So you are walking through the beauty store and you see shelves upon shleves of beautiful women with long beautiful hair. Your first instinct is to pick up the box with the best looking hair right? I mean her hair looks healthy so why not??? Wrong!
Most black hair products are not made with the user’s best interest in mind. Most of the ingredients in the products with the pretty ladies have detrimental ingredients t hat lead to breakage, growth stunts, and worse, baldness!
Lets look at Motions at Home Hair Lotion. The ingredients include: 
Water (Aqua), Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Propylene Glycol, Ppg-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Polyquaternium-37, Ppg-1 Trideceth-6, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Proline, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Pca, Sorbitol, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Peg-8 Lanolate, Acetamide Mea, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Cocoyl Collagen Amino Acids, Cocoyl Sarcosine, Wheat Germ Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Triticum Vulgare, Simmondsia Chinensis, Tocopherol, Sulfur, Dmdm Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Fragrance (Parfum), Red 33 (Cl 17200).
So water, okay thats good, then we hit Mineral Oil, the second most prominent ingredient in this lotion. Mineral Oil in hair is an ingredient that may seem as if it makes your hair glow and shine but in reality all it does is clog the pores in your scalp leaving your poor head more damage prone.
Now the Cones can be both good and bad. ‘Cones basically causes your hair to buildup, and have access products that sit and weigh the hair down leaving it dull. Some cones are soluable and are harmless while others aren’t Here is a list of the good and bad cones:
Bad Cones (non-Soluble)
1. Cetearyl methicone
2. Cetyl dimethicone
3. Cyclopentasiloxane
4. Dimethicone
5. Dimethiconol
6. Stearyl dimethicone
7. Trimethylsilylamodimethicone
Slightly soluble (May cause buildup in hair, but some may wash out with co-wash)
1. Amodimethicone
2. Cyclomethicone
3. Behenoxy dimethicone
4. Stearoxy dimethicone
“Curly Girl approved” Water Soluble (Will not buildup)
1. Dimethicone copolyol
2. Hydrolyzed wheat protein hydroxypropyl polysiloxane
3. Lauryl methicone copolyol
4. Silicones with PEG listed before it
Dont live in complete fear, there are some approved products that contain cones and work perfectly without buildup.
- Garnier Fructis sleek and shine leave-in
- Mixed Chicks Leave-In
- Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship
- TIGI Bed Head Self Absorbed Conditioner
- Herbal Essences Totally Twisted
- Ouidad Moisture Lock
- Miss Jessie’s Creme de la Creme
- Dove Advanced Care Therapy Conditioner
- Yes to Carrots
- Beyond the Zone Noodle Head Soften Your Curls Curly Hair Conditioner
What about the “Proud Lady”?
Although you may view the proud lady on the back of black hair care products, it doesnt mean that products is completely safe to use. This logo was implemented by the members of the AHBAI to remind their consumers that the product was produced by “Black America” because other white companies would override their products. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the product will do wonders.
In all, I am not saying to renounce all of your beliefs on purchasing hair products, i am just enforcing the right for you to know what is put in your hair products and to be aware of your hair!
Peace, Joy and Blessings =)
Great post! Thanks for sharing.
Great post! Thanks for sharing.
@Calena Yes we get trapped often, but im glad we are all learning. I would love to hear the results do share after the results! =)
@Saniel anytime =)
@Calena Yes we get trapped often, but im glad we are all learning. I would love to hear the results do share after the results! =)
@Saniel anytime =)
Thank you, it was very informative!!
Thank you, it was very informative!!
So happy you posted this article. So many woman of color get trapped in believeing that the only products we can use are the ones in the "ethnic hair" aisle. Which in this case is soooo not true!
We need to start reading ingredients and see what products work on our hair and which one's don't! I was just in the Beauty store yesterday and I was in the conditioner aisle for more than 30 minutes because I wanted to read the ingredients before I picked up the product. At the end, I decided on Aussie's "Cleanse and Mend" I have not used the product yet. But when I do, I'll let you guys know about it!
Thanks Again!!
So happy you posted this article. So many woman of color get trapped in believeing that the only products we can use are the ones in the "ethnic hair" aisle. Which in this case is soooo not true!
We need to start reading ingredients and see what products work on our hair and which one's don't! I was just in the Beauty store yesterday and I was in the conditioner aisle for more than 30 minutes because I wanted to read the ingredients before I picked up the product. At the end, I decided on Aussie's "Cleanse and Mend" I have not used the product yet. But when I do, I'll let you guys know about it!
Thanks Again!!