IS ALCOHOL REALLY DRYING FOR HAIR ?

Hey ladies, when I use to be a hairstylist I would often be asked if alcohol was drying for our hair. And I would often respond, yes. However since then I've found that there are many different types of alcohol found in hair products and some of them can be useful and helpful for our hair. Here I've posted a very interesting and informative article I read. The question is alcohol drying is both true and false. Alcohol is not a single chemical. Now, some may have heard of Ethanol. Ethanol is only one type of alcohol. Which is commonly used in hair spray type of products. Then there is isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol. Alcohols can have many, many different properties. Different alcohols are used in different products for different reasons. There are literally thousands of alcohols. Some are solid. Some are liquid. And some can be ingested.

Many alcohols are downright healthy for our hair. Others are not so good for hair and skin. Alcohols to make a product more volatile ( evaporate quickly) are not good for our hair. Ethanol is one of those alcohols. However, alcohols that are " fatty" actually help add moisture to our hair and skin to soften them. You will find these alcohols in the finest, hydrating ( moisturizing) hair products. The following alcohols are some examples. They are waxy substances, not liquids. They are for drying.

cetearyl alcohol- This is derived naturally. It is often found in hair conditioners. It provides the creamy consistency and makes it easier to distribute the product throughout the hair. This is a especially beneficial ingredient in black hair care products because it also lubricates the hair making it easier to comb.

cetyl alcohol- This is a fatty alcohol that is derived from coconut and palm oils, actually an emollient ( makes hair and skin softer).

stearyl alcohol- Another fatty alcohol. It is like ethanol, it is actually a white solid and is insoluble in water. Stearyl alcohol is often used in conditioners and shampoos and acts as an emollient ( softener).

So, remember when looking over product labels. You may need to know a little more about the specific type of alcohol in the product before you can make an really good decision about the product. Many really good shampoos and conditioners contain some very good alcohol. Maybe this article can help when trying to find your next product. Enjoy!