Ingredients Dictionary: Glycerin, Glycerine, Vegetable Glycerine
I have already done quite a few posts on the blog about glycerin but as it is a popular and repeating question, here is the dictionary info for it!
| GLYCERIN, GLYCERINE,VEGETABLE GLYCERINE | |
Property | Notes |
| What is it? | A humectant- i.e it binds water |
| Where is it derived from? | Mainly now from vegetable oil but can also be made from fossil fuel and animal fat |
| What is its pH? | Around 7 (*pH test by me) |
| Is it water soluble? | Very much so. Each unit of glycerin has 3 binding sites for water. |
| What is the difference between glycerin and vegetable glycerin | No difference. One specifies how the glycerin was made.Glycerol is however the undiluted form of glycerin but is quite a specialist product (i.e bought from a lab supplier not on the shop shelf) |
| ACTION IN HAIR CONDITIONER | |
| What does glycerin do in shampoo and conditioner? | Glycerin is not normally added to shampoo. It is most powerful in a leave in conditioner. As it is a humectant, it creates an artificial humidity around the hair preventing water loss from the hair. |
| How much glycerin is added? | Scientifically 20-25% in water is the ideal starting point. However significantly less is added (as little as 5%) in reality as 20-25% can feel very oily and sticky |
| Is glycerin a major component of hair conditioner? | It can be for a leave in conditioner. |
| ACTION ON HAIR | |
| Does glycerin do anything to hair itself | 1. It creates a feeling of softness 2. It is known to prevent breakage of natural hair (but not relaxed hair or colour treated natural hair) 3. It has been reported to also offer some thermal protection to hair when using heat |
| Does glycerin penetrate hair? | There is no conclusive evidence. There are theories both ways (i.e that it does penetrate hair and that it does not). |
| Can glycerin absorb water from hair? | There is no evidence of this when using glycerin mixed with water. In theory glycerin prefers to hang on to water therefore once mixed with water, it is in its most stable state. |
Sources and extra reading (references are in the articles):
1. Good stuff in a funny form
2. Glycerin is your friend
3. Does glycerin penetrate hair or doesn't it?
Category Article Ingredients Dictionary
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