Can we discuss Glycerin?

[Bublin]

A couple of us have started a discussion about Glycerin on another thread but i thought i'd bring it to a wider audience.

My hair defintely dislikes with a passion protein and glycerin. My hair instantly turns to straw and breakage follows.

With the protein i can understand why this would happen and now class myself as protein sensitive but why does my hair hate a humectant in both summer and winter?

Is it because by definition glycerine is a trihydric alcohol?

An alcohol which can ultimately have a drying effects. Obviously this doesn't affect the majority of the people on LHCF but some of us are advised to use glycerin (and protein) to cure dry hair and the more we use the drier our hair gets.

I am no Bio Chemist so maybe those in the know can chime in.

 

[Bublin]

Bumping......can anyone give any insight to the type of alcohol in glycerin?

 

[Kindheart]

Im not sure about alchol in glycerin,i know there is an animal and vegetable kind ...
Personally i hate it ,it makes my hair clump,gummy,slimy and dry .

 

[qchelle]

Are you using pure glycerin?

When you use the glycerin, is it humid outside? Not just hot, but humid. If it's hot outside (summer), but the air around you is dry (not humid), then having glycerin in your hair will make it dry. It’s also very viscous, so it can make your hair sticky if it’s not diluted with something (like water, aloe vera juice, etc).

Trihydric just means it's an alcohol with 3 hyrdoxyl groups (-OH) in its chemical formula. Almost all alcohols are hygroscopic AKA able to attract water molecules from the surrounding environment AKA a humectant AKA has the potential to have a drying/dehydrating effect. So yes, glycerin will definitely make your hair extremely dry (because its an alcohol) if there's no water around for it to attract to.

Another website is saying (so I don't know how true it is lol) that the best time to use glycerin is when the Dew point is between 40-60. And when the Dew point is higher than 60, it may make your hair frizzy due to there being too much water in the air.

 

[StarScream35]

I wanted to chime in on this because I was about to give up on glycerin some time ago. I started off buying pure vegetable glycerin and mixing it with water~~~wasn't working. So, next I started using S-Curl. The funny thing about S-Curl was it worked and then just kinda stopped and started drying my hair out. I said I was done with glycerin but one day I was in walmart and saw Wave Nouveau. I had heard of this product, read about it and knew it was glycerin based as well. I was at war with myself. Part of me was like "Get it girlfriend. You won't know till you try it" the other part was like "Now you know glycerin ain't your thing girlfriend". So I got it and voila~~months later I'm still using it and it really moisturizes the heck outta my hair, especially my kitchens. If something is keeping my kitchens moisturized then that's a big deal. Why WN worked and S-Curl didn't beats me.

 

[Carrie A]

Hopefully someone will chime in. I've been on hair boards for a while and I'm just accepting the fact that glycerin doesn't work for me. I started out with all the usual production recommended on Nappturality- most with glycerin and got the result you describe. I was disappointed that they didn't work. This past year I've been trying many new lines and sure enough...same situation. The conditioners with glycerin lead to dry straw like hair. I used then in varying humidity levels, with baggying etc.

Only after re-ordering the non glycerin products from the same line did I really see the difference. I've been trying to figure out an explanation too.

 

[yorkpatties]

As little glycerin I use in a lot of water, it still left my hair feeling sticky and dry. I threw my veggie glycerin in the trash.

 

[g.lo]

glycerin doesn't work for me either!! and it is weird because the weather in Uk is humid, so i don't understand why my hair hate it with passion!!

 

[StarScream35]

I will say this, I'm stuck between stretching relaxers and going natural. Wave Nouveau seems to do weird things with my relaxed hair. Like it seems to make it feel waxy but on my natural hair it feels amazing!!

 

[WriterGirl]

When I first started transitioning, my hair told me real quick that it didn't like glycerin.

I was using the vegetable glycerin. Not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[divachyk]

I used Scurl in 2010 when I first joined. My hair did ok with it. I wasn't in love with it but it worked best as a wash day leave in on dry hair but as Brighteyes35 mentioned, it just kind of stopped working. I know that glycerine is to be use in certain weather conditions. Even with doing everything right and using in optimal weather conditions, it simply did not work for my hair. For old time sake, I revisited Scurl in 2011 with the same sticky, tangly results. So with that, it's a wrap.

 

[silenttullip]

I'm not sure of the why but I do know humidity has a lot to do with it. If you have dry summers and winters it could have a lot to do with it.
As said above I think glycerin and protein have a lot to do with what it's mixed with and what kind it is... Like a poster above (in a way) I hate scurl... It dried me out. I had a glycerin gel and it dried me out... Ready to give up my lil sis and you ladies told me about HS14in1 TADA Love at first site!!! It gives my hair a silkiness I didn't even have when I was relaxed. Same for protein... Soy protein like in vo5 passion fruit RUINS my hair everytime! AOBGA Cream Rinse is a light BUT strong protein that bathes my hair in blue green algae and fills it with loveliness. Vo5 pomegranate & grapeseed does a great job but I think has silk protein... It's a little gentler than bga... But It's working with 3 types of protein (I believe) so some proteins may be great for you ie: silk some may be horrible ie: soy some may be amazing ie: blue green algae. But it's just my eperience... So I'd say before you give up on glycerin or protein try something light. Also maybe mix it with something moisturizing possibly. If after a little more trying it doesn't work then you probably are right about being protein sensitive and glycerin may just not work for you. I know I'm like that with castor oil and heavy exposure to protein but in my situation I still need protein but a very light amount but frequent.

 

[brittle_hair]

I'm alright with humectants/glycerin products: HS14N1, WN, SCURL. They're are the only moisturisers that can soften my natural 4c hair. Protein on the other hand is something I can't deal with - I never got the Aphogee hype. It does not stop my breakage in its tracks, I suffered a lot of hair loss from using protein a few years ago.

I can get away with light proteins like the one in the orange Skala bottle and ORS, but they don't create miracles on my hair and yet every time I see someone on this forum say they are experiencing breakage everyone chimes into advise them to use protein. I think I must be missing something...

Either way I am yet to discover a product that stops breakage in its tracks.

 

[TopShelf]

She is a memeber here and she talks about glycerin,dryness and dew points, which for me has proven to be true

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA4TCEYAdZ4

 

[Bublin]

Are you using pure glycerin?

When you use the glycerin, is it humid outside? Not just hot, but humid. If it's hot outside (summer), but the air around you is dry (not humid), then having glycerin in your hair will make it dry. It’s also very viscous, so it can make your hair sticky if it’s not diluted with something (like water, aloe vera juice, etc).

Trihydric just means it's an alcohol with 3 hyrdoxyl groups (-OH) in its chemical formula. Almost all alcohols are hygroscopic AKA able to attract water molecules from the surrounding environment AKA a humectant AKA has the potential to have a drying/dehydrating effect. So yes, glycerin will definitely make your hair extremely dry (because its an alcohol) if there's no water around for it to attract to.

Another website is saying (so I don't know how true it is lol) that the best time to use glycerin is when the Dew point is between 40-60. And when the Dew point is higher than 60, it may make your hair frizzy due to there being too much water in the air.

I have never used glycerin straight only ever in products. If it is listed it makes my hair dry, strawlike and iccky feeling. Much the same protein does.

Thank you for explaination.

 

[Bublin]

Are you using pure glycerin?

When you use the glycerin, is it humid outside? Not just hot, but humid. If it's hot outside (summer), but the air around you is dry (not humid), then having glycerin in your hair will make it dry. It’s also very viscous, so it can make your hair sticky if it’s not diluted with something (like water, aloe vera juice, etc).

Trihydric just means it's an alcohol with 3 hyrdoxyl groups (-OH) in its chemical formula. Almost all alcohols are hygroscopic AKA able to attract water molecules from the surrounding environment AKA a humectant AKA has the potential to have a drying/dehydrating effect. So yes, glycerin will definitely make your hair extremely dry (because its an alcohol) if there's no water around for it to attract to.

Another website is saying (so I don't know how true it is lol) that the best time to use glycerin is when the Dew point is between 40-60. And when the Dew point is higher than 60, it may make your hair frizzy due to there being too much water in the air.

She is a memeber here and she talks about glycerin,dryness and dew points, which for me has proven to be true

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA4TCEYAdZ4

Lawd have mercy - there is actually an App for Dew points?? So what if the dew point changes and you have inappropriate product in your hair????

 

[coolsista-paris]

hi Bublin : i used to use glycerin (i even have a big bottle remaining). I live in France, weather is weard...
But my hair liked it when i got the mixture well (i should have measured cause i cant make it as gooood as i did it once) i made a spritz with:
-Aloe vera gen
-A little glycerin
-water
-oil (i used sweet almond oil)

My cousin made almost the same with olive oil: wonders

 

[Bublin]

I'm alright with humectants/glycerin products: HS14N1, WN, SCURL. They're are the only moisturisers that can soften my natural 4c hair. Protein on the other hand is something I can't deal with - I never got the Aphogee hype. It does not stop my breakage in its tracks, I suffered a lot of hair loss from using protein a few years ago.

I can get away with light proteins like the one in the orange Skala bottle and ORS, but they don't create miracles on my hair and yet every time I see someone on this forum say they are experiencing breakage everyone chimes into advise them to use protein. I think I must be missing something...

Either way I am yet to discover a product that stops breakage in its tracks.

You are not missing anything, i think the majority of the ladies here have a positive experience with protein and glycerin but we have to listen to our own hair and using these products isn't always the answer. If you are using Protein and see no results/change then go back to basics and use moisturising products only.
I remember when i used the Aphogee hardcore treatment - my hair broke off even more . Same thing happened when i used all glycerin based products .


Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this thread. I'm glad for those that have confirmed that i'm not going mad and that some of us here cannot get on with glycerin. This makes things both harder and easier for me. At last i know what to look out for on product labels but it narrows things down even more for me.

 

[Bublin]

hi @Bublin : i used to use glycerin (i even have a big bottle remaining). I live in France, weather is weard...
But my hair liked it when i got the mixture well (i should have measured cause i cant make it as gooood as i did it once) i made a spritz with:
-Aloe vera gen
-A little glycerin
-water
-oil (i used sweet almond oil)

My cousin made almost the same with olive oil: wonders

Well my hair hates Aloe Vera too . When i first used it i loved it for it's detangling properties but over time my hair dried out. I think that concoction would break my hair off. Thank you for the suggestion coolsista-paris though.

Just to make a list, my hair hates and reacts the same to.....
Aloe Vera gel or juice
Glycerin
Protein (sensitive)
Shea Butter

I wonder if there is a common factor in all these?

 

[Carrie A]

@Bublin So is your hair fine, medium, course, low porosity or high porosity? What about curl pattern? I'm a low porosity, fine yet dense 3C/4A gal.


What works best for me are cream consistency, thinner combinations with oils. I love the Moringa Tree Ghee and Coco detangling Ghee from qhemet. I also like the Komaza care moisturizers.

 

[Bublin]

@Bublin So is your hair fine, medium, course, low porosity or high porosity? What about curl pattern? I'm a low porosity, fine yet dense 3C/4A gal.


What works best for me are cream consistency, thinner combinations with oils. I love the Moringa Tree Ghee and Coco detangling Ghee from qhemet. I also like the Komaza care moisturizers.

Hey @Carrie A
My hair is very fine, low porosity, very small defined corkscrew curls, dense, tangles up soooo easily (wash and go's are no-no), 4a with some 3c, coarse.
Yes Yes, my hair responds very well to creamy products and have found a shampoo, deep conditioners and leave-in but i'm still on the search for a creamy, truely moisturising moisturiser! Recently found that it loves silicones. At the moment i am using a very watered down leave-in spritz and sealing with Castor Oil mix but the spritz is not cutting it really.

eta - I peeked at your album and our hair looks similar but yours has a more silky texture, so you are more 3c and i am more 4a.

I looked up Komaza and alot of their products have glycerin. I'm not sure i can spend any more money on ingredients i know my hair doesn't like.

QB products have glycerin in them.

 

[gennatay]

I prefer product with glycerin, my hair loves it. I get less breakage and it stays moisturized. I never just use glycerin and water though. Currently I'm using Hairveda and Wen, both have glycerin as one of their top ingredients.
I usually do a wash and go or a flat twist out. For second day hair, I just spritz with plain water.

 

[Carrie A]

Hey @Carrie A
My hair is very fine, low porosity, very small defined corkscrew curls, dense, tangles up soooo easily (wash and go's are no-no), 4a with some 3c, coarse.
Yes Yes, my hair responds very well to creamy products and have found a shampoo, deep conditioners and leave-in but i'm still on the search for a creamy, truely moisturising moisturiser! Recently found that it loves silicones. At the moment i am using a very watered down leave-in spritz and sealing with Castor Oil mix but the spritz is not cutting it really.

eta - I peeked at your album and our hair looks similar but yours has a more silky texture, so you are more 3c and i am more 4a.

I looked up Komaza and alot of their products have glycerin. I'm not sure i can spend any more money on ingredients i know my hair doesn't like.

QB products have glycerin in them.

The Komaza care I use is the "coconut" line Coconut Curl Spray, Coconut Curl Lotion. I also got a sample of the hair milk. These don't contain glycerin. This kit is supposed to be for type 3 but I don't think it matters. I like having a glycerin free option. As for Qhemet I like the Ghee products and the Aethiopika twist butter because they are "glycerin" free.
To break that down further Aethiopika has no glycerin. The ghee products have only a preservative Ethylhexylglycerine as the last ingrediant. This is a synthetic chemical which doesn't act at all like the vegetable glycerin you see listed in other products. Trust me. For example I tried the classic Qhemet Heavy Cream and Butter Cream products when I first went natural. They were ok for me but I'm so glad I went back years later to try the ghees. I can feel the difference.

I did a search of I hate glycerin threads and someone commented on Darcy Botanicals as being glycerin free.

 

[divachyk]

Simply put for me, glycerine is too selective on when it works. I need a product that will work even when the humidity, dew point, temp or whatever changes throughout the day. Plus, I tried more than just Scurl although I failed to mention it earlier. I tried HS14N1 and WN. Nope to all of it.

I have low porosity hair.

 

[Meritamen]

I have also come to terms with the fact that my hair hates heavy duty proteins and large amounts of glycerin in hair products. My hair can handle some glycerin esp. in conditioners and deep conditioners but large amounts in products that will be left in my hair is a no-no. It feels great at first but after a day my hair feels like it has a gritty coating on it and is very dry.

 

[virtuenow]

Glycerin sucks the moisture out of my hair. Products w/glycerin high on the list have never worked for my hair. My hair does enjoy protein-- especially med/mild protein like Aubrey Organics GPB and Nexxus Emergencee.

 

[Arian]

I like to use glycerin and water as a spritz, but since I got color, my hair has given it the cold shoulder, lol. I'm definitely letting the color grow out, so that I can go back to using it. However, QOAHC works. Only thing about it is before color, it was my holy grail and was consistent. Nowadays, it works sometimes and sometimes not. I attribute that to my hair color though, not the glycerin in the product. However, I will pay close attention to how both products act during the spring/summer months since I got color toward the fall as the humidity dropped.

Sent from my ADR6400L using ADR6400L

 

[Bublin]

The Komaza care I use is the "coconut" line Coconut Curl Spray, Coconut Curl Lotion. I also got a sample of the hair milk. These don't contain glycerin. This kit is supposed to be for type 3 but I don't think it matters. I like having a glycerin free option. As for Qhemet I like the Ghee products and the Aethiopika twist butter because they are "glycerin" free.
To break that down further Aethiopika has no glycerin. The ghee products have only a preservative Ethylhexylglycerine as the last ingrediant. This is a synthetic chemical which doesn't act at all like the vegetable glycerin you see listed in other products. Trust me. For example I tried the classic Qhemet Heavy Cream and Butter Cream products when I first went natural. They were ok for me but I'm so glad I went back years later to try the ghees. I can feel the difference.

I did a search of I hate glycerin threads and someone commented on Darcy Botanicals as being glycerin free.

Ah i took a close look at the popular Heavy Cream and Butter ones.

 

[Bublin]

Glycerin sucks the moisture out of my hair. Products w/glycerin high on the list have never worked for my hair. My hair does enjoy protein-- especially med/mild protein like Aubrey Organics GPB and Nexxus Emergencee.

virtuenow do you have any suggestions for a daily moisturiser?

 

[Bublin]

I have also come to terms with the fact that my hair hates heavy duty proteins and large amounts of glycerin in hair products. My hair can handle some glycerin esp. in conditioners and deep conditioners but large amounts in products that will be left in my hair is a no-no. It feels great at first but after a day my hair feels like it has a gritty coating on it and is very dry.

Ravengirl
Exactly! Do you have any suggestions for a moisturiser to use inbetween washes?