Yesterday style icon Shondi mentioned that she uses UltraSheen grease in her hair, with great success. This brave admission generated some really interesting discussion about whether products containing petroleum and mineral oil (which are generally considered bad for the hair due to their clogging/drying effect) can actually be part of a successful natural hair regimen.
Commenter Andrea T said;
“Why is everyone surprised that some people have nice hair from using old school products?… My mom used ultra sheen on us and I used it for years and years and had good results (hair was long and thick and like she said, flattened/straightened out nicely after a couple of days post wash and application).
I get that nowadays there is a big emphasis on natural oils, and they can be nice, but it’s not like no one had long and healthy hair using the old stuff. Everyone is different…so why is everyone so surprised? I wish that all of these blogs would stop acting like no black women had long healthy hair until people had the internet and layered 20 products on it. I’m kind of amazed at all of the talk about such complicated regimens, but am glad that some of the women featured here have pretty healthy hair and don’t spend all day applying products to it.
The only thing I like about the “new age” natural products is that the scent is lighter and in the summer, they are less greasy. But I’d use TCB or Ultra Sheen in a hot NY minute in the winter time.
Can I please ask, what exactly is your response to people who had healthy hair growing up, didn’t have trouble retaining length, and did it with nothing but a boar bristle brush, a goody plastic comb, and some Ultra Sheen?”
Commenter v.c. said;
“I’m all for the natural-oils and natural hair products, don’t get me wrong, but I’m getting tired of people acting like your hair is going to fall out if you use products that have things like petroleum, mineral oil, etc. in the product, as if its the shocker of the century that people can have healthy hair and maintain it from basically the “bad” products.
I think everyone focuses so much on being against the “old fashioned” products that they forget that everyone is different, not all of us can financially afford to spent $15-$20 per bottle of a fancy organic shampoo or conditioner, and let’s face it, for some people, the “no-no products” works perfectly fine for their hair. It’s all about preference. We need to stop encompassing everyone into the all-natural bubble and realize that at the end of the day, we, and our hair, are individuals, and what may work for you will not work for others, and that’s OKAY.
In my own experience petroleum laced products weigh down the hair in a way that water-based products (like many popular leave-ins) cannot. And sometimes I do want that weight, particularly if I’m styling. While I wouldn’t use hair grease as a leave-in I understand how it is useful in providing temporary hold and shine.
Do you use products with petroleum and mineral oil? In what capacity? Do they work for you?
