Ingredient Check: S-Curl No Drip Activator/Moisturizer

S-Curl:
This is a favorite product to many including myself. After posting the article below I wanted to check out some of the ingredients in my favorite moisturizer. (S-Curl)

I went to walgreens.com and cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient

and found the ingredients:

Water , Glycerine , Cetearyl Alcohol , Propylene Glycol , Acetamide MEA , Ceteth-20 , Olealkonium Chloride , Stearalkonium Chloride , Panthenol , Simethicone , Imidazolidinyl Urea , Methylparaben , Propylparaben , Fragrance

Glycerine: Its a humectant so it draws moisture into the hair. If you live in a dry climate such as Arizona it may be bad because it has no moisture from the climate to draw from. Glycerine has been always been questionable as to if it is a god ingredient for hair.

Cetearyl Alcohol: is included in the fatty alcohol group of Lauryl alcohol, Cetyl alcohol, Myristyl alcohol, Stearyl alcohol, Cetearyl alcohol and Behenyl alcohol.These larger alcohols are typically derived from natural sources, and have 12 or more carbons per molecule (typically 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20). This higher amount of carbon content makes these molecules oilier (also referred to as ‘fatty’). For this reason, they are often used as an emollient in skin and haircare products. They give a smooth, soft feeling to the hair shaft by helping the cuticle to lie flat on the surface of the hair. However, if used in excess, fatty alcohols can combine with the natural sebum found on the scalp and form a sticky substance that makes the hair look greasy.

Propylene Glycol: A cosmetic form of mineral oil found in automatic brake and hydraulic fluid and industrial antifreeze. In the skin and hair, propylene glycol works as a humescent, which causes retention of moisture content of skin or cosmetic products by preventing the escape of moisture or water. The Material Safety Data Sheet warns users to avoid skin contact with propylene glycol as this strong skin irritant can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage. WOW! It is also used in:

• Tyre sealant
• Rubber cleaner
• De-icer
• Stain removers
• Fabric softener
• Degreaser
• Paint
• Adhesive
• Wallpaper stripper
  

Acetamide MEA: A water-soluble conditioning agent that is compatible with anionic and nonanionic systems as opposed to quaternary surfactants compatible only with cationics. This agent's primary purpose is to add shine.

Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?

Acetamide MEA increases the water content of the top layers of the skin by drawing moisture from the surrounding air. It also enhances the appearance and feel of hair, by increasing hair body, suppleness, or sheen, or by improving the texture of hair that has been damaged physically or by chemical treatment. (Source: http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org)

Ceteth-20:

Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?

The Ceteth ingredients help other ingredients to dissolve in a solvent in which they would not normally dissolve. Ceteths also help to form emulsions by reducing the surface tension of the substances to be emulsified and they clean the skin and hair by helping water to mix with oil and dirt so that they these substances can be rinsed away. (Source: http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org)

Panthenol:

Is the alcohol form of pantothenic acid, more familiar as Vitamin B5. In a living cell, panthenol is converted to pantothenic acid, which then becomes an important part of the compound "Coenzyme A", which is important in cellular metabolism.

In hair, which contains no living cells, it remains as panthenol. Because it could become a vitamin if it were ever to get to a living cell, it is marketed as a "provitamin", even though its effects as a vitamin are never used.

Uses: Because panthenol binds well to hair follicles, and attracts moisture from the air, it is a moisturizing agent used in shampoos and conditioners. It lubricates the hair without feeling greasy. It smoothes roughened hair surfaces, making them shiny and easier to comb.

Panthenol does not "nourish" hair. It coats it to make it slippery.

Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?

Panthenol acts as a lubricant on the skin surface, which gives the skin a soft and smooth appearance. Panthenol and Pantothenic Acid also enhance the appearance and feel of hair, by increasing hair body, suppleness, or sheen, or by improving the texture of hair that has been damaged physically or by chemical treatment.

Propylparaben:

Parabens are effective preservatives in many types of formulas. They protect cosmetics and personal care products by preventing or retarding the growth of yeast and mold as will as some types of bacteria. They can be found in shampoos, conditioners, water-based styling aids, moisturizers, shaving gels, cleansing gels, personal lubricants, topical pharmaceuticals and toothpaste.