Humectants as substitute for glycerin

[dinaaike]

Has anyone had good results and moisture with non-glycerin humectants?
I like avocado butter as a suggestion. I'm dying to try honeyquat.
Any other suggestions?

 

[JustKiya]

Has anyone had good results and moisture with non-glycerin humectants?
I like avocado butter as a suggestion. I'm dying to try honeyquat.
Any other suggestions?

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the honeyquat. I have a bottle of sadly neglected glycerin in my cabinet - I'll just use it to make butters/creams, and use the honeyquat in all of my liquid concoctions...

Didn't know avacado butter was a humectant!

 

[morehairplease]

I plan on using a mixture of honeyquat and aloe vera and seeing how that helps with my moisture problem.

 

[dinaaike]

Didn't know avacado butter was a humectant!

It sure isn't, is it. I must be mentally reciting my next shopping list.
But I am looking at humectants that I can pronounce that can at least fool me into thinking they are somewhat of natural origin. The Hexanediols and Caprylyl Glycols scare me a little, and I wouldn't know where to find sorbitol.

 

[JustKiya]

It sure isn't, is it. I must be mentally reciting my next shopping list.
But I am looking at humectants that I can pronounce that can at least fool me into thinking they are somewhat of natural origin. The Hexanediols and Caprylyl Glycols scare me a little, and I wouldn't know where to find sorbitol.

:lol See!! Was about to have me mixing up all sorts of stuff!

Sorbitol is a fancy word for sugar, isn't it? Yeah, it is (I love wiki) - try a health food store - or heck, the grocery store might have it as a liquid sugar alternative with the Splenda & SweetnLow.....

 

[Evazhair]

I have had decent results with honey. Honeyquat is definitely on my pj wish list. Molasses was good also, but I have heard that it also acts like a protein.

 

[naturalgurl]

I have had decent results with honey. Honeyquat is definitely on my pj wish list. Molasses was good also, but I have heard that it also acts like a protein.

Honey is excellent! I use it in my moisturizing DC which is a blend of honey and EVOO. Molasses, chile my hair LOVES molasses. It strengthens the hair as well. Another humectant is castor oil. Yes, that heavy OIL is also a humectant. I use it to slick my hair down. I DC with honey, use pure glycerin throughout the hair and then seal with castor. That's a rap! I also slather my hair with aloe vera gel at night. Is it a moisturizer or more like a protein? It seems to do both as well.

 

[ajoyfuljoy]

any reason why your avoiding glycerin? I just made my first spray concoction with it and I am in love

 

[dinaaike]

any reason why your avoiding glycerin? I just made my first spray concoction with it and I am in love

I'm not avoiding glycerin. In winter months when there is less moisture to pull out of the air, it can pull moistures from hair strands instead, causing more dryness than it stops. So I'm trying to figure out what other alternatives there are that I haven't considered yet.

 

[naturalgurl]

I'm not avoiding glycerin. In winter months when there is less moisture to pull out of the air, it can pull moistures from hair strands instead, causing more dryness than it stops. So I'm trying to figure out what other alternatives there are that I haven't considered yet.

I've always wondered why people talked about glycerin and harsh winters. Now I know, thanks for that tid bit of info! I LOVE THIS PLACE!

 

[ajoyfuljoy]

I'm not avoiding glycerin. In winter months when there is less moisture to pull out of the air, it can pull moistures from hair strands instead, causing more dryness than it stops. So I'm trying to figure out what other alternatives there are that I haven't considered yet.

Does that happen though if your a frequent cowasher and if you dilute your glycerin?

For instance, water is on my head at least twice a week and glycerin is only 1/5 of my mixture.

I've heard that glycerin will even pull moisture out of the air if you sit it in a jar by itself with the top off, so to me, that meant that i could use it year round and be all right, but those are just my thoughts.

I used it a couple of times already and I love it, it's spring, but I been wetting my hair like crazy, and my hair has never felt softer.

 

[naturalgurl]

Does that happen though if your a frequent cowasher and if you dilute your glycerin?

For instance, water is on my head at least twice a week and glycerin is only 1/5 of my mixture.

I've heard that glycerin will even pull moisture out of the air if you sit it in a jar by itself with the top off, so to me, that meant that i could use it year round and be all right, but those are just my thoughts.

I used it a couple of times already and I love it, it's spring, but I been wetting my hair like crazy, and my hair has never felt softer.

It's true! This is what sold me on using it like I do.

 

[ajoyfuljoy]

It's true! This is what sold me on using it like I do.

That's good to know that you use it! I will be using this a lot cuz it makes my hair feel great!

I use

one part water
three parts aloe vera
one part glycerin
and a little bit of SAA

to me, this is diluted enough to combat the problems ladies have when they use it half glycerin, half something else, to me it seems like that's when it would become too much of a good thing.

But it's been cold as crazy here in Chi, and my hair has never felt better.

But I know this thread is about alternatives, sorry OP, I didn't mean to hijack it!

 

[CocoGlow]

Since glycerin is a humectant and so is honey, honeyquat, castor oil, sodium lactate, Sodium PCA, etc, wouldn't those other humectants cause problems in the Winter just like glycerin?

I've read that honeyquat's humectant qualities are even greater than glycerin, so does it have the same effect in the Winter?

I love glycerin , but I did have a hard time using it in the Winter..maybe I need to adjust the ratios depending on the season..I do want to try honeyquat though since it's supposed to be better than glycerin.....

 

[ajoyfuljoy]

What is honeyquat? I'm learning something new everyday on this board.

 

[dinaaike]

Since glycerin is a humectant and so is honey, honeyquat, castor oil, sodium lactate, Sodium PCA, etc, wouldn't those other humectants cause problems in the Winter just like glycerin?

I've read that honeyquat's humectant qualities are even greater than glycerin, so does it have the same effect in the Winter?

I love glycerin , but I did have a hard time using it in the Winter..maybe I need to adjust the ratios depending on the season..I do want to try honeyquat though since it's supposed to be better than glycerin.....

Great suggestions! I actually have some sodium PCA. I don't know why, but I'm just...not...feelin' it . Thanks for the list.

Honeyquat does boast some pretty special features, that's why my inner PJ is rattling her cage. Also, I think my current glycerin supply is expired. It just doesn't work the same as it once did. I have to use it almost like a lotion now to get about half the effect.

YOU MAKE AN EXCELLENT POINT! If all humectants pull moisture, won't they continue to pull it from non-air sources? Hm. So now what? Should I just carry around a mist bottle or move to Florida?

 

[dinaaike]

Does that happen though if your a frequent cowasher and if you dilute your glycerin?

For instance, water is on my head at least twice a week and glycerin is only 1/5 of my mixture.

I've heard that glycerin will even pull moisture out of the air if you sit it in a jar by itself with the top off, so to me, that meant that i could use it year round and be all right, but those are just my thoughts.

I used it a couple of times already and I love it, it's spring, but I been wetting my hair like crazy, and my hair has never felt softer.

You know, every year there was a "season" where I suffered breakage. I didn't change my products, and I didn't do anything different, because I never knew what was happening. My hair just went from touchably soft to coarse and started breaking. I now think that may have had something to do with glycerin. Maybe I'll co-wash daily in winter and see what happens.

If my theory is right, the glycerin ratio may not have played that big a role.

 

[JustKiya]

It's all about the ratios, as several of ya'll have said. In the summer, I use maybe 1 part glycerin/humectant to 2-4 parts water. In the winter, I use maybe 1 part glycerin/humectant to 3-6 parts water. StaSofFro is too much glycerin (as is Greg/Fred Juice) for me, year round......

 

[frizzy]

Look into vegetable lecithin, I like it a lot. The bottle I have came from From Nature With Love. I mix the lecithin with other creamy leave-ins. The stuff is really thick, but I have emulsified in my palms and put on hair as is too.

 

[JustKiya]

Look into vegetable lecithin, I like it a lot. The bottle I have came from From Nature With Love. I mix the lecithin with other creamy leave-ins. The stuff is really thick, but I have emulsified in my palms and put on hair as is too.

See, and I was just reading the thread about Ojon and this was one of the ingredients listed...... hrrrrmmmmmmmmmmm........

 

[frizzy]

Here is a profile I swiped from mountainrose herbs:

Cosmetic Use
Lecithin is an emollient, which is a softening and soothing agent. In addition, it has magnificent moisturizing properties, and helps to hydrate the skin. The phospholipids naturally present in Lecithin are able to attract water from the air, and in doing so, increase hydration. This makes it an excellent additive for restorative creams, or for products designed for mature, dry, or overworked skin. It also has the unique ability to deeply penetrate the skin, and carry substances directly to the cells and the bloodstream. Because of this, it may assist the body in absorbing other properties as well. If a product is created with natural and healing ingredients, then the addition of Lecithin would actually bring those beneficial properties to the cellular level. Lecithin also has emulsifying, stabilizing, thickening, and suspending qualities. With these amazing and varied capabilities, the addition of lecithin could assist in the therapeutic and medicinal properties of your body care products.
Liquid Lecithin may be easily added to your products by simply blending it into your recipe. The amount of Lecithin used depends upon the recipe type and size, and on the product thickness desired. However, a general rule is 1/2-1 Tablespoon for a 19 oz batch of cream. We recommend experimenting with the amount in small batches.

 

[wonderstar]

What is honeyquat? I'm learning something new everyday on this board.

I would like to know too.

 

[cutenappygrl]

I've just started using honey and I like it - don't use too much or your hair will be hard as a brick. I had issues w/glycerine - mainly it causing buildup and needing to clarify more often. It seemed like it would work for months then - it just stopped working for me. So I never went back to it.

 

[dinaaike]

Honeyquat is quaternized honey. Basically they make it easier to work with for cosmetic use. I'm hoping they left th softening and anti-bacterial behind and took the sticky out.

 

[Brownie518]

I would like to know too.

Here is the info on Honeyquat from www.lotioncrafter.com, which is where I get mine:

Honeyquat
CAS No. 282658-43-5, 7732-18-5
Honeyquat is a naturally derived quaternized conditioning agent made from honey with excellent moisture binding capabilities (far more powerful than glycerin) for use on skin and hair in both leave-on and rinse-off applications. It is substantive and moisturizing and with it's low molecular weight, able to penetrate hair to provide its moisturizing benefits over time while providing shine and luster. Honeyquat will improve wet-combability of the hair and reduce static buildup when dry combing.

It's excellent. You should definitely give it a try.

 

[morehairplease]

Here is the info on Honeyquat from www.lotioncrafter.com, which is where I get mine:

Honeyquat
CAS No. 282658-43-5, 7732-18-5
Honeyquat is a naturally derived quaternized conditioning agent made from honey with excellent moisture binding capabilities (far more powerful than glycerin) for use on skin and hair in both leave-on and rinse-off applications. It is substantive and moisturizing and with it's low molecular weight, able to penetrate hair to provide its moisturizing benefits over time while providing shine and luster. Honeyquat will improve wet-combability of the hair and reduce static buildup when dry combing.

It's excellent. You should definitely give it a try.

I order the 2 oz. size yesterday so hopefully it will work wonders for me.

 

[wonderstar]

Here is the info on Honeyquat from www.lotioncrafter.com, which is where I get mine:

Honeyquat
CAS No. 282658-43-5, 7732-18-5
Honeyquat is a naturally derived quaternized conditioning agent made from honey with excellent moisture binding capabilities (far more powerful than glycerin) for use on skin and hair in both leave-on and rinse-off applications. It is substantive and moisturizing and with it's low molecular weight, able to penetrate hair to provide its moisturizing benefits over time while providing shine and luster. Honeyquat will improve wet-combability of the hair and reduce static buildup when dry combing.

It's excellent. You should definitely give it a try.

I probably should. I didn't like the regular honey or glycerin in my spritz.

Thanks to you and Dinaaike for explaining what it is.

 

[Nola Darling]

LOL, I post this everywhere....Sweet Almond Oil. It moisturizes like CRAZY!

 

[Kurlee]

I have had decent results with honey. Honeyquat is definitely on my pj wish list. Molasses was good also, but I have heard that it also acts like a protein.

Girl your hair is beautiful!