I'm a happily nappy African American mom of two biracial children. Glad to see you here. Come on in, have a seat, and I’ll fix you a tall glass of iced tea. Let’s talk about this thing called a nappy kitchen.The Case Against Hair Grease
I know. For eons you have been told that hair grease is good for Black folks hair and will make it grow. I’m here to say to you that this is a bold face lie!
My mom and I have disagreed about this for years. She swears that it makes her hair grow and easier to comb. My question behind her back (I’m not a fool) is “if hair grease is so great then why is your hair short, thin, and continues to break off?”
Mine is soft, healthy, and very thick. I’ve tried to explain to her that if she want to use oil on her hair, to use something like for example lanolin or jojoba oil. These actually penetrates the hair shaft which promotes moisture. Yes, moisture is what Black and Biracial hair need! Moisture is essential.
Yes, e s s e n t i a l, this is not a typo.
Hair grease actually acts like a barrier, keeping moisture from penetrating the hair shaft. If you use hair grease haven’t you ever wondered why your hair is so dry and crunchy? It is because your hair is dying of thirst!
So please, the next time you are at the grocery store with your daughter and some well meaning Black woman tell you to “put some grease on that girl’s head,” it will probably be my mom. Just politely thank her and tell her you will take it into consideration.
I’m serious.
I don’t care if Aunt Jemima herself (with or without the perm) jumps right off the syrup bottle to dispute what I am saying, don’t listen to her. She would be, after all, simply teaching you the only thing that she knows … the old ways.
– Nappy Kitchen
October 18th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I agree….I hate using hair grease on my children hair. Im like using cream based type products. Such as Pink’s Oil Mositurizer or TCB?. Ive also used stay in conditioner and olive oil/carrot oil anything that doesn’t weigh down the hair.
October 20th, 2008 at 1:33 am
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October 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
@ Michelle - Be sure to read the labels. Most ‘black hair care’ products contain the same moisture-robbing ingredients found in hair grease, like petroleum and petrolatum.
November 24th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
that sounds right, lanolin or jojoba oil, to penetrate and moisturize, I am heading to the health food store now to see what is on the shelf.
March 8th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
well i’ve been buying the hype that we (people of african decent) shouldn’t be putting petroleum based products on our scalp/hair. I grew up with my mother oiling my scalp with that famous grease in the red can with the tin cap and smoothing it straight with a firm hair brush and a damp washcloth. I had a head full of hair as a child and continued to have that head full into my early adult years as long as i followed my weekly routine of lightly oiling once or twice a week and weekly shampooing. Once I stopped oiling my scalp and tried non petroleum based products my hair became brittle and noticeably thinner and shorter. I was constantly being told I need to “trim” my ends until I’d “trimmed over 4″ of hair trying to keep it healthy and regain it’s original luster. After years of that I decided to go back to the old skool ways and my hair started growing again and my trims last more than every 6-8 wks. I now have a 6 yr old daughter who is natural (no chemicals or heat alteration) and had no problems with her hair until I once again bought the hype that “grease” was bad and tried moisturizing non petroleum based products. Her hair became dull looking and her ends had to be trimmed off. I have gone back to lightly oiling her scalp after her shampoo and conditioner while it is still damp. Her hair is healthy, thick and long. She hasn’t had to have any more of it “trimmed” off in months either. Our ends are much healthier and our hair has shine. I guess we’re just a couple of odd balls but hair “grease” works just fine for us.
March 13th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I feel for you guys having to take so much trouble with your hair. I am white but have hair that has done its own thing all my life. The only time I look decent is when I walk out of the beauty shop. I think if I were black I would just let my hair curl up and cut it short. No pressing or anything like that. Does that work for you?
June 16th, 2009 at 1:22 am
I agree. My daughter is 5 going on 6. Her hair has always grown slow and was not thick at all. I began using Doo Grow Grease which has petroleum in it. Her hair then became thicker than it has ever been. Everyone ask me what type of grease have I been using for her hair. Now, I am almost back to square one because I sent her out of town and my little cousin scorched it with a straightening comb. I was debating whether to stop using the Doo Grow, but I am not because I know that it was really working for her. So, if it aint broke, don’t fix it.