How does grain alcohol affect hair? I found some very exciting recipes for extracts (vanilla, clove, cinnamon, etcetera) that use vodka, rum or Everclear. I know isopropyl alcohol is drying, but hadn't heard about ethanol.
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How does grain alcohol affect hair? I found some very exciting recipes for extracts (vanilla, clove, cinnamon, etcetera) that use vodka, rum or Everclear. I know isopropyl alcohol is drying, but hadn't heard about ethanol.
Right then. I had some time this evening to do some research. It seems that while SD Alcohol (specially denatured) is drying, vodka seems to be quite popular as a shine booster. Proponents say that it "lowers the ph of the hair" and "removes mineral buildup".
Alcohol is alcohol - except when it's a fatty alcohol - so it is all going to be somewhat drying, however that will depend on the quantity you use and the dilution. Presumably you are only going to use a few drops of the extract to scent a moisturising product? As an analogy lots of LHCers use heavily diluted vinegar to rinse - but there is a very different effect with neat white vinegar (my bottle is 6%) and a very unpleasant one with high strength acetic acid (DO NOT EVER try that at home kids).
Ethanol is drying too. I've used 70% solutions on my hands regularly for sterilization, and trust me, it dries them out.