Fatty Acids Found in Hair Products That Are Good For Your Hair

When you are investigating the next hair product ingredient list, don’t automatically be alarmed by any  “acids” that you may see on the list. It is important that you become an informed consumer so that you aren’t possibly ditching a product that could be great for your hair. Some good sources of fatty acids include omega 3 oils and omega 6 oils. Foods that contain healthy fatty acids include flax seed, salmon, avocados, walnuts and sunflower seeds. It should come as no surprise, then, that fatty acids derived from these sources are excellent for natural hair.

Alpha-Linolenic Acid

Have you ever seen the words ” alpha-linolenic acid” (AHA) in a hair care product’s ingredient list? Well, it’s a good thing! It’s an essential fatty acid (EFA) that comes from walnuts and flaxseeds. This type of oil is very anti-inflammatory and also is an antioxidant.

Eicosapentaenoic acid &  Docosahexaenoic Acid

Other kinds of omega 3 oils include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is marine sourced.

Stearic Acid

This acid is a waxy substance that is extracted from vegetable fats and some oils (mostly palm or coconut). In some cases it can be derived from animal fat. It is useful for coating and conditioning the hair. Stearic acid has been used for quite some time and is believed to have been used by the ancient Egyptians as gel to hold their elaborate hairstyles.

These are a few oils that are high in Omega 6 Fatty Acids :

• Safflower oil
• Cottonseed oil
• Soybean oil

It is understandable to take pause when you see an ingredient that you may not be familiar with. Especially when you see the words “acid”, most people are likely to think of something drying or damaging. However, this isn’t always the case. Have no worries if you encounter the fatty acids that were mentioned in this post, because they are great for the health of your hair. By all means, continue to be picky about what you put on your hair. But also inform yourself so that you can recognize the difference between good fatty acids and bad acids (like sulfuric acid; drying to the hair) that appear in natural hair care products.

Info about fatty acids discussed in this article (Source).