I love the inventiveness that those who look for natural and homemade products show. These two recipes are a result of readers requesting some research into whether the product could be effective. They are certainly not conventional and you are quite unlikely to find them in commercial products. However, there is some science to support their potential efficacy, so why not give it a try?
1. Lanolin – The Ultimate Moisturiser
The Recipe
This is a bit of a cheat because there is no recipe, you can just purchase pure lanolin. If you are or have been pregnant, you may have had a recommendation to purchase pure lanolin which helps prevent and soothe skin cracking during breast feeding.
How does it work
Lanolin is a wax extracted from sheep wool, and it is the sheep equivalent of human sebum for hair. The reason it is different or some may say special is because it is actually not really a fat or oil. Lanolin contains alcohols and acids amongst other natural chemicals and therefore it behaves quite differently from an oil. On skin (which is made up of the same keratin protein as hair), it is known to penetrate and find its way to gaps where sebum should be present. Interestingly lanolin can also combine with the water in the skin to possibly prevent it from exiting and creating an internal moisture reservoir (Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, pp 181-195, 1993). Could it do the same in hair?
Notes on Using Lanolin
Lanolin can be applied directly to hair but it is fairly difficult to spread (more difficult than castor oil), therefore using it on damp hair or on small sections at a time may be helpful. It can come in a liquid form or in a water mix (emulsified lanolin) to make it easier to use. If your hair does not normally like thicker products e.g castor oil, shea butter etc, it may be the case that lanolin will not be ideal for you.
2. Gelatin (gelatine) – A Cheap Protein Conditioner
The Recipe
-quarter tea spoon powdered gelatin or tea spoon sized section of single leaf gelatin
– small cup of warm water
Dissolve the gelatin in a small amount of warm water. Apply the mix as a mask to hair and leave for 15-20 minutes prior to rinsing with warm water and following up with a moisturising conditioner. Alternatively, warm up a portion of moisturising conditioner in a water bath and dissolve a small amount of gelatin into it. Do note that gelatin generally dissolves well in warm liquid but not in cold liquid/conditioner.
How does it work
Gelatin is essentially hydrolysed collagen or hydrolysed wheat in the case of vegetarian gelatin. If you are in the know, you may recall that breaking down protein (hydrolysing) allows it to bind better to hair. Gelatin is quite cheap and you only need a small amount for each use as hair too requires only a small amount.
Notes on Using Gelatin
Although gelatin is hydrolysed, it is not common for manufacturers to actually state the extent of hydrolysis so some brands may be more effective than others. Dissolving the gelatin into a conditioner rather than into water may help it adsorb (bind to) hair, so consider switching from warm water to warm conditioner if that is an effect you desire.
Interesting! Ladies, have you used either of these products in your hair?
