Grab any of your favorite hair care products and examine the ingredient list. Cetyl alcohol will likely make its appearance at the top of the list. The word 'alcohol' will start ringing an alarm bell in your mind. But cetyl alcohol, however should not be a cause of concern. Unlike other alcohols, cetyl alcohol is safe for the skin and hair. From shampoos to conditioners and styling gels, Cetyl alcohol is used in many hair products. Despite its common use in these products, you may wonder what it does and why is it good for our hair. This article explains the benefits of cetyl alcohol for hair and how to choose the right products containing this ingredient to achieve the best results for different hair types and styles.
What is Cetyl Alcohol?
Cetyl Alcohol is a primary ingredient in many skincare and haircare products. It is also known as palmityl alcohol or 1-hexadecanol. It is obtained from vegetable oils like coconut or palm oil. The Latin word 'Cetus' means whale oil, from which cetyl was first isolated. The name palmityl alcohol comes from the fact that cetyl alcohol can be derived from palm oil for industrial purposes.
It is a waxy, solid substance extensively used in many skincare and haircare products because of its hydrating effects. Fatty alcohols, such as cetyl alcohol, are derived from plant oil such as palm oil or coconut oil, and are thus organic in nature. They are formed when fatty acids or oils combine with alcohol. The hydrating property of cetyl alcohol is attributed to the presence of fatty oils. In cosmetic products, cetyl alcohol is used as a surfactant, an emulsifier, a thickening agent, an emollient, and an opacifier. It also helps to extend the shelf life of the product.
Benefits of Cetyl Alcohol in haircare
Fatty alcohol such as cetyl alcohol is used in cosmetic products because of its hydrating and conditioning effect. It improves the texture of your hair, making it soft, smooth, and shiny. This plant oil-derived fatty acid can pump life into your lifeless hair. Let's elucidate the benefits of cetyl alcohol for hair.
1. Acts as an emollient
As an emollient, cetyl alcohol keeps your strands hydrated, making them soft, smooth, and silky. It moisturizes the scalp, reduces scalp dryness, itchiness, and flakiness. Emollients also exhibit occlusive property, due to which cetyl alcohol prevents water loss by forming a thin film over the surface of the hair strands.
2. Improves scalp health
Cetyl alcohol exhibits emollient properties because it keeps your scalp and hair well-hydrated. It improves the scalp's barrier function by locking the moisture inside, thus preventing dry scalp conditions and maintaining a healthy scalp. Itchy and flaky scalp conditions have been linked to the skin's natural barrier disruptions.
3. Acts as a thickening agent
It acts as a thickening agent, thus improving the viscosity of the haircare products. It is added to hair care products to improve your product's texture, viscosity, and consistency to look more appealing to your senses.
4. Acts as an emulsifier
As an emulsifier, cetyl alcohol prevents the ingredients in the product formula from separating. It is vital in cosmetic products to prevent the ingredient in the product formula from becoming clumpy.
5. Surfactant
It acts as a surfactant in hair care products reducing the surface tension between two substances, thereby improving its wetting and spreading properties. As a result, dirt, grime, and other impurities attract it, making it easier to wash off.
6. Acts as an opacifier
Cetyl alcohol is used in hair care products as an opacifier by making your product opaque. It enhances the foaming ability of the haircare products, thereby increasing the efficacy of the product formulation.
These benefits make cetyl alcohol a vital ingredient in many Curlvana hair care products, such as Curlvana Curly Hair Styling Gel and Curly Hair Mask.
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How to use Cetyl Alcohol in haircare?
It reduces moisture loss and can protect your scalp from various microbial and bacterial infections. But that's not all; this multitasking ingredient has conditioning and detangling properties as well. It is often used as a thickening agent in hair care products which helps to improve the texture of your hair. It acts as an emulsifying agent. In cosmetic products, cetyl alcohol provides stability to the formulation by holding water and oil together and preventing it from becoming clumpy. It helps in maintain a healthy scalp by cleaning it gently.
How to choose Cetyl Alcohol-based haircare products?
While selecting Cetyl Alcohol-based hair care products, check the list of ingredients and look for terms such as cetyl alcohol, palmitic alcohol, or 1-hexadecanol. All these names indicate the presence of cetyl alcohol in your haircare product. Due to its beneficial properties, Cetyl alcohol is used in various hair care products such as shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, hair creams, and hair gel.
Other ingredients it is compatible with
It works well with most of the hydrating ingredients used in hair care products.
Side effects of Cetyl Alcohol
Cetyl Alcohol is non-sensitizing, non-toxic, and is considered to be safe for external application. It is a non-hazardous ingredient that is used in most hair care products. According to experts, people who have sensitive skin may experience skin irritation from cetyl alcohol. Some evidence suggests that cetyl alcohol, in combination with other synthetic fatty alcohols, can cause allergic reactions in the outermost layer of the skin by altering the lipid bilayer. It is always advisable for people with sensitive skin and those suffering from dry skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea to perform a patch test if you are applying it for the first time.
This multitasking ingredient is super beneficial for your hair. It can help to make your strands stronger, shinier, and softer. Plus, it protects the hair from damage, keeping every strand well-hydrated. It helps to maintain a problem-free scalp. If you're looking for a product with this beneficial ingredient, check the label before you buy your next hair care product.
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