Actual Facts About
The Benefits of Petrolatum
Many misconceptions exist today regarding petrolatum based products. This fact sheet is designed to correct these misconceptions and bring clarity regarding the benefits of using petrolatum based products on the hair and scalp.
- What is petrolatum? Petrolatum is a mixture of semi-solid hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are the simplest organic compounds, containing only carbon and hydrogen.
- Is petrolatum natural? Petrolatum is as natural as natural can get! Natural petrolatum is obtained from the purification and distillation of petroleum, a fossil fuel formed by and derived from the earth.
- What are the benefits of petrolatum for the scalp and the hair? Petrolatum provides three main benefits:
- Petrolatum molecules “walk on water”, because they are larger than water molecules; therefore petrolatum moisturizes the scalp by preventing rapid water loss.
- Petrolatum protects the hair and scalp by acting as a barrier against heat as well as harmful chemicals such as those found in shampoos, relaxers, dyes and bleaches, and the glue used with hair weaves.
- Petrolatum adds sheen to the hair.
Madame C. J. Walker, per her own words, started the Hair Growing Business. She considered the art of hair growing to be similar to the cultivation plants, emphasizing the need to nurture the scalp -as one would nurture the soil- to produce strong healthy hair. Consider then Madame C.J. Walker hair oils to serve as nutrient-rich “s-oil” for the hair!
The method by which Madame C.J. Walker hair oils are applied to the hair and scalp is also a key factor in producing the best results. For daily use, oils should be messaged into the scalp, with a small amount being worked through the hair. For optimal moisture retention, apply Madame C.J. Walker hair oils to a wet scalp, again messaging the scalp for even distribution of the oil, then working it throughout the hair. Madame’s oils may even be applied prior to washing the hair to prevent stripping the hair, leaving it soft and fluffy.