Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Hair Mineral Oil + hair color fade

  • Mineral Oil + hair color fade

    Posted by lynw on October 15, 2015 at 8:52 am

    I have been reading in blogs that mineral oil/ oil heavy products can cause hair dye to fade faster. I have not managed to find any tests or articles that substantiate this. Does anyone have any opinions on this and if possible could you point me at some resources.

    David replied 8 years, 6 months ago 4 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Bill_Toge

    Member
    October 15, 2015 at 3:35 pm
    it depends what kind of hair dye you’re talking about

    dyes generated by oxidation (permanent / demi-permanent) are large, polymeric molecules that become entangled in the fibres of the hair, and are insoluble in most solvents - very little will shift them chemically or physically, as I know only too well from getting them on my hands!

    as for direct dyes (temporary / semi-permanent), this depends what kind of colorants are used; they are adsorbed onto the surface of the hair, so they’re not attached as firmly as oxidative dyes, and they’re more easily shifted
    ionic dyes (acid or basic dyes, and some HC dyes) definitely won’t be shifted by mineral oil, as they’re totally insoluble in non-polar solvents
    however, non-ionic (disperse dyes, and some HC dyes) may be dissolved in oil, depending on their structure - for instance, I know Disperse Violet 1 is terrible for leaching through thin plastics for exactly this reason

    how significant this effect is compared to the fading caused by washing and shampooing the hair, I don’t know
  • Bobzchemist

    Member
    October 15, 2015 at 4:36 pm

    Just out of curiosity - why would anyone be putting mineral oil on their hair? I can’t even imagine a scenario where that would feel pleasant.

  • lynw

    Member
    October 16, 2015 at 10:27 am

    Thank you @Bill_Toge. That helps a lot.

    @Bobzchemist - This is for the African market. Our consumers use a lot of oil moisturizers, petrolatum based pomades and oil sheen sprays as an adjunct to relaxers. 

  • David

    Member
    October 16, 2015 at 11:56 am

    Although I agree fully with the arguing of  Bill_Toge . 

    - there is only one way of finding it out for sure - make some tests.

    Seeing the results with “your own eyes” will also make you feel more secure when reasoning with the customer

  • David

    Member
    October 16, 2015 at 12:03 pm

    @Bobzchemist I knew an African woman once - she put loads of oils and butters in her hair - afterwards the hair was still nice and fluffy  ;)

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