Is Vaseline Good For Your Hair?
It depends on how you use it. Vaseline contains mineral oil, petroleum oils, and natural waxes and creates a protective covering to prevent moisture loss (1). It is believed that this property of Vaseline can help your locks retain moisture, strengthen them, and prevent breakage. Who Can Consume It? Individuals who don’t have oily scalp or dandruff problems can use it. How Often? A moderate to small amount can be used once a week or as needed. Caution An excessive quantity can add heaviness to hair, can be difficult to wash off, and may cause bacterial infestation.
You can use Vaseline to treat “cradle cap” and diaper rash in infants. It relieves extreme dryness on the baby’s skin and soothes these conditions (2). However, there is no scientific research to support the claim that Vaseline promotes hair growth. On the contrary, Vaseline can clog the hair follicles and cause hair thinning and hair loss. It is also not helpful in hair treatment of dandruff. Vaseline can help control flyaways and tame frizz. You can use it with overnight hair masks or dab some on the hair ends to prevent split ends. Vaseline is quite versatile and can be used to moisturize your eyelashes and eyebrows. Vaseline is popularly used to manage a lice infestation (3). It is believed that it lubricates the hair and aids easy removal of lice and nits. You can use Vaseline in different ways, depending on your hair needs. Find out in the next section how to use it.
How To Use Vaseline For Hair
Note: Use a pea-sized amount of Vaseline. Excess petroleum jelly is difficult to remove and may clog the hair follicles.
Ways To Get Vaseline Out Of Your Hair
Nimeshaa, a lifestyle, fashion, and self-care Youtuber, tried applying vaseline on hair to make it look smooth and silky. She applied vaseline majorly on the ends and noticed that it did not wash off and instead made her hair sticky. She adds, “Vaseline did not work on my hair and my hair looks super duper oily and my hand feels moisturized because of running vaseline through hair (i).” Clearly, Vaseline is tough to wash off from hair. But here are some hacks to help! Since Vaseline is not a product designed for hair care, you should be aware of its potential side effects before you start using it for this purpose. Scroll down to learn more.
Side Effects Of Vaseline On Hair
Vaseline is typically safe to use and does nor cause severe side effects. However, there may be some drawbacks to using too much of it on the hair:
It may clog the pores on your scalp and lead to a build-up of a waxy, sticky, and stubborn residue. It can make the hair look greasy, dull, and unclean. It locks in moisture, but it also does not allow absorption of atmospheric moisture or nutrients from other products. It has a heavy texture that can weigh down your hair, making it look flat and unhealthy. It may leave behind stains and an oily odor upon contact with other surfaces. It makes it difficult to color one’s hair. Vaseline’s heavy texture may create a barrier that prevents hair dye from penetrating properly, leading to uneven color results.
Is Vaseline good for black hair? Check out the infographic below to know more.Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team Vaseline may protect black hair from dryness and breakage. However, proper research is required to determine its benefits further. Moreover, it can be very difficult to wash Vaseline off your hair. Do you put Vaseline on wet or dry hair? You can apply Vaseline to slightly damp hair after you have used other hair products. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it may help seal hair products and lock in the moisture in the strands. Is Vaseline good for scalp psoriasis? Yes, it is as it helps retain skin moisture. Petroleum jelly is a commonly used emollient for the topical treatment of psoriasis (4). However, more relevant studies are needed to support this claim. Does Vaseline help eyelashes grow? No, Vaseline does not make your eyelashes grow longer. However, as per a study on a Vaseline skin cream, it has occlusive properties (5). Therefore, it may help hydrate your lashes by locking in moisture. Additionally, you can also use Vaseline as an eye makeup remover to remove mascara from your eyelashes. Is Vaseline safe for all hair types? Anecdotal evidence suggests that Vaseline is safe for all hair types. However, if you have an oily scalp, consider applying it only to the ends of your hair to prevent scalp irritation and pore-clogging. How often should you use Vaseline on your hair? You can use Vaseline once a week on your hair if you are using it in your hair masks. You may also use it on the ends of your hair every day to prevent split ends and breakage. However, relevant studies are warranted to support this claim. Can Vaseline be used as a hair conditioner? No. Instead, you may use it on hair masks or apply a small amount on your hair ends to combat dryness and breakage. Always perform a patch test before adding Vaseline to your hair care routine to prevent allergic reactions. Is Vaseline safe to use on colored or treated hair? No, there is no proper research to support the benefits of petroleum jelly for hair care. Instead of using it, you can consult your hair stylist for effective recommendations.
Illustration: Vaseline For Hair: Is It Safe to Use Petroleum Jelly for Hair Growth?
Prepare to be amazed by this captivating video, unveiling the transformative power of Vaseline and the numerous benefits it brings to your precious locks. Check it out!
