Home • Ingredients
By Samantha Berley·Published November 18, 2011
From hot oil to mayo, homemade hair recipes are very much in style. One thing that pops up from time to time on hair forums is Crisco or vegetable shortening.
It may sound like a weird idea, but a lot of people use Crisco for hair moisturizing. With all of the home remedies out there, this is definitely something to try. So give your hair the special treatment and slather on that shortening.
Why Crisco?
For those who have tried shortening and loved it, or those who want to try it out of sheer curiosity, you might find it surprising that Crisco even works. But the reason for this is simple. Vegetable shortening is basically oil in a solid, fatty form. It contains the vitamins and minerals of any other oil in liquid form. The only difference is consistency.
If you’ve ever tried a hot oil treatment, using Crisco for hair moisturizing is a similar concept. You’re trying to keep your hair moisturized while absorbing nutrients. Wet hair naturally attracts vitamins and minerals and an oil or vegetable shorting works as a sealer and locks in that moisture.
But Does it Work?
Crisco may or may not work for you personally, as any treatment’s success is based on an individual basis. As a sealant and an emollient, people have been using vegetable shortening for centuries on everything from their hair to their skin. It makes sense based on anecdotal evidence, and it doesn’t hurt to try. But, does the Crisco for hair thing really work?
The answer is possibly. Most who have tried it people use vegetable shortening for the drier months and rave about their silky-smooth and manageable hair. That being said, there are some downsides. For one thing, Crisco has a distinct smell that bothers some people. Since this is a deterrent, many women opt for adding honey and other perfumed items from the kitchen. Crisco is also made primarily of soybean oil, which can be an allergen. Those who are allergic should avoid it, even for skin and hair care.
But the positives of using Crisco for hair are a definite plus. Vegetable shortening, including the Crisco brand, contains fatty acids and often times Vitamin E which is great for hair. Those who have tried this treatment discovered their hair stays tamed and smooth for days, if not weeks.
Think the benefits sounds great? We’ll show you how to get them!
Using Shortening
The how to on using Crisco in your hair depends on your own personal approach. Whether you’re using it as a sealant or a shampoo, a mix using your favorite vegetable shortening is a few simple steps.
- Begin the treatment with prep. Take out all the ingredients you are going to use. When it comes to using Crisco for hair moisture, many women love to add aloe vera, shea butter, honey, and a variety of oils, including almond, tea tree and olive oils. If you’re making shampoo, you also need glycerin (liquid soap”>.
- Whip the vegetable shortening until it has a smoother consistency. Mix all the ingredients well. Depending on what you add, the mixture should have a consistency of liquid soap or a thick conditioner. If you want to add perfume to cut the smell, mix that in as well.
- Wet your hair thoroughly from root to tip. If you decide to make more of a shampoo, now would be the time to add it and work your way through your hair as you would with regular shampoo and rinse. Otherwise, add the vegetable shortening mixture from your ears to your tips.
- Let the treatment sit in your hair for at least 15 minutes if it’s not shampoo. Wash out with water and shampoo. This may take a couple of shampoos to get all of it out.
- Apply a leave-in conditioner, or not, it’s up to you, and finger comb it through. If you want to create ringlets, twist your hair around your finger, hold for a few seconds and release.
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Final Thoughts
Although there is no specific recipe for the shortening concoction, it is what you make of it. You don’t need an entire tub of Crisco, probably only half a cup to a cup of your favorite oils, aloe vera, conditioners, honey, perfume and anything else you think would be a good addition. If you think the Crisco smells even with perfume, it might take up to three consecutive washes to work out the scent.
As an ingredient, vegetable shortening can be found in a variety of high-end conditioners. It’s not a new idea and it’s certainly worth a try. Give Crisco for hair moisturizing a shot, and you may never buy the expensive stuff again!
