Mineral Oil/Baby Oil? Help?

[patienceneeded]

For those who use mineral oil/baby oil, please help a gal and answer my questions...

I was under the assumption (mistakenly?) that mineral oil was baaaaaaad for your hair but have recently seen a number of posts where people are using it with great success. For those who use it, can you clarify my misunderstanding and educate me on its uses? Thanks!

1. Are mineral oil and baby oil the same thing? As near as I can tell, the only difference is the baby-powdery smell...

2. Do you use plain-old mineral oil? Or do you use baby oil? I like the smell of baby oil and would use it if it was okay...

3. How do you apply it?

4. What does it do, how is it better than other oils (Argan, Coconut, Sweet Almond, etc...)?

5. Would it work with my hair type? Would my hair be less tangle-prone?

Anything else I should know?

Baby oil is SO much cheaper than any other oil...if it works that would be great!

[lapushka]

Good questions. Would like to know this as well!

[Hamh]

Hi, I have been using it with amazing results. I cant quote the science bit - chat to Ktani she had been a wealth of knowledge on this subject and can help.

I use it after shampoo and conditioner on damp hair, 2 drops that's all and air dry. Result for me is soft shiny hair that isn't weighed down. I personally could be happier using mineral oil (I use Johnsons baby oil), its cheap, no other leave ins needed and gives me the best result of anything I have tried! Hope it works for you too!!

[ktani]

For those who use mineral oil/baby oil, please help a gal and answer my questions...

I was under the assumption (mistakenly?) that mineral oil was baaaaaaad for your hair but have recently seen a number of posts where people are using it with great success. For those who use it, can you clarify my misunderstanding and educate me on its uses? Thanks!

1. Are mineral oil and baby oil the same thing? As near as I can tell, the only difference is the baby-powdery smell... YES

2. Do you use plain-old mineral oil? Or do you use baby oil? I like the smell of baby oil and would use it if it was okay...

3. How do you apply it?

4. What does it do, how is it better than other oils (Argan, Coconut, Sweet Almond, etc...)?

5. Would it work with my hair type? Would my hair be less tangle-prone? It can work on any hair type.

Anything else I should know?

Baby oil is SO much cheaper than any other oil...if it works that would be great!

This should answer most of your other questions re the oil, http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...&articleid=225.

[Georgies]

Here is ktani's super helpful article about this:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...&articleid=225

Mineral oil is the primary ingredient in most baby oil as far as I know (they add a nice fragrance). However, it's not particularly environmentally friendly, which is one reason why people don't like - it's a petroleum product, i.e. a product of non-renewable fossil fuels. That said, I've used it (accidentally) and liked it. Instead of penetrating your hair it coats it to keep the moisture in so it's best used when your hair is damp...but ktani has tons more info.

[Georgies]

oh, double posted with ktani!

[Long_hair_bear]

Ya, ktani is the foremost authority on the use of baby oil in hair. I tried it per her suggestion, and it made my hair very soft!

[patienceneeded]

Does it basically simulate the effects of a silicone-based serum? Back when I used cones, one of my favorite things was my Aveda silicone serum...

[Long_hair_bear]

Does it basically simulate the effects of a silicone-based serum? Back when I used cones, one of my favorite things was my Aveda silicone serum...

I dunno, but I use no cones whatsoever, and it works great for me.

[patienceneeded]

Thanks for the link Ktani!