I thought at this time we could speak about petroleum/mineral oil and why it has such abad reputation within the pure hair group. There are many attention-grabbing misconceptions on the market about petroleum/mineral oil. First, let have a look on the definition of mineral oil.
WHAT It’s MINERAL OIL AND The place DOES IT COME FROM?
Mineral oil is a colorless and odorless oil that made from petroleum. Is is a by-product of the distillation of petroleum when gasoline is produced. It has also long been used as a typical ingredient in lotions, creams, ointments, and cosmetics. It’s a lightweight, inexpensive and helps scale back water loss from the pores and skin by blocking the pores on our skin and scalp.
So there you have it. Mineral oil is a by-product of gasoline distillation and it’s extensively utilized in a variety of magnificence products. I share two theories on whymineral oil has a nasty popularity.
1. Advertising
As an entire, our society is much more health aware than we used to be. Typically our obsession with finding the healthiest merchandise leaves us slightly susceptible to intelligent entrepreneurs. Do you suppose twice about buying merchandise with sulfates and silicones? That is no accident. If marketerscan paint a certain ingredient as the bad guy, they’ll simply get you to hand over your trusted Miss Jessie Buttercream for a brand new product made with out that ingredient.
If marketers can paint a certain ingredient as the unhealthy guy, they’ll easily get you to give up your trusted Miss Jessie Buttercream for a brand new product made with out that ingredient.
The most dangerous of claims made about mineral oil is that it comprises carcinogens. It’s true that some petroleum by-merchandise include carcinogens, however the mineral oil that used in the cosmetic trade is refined, purified & regulated by the FDA. This and a number of other unfavourable claims about mineral oil really have no factual basis.
2. Widespread Pure HAIR PRACTICES
Mineral oil is an occlusive agent it creates a barrier that seals off your hair and pores and skin from air and water.
Now, let journey again in time pre-pure hair explosion. Right now a overwhelming majority of merchandise for black women hair contained mineral oil. For instance, merchandise similar to Blue magic and Pink moisturizer. This was a period where many black women were primarily heat styling or relaxing their hair. Again then it made sense to make use of mineral oil heavy products since water was the enemy to our hairstyles.
In the present day, the occlusive nature of mineral oil could be problematic for women who prefer to re-moisturize their hair typically between washes, since mineral oil locks water out. Additionally, the barrier mineral oil creates is just not so easy to take away. It requires washing the hair with a shampoo containing sulfates. Once more, probably problematic for naturals who primarily use gentle cleaners comparable to sulfate free shampoo or co-wash cleansers.
My final thoughts on the subject are as follows. If your favourite pure hair merchandise comprise mineral oil, and you might be pleased with the results they produce then there isn’t any cause to cease utilizing them. I would just keep in thoughts the occlusive nature of mineral oil and construction your hair regimen accordingly.
