What is mineral oil?
- Mineral oil is a product derived from crude oil (petroleum.) It is typically used as a lubricant for machinery.
What are some other names for mineral oil?
- Petrolatum, paraffinum liquidum, petroleum
Why can mineral oil be icky for hair?
- It can clog the scalp pores and the hair shaft, preventing absorption of moisture. It leaves a heavy coating on the hair shaft that is more difficult to wash out than lighter oils like coconut oil. It can also leave the hair with a dry feeling.
- It can prevent the scalp from naturally releasing sebum (scalp oil), causing scalp conditions. It is not easily absorbed by the skin or hair.
What typical products contain mineral oil?
- Vaseline
- Baby oil
- Hair grease
If mineral oil can be so detrimental to the hair, then why is it used in so many hair products?
- Mineral oil is cheap and abundant. A lot of hair product lines will use the cheapest ingredients in their products. This is why most hair products containing mineral oil are cheaper than hair products without mineral oil. Mineral oil is a cheap substitute for oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, and many essential oils that the hair shaft and the scalp can readily absorb.
- Mineral oil is cheap and abundant. A lot of hair product lines will use the cheapest ingredients in their products. This is why most hair products containing mineral oil are cheaper than hair products without mineral oil. Mineral oil is a cheap substitute for oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, and many essential oils that the hair shaft and the scalp can readily absorb.
Do you use products with mineral oil? How has it helped or harmed you?
3 comments:
My scalp can't take mineral oil so I don't use it but, I remember a few yrs back that a lot women were using vaseline to baggy with. They said it gave them great results. So maybe if someone lived in a VERY drying environment mineral oil or petrolatum wouldn't be so bad if they used a great moisturizer underneath...??
That's very possible Jarmelia :) I guess it also depends on your hair's likes and dislikes too.
This is a great post. Because petrolatum and all its derivatives sit on top of the hair, this stuff doesn't work for me. I haven't used it in years. I prefer natural products that penetrate the hair shaft; they are just better for me and my hair.
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