All Black Woman

Vegetable glycerin doesn’t sound like something that’s natural or for cosmetic use by the sound of the name, however it’s one of the most natural and beneficial pure elements that can be used for dry, brittle or kinky hair. It’s especially recommended for women with afro kinky hair and great for those who are trying to grow and soften their natural hair.

How is it made? 

Vegetable Glycerin is a natural product derived from the raw fats and oils of coconut or palm oil. As oils are split into crude fats through a process of combining water and applying heat and pressure, the water absorbs glycerol from the fatty acid. The glycerol is then isolated and distilled to create pure glycerin.

The resulting glycerin is a clear, colourless and odorless substance that has a sweet taste  like syrup.

Benefits of vegetable glycerin

It’s no secret to the cosmetic industry that vegetable glycerin has great benefits for both our skin and hair. It’s an ingredient that is found frequently in lotions and potions, toothpaste, shampoos, soaps and even in some pharmaceuticals.

The most important aspect of vegetable glycerin is that it is a humectant, which means that it draws in and retains water. This will have the effect of keeping hair moisturized as it draws moisture from the air and surroundings to the shaft of the hair. Many have reported that using vegetable glycerin on their hair once has kept it soft and moist for up to three days without further application.

For curly hair that tends to get dry and tangled quite easily vegetable glycerin is the perfect all natural product, because it adds and retain moisture without feeling greasy or clogging pours, it will help define curls and keep frizz at bay.

Vegetable glycerin also adds strength to the shaft of the hair, elevating split ends and breakage.

There is another miracle benefit of vegetable glycerin. Growth, growth, growth, if you are trying to make you hair grow, definitely moisturize vegetable glycerin on your scalp. It will elevate dryness and flaky scalp issues, whilst providing the scalp with moisture without clogging pours.

Warning: vegetable glycerin is not recommendable for oily to normal hair, nor should it be applied in extremely dry conditions. Now the later sounds a little contradictory since your hair will need moisture most in extremely dry conditions, however if you there is no moisture in the air, vegetable glycerin may begin to draw water from the shaft of the air.

Kinky hair during the winter season can really take more work, but winter is the time that the most moisture is in the air, so take advantage of this and apply vegetable glycerin to your hair and scalp over the winter months.

How to use vegetable glycerin 

As vegetable glycerin is quite thick, I don’t recommend that you apply it directly to your hair but instead make a mix in a spray bottle of one part vegetable glycerin and three parts water. You can also add other beneficial essential oils, carrier oils, aloe vera gel or honey for extra goodness.

Tips: 

Natural shampoo with vegetable glycerin: Mix vegetable glycerin with aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, lemon or orange juice and honey. Massage into hair and scalp, leave for at least 10 minutes to sit and then rinse away.

Have vegetable glycerin handy in a small spray bottle in your handbag, you can add a little to the ends of your hair whenever they feel dry to avoid breakage and split ends