Anyone else not care about cones, mineral oil, petroleum, etc?

[KiniKakes]

Or is it just me?

When I buy a product, I dont look at the ingredients......... I am kind of embarassed to say that i buy it based on smell and also slip/consistency. I mean, i have my core set of fav. products that i stick with..... but i honestly dont know whats in them. If the recipe changes, as folks have pointed out on this board (ie, Suave Milk & Honey, Nacidit Aceit de Olive) I never even notice..........

On the one hand, i feel kinda clueless and naive.... like Im not in touch with my hair. But on the other hand, my hair seems to be fine, so should i really care? Its growing.... the healthiest its ever been..... i have no real complaints.

I felt so guilty one time that I bought some clarifying poo just because i figured i was "supposed" too. I figured that ive GOT to have build-up, with all the crap i use, plus the fact that i use a no-lye relaxer. But i used it.......... and saw no significant difference. *shrug*

Am I the only one who can use all of these "bad" products, but whose hair still thrives? Am I the only one who just doesnt care to check the ingredients?

Or am i alone in this?

ETA: I use the products (w/cones, mineral oil, whatever) mainly on the strands/length of my hair........ but it often gets on my scalp just out of carelessness. Otherwise, i usually just put MTG directly on the scalp.

 

[Southernbella.]

I'm with you, Kini. I never bother to check when it comes to my products. I check before I buy stuff for my daughter, but even then, I'm just looking for something that sticks out as being harmful.

I just use what works.

 

[rootdeep]

**RAISES HAND**

Me, me, me, me!! Guess what?! I have no intentions on throwing out those products either! Heck they are my staples!!!

I look at smell as well but overall when I try a product and see results I could care less that it has cones in it especially when its giving my hair some awesome results. My Doo Gro has petroleum and mineral oil in it I believe and I have withdrawals when I cant get my hands on it for my twice a week oiling! My Garnier Long & Strong has cones too I think and I'm not giving that up for ANYONE. My ends would be so mad at me if I gave up my petroleum and mineral oil based products.

 

[glamazon386]

I dont. I don't have time to be trying to figure all that out. I open bottles in the store and smell them. I know my hair likes creamy products. If my hair likes it, then I use it. That's about it...

 

[gimbap]

I'm with you. If a product works, it works.

 

[Missi]

This may help you about mineral oil

"No propylene glycol, mineral oil, or sodium laureth sulfate. Make sure your shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, soaps, lotions, and creams do not contain these deadly poisonous chemicals." (Trudeau 111)

6. Mineral Oil - Petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. Interferes with skin's ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging. Used in many products (baby oil is 100% mineral oil!) Any mineral oil derivative can be contaminated with cancer causing PAH's (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons). Manufacturers use petroleum because it is unbelievably cheap. (THELIFETREE)

 

[KiniKakes]

WHew!!!! Thanks ya'all!!! These responses make me feel a LOT better!

Im just saying.... it was making this hair thing waaaay too complicated (and not "fun" anymore) when i was all worried about what was in them, what could be harmful, etc. When it comes right down to it...... i kinda just use what works. Ive come to terms with the fact that..... if it isnt 100% organic, thats OKAY! If my hair *aint* complaining, then neither will i.

Im definitely not knocking those who do check ingredients and so forth. I actually respect that tremendously! I think im just too lazy to do all that on a consistent basis.... which is why i ultimately just stopped.

Bmore, im w/you!!! My hair loves products that smell good and products that are creamy! Thats kinda my criteria as well.

 

[KiniKakes]

This may help you about mineral oil

"No propylene glycol, mineral oil, or sodium laureth sulfate. Make sure your shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, soaps, lotions, and creams do not contain these deadly poisonous chemicals." (Trudeau 111)

6. Mineral Oil - Petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. Interferes with skin's ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging. Used in many products (baby oil is 100% mineral oil!) Any mineral oil derivative can be contaminated with cancer causing PAH's (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons). Manufacturers use petroleum because it is unbelievably cheap. (THELIFETREE)

Thanks for sharing that! I never really knew the real reason folks avoided it, so thats helpful to hear.

But girl, as horrifying as that all sounds...... i will be honest. Im still gonna use it on my hair. I dunno....... maybe im just nuts. *shrug*

 

[cneal]

I'm with you. If a product works, it works.

same here!!

 

[HoneyDew]

I don't care at all!

I don't really like to use products that call themselves moisturizers and all they have is mineral oil and petroleum and no water or humectents.

But, I pretty much use whatever my hair likes, even if it has any of those ingredients.

 

[e$h]

I'm with you. If a product works, it works.

I concur!!!!

 

[dlewis]

I don't check. My hair seems to like these.

 

[ladylibra]

i still don't use mineral oil or petroleum... just not comfortable... erplexed

now CONES are another story!

cone-filled conditioners tend to weigh down my hair, so i don't use them all the time. but if i want a slightly different look i will, or if i'm going to straighten my hair. i get the best results when i use a cone-filled conditioner, followed by a cone-filled heat protectant and then my cone-filled anti-humectant pomade.

i wouldn't use a cone-filled conditioner for conditioner washing though.

 

[wheezy807]

You pose a very good question. I bought a big 33.8oz. bottle of Nexxus Humectin Extreme Moisture Conditioner W/ shampoo. And low and behold the conditioner contains MINERAL OIL(which is also called paraffinum liquidum). The shampoo doesn't, but for that sole reason i haven't use the conditioner. So it's just sittin in the bathroom on the shelf. But usely i check the ingredients first( i think when i first joined i heard raves about nexxus and just bought it w/o thinkin' twice).But as far as SLS goes, THAT'S PRACTICALLY IN EVERTHING! I really don't know, all i know is that i definitely wouldn't throw it out. DANG Kinikakes you make me wanna reconsider using it again. All that $$$!!!

 

[tatje]

I don't check and I doubt if I ever will. I don't know what does what and what doesn't. As long as the product does it's job and doesn't kill me or my hair, I'm good.

 

[mkstar826]

i went from not caring when i was relaxed, to caring when i first went natural...then back to not caring...then back to caring

now and probably forever, i realize that some "bad" things just work for my hair and skin i'm going to use what works for me

 

[KiniKakes]

Thanks for all the responses ladies!!!! I appreciate them all!

 

[bgsix]

Count me in. Like I sometimes say "everything is not for everybody".

 

[LocksOfLuV]

I was one of those people i used to be ON it boy. I would boycott everythang.

Now I am like hell, as long as some of the good ingredients are at the top and it gives me slip whatever. I still avoid certain things IN ABUNDANCE, but for the most part I use anything (except ammonia, peroxide and other things that will make relaxed hair break).

 

[Ms Red]

I use what works too!

 

[Malice]

I don't care about mineral oil, and petroleum in my products either! Never did, never will. I likes what I likes. I don't even know what cones are. Since joining the board I've found myself paying attention to every hair product I buy but only for comparison purposes between brands and what has more of what I know is good for me. I never put a product back on the shelf because it contained mineral oil or petroleum.

 

[avyance]

I use what works, I don't look at the ingredients at all!!!

 

[Sistaslick]

You have to know your own limitations. I personally can't use mineral oil or petrolatum in my products or its dry city, but I can get by with loads of cones, though. Some people can't use no-lye relaxers, and my hair thrives on them. So just because product B dries my hair out, does not necessarily mean that product B will dry out yours too. If quite a few people say product B is drying, then the chances are probably increased that its drying overall-- but even then, it still does not mean you will experience the same thing.

No need to feel guilty if something "unorthodox" is working for you. You hear it on the boards all the time, everything does not work for everyone. Nothing here is sound gospel. The tips and even "the facts" sometimes only go so far. Even if something works for 90% of the board, your hair is still the variable that determines whether or not something will work for you. That's why you can use someone's entire line of products and follow their regimen to the T and never have hair that looks like theirs does. You have to factor in individual variation.

As long as you know what to do when something is obviously not working, then you are fine. Other than that, have at it.

 

[Priss Pot]

I always read ingredients because I don't want to buy something that has all bad ingredients. I don't avoid parabens, but I do pay attention to what comes after the parabens because parabens are only allowed to make up 1% of the total product. Any "good" ingredients (like olive oil, jojoba, etc.) that are listed after the parabens, I don't get it because if the parabens make up less than 1%, then there must be barely any good ingredients in there (such as the Design Essentials Leave-in conditioner). The only product I use that has an ingredient list make-up like this is my Kids Organics Shea Butter Detangling Lotion, and this is the only stuff that detangles my hair like nobody's business.

Other than that ONE product, I pay attention to my ingredients. I find that a product heavy in beeswax, makes my hair feel dry after a couple days (yet I'm still wanting to try the Baby Buttercreme which is loaded with it). Mineral Oil & Petroleum only make my hair feel like straw, mainly when they're listed as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd ingredient. The only thing I've tried with mineral oil as the 2nd ingredient that made my hair feel nice was a sample I had of Silicon Mix.

I prefer not to use products containing mineral oil/petroleum, but if I ever come across a product that does contain it that WORKS, then I won't be too mad.

Now about cones, I don't avoid them too much, but at the same time, I don't want a cone filled conditioner/moisturizer that doesn't do anything.

 

[RainbowCurls]

Frankly, there are so many things that *may* cause cancer these days that following all the advice on things to avoid would take over my life.
So, I don't avoid ingredients except certain silicones, because they made my hair slimy (cyclopentasilaxane to be exact).

 

[thiccknlong]

I feel ya ! I hear alot of people rave about Vitapoint... it gives INCREDIBLE shine and seals in moisture...but it's mineral oil basically. I'm trying to determine whether to buy it.

 

[Priss Pot]

I feel ya ! I hear alot of people rave about Vitapoint... it gives INCREDIBLE shine and seals in moisture...but it's mineral oil basically. I'm trying to determine whether to buy it.

That's why I didn't buy it because it doesn't contain any good ingredients.

 

[prettypuff1]

I really couldnt care less..... i just buy and get what works

 

[imstush]

I am the same way. I never look at the ingredients. Growing up my mother used Dax and or Sulpher 8 on my hair...and Dax has/had Petroleum and mineral oil...and my hair was at it's healthiest and longest when my mom did it.

 

[jtsupanova]

Frankly, there are so many things that *may* cause cancer these days that following all the advice on things to avoid would take over my life. So, I don't avoid ingredients except certain silicones, because they made my hair slimy (cyclopentasilaxane to be exact).

I agree, also I just do not have the money to shell out for natural products