Top 4 Ingredients To Look for when Choosing a Moisturizing Conditioner UPDATED!

ORIGINAL POSTING
September 24 2009

The title says it all, if you don't have a "go to" moisturizing conditioner to make your hair easier to de-tangle, moisturizes; while also staying soft to the touch, then these are the top four ingredients I look for when choosing a daily conditioner/Moisturizing Conditioner.

But First:

What should ingredients should you AVOID When choosing a Daily Conditioner (Moisturizing Conditioner) to put in your hair when it gets a dry ?

Cetearyl Alcohol

Silicone's
Steralkonium Chloride

Sulfates 

These ingredients will make your hair Brittle, Dry, Itch,  Flake, and Frizz

click here:Ingredient to Avoid in Hair Products

If you are using a conditioner that claims to "Moisturize", "Condition", or "Hydrates Dry Hair" when all it does is smell nice and makes your hair feel smooth when your hair is wet

Then it's time to seek out a conditioner that does the following when hair is Air Dried or Blown Dried after using a Moisturizing Conditioner hair should feel:

• Soft (Softer than before conditioning)
• De-tangled

If your conditioner doesn't make your hair feel manageable then its time to shop for a new Moisturizing Conditioner:

Theses four ingredients below should be at the very top of your conditioner ingredients label

WAIT

Do The Conditioners I Purchase Have To Have to have all four Moisturizing Ingredients Listed

Aloe, Botanical,Glycerin, and Oils, to be consider a Good Moisturizing Conditioner?

No, your conditioner doesn’t need all four Ingredients to work as a moisturizing/hydrating conditioner

  

I consider a good moisturizing conditioner to have these factors:

• De-tangles 
• Softens
• Doesn't Dry Out Hair (Once your hair is dried completely it should not be hard, tangled, or dry)

1. Aloe Barbadnesis or Aloe Vera Extract, Aloe Gel

411 ALERT Aloe Vera can Lighten Your Hair( If your hair is dyed or naturally a dark color it will lighten it to a Brown)!

Also too much Aloe gel or extract can leave hair Sticky

Benefits of Aloe

Increases circulation, conditions the scalp, and is a natural moisturizer that can soften and hydrate dry hair

2. Glycerin \Glycerine

411 ALERT

Glycerin can Dry out Your Hair (Use Glycerin based Hair Products in Moderation if hair is Especially prone to Dryness)

Be sure to use Glycerin products in humid environments like a rainy day or days where there's humidity in the air: Using Glycerin based products during Hot Dry Summer days or Cold Temperature Months dries hair out extremely quick. The Glycerin that you use in hot\cold months will seek out moisture, Glycerin will absorb your hair's own moisture leaving your hair bone DRY! Brittle, and easily cause breakage!!

Benefits of Glycerin

Glycerin is a natural humectant's, meaning it draws out moisture out of the hair, if temperatures are hot and lack moisture glycerin will absorb your hairs natural sebum and moisture out your own hair.

TIP: If your hair is prone to dryness Use glycerin products on more humid days and limit usage:use Glycerin products that have Glycerin low on the ingredient list (like Glycerin shouldn't be the top 5 ingredients).

3. Natural Oils Listed Below are Penetrating Oils

Sweet Almond Oil

Apricot Kernel Oil

Avocado Oil

Camellia Oil

Jojoba Also called Simmondsia Chinensis

Wheat Germ Oil

Vitamin E Oil Also called Tocopherol

There are levels in which these different oils absorb into hair some of these oils listed absorb deeper than other oils.

Penetrating Oil (Oil that Absorbs Deep into Hair)

Oils that penetrate the hair shaft makes hair stronger 

• Coconut Oil (Though It Can Be Very Drying to Hair)
• Shea (Butter) Oil

Oil that Partially Penetrates (Oils that Penetrate not as Deep)

• Avocado Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Olive Oil
• Meadow Foam Seed Oil

Oil that Do Not Penetrate Very Well (Oils that Penetrate but Barely)

• Jojoba
• Safflower
• Sunflower

Benefits of Natural Oils:

Natural oils that penetrate the hair shaft allows the oils to strengthen hair shaft or stimulating hair growth, these oils do not block out moisture, which allows your hair to be hydrated by any water or  leave-in conditioner you put in your hair. These oil listed not only absorb into the hair,but also have nutrients which give hair extra nutrition to grow stronger and healthier.

The main purpose of using oil in hair is to help your hair retain moisture, after using a moisturizer a dime size amount of oil smoothed through-out your hair will allow your moisturizer to last longer, the oil seals in the moisture by holding on to hydration longer than just using a leave-in alone:

411 ALERT!!!

 Castor, Coconut and Olive oil is not on my list of "The Best Oils to use in your hair":

Don't get me wrong all three of these oils have nutrients for the body and hair alike, but these oils are also what is called:

NATURAL MOISTURE BARRIERS these oil seals out moisture very well which can leave hair brittle, dry, and cause major breakage.

Castor, Coconut and Olive Oil is used in many beauty products especially hair products

Coconut Oil itself is used in many soaps and shampoos for it cleansing effects, while castor oil  and olive oil is drying to the touch and must be used in a certain order in a hair regimen to maintain moisture. Hair that is naturally drier should use these oils in moderation and with close attention. If using any one of these threes oil make sure that these oils are not stripping hair of natural sebum or causing dryness by the oils sealing out moisture.

Many women on popular hair websites say they have no negative effects when using Castor, Coconut, or Olive Oil in their hair or in their hair routines, other ladies Like ME have had bad effects when using these oil (as a seal) or using hair products that have these oils in the ingredient label.

 If you decide to use hair products that has Castor, Coconut or Olive Oil in them

Always look for Organic or Purified Oils

Example (the ingredients should state): Purified or Organic Oil

Why Organic/Purified?

Well many hair products uses oils that have not been purified, non-purified oils have chemicals and other bad things in them, so its best to stay away from hair products that does not say Organic or Purified Oil.

If it doesn't say ORGANIC OR PURIFIED Oil before the actual word then it has not been purified

If you are planing to use Castor Oil, Coconut Oil or Olive Oil straight from the bottle and into your hair:

Natural Oils Labels Should Read

Organic Cold Pressed and Hexane Free Castor Oil

Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Extra Info on using Castor Oil

You've probably seen Castor Oil in your drug store you know, the one in the small dark brown bottle, the color of the bottle protects the nutrients of the oils. I like to use the Castor oil that is in the clear bottle, I just make sure I get a small bottle.

If using Castor Oil in your hair (or general usage) it should be

Cold Pressed and Hexane Free

The Ingredient label should say: Organic or Cold Pressed for Castor Oil

Why Hexane Free and Cold Pressed Castor Oil?

Hexane Free means the process of making Castor oil no chemicals or added.

Cold Pressed is the process of pressing the Castor oil beans without heat, heat destroys the special qualities that are in the Castor oil itself.

Example of Castor to purchase for Hair

Castor Oil (Home Health Brand: Hexane Free/Cold Pressed)

4. Plant/Botanical Extracts

Chamomile Extract, Lavender Extract, etc (The list is LONG)

411 ALERT

Plant Extracts listed in hair products are also herbs too, please be sure to read your hair products carefully, some plant extracts (herbs) can be too harsh for your scalp and may be
counter-productive.Herbs that can cause irritation to your scalp isn't worth the "moisturizing"" benefits.

Benefits of Plant Extracts/Botanical Extracts

Natural Plant and Botanical extracts gives hair nutrients, vitamins, and can even give your scalp added moisture. Plant extracts which are also herbs (rose hip,rosemary, sage) to name a few can help stimulate hair growth, increase blood circulation, and even condition the scalp; which helps reduce irritation that comes with having a dry scalp, less irritation to a dry scalp reduces the problem of thinning hair or breakage at the root of your hair.