5 Natural Humectants That Promote Moisture & Length Retention | Not Glycerin! 

As a Pharmacist I'm impressed at your scientific approach to explaining moisture retention. who would have thought...benzene rings and hydroxyl groups on a YT vid about hair! nice job.

Natural Humectants: - Dimethicone - Aloe Vera oil - Flaxseed oil - Xanthan gum

I'm an Afro-Guyanese Chemistry Major from South America and once I watched your video on how you ended up as a Cosmetic Chemist, I was geeked and started to consider that specialized field. After this video, I was extremely compelled to like, comment, and subscribe! Your video content coupled with your personality is amazing. One love from Guyana. The students of the University of Guyana's Chemistry Department could do with a "TedTalk" from a woman like you. God loves you.. stay blessed!

Just came across your channel. From one scientist to another, good job! Black girls know science!!

Love these chemistry based videos! Keep them up!

I used everything on your list and vegetable glycerin is the only thing that actually works for my hair. Everyone is different. Do what works for you.

I’m natural hair stylist and I approve this message lol

I love the black girl magic STEM energy and info you offer. So good! You need to develop your own line of products.

I have grown up watching women like you and Green Beauty. I just want to say thank you. You also influenced my one of my majors in the science field. Quite a few of us first become interested in various science disciplines because we started watching RU-vid natural hair videos and loved understanding the science behind what worked. Thank you.

-After all the expensive journey on hair products - only the simplest and cheapest products are a go on natural hair products and they work followed up with a basic shea butter infused with essential oils - Thanks Queen Sistar

You have a very likeable and genuine personality, and explained everything without any fuss. Loved the video. Keep up the good work!

I weaned my hair off of glycerin (which was difficult considering the fact that many products contain glycerin) a long time ago. I realized that it didn't help me retain the much needed moisture my hair needed. Thank you for the molecular structure. I appreciate the scientific facts you provide. 👩🏽‍🔬

Your personality is delightful.

cool that's why flax seed gel is so moisturizing

I've tried aloe (straight from then plant in my yard and the store-bought juice) and flaxseed gel before and neither of them worked for me, but glycerin works magic for my hair.

I've recently found out glycerin is a humectant for tge SKIN but not the hair. Not everything works the same in all combinations. I found that out when investigating hyaluronic acid for skin, so that wasn't as biased. I believe glycerin is usually used in hair products for other reasons than moisture such as stabilizing a thickner like guar gum in a watery compound.

YOU JUST PUT ME UP ON SO MUCH GAME. i pretty much saturate my hair in eco styler to wear my sade low ponytail every day, and didn't realize the glycerin was slowly "evaporating" my hair. I just knew my hair had become dryer over the years and i had lost a considerable amount of length due to tangles and knots. now im adding aloe vera gel!!

Hi still using my glycerin with aloe gel bc sometimes it just needs to behave. I put the gel on the ends of my hair, and glycerin with a milk-based leave-in conditioner along with a sealant oils of avocado oil, and grape seed oil with castor oil on my scalp. This works for me hunty❣️💞💕🎉💥

I'm trying to figure out why I'm just finding your videos. I'm loving all this information.

This is exactly what I wanted to know and why. I was about to start using aloe gel diluted in water as a moisturizing spritz on my daughter and I. We are high porosity and I wanted to use something more than just water. Then I heard aloe was a humectant and wanted to be sure it was ok because we live deep in the humid south. Houston! So we should be fine even when it’s not as humid (which is brief)... in the “winter”. Yeah we don’t have real winters like most others 😂

Girl thank you for your knowledge about hair. You are the only one we can learn. The others talk about brands and they look all the same; the same results, the same style, the same head. Make a program for a wash and go for us. God bless you beautiful!😘

I love this! I always like to know why and how things work. I definitely need to incorporate more plant gels into my products and routine

Ha! I thought I was all smart cuz I remembered enough chemistry to know that humectants could draw water from your hair in a low humidity environment. Then the real chemist shows up taling benzene rings and other sciency things and I shut up, took out my notebook and learned some stuff! :D Thanks much much and keep it up

This is so important! I've looked everywhere to find glycerin-free skin care (moisturisers, in particular) because the glycerin in products really makes my oily skin very STICKY. I have always used aloe vera as a "moisturiser", which works well, but sometimes I want a little more of a "lock that moisture in" feeling. I will keep these ingredients you mentioned in mind!:) 🌹

I love Honey 🍯😌 My hair doesn't like gels so honey works better. I use honey + water spritz or rosemary + cloves + honey tea ☕🍯

Plant gels are the best!! They will get your curls popping and your hair will be hydrated for days- weeks. I think As I am has a product with the most plant based gels.

Glycerine did wonders for my hair growth....😊

I use aloe vera and flaxseed 👌🏾 Love how you got to the point too

I noticed this recently. There's a huge difference when I add plant based gel for moisturising my hair to my routine

Great video. When I am looking for a hair product I lk for two things. They are glycerine and aloe vera. If they are in first 5 ingredients I want buy the product. Those products dries out my hair.

Thank you! Glycerin makes my locks hard not soft. As a naturalist 4 years ago I discovered my hair doesn’t like coconut oil. Now that I have locks I discovered my hair doesn’t like glycerine. It makes it worse.

I've just gone back to embracing my curls. Thank you for helping understand why glycerin in such a no no and which humectants will keep my curls beautiful.

🙏🏾 I’m taking a esthetics class and I wanted to understand what was a humectant( in a clay mask ). Thanks for making it simple 😘

Wow so gels really can be moisturizing. I thought maybe I was imagining things because I'm use to them drying my hair out. I got one from TGIN and it's the only gel I've had so far that doesn't do that. It reminds me of DIY flax seed gel.

Wish you were my daughter’s science teacher. You’re a Rockstar!!! You’ve got a new subscriber

On overcast days my hair is soft & awesome. I can always tell the difference. I'm happy on overcast days!I know my hair is drinking it in & having a ball !

I liked the video immediately I saw how short it was. Straight to the point videos like these are praise worthy.

I love vegetable glycerin! I mix it with water to make a spray. I spray it on my hair, apply a oil then a gel and my wash and go comes out so soft and it last a whole week moisturized

I love it that you're educating women on how to take care of your hair. 👍

I love the scientific approach to haircare

Came here for natural DIY face skin care tips, but stayed anyways. Even though I’m not worried about hair care right now I’m impressed your intelligent your skin is glowing your hair is on point keep doing your thing!!!!

I absolutely love aloe vera .. thanks for sharing

I really appreciate your very informative videos! I have long, dense, fine, low porosity, roughly 3B hair, and struggle with keeping it from looking like a gigantic fro. So, while I don't have the exact same hair you are generally referencing, it has many similar characteristics. (Don't judge based on my profile photo. That was almost two years of hair growth ago, and probably my best hair day ever. Lol)

I love your hair in this vid 😍

Short, sweet, and I understood every word! 😫😫😫 and you analogies are Spot. ON.

I adore how you explain things I actually get it. The sounds ...You are now officially my chemistry professor! Food please?🔬😊

This information ia very valuable for us who like to make our own haircare products. It makes alot of sense though. I love your approach to it.

Just made a leave in conditioner using Cocoa butter distilled water xanthan gum aloe juice and etc. I also used vegetable glycerin.

Thank you for this video! Learning how to use glycerine with products is another factor. Ie: ratio of glycerine to oil mix. I use 100% vegetable glycerine by NOW.

Thank you! I just did the big chop! I’m so excited about this journey. I am a “need to know why” type and you hit it on the head. I tell everyone who will listen that sound effects make the world so much better. You made me smile a little extra. Thank you..

You really know your stuff. Thanks for the info. Also, nice hair.

From now onwards, I will add plant based gels to my leave-in conditioner. Thanks for sharing.

I live in a humid place and I unknowingly formed a routine that works great in humid places. I realized this bc when I visit my family that lives in a drier city my hair feels sooo dry and weird! I actually like the humidity because it’s what I’m used to

Great video, very informative. I have been eating okra for months now, I didn't no it could be used on our hair.

You're heaven sent - thanks so much for these videos they're so informative

Amazing scientific explanation. Very informative and quick , really helped me

I love how you explained this! I finally get it! I seriously have got to pay more attention to your videos. You simplified what humectants do and I finally understand why glycerin was a miss for me. Flax seed gel, on the other hand, I noticed that I can use it almost regardless of the weather and my hair loves it.

Do bigger videos, we want to get deeper in the chemistry content

Thanks Sharmaine for all the great info. I see a lot of youtube blogs however I prefer the ones that provide scientific reasons for their recommendations. I luv your work.

Banage Finally!👏🏿 An actual cosmetologist advising us on how to take care of afro textured hair! You have no idea how long I've waited for you😖😭.....I just think RU-vid should start verifying content creators on this important topic that can literally "destroy" your hair and skin. Because honestly!!! There's so much burffff and complete nonsense on RU-vid concerning this natural hair movement....Sometimes I can just be there and Im like....the H!!!, that's 5 minutes of my life wasted😑😑😑......Mtchewwww even! Soooo asanté asanté asanté🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿. Ohhhh and BTW I didn't come here to completely rant buttttttt to ask if you could film a video talking about the different ways to use these humectants on your hair. P.S MUST INCLUDE OKRAAAA! Tank you😊😚😚💖

Aloe does not trap moisture. I use it once a week it makes my hair soft while its wet..as soon as it dries my hair is dry

You are a God-send! Thankful to GlamFam for telling us about your channel.

I sooooo appreciate the science behind the options with our haircare. Education always leads to the best results. THANK YOU. As soon as I finish typing, I am replacing my glycerin with aloe vera☺️.

I Love science I got an A in it😆 Thank you so much this will help with my hair because I'm learning all the time and I was using apricot oil because it draws the moisture from the air I'll try to find a aloe vera plant and maybe use that in my conditioner or possibly my oils thank you so much God bless you🙏🌷

You have given us answers to questions we didn't even know enough to ask. Could you put this knowledge into DYI soaps, facial serums, and moisturizers. Quick before corporate America shuts you down. Love from us all.

I’m so glad I discovered your channel!!!

Thank you! Just when I was thinking of trying glycerin, I was quickly reminded to stick with things like aloe vera and flaxseed gel. Thank you Tanya! :)

Great video!! I was wondering, what would happen if you mixed glycerine and plant based humectants together? Or does it not change anything since it has the same chemical structure? (I am new to all of this and I find it extremely interesting. I want to start making/using more natural products for my 4c hair:))

You are so right Love this video. I use the aloe vera leaf on my hair, and I make aloe vera oil with other oils. My hair gets very moisturized. It has changed my life. Thank you for sharing. Love and Light.♥️♥️♥️🙏🙏

I'm beginning my search for new hair products that will revive my hair and I wanted to start by learning what the ingredients are. Glad I found you!

Thank you so much because I keep aloe vera and flaxseeds in the house and I could be using them for my hair and skin

1. Aloe vera gel 2.'Flaxseed gel 3. Pectin 4. Xanthum gum 5. Okra Gel

My 4c hair never dries out when I use flax gel. Even if I want it to.

You’re so pretty! -A random Jamaican English guy from England

Your content is appreciated. It's well explained and makes it easier to understand what's happening chemically beneath the surface. Amazing content, glad I stumbled on your channel today

I’m gonna use Aveda flax seed aloe gel and seal it w cold pressed castor oil. It already has hydrogenated castor oil in it though

Curly Chemistry,.....I LOVE your duel approach to our heads!!! To understand what to put on top,....I must have understanding within first. Science is so exciting and you apply it to our hair. Thank you....it makes GOOD SENSE. A smarter approach to OUR hair care. Thank you from your wavy/coil-singlet sister I n the East Coast. Peace & Blessings!!

I think you should do a video on Silicones for hair. Like why is it bad or why it helps our hair & etc.

Great video and information! I recently learned that glycerin might be causing my inevitable halo frizz. So, I started paying more attention and my best hair days are from Shea Moisture's High Porosity co-wash and hair mask, KCKT leave-in, and KCCC styler. None of those products have glycerin. Ah ha! My question to you is what other products do you recommend?

I loved this video.. I’m making an aloe leave in and specially searched for you channel because I just knew you had what I needed! I was right. Thank you 😊

Love the way you break things down! Thanks for the education 👑

That's the type of details I want to know!! Thank you!! And you look flawless😍

Hey, more examples would be good

Glycerin is terrible on my hair!!

Thanks..I just about Glycerin naturals...well I'll try your stuff also.

Yaaaaas I’ve been wanting to learn more about skincare and words that scare me and you totally helped me out

Here in 2021. Still relevant information

Thank you for this video!!! I live in El Paso Tx and have been wondering what could help my hair stay moisturized. Great job!

Just starting to learn the proper way of taking care of my hair. Thanks for the knowledge.

I didn't glycerin isn't enough for keeping moisture into our hair. Good to know. Maybe because we don't have glycerin in its real form. My father had glycerine in his garden. When I was a kid he used to wash my body and my hair with it.

Thank you for this video. I use a curling cream by African Pride and it has Shea Butter and Flaxseed oil in it. It keeps my hair moisturized. Love this video.♥️

THANK YOU!!!And your hair looks so moisturized and beautiful.🌺🌺🌺

I love your videos. They are so helpful as we need to know the science behind hair care. When I go into beauty stores, I have information beforehand and it helps with product selection. Thank you.

Love your videos! Straight to the point and so informative. Liked ✔️ Commented ✔️ Subscribed ✔️

You are absolutely beautiful - your brain, personality, face, and that hair.

I am so glad I came across your channel. So much good information on ingredients and whats good/bad for natural curly hair :) Thank you!!!

Oh wow.. I never knew that okra and flaxseed were the master moisturisers for natural hair! Thank you! How do you use them?

Aloe makes my hair hard, I think it has protein🤔 no matter how I mix it, or what time of year🙄 can you confirm that it has protein properties for me?? Thanks😘

Thanks for the education on humectants! Now I understand how glycerin differs from others.

thank you so much for sharing this with us very informative must give one of these a try enjoy your day thank you good again God bless you