Here are 2 referenced articles on ceramides, which form a barrier on the skin or hair, whether they are synthetic or natural and the articles fit with the information on sunflower oil forming a coating on the hair and requiring clarifying, and for skin, ceramides needing to be balanced.
Ceramides: Remedy for Dry, Damaged Hair?
"...
Do note that ceramides can and often do build up on the hair shaft, so
regular clarifying may be needed between conditionings. The build up associated with ceramides may
also be linked to other ingredients in the product formula (i.e. oils, silicones). ...
The build-up will need to be clarified regardless of the instigating ingredient to prevent moisture problems down the road. ..."
Ceramides Skin Lipids that Keep Skin Moisturized
"... The SC contains three types of
lipids -- ceramides, cholesterol and free fatty acids. ...
There are nine different types of ceramides in the SC, conveniently named ceramide 1 through ceramide 9, and they account for 40-50% of the lipids in this outermost layer. ... Moisturizers with Ceramides - Not All the Same There are several moisturizers that claim to have ceramides in their ingredients, but these
are just regular moisturizers unless they can show: The
moisturizer also contains cholesterol and free fatty acids, The
ratio of these three ingredients is correct ..."