vkb247

This post from LHCF mentions that Triethanolamine can be drying. I don't know where she got this info from though:

"Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA) — Often used in cosmetics as emulsifiers and/or foaming agents. They can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation and dryness of hair and skin. DEA and TEA are "amines" (ammonia compounds) and can form cancer-causing nitrosamines when they come in contact with nitrates. Toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time."

discobug

Okay, well at least now I know why it works so well living here in FLORIDA! (humidity capital)
Thanks guys, sorry to create all the confusion!

__________________
Hair Type-3b Location: Florida
John 3:16
Poo: Jessicurl HCC, As I Am
Conditioners: Aubrey Organics, KCKT, CJ HBDT, Darcy's Botanicals
Leave In/Styling: KCCC, Darcy's Botanicals, SS
Favorites (HG): KCCC; spiral solutions jelly; darcy's botanicals, FSG
No-No's: castor oil, beeswax, glycerine, silicones
LOVE: aloe vera, agave nectar, shea butter, flax seed gel; good DT's once a week
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password: curly

vkb247

Well every source I have found so far has said that aloe vera is a humectant:

http://www.skincare-news.com/articles.php?ArtID=734 Look under the "What you can expect" heading

http://www.yeturubiotech.in/aloe.asp Look at the end under "External Uses" then under "Cosmetic and Beauty Care"

http://www.makingcosmetics.com/index1.html

http://shop.texasnaturalsupply.ieasy...?categoryID=24


However I have found that "Aloe Vera gel is only a fair humectant. When tested with two other commonly used humectants, propylene glycol and glycerin, Aloe performs reasonable well. But, when Aloe Vera gel is mixed with either propylene glycol or glycerin, it has a synergistic action as a humectant."

http://www.lexli.com/AloeVera/AloeVeraScience.aspx

But what makes this even more confusing is that by some definitions, including the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a humectant is simply anything that "promotes retention of moisture" or is "a substance that absorbs or helps another substance retain moisture."

jillipoo

Just wanted to say that I recently posted to my blog a roundtable discussion with Marsha from Curl Junkie, Jess from Jessicurl, our own StruttsWife, JC from The Natural Haven blog, and Perry Romanowski, an independent cosmetic chemist -- and the topic is aloe vera.

Bottom line: we aren't the only ones who are confused about this mysterious substance. Even experts can't seem to agree on what it is and what it does!

Read it here:
http://jillipoo.blogspot.com/2009/08...oundtable.html

__________________
3a and strictly CG since August 2007. Porous and on the fine side. No to magnesium sulfate and glycerin. Yes to protein! Favorites:
CO-WASHES: Suave Coconut
CONDITIONERS and LEAVE-INS: Mop Top Daily Conditioner, KBB Nectar, Aubrey GPB or Island Naturals, Robert Craig, Any Jessicurl
CURL ENHANCERS/CREMES/MOUSSES: KCCC, JoiWhip
GELS: Fuzzy Duck, B5 Design, MGA Scultping, BRHG


Fotki password: chuckle
Blog: http://jillipoo.blogspot.com/
Twitter: nopoojillipoo

goobernut

Again, jilli, I love your blog. Its really great stuff and so well done. Thanks for taking the time to do it!

A side note, Paula Begoun (from cosmetics cop) claims that Sodium Laureth Sulfate is gentle and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is harsh. She claims they are vastly different. Not sure what I think about that right about now, so don't ask me lol.

This is a quote from the last paragraph of her article on SLS's

"That's not to say that sodium lauryl sulfate isn't a potent skin irritant, because it is (but sodium laureth sulfate is not because it has a different chemical structure that results in a gentler cleansing agent), and it's (sodium lauryl sulfate) considered a standing comparison substance for measuring skin irritancy of other ingredients. In scientific studies when they want to establish whether or not an ingredient is problematic for skin, they compare its effect to the results of SLS. In amounts of 2% to 5% it can cause irritating or sensitizing reactions in lots of people (Sources: European Journal of Dermatology, September-October 2001, pages 416-419; American Journal of Contact Dermatitis, March 2001, pages 28–32)...."

taken from this article on her website www.cosmeticscop.com

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lazy loops

When I looked on sites that sell ingredients to make your own stuff, I found aloe vera noted as a humectant.

That could explain why my hair hates it in the high desert, no matter what the season. Maybe when we move to a humid climate my hair will like it.

jillipoo

Thank you, goobernut!

As for the SLSes, I've read that elsewhere, so I think there's probably some truth to it. But I'm avoiding both anyway, just because it's simpler!

__________________
3a and strictly CG since August 2007. Porous and on the fine side. No to magnesium sulfate and glycerin. Yes to protein! Favorites:
CO-WASHES: Suave Coconut
CONDITIONERS and LEAVE-INS: Mop Top Daily Conditioner, KBB Nectar, Aubrey GPB or Island Naturals, Robert Craig, Any Jessicurl
CURL ENHANCERS/CREMES/MOUSSES: KCCC, JoiWhip
GELS: Fuzzy Duck, B5 Design, MGA Scultping, BRHG


Fotki password: chuckle
Blog: http://jillipoo.blogspot.com/
Twitter: nopoojillipoo

redcelticcurls

I'm so glad Tiffany addressed the ACV thing. I can feel and see the difference on my own head, and that's good enough for me. If they help me have nice hair in a 70 degree dew point, I won't quite using them no matter what studies may or may not say.

__________________
Kiva! Microfinance works.

Med/Coarse, porous curly.

JLeighs

Sorry to bump up an older thread, but I have been very, very confused about aloe vera. I'm glad to know that everyone else is, too. LOL.

If this is indeed a humectant, it would explain why my hair loves it on some days and hates it on others. I used to think it was something else my hair was hating, so I'd change conditioners, etc. Sometimes it would work, and sometimes it wouldn't. I would alternate between extreme poof, extreme dryness, or perfect hair. There has never been an in-between for me with aloe. I think I'm going to just completely stop using straight aloe on my hair and see what happens.

It occurs to me now that this is why my hair hated CJ Aloe Fix. It gave me GREAT curls (aloe vera gel has always given me lots and lots of curl), but the frizz was unbelievable.

KurleeEdna

Aloe is weird stuff....
It makes my hair more frizzy and dried-out, doesn't seem to matter the humidity. (Come to think of it... it does the same thing to my skin...)

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breezybaby

Aloe acts like a humectant for me, both on my hair and on my skin. It requires that I add additional water or use it on wet/hair skin, for it not to feel dry and tight.

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3a/3b/3c hair all on one head

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Staples (used in many ways):
Coconut milk
Castor oil
Coconut oil
Honey
Shea butter

DEL2C

This is confusing stuff for sure. What I know for certain is I can't use Aloe in my stylers in high dew points or rainy weather. Even with a hard hold gel on top, I get extremely poofy. So, AF and KCCC were out when the dews went past 55. In low Dews FOTE was great on wet hair for clumping and additional hold.

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Discovered CG 2007

2C Fia BSL/Thick/Med-Coarse/Low(crown)-Normal Porosity Protein and Oil Sensitive

Link-Spritz & Condish Washing

I'm aCurlJunkieJunky

My hair LOVES Coconut DESPISES Soap Bars


CJRehab or H&B Fix, Deva NO POO, EO Rose & Cham POO & Condish, CJ CurlFix, CJ Pattern Pusha, CJ CIAB, SS FHG, KCCC, BRHG, AG Mousse Gel, ACV Rinses,Shikakai Conditioning Hair Rinse.

bak2wavy

Exactly what I have been experiencing with products with Aloe. The CJAF gave me enhanced waves with some curls in there but as time wore on I got awful frizz and my hair looked dry, not shiny and moisturized. So my question is what weather/dew points will aloe work better or is it just out for me? With coarse, porous hair humectants aren't recommended right...emollients are better? I get so confused !

__________________
--------------------
2 B/C Coarse Normal to High Porosity


Low Poo/Condish: CJ Daily Fix, CJ CR, CJ CA Gentle Cleansing Shampoo, CJ CA Smoothing Lotion
Styling: HESMU, BRHG, CJ CCCC-lite, CJ CIAB, CJ AFL, Ecostyler Krystal

DEL2C

The lowest dew point I tried AF was around 40. I plan to use it until it gets to be sub zero temps. I suspect at this point the glycerin may cause dryness like it did for me last Winter in my stylers. I won't know for sure and I'll still try it with a heavier LI and see what happens. You're right though, in general coarse hair does well with emollients. However, humectants don't need to be avoided completely you just have to find the right formulations for your own head. Glycerin and Honey are humectants and they're the only things that work to keep my hair in control during the Summer when dews are 60+ lower then that forget it it weighs me down.

__________________
Discovered CG 2007

2C Fia BSL/Thick/Med-Coarse/Low(crown)-Normal Porosity Protein and Oil Sensitive

Link-Spritz & Condish Washing

I'm aCurlJunkieJunky

My hair LOVES Coconut DESPISES Soap Bars


CJRehab or H&B Fix, Deva NO POO, EO Rose & Cham POO & Condish, CJ CurlFix, CJ Pattern Pusha, CJ CIAB, SS FHG, KCCC, BRHG, AG Mousse Gel, ACV Rinses,Shikakai Conditioning Hair Rinse.

JLeighs

Yes, I definitely always got excellent clumping with aloe. But, depending on the day (or the alignment of the stars, or the phase of the moon lol), my hair would either be perfectly awful or literally magazine worthy when I used it. In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, I remember that I went CG last fall, and started right with aloe vera gel. It worked fabulously, but when winter came, my hair got very, very dry and frizzy. My hair had NEVER gotten that dry before in the winter, even using shampoo. It never occurred to me that aloe was the culprit, so I kept trying different conditioners, finally ending up with the Olive Lustrasilk, which was the only thing that took the worst of the dryness away. It got better in spring, and then this summer hit. Disaster most of the time. Ugh. It was just RECENTLY that I figured out that the aloe may be the problem. I didn't know that it might be a humectant.

I think I'm going to stay away from anything with aloe for awhile (unless the amount is VERY miniscule), and see what happens this fall and winter. I've got the ecostyler gel and now the HESMU, both of which I like very much, so we'll see what happens.

mamaherrera

I too have been having problems since I began using KCCC, which is natural and I love but I live in NM where it is super dry and my hair has gotten super frizzy. It is dry and normal porous or the porosity that floats. Anyways. can anyone recommend me some med-cheap priced styling prodcuts taht contain emollients and are CG?? I'm tired of researching new stuff and my hubby is tired of seeing me spend more money on stuff that sits on the shelf!

madametj

[QUOTE=ReddishRocks;820963]I'm so confused...I thought humectants were NOT supposed to be used in summer humidity. Do I have this totally backwards?

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Hair Type: 3b/3c (I think! lol)

Quit using heat 9 months ago

missbanjo

It really depends on where you live. I can use humectants right now because our dews are 30-50 range but I don't keep humectant stuff around because the dews are normally so low. This thread may help some. Dew point and hair types
Oh and http://www.wunderground.com has forecasted dews if that helps you.

__________________
Southern Colorado Curly
Mix of 2s med-low porosity, med-fine texture, lots of hair
Playing: Beautiful Curls curl activating cream & L/I
Clarify 1-2x a month, lo-poo once a week, cowash 2x a week
Regimen: dime SheaM C&H Milk, 2 nickels LOOB/Biotera Gel, dime SheaM Smoothie/dime SheaM C&H milk mixed, plop overnight, 2 nickels BRHG, diffuse 10 minutes

Rustina

In general, humectants work best in middle dew points. If the air is very dry, like in the winter, the humectants will pull moisture out of your hair and release it to the air, drying your hair out. If the dew point is too high, the humectants will pull too much moisture out of the air and into your hair, poofing it up. The middle dew points of spring and summer usually provide the best weather conditions for the most products.

That said, it's different for everyone and the only way to know how your hair will respond is to experiment. Some curlies love humectants in the summer. Some only love certain formulations when the dew points are high (like me - I can use conditioners with humectants in the summer, but only if they're toward the middle or bottom of the ingredient list, so it depends on the product).

__________________

madametj

OK, so the dew point right now is 75 and my hair is highly porous...so I'm guessing from what I read that means anti-humectants for right now?

__________________
Hair Type: 3b/3c (I think! lol)

Quit using heat 9 months ago