Botanical Oils and extracts: Nutrient dense ingredients for healthy hair
A new category has been added to IsitCG? … Botanical Oils and Extracts. These ingredients originate from plants (herbs, roots, flowers, fruits, leaves or seeds) and provide a wide variety of benefits including: cleansing, stimulating, nourishing, refreshing, soothing, moisturizing, normalizing and deodorizing.
If the product you are researching includes a large amount of botanical oils and extracts, it will surely provide lots of nutrients for your curly hair. Many have moisturizing and strengthening properties that will help maintain the moisture/protein balance that curly hair loves. Be careful though because all of those oils and butters could have the potential to be too heavy and weigh the hair down. Below are descriptions of some botanical ingredients commonly found in hair products.
Common Botanical Ingredients found in hair products
Avocado Oil (Persea Gratissima)
Avocado Oil is an emollient rich in vitamin A, vitamin F, and tocopherol (vitamin E). This penetrating oil has deep moisturizing, regenerative and strengthening properties. It can soften hair resulting in less breakage and split ends.
Products to try: Design Essential Almond & Avocado Line
Grapeseed Oil (Vitis Vinifera Seed)
Grapeseed Oil is expressed from the seeds of grapes from the plant Vitis vinifera. The oil extracted contains the fatty acid, linoleic acid, which is know to fight frizz and restore moisture to the scalp. Grapeseed oil is also one of the most lightweight oils, so it will moisturize and condition without weighing hair down. Whoop whoop!
Products to try: Aunt Jackie’s Grapeseed Recipes
Favorite Brands who use botanical ingredients
Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa)
Argan oil, or “liquid gold” as some like to call it, is made from the fresh kernels of the fruit of the argan tree in Morocco. This oil is full of fatty acids (oleic acid and linoleic acid) and antioxidants (vitamin E), which make it a great lubricant to help maintain moisture, reduce frizziness and promote shine. Argan oil has also been used for centuries as a sun protectant preventing drying and other damage from ultraviolet rays.
Product to try: Curl Junkie BeautiCurls Argan & Olive Oil Daily Hair Conditioner
Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia Chinensis Seed)
The jojoba plant is a desert shrub native to the southwestern United States. This oil is full of nutrients like vitamins E and B, as well as minerals like chromium, copper, and zinc. These properties nourish and protect hair from environmental stressors and its oily composition makes it a great moisturizer. It is also added to conditioners to give added protection against dryness, breakage, and split ends.
Product to try: Bounce Curl Moisture Balance Treatment – Primer & Sealer Leave-In Conditioner
Lavender Oil (Lavandula Angustifolia)
Lavender oil has many hair and scalp benefits which include helping promote hair growth and reducing scalp inflammation and dryness. It also has antimicrobial properties which helps prevent bacteria and fungi from growing. Bonus!! … its aroma adds a relaxing and calming effect.
Products to try: Love Beauty and Planet Argan Oil and Lavender Smooth and Serene Shampoo and Conditioner
Lotus Flower Oil (Nelumbium Speciosum Flower)
The seeds from this sacred flower are rich in protein, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, starch, tannins, and minerals, which helps to increase the volume, strength, and elasticity of the hair. It also stimulates melanin synthesis which prevent premature graying.
Product to try: Bamboo & Lotus Water Deep Conditioner
Mango Seed Butter (Mangifera Indica Seed)
Mango Butter is derived from the seeds contained inside the pits of the Mango fruit and it is chock full of fatty acids and vitamins, including: Oleic Acid, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. This nutrient rich butter seals in moisture controlling fizz and adding volume. It strengthens the hair follicle reducing breakage and hair loss and has sun protectant properties that guard against ultraviolet rays.
Product to try: Jane Carter Solution Nourish and Shine
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pumpkin Seed Oil is a nutrient-dense oil that contains omega-3s, essential fatty acids, zinc, vitamin E, Vitamin K, and phytosterol. This is a great hair moisturizer that nourishes hair follicles and has been known to promote hair thickness and hair count, especially in men.
Products to try: ACURE Ultra Hydrating Shampoo and ACURE Ultra Hydrating Conditioner
Sweet Almond Oil(Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis)
Almond oil contains high amounts of vitamin E , a natural antioxidant, and works as an emollient making hair feel smoother to the touch. It contains lubricating properties that diminish friction during hair styling making hair stronger and less prone to split ends. Almond oil can also be used as a treatment for flaky scalp (seborrheic dermatitis) and scalp psoriasis.
Product to try: Eden Bodyworks Almond & Marshmallow Hydration Serum
Is it CG?
The easiest way to analyze all of the different ingredients in your hair products is to use the Is It CG? app. Simply paste the ingredients into the app and it will automatically analyze them and provide a breakdown of what each ingredient will do for your hair. Good or Bad!
