Lanolin for human hair?

**Scyphozoa** · June 22nd, 2019, 06:44 PM

Does anyone have experience oiling their hair with lanolin? My hair is only shoulder length at the moment, so I haven't started oiling it. I'm looking to try out a few oils to see what my hair "likes." I was at a local yarn store today and they had little bottles of lanolin with jasmine for sale. I love the smell of jasmine (I have a jasmine bush on my porch that has been blooming well lately and it smells amazing

) and lanolin seems like it'd be very similar to sebum. Isn't it basically sheep sebum?
I nearly bought a bottle, but figured I should ask here first. My mom has some jojoba oil in the bathroom I can try out, and we might have coconut oil in the kitchen. I know those are popular.

... How do I tell if my hair likes or dislikes an oil?

**Ylva** · June 22nd, 2019, 06:58 PM

Several hair products contain lanolin. I've used a mask that has it, and it was a nice product. It should be fine to use on hair.

**milosmomma** · June 22nd, 2019, 07:44 PM

Is linalool related to lanolin? I have used lanolin for skin and loved the result. Will be checking in to hear people's thoughts I'm curious on the topic now!

**Ylva** · June 22nd, 2019, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by milosmomma

Is linalool related to lanolin?

Not at all. Linalool is found in many plants. Lanolin is a waxy substance produced by sheep's skin.

**milosmomma** · June 22nd, 2019, 09:16 PM

Oh my I had no idea, I thought it was plant based as well.

**SwanFeathers** · June 22nd, 2019, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by milosmomma

Oh my I had no idea, I thought it was plant based as well.

Nope, it's what makes sheep fur water repellant.

**milosmomma** · June 22nd, 2019, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by SwanFeathers

Nope, it's what makes sheep fur water repellant.

So it's basically sheep sebum? Sheepbum??

**akurah** · June 22nd, 2019, 11:37 PM

I would probably not put lanolin on my hair, it's incredibly thick, it's waxy almost, and it'll be very sticky. It would be akin to petroleum jelly. If you did use it, the best way would probably be to treat it as if it were petroleum jelly and use it for the same things you would use petroleum jelly for

**pailin** · June 23rd, 2019, 12:20 AM

I've used it sometimes. Very carefully! Since it's very sticky, I'd rub it well between my hands to warm it up and spread it over my hands first, and you have to be careful because you don't want to catch your hands in your hair. I didn't just try to run my hands through my hair with it. I found it easier to also add a few drops of some kind of oil. Also I've used it mixed with shea butter.