African/Afro/Mixed hair is normally thick and very dry when it is in its normal natural state. Most of
the hair products formulated specifically for Black hair contain petroleum-based ingredients, you
can check on the ingredients of the hair product (eg. Hair Food) and you can see this, it can also be
called petrolatum white petrolatum or soft paraffin this is the same. The use of Petroleum has
historically been used to add shine, and because normally when used on skin it softens and smooth- ends the belief was it will do the same on hair and this is not true. I know it is difficult to believe this especially if you have used these products most of your life but I am a living testimony of the changes you can see on your hair if you stay clear of products with Petroleum.

1. Petroleum contains Mineral oil that actually accumulates on the scalp and this blocks the
hair follicles, slowing hair growth. If it builds up on the hair itself, it attracts and holds dirt
and residue, which make the hair appear dull and unhealthy. You can see this build up when
you wash your hair the amount of dirt that is accumulated can often be seen washing out.

2. Petroleum is a natural extract from Crude Oil yes the oil used in cars etc and for this reason
it does not have a lot of vitamin or necessary components that your hair needs. Mineral oil
found in Petroleum does not penetrate the hair shaft it only coats the hair and serves as a
temporary "solution" for making the hair look slick and shiny.

3. Because it blocks the hair's surface, moisture cannot penetrate into the hair and with
continued use the hair will eventually dry out, making it more prone to breakage and
damage.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, also known as SLS; is a cleansing product. It only cleans the surface of
anything that will be touched by it. SLS is found in a lot of products such as shampoos or floor
cleansers, BUT it can be very harsh on the hair and scalp. You are asking yourself probably, “why
would companies put this in shampoos when they know it is a harsh product.”  A simple answer;
because it is cheap and creates bubbles/lather.

We used to think that the more bubbles/lather a shampoo makes, the better it is, but that’s wrong.
The less bubbles/lather a shampoo makes, the better the shampoo will treat the hair and scalp. We
should blame this thought on the advertising commercials. The always show a lot of lather and make  it look like it is good that the shampoo makes lather.  However, a few name brands like L’Oreal have a collection of sulfate-free shampoos:

Why SLS is Bad For Scalp and Hair
It has been proven that SLS can cause the hair to thin out permanently which is one of the worst
things for us women. Our hair and scalp absorbs everything we put on it and SLS is a harsh chemical that not only will make your hair fall out, but also dry out your hair and scalp. I have heard that when you smell a shampoo that contains SLS and get some of this product in your nose, it will make your nose burn and in some cases even bleed.

A good thing is that you can reverse all the damage that has been done by SLS by switching to a
sulfate free (and silicone) free shampoo. Almost immediately, you will notice a difference and of
course your hair and scalp will thank you for it.  I will create a list with Sulfate and Silicone Free
Shampoos and Conditioners in one of my upcoming articles.