Is Glycerin Good for Hair?

When your hair is healthy and looks good, it can give you an extra boost of self-confidence. However, most of us harm our hair with daily blow-drying and other heated hair tools that manipulate the strands to behave a certain way. Also, too much coloring can weaken the hair shaft and rob your mane of moisture and shine.

The formulas you choose for your hair care products can make a big difference when it comes to maintaining a healthy, glossy head of hair. One hair care ingredient people are buzzing about is glycerin. It seems to be everywhere these days, but is glycerin good for hair?

What Is Glycerin and Why Is It Good for Hair?

Glycerin is a colorless liquid usually obtained from coconut oils, palm oils and soybean. It is seen as the ultimate humectant because it attracts and absorbs moisture from the air and then builds a barrier to prevent it from evaporating from your hair follicles and skin. 

Glycerin also offers several hair maintenance benefits. It can:

• Balance sebum production
• Tame the frizzies
• Stop hair breakage
• Enhance curl pattern
• Boost hair growth
• Improve scalp moisture
• Eliminate dryness and dandruff

To sum it up, if you want gorgeous, bouncy hair, you need to consider more than just the hair shaft. Professionals believe that a lustrous mane begins at the scalp, and glycerin can provide that nourishment for both the scalp and hair. Hair experts recommend using glycerin once a week. 

A shampoo bar with glycerin is a low-waste way to wash your hair with this ingredient, just like the ones here at The Earthling Co. Our shampoo bars include glycerin to pull in moisture, apricot seed oil to nourish and soften the hair and vitamin B5 to restore shine. They are also curly-hair and color-treated hair friendly!

DIY Ways To Use Glycerin for Hair

Glycerin is present in many beauty products, especially those featuring a moisturizer or lotion for sustainable skin care, but it’s also excellent for keeping your locks in great shape and can be easily added to your hair care regimen.

You can make do-it-yourself glycerin treatments as long as you purchase a pure form of the liquid. It mixes well with other ingredients, such as rose water or aloe vera, for instance. This DIY hair spray can be used in conjunction with shampoo and conditioner bars that also contain glycerin. Use this spray right after you shower and spritz it on damp hair as a leave-in treatment to smooth cuticles and halt frizz. 

You’ll need these ingredients:

• Half a cup of water
• Half a cup of rose water
• Two tablespoons of glycerin
• Few drops of an essential oil

Add these to a spray bottle and shake well.

Is Glycerin Okay For Hair That’s Colored?

Glycerin is ideal for all hair types (especially those who have dry, coarse hair), but if your strands are color treated, there’s just one simple rule to follow: Don’t use glycerin until two washes after you dyed your hair because it can strip the color of freshly dyed hair.

Otherwise, glycerin is safe, and there aren’t any known ingredients that will negatively interfere with your hair or dye. Dermatologists say that an allergic reaction to glycerin is rare, but it’s a good idea to do a patch test on your wrist before using glycerin. Check for redness, swelling, itchiness or bumps.

The Right Ingredients Make a Difference

Many chemical formulas can often do more harm than good, so it's important to check the labels on the backs of your favorite skin and hair care beauty products. You can rest assured knowing that you can get natural, healthy results by exploring The Earthling Co. products formulated with safe and sustainable ingredients.