So if it's not a moisturizer, what IS it?

[Rikinkkulus]

Hey everybody I thought I'd throw this up before I hit the shower and come back. I have a problem. I thought I knew something and I come to find it just ain't true. And it's affecting my hair. I created this thread to help all confused peoples like myself find out what natural products are moisturizers, are used for protein treatments, what's a humectant, and more.

I always am in the produce section of the supermarket like "Hm, I know this will moisturize my hair!" I'll have a disaster and someone on here will be like "No girl, that's protein." Help me, please.

Leave your knowledge here and I'll put it up for all to see. Subscribe!

Moisturizers
Aloe Vera
Water

Proteins/Protein-like behavior
Algae/Algin
Cholesterol
Coconut milk
Corn
Eggs
Gelatin
Henna
Mayonnaise
Milk (Casein)
Molasses
Oat/Oat Flour
Placenta
Rice
Seaweed
Silk
Soy
Wheat
Whey
Yogurt

Humectants
Agave Nectar/Syrup
Castor Oil
Glycerin
Honey
Molasses
Panthenol

Sealants
Avocado Oil*
Castor Oil
Coconut Oil*
Jojoba Oil
Olive Oil
(* Seal and penetrate the hair shaft)

Ceramides

Here I'll put all the things people have asked for information on. Any sista who has the low down on what a product really is can help.

Research needed!
Avocadoes
Bananas
Peanut Butter


Please remember I mean natural products, things we can buy at Shoppers and Giant, not at Sally's. So help out!

 

[ms.blue]

Olive oil as a protein? I believe no oils are actually proteins and the one oil that has protein characteristics is coconut oil.
Jojoba oil mimics the scalp sebum that norishes the hair follicule and strands.

 

[virtuenow]

The oils I would put under the section for "sealers" (and if used on wet hair, some are softeners). Perhaps eggs and mayo should go under protein. Glycerin under humectants.

 

[GeorginaSparks]

The oils I would put under the section for "sealers" (and if used on wet hair, some are softeners). Perhaps eggs and mayo should go under protein. Glycerin under humectants.

i agree with all of this.

 

[Rikinkkulus]

The oils I would put under the section for "sealers" (and if used on wet hair, some are softeners). Perhaps eggs and mayo should go under protein. Glycerin under humectants.

Okay, thanks for this!

 

[lamaria211]

Honey is a good humectant

 

[Aireen]

Maybe add olive and avocado oil then put asterisks next to the former two as well as coconut oil since these oils "seal" but also penetrate the hair.

 

[PJaye]

Sources of Protein/Can Behave Like a Protein
Soy
Oat/Oat Flour
Milk (Casein)
Whey
Gelatin
Algae/Algin
Coconut Milk
Aloe Vera
Placenta
Corn
Yogurt
Rice
Wheat
Cholesterol
Molasses
Henna
Seaweed
Silk

Humectants
Castor oil
Panthenol

 

[Rikinkkulus]

PJaye Thank you! I wanted to ask as well, castor oil is a sealant too, right?

 

[GeorginaSparks]

PJaye Thank you! I wanted to ask as well, castor oil is a sealant too, right?

PBI, yes it is.

 

[virtuenow]

Wow, the list really developed overnight. I wanted to say castor oil is a humectant, because that's how it behaves, but I wasn't sure of the proper classification (humectant or sealant). I'm glad you put it in that category- its so appropriate, and it is the best humectant and sealer. Go ahead and put a "*" next to castor oil!

 

[suns4i6e]

Leave your knowledge here and I'll put it up for all to see. Subscribe!

Moisturizers
Water

Proteins/Protein-like behavior
Algae/Algin
Aloe Vera
Cholesterol
Coconut milk
Corn
Eggs
Gelatin
Henna
Mayonnaise
Milk (Casein)
Molasses
Oat/Oat Flour
Placenta
Rice
Seaweed
Silk
Soy
Wheat
Whey
Yogurt



Due to its high water content, I do not believe Aloe Vera should be listed as a protein or protein like. I believe it exhibits more moisturizing behavior.

 

[Rikinkkulus]

Leave your knowledge here and I'll put it up for all to see. Subscribe!

Moisturizers
Water

Proteins/Protein-like behavior
Algae/Algin
Aloe Vera
Cholesterol
Coconut milk
Corn
Eggs
Gelatin
Henna
Mayonnaise
Milk (Casein)
Molasses
Oat/Oat Flour
Placenta
Rice
Seaweed
Silk
Soy
Wheat
Whey
Yogurt



Due to its high water content, I do not believe Aloe Vera should be listed as a protein or protein like. I believe it exhibits more moisturizing behavior.

I was thinking the same. I was hoping a few ladies would come in and school me. thank you!

 

[JulietWhiskey]

I think agave nectar/syrup is a humectant...

 

[Rikinkkulus]

I think agave nectar/syrup is a humectant...

I just read this on naturallycurly, you're right!

 

[GeorginaSparks]

I just read this on naturallycurly, you're right!

Rikinkkulus please tell me the backstory to your siggy.

 

[Victorian]

Rikinkkulus please tell me the backstory to your siggy.

I was just getting ready to ask the same thing
Every time I see it, I'm like...was that part of the dance performance or was she addressing some haters?

 

[PJaye]

Due to its high water content, I do not believe Aloe Vera should be listed as a protein or protein like. I believe it exhibits more moisturizing behavior.

For me, the rule of thumb is: If it is derived from a plant or nut = contains a measure of protein/amino acids. The oils created from these substances typically contain negligible amounts of protein, if any at all, similar to how coffee oil does not retain any of its caffeinated properties. Some have reported aloe vera to behave like a protein on their hair, along with wheat germ, avocado and coconut (even jojoba, despite being a wax, contains some protein). Then, there are those that say aloe vera possesses humectant-like properties as well.

Being protein sensitive, I'm always on the look out for anything that may cause havoc.

 

[virtuenow]

This thread was a good idea. I think it should be somewhere in the stickies~! A lot of women, especially the newbies, don't know what moisturizes the hair and what just coats the hair. So you have some people who put layer after layer of oils and butters on their hair w/o ever moisturizing between washes. Speaking of butters, where should we place shea butter and other butters on this list? Shea butter seems proteiny. I think it turned my hair to straw one summer. I layered it on day after day thinking it was adding moisture w/shea butter alone. Lets discuss. If you could share your research on why you all classify certain oils that would be great too.

 

[Rikinkkulus]

Victorian shockolate There's not a real story behind it, I just found it somewhere I guess! I just assumed she was doing too much.

virtuenow Thanks, thats what I was thinking too. I was so lost on everything. I'll do some research at some point, I guess I was just expecting people to come in with it. I'll think about putting butters on the list too.

 

[virtuenow]

@Victorian @shockolate There's not a real story behind it, I just found it somewhere I guess! I just assumed she was doing too much.

@virtuenow Thanks, thats what I was thinking too. I was so lost on everything. I'll do some research at some point, I guess I was just expecting people to come in with it. I'll think about putting butters on the list too.

Here is a snippet from a research article on shea butter: "Shea nuts are, in fact, almost entirely fat (which does not evoke an allergic response), but Chawla and her colleagues extracted the protein from the nuts to see whether they would provoke an immune response. When the fat was separated out from shea nuts only a tiny amount of protein was left, less than 1/30th the amount present in cashews and less even than that in peanuts." http://www.skinsmatter.com/eczema_a...alth/research/shea_butter_not_allergenic.html