If you have ever turned over a hair care product read the ingredient label seen the word alcohol and immediately put it back on the shelf this post is for you. Most natural hair advice tells you to avoid all alcohol in hair care products. But that advice is only half right. And the half it gets wrong could be costing you some of the most moisturizing products available for your natural hair.
Today on Real Talk Thursday I am breaking down everything you need to know about alcohol in hair care. What is actually damaging your hair. What is actually helping it. And how to tell the difference on any product label you pick up.
The Two Types of Alcohol in Hair Care
There are two completely different types of alcohol used in hair care formulas and they could not be more different from each other.
One type genuinely damages your hair. The other type is one of the most moisturizing and conditioning ingredients available. When you avoid all alcohol without knowing the difference you are potentially throwing away some of the best products for your natural hair.
The Harmful Drying Alcohols — Always Avoid These
Short chain drying alcohols evaporate extremely quickly. And when they evaporate they take your hair's natural moisture with them every single time you use a product containing these ingredients.
Here are the ones to avoid on every ingredient label.
Ethanol — also called Ethyl Alcohol. Isopropyl Alcohol — also called Isopropanol. SD Alcohol. Alcohol Denat — also called Denatured Alcohol. Propanol.
These are most commonly found in edge controls hair sprays and some styling products. Brands use them to create a fast drying quick setting effect. The product feels like it is working immediately because it dries so fast. But what you are actually feeling is your moisture being stripped.
Over time repeated use of products with these drying alcohols leads to dry brittle edges thinning hairlines and hair that cannot retain moisture no matter what you do.
If your edges are thinning despite daily edge control application check your ingredient label for these culprits immediately.
The Beneficial Fatty Alcohols — Welcome These
Long chain fatty alcohols are derived from natural plant sources like coconut oil and palm oil. They are solid waxy substances at room temperature not liquids. They do not evaporate. They do not strip moisture. They actually do the opposite.
Here are the ones you will most commonly see on ingredient labels.
Cetearyl Alcohol. Cetyl Alcohol. Stearyl Alcohol. Behenyl Alcohol.
Despite having the word alcohol in their names these ingredients have absolutely nothing in common with the drying alcohols we just discussed. Fatty alcohols coat each strand of hair with a protective layer that adds slip softness and moisture. They are what makes a conditioner feel creamy and rich. They are what gives your hair that incredible slip that makes detangling effortless.
If you have been avoiding products with Cetearyl Alcohol or Cetyl Alcohol in the ingredients you have been avoiding some of the most moisturizing products available for your natural hair.
The Truth About Behentrimonium Methosulfate
One more ingredient worth addressing. Behentrimonium Methosulfate appears on many conditioning product labels and its name includes the word sulfate which alarms most natural hair customers.
Despite its name it is a plant derived conditioning and detangling agent with no cleansing or stripping properties whatsoever. It is completely different from harmful sulfates like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Those are cleansing agents. Behentrimonium Methosulfate is a conditioning agent. They share a word in their name but they have nothing else in common.
How to Read Any Ingredient Label
Also look at where the ingredient appears in the list. Ingredients are listed in order of concentration from highest to lowest. If a drying alcohol appears in the first five ingredients it is a significant component of that formula and you should avoid it.
What Classic Curlz Uses and Why
At Classic Curlz we believe in complete ingredient transparency because your hair deserves to know exactly what you are putting on it.
Classic Curlz never uses harmful drying alcohols like ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, or SD alcohol in any formula. Ever.
Several Classic Curlz products including our Triple Threat 3 in 1 Conditioner and Moisture Loc Leave In Conditioner contain Cetearyl Alcohol specifically because of its superior conditioning and moisturizing properties. We chose it intentionally because it is one of the best ingredients available for natural hair.
Our Edge Freeze Alcohol Free Edge Control contains zero drying alcohols. Zero. We specifically formulated it without any short chain alcohols because your edges deserve protection not damage.
Your Real Talk Thursday Takeaway
Not all alcohols damage your hair.
Short chain drying alcohols like ethanol, isopropyl alcohol ,and SD alcohol avoid them always.
Long chain fatty alcohols like Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetyl Alcohol welcome them. They are moisturizing your hair not damaging it.
Read your labels. Know your ingredients. Do not let a word in a name scare you away from something that could actually transform your hair.
Watch this week's Real Talk Thursday Episode 🌿
Ready to Experience Clean Ingredients for Yourself?
Classic Curlz is a complete aloe based moisture system built on clean transparent ingredients that your hair can trust. No harmful drying alcohols. No harsh stripping sulfates. No parabens. Ever.
Start your Classic Curlz moisture journey with our Starter Kit, five exclusive size products designed to work together from your first wash to your final style.
Shop the Classic Curlz Starter Kit —https://www.classiccurlz.com/products/classic-curlz-starter-set
Or explore our complete collection at classiccurlz.com 🌿
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.