycerine
- 1 teaspoon of rosehip seed oil
- A spray bottle
- Essential oils such as rosemary essential oil, peppermint essential oil, lavender essential oil, or ylang ylang essential oil.
Directions
- Pour the rosewater or distilled water into the spray bottle.
- Add in the glycerine and rosehip seed oil. Close and shake.
- Open and add 5 – 10 drops of your chosen essential oil. Close and shake again.
Use this mix as a leave-in spray after your usual regimen. You can also use it as a refreshing spritz between wash days.
Sally’s Organics Glass Spray Bottle
DIY Aloe Vera and Glycerine Hair Mask
Ingredients
- 3 – 5 tablespoons of your favorite moisturizing deep conditioner (adjust for hair length)
- 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel
- 1.5 – 2 tablespoons of glycerin
- 1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil
- 5 – 10 drops of lavender essential oil
Directions
- In a silicon mixing bowl, measure in the deep conditioner, aloe vera gel, and glycerine.
- Whisk then add the vitamin E oil and lavender essential oil. Whisk again.
- Apply the hair mask to clean hair in sections, pin-up, and deep condition with heat.
Alternatively, you can apply and leave in overnight then rinse out the next morning. No need for steaming in this case.
DIY Glycerine Pre-Poo
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of glycerine
- 3 – 5 tablespoons of olive oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, or grapeseed oil
- 5 drops of lavender essential oil
Directions
- Mix the ingredients together and apply to the length of your hair.
- Apply to the scalp as well and treat yourself to a scalp massage.
- Twist and pin up and cover your hair with a disposable cap. Leave on for 45 – 60 minutes or overnight.
- Shampoo and deep condition as usual.
Keep in mind glycerine can irritate the skin so use it in moderation and stick to the recipe recommendations.
When Is Glycerine Bad for Hair?
- Since glycerine draws moisture from the air, if you live in a dry, desert, and/or humid environment, it will wick moisture from your hair causing further dryness.
- If you have colored hair, do not use glycerine until you have washed your hair at least once after coloring as it will penetrate the hair shaft and strip away the color.
- Glycerine does not do well on relaxed hair and chemically treated hair.
- If you have oily hair, you shouldn’t be using glycerine as it might make it oilier. Aloe vera gel works just fine for your hair type in this case.
What Brand of Glycerine for Hair?
The best type of glycerine is vegetable glycerine. Stay away from synthetic glycerine obtained from petroleum.
The most popular vegetable glycerine brands are Heritage Store Vegetable Glycerin and Now Solutions Vegetable Glycerine.
You can also buy a product combination of rosewater and vegetable glycerin such as Heritage Store Rosewater & Glycerine.
Heritage Store Vegetable Glycerin
NOW Solutions Glycerine Vegetable
You can find the vegetable glycerine brands recommended above as well as similar brands at the following locations:-
FAQs About Glycerine for Hair
Can I Apply Glycerine Overnight?
Mixed in with a deep conditioner, yes you can apply glycerine and leave it on your hair overnight then rinse out the next morning. It shouldn’t have any adverse effects on hair.
Does Glycerine Grow Hair?
Glycerine by itself does not grow hair. However, as I said above, it enhances hair growth goals. When included in your hair care regimen, it enhances moisture retention.
Moisture retention means less dry hair, less breakage, and split ends so you preserve your ends, which are the oldest part of your hair.
What Are the Side Effects of Glycerine?
When applied topically on hair and scalp, glycerine is well tolerated and shouldn’t cause any problems on the scalp.
References
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