Many of us in the Natural hair community have discovered Glycerin for a use far beyond the unforgettable Jeri curl of the 1980’s. Glycerin is a humectant, and it holds on to water, reportedly up to 3 molecules. Glycerin can help increase and maintain the moisture levels in our hair. It is also best used when mixed with water, for two reasons. Number one, glycerin can be thick or sticky and difficult to apply, and second mixing it with water can supply a direct source from which moisture will be constantly drawn.
Most of you are probably aware that glycerin will pull moisture from the air and absorb it into the hair shaft; which is great news for naturaly dry hair during the summer months, where there’s typically more humidity in the air. But, whether or not we should use glycerin on our hair during the winter months has been a subject of debate. Many discontinue the use of glycerin because of the popular belief that because the air is drier during colder months, there is no humidity in the air from which glycerin can draw from, leaving the glycerin in the hair no choice but to pull moisture from the hair, which will dry it out. However some natural hair scientist have found that when you mix glycerin with a significant amount of water,( 1 part glycerin to 3 part water or more) it is highly unlikely that it will abandon that water, for the moisture that you’ve added to your hair from other products. When we think about it, this theory does make sense. Have you ever seen a dry Jeri Curl, summer or winter?
In most over the counter products that contain glycerin, you’ll find water as the first ingredient. If your hair loves glycerin, you may not have to avoid it like the plague, on this winter; just make sure you are giving your hair enough water to work with.
What are your thoughts and experience with using Glycerin on your hair during the winter months? If you have tips, please share!!
and, to learn more about the benefits of Glycerin please visit the following link:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/glycerin-for-hair.html
Glycerin has many applications. Some common applications are arts & crafts, e-cig, tobacco flavorings, commercial sprinkler systems antifreeze, peristaltic pump lubricant, bubble making, worm farm food, synthetic ice making, cosmetic, antifreeze, and sweetener substitute.
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