If you’ve done any research into the ingredients that make up your favorite haircare or skincare products, you’ve probably heard the term “humectant”—but what exactly is a humectant and why are they so great for your hair?
What is a humectant and how do they work?
A humectant is a class of ingredients that describes a substance that attracts and binds water (basically, they are hydrators). Humectants act like a magnet for water, drawing it from the surrounding environment and binding it to whatever surface it’s used on.
When used in skincare products, humectants generally draw water from deeper layers of the skin toward the surface—or if you apply them on damp skin, binding that water to the surface of the skin. In hair care, humectants draw water from the air, if humidity allows, or from the water present in wet hair.
Since dry, dehydrated strands are more prone to breakage, adding a humectant into your hair care routine is an important step in protecting your hair from damage because it will help your strands maintain the right level of moisture.
What types of humectants should you look for in your hair care?
We know the importance of keeping hair healthy and hydrated, so you’ll find a variety of different types of humectants in our formulas that you can easily add to your healthy hair routine:
- Glycerin is one of the most powerful, effective, and often underrated, humectants. You can find this ingredient in most Briogeo’s products!
- Aloe Vera is not only a great humectant for the hair, but it also has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
- Sucrose is also an effective humectant, used commonly in skincare products to help bind moisture to the skin.
If you’re looking for a way to add more humectants into your haircare routine, our limited-edition Don’t Despair, Repair! Vegan Apple Honey Deep Conditioning Hair Mask actually combines all three of these powerful ingredients into one ultra-hydrating, reparative hair mask!
