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Glycerin    (aka Glycerine, Glycerol)
Glycerin is used as a humectant, and also to add slip in a conditioner to make the product easier for combing. It's also put in products to keep the products from drying up in the container.

It's known to be non toxic, and doesn't cause skin irritation (Winter says it may be irritating to the mucas membranes in concentrated solutions, but when used normally, it's non-irritating and non-allergenic.). (Fun fact: It's actually a byproduct of regular human metabolism).

Glycerin is a clear, thick liquid which is completely water soluble. It occurs in nature in animal fats, and is often used to make glycerin soap (when a highly alkaline substance is added to it). It can also be made synthetically [Hunting (Shampoo) pg 238-239].

Glycerin is a by-product of soap making. It's a sweet-tasting, oily liquid (but I don't recommend drinking it, or course), made from adding something basic to a fat or an oil. It's a humectant because it absorbs water from the air, and it can help products spread better[Winter (7th ed) pg 256]. —This is great for combing, but I’ve found that once it dries, it’s gone, so it shouldn’t be too close to the top of the ingredient list (after water). You want it for slip, but you need other ingredients to help keep your hair calm and together after this dries—T
Source(s): Hunting Winter


AOCS Publishing, 1994.

Marcel Dekker, Inc., 2001.

Renton: Beginning Press, 2005.

Begoun, Paula. The Beauty Bible.
Renton: Beginning Press, 2002.

Renton: Beginning Press, 2003.

New York: Brains Publishing, 2008.


Halal, John Hair Structure and Chemistry Simplified, Fifth Edition
Albany: Milady, 2002.

Hunting, Anthony L.L. Encyclopedia of Conditioning Rinse Ingredients.
Cranford, NJ: Micelle Press, Inc., 1987.

Hunting, Anthony L.L. Encyclopedia of Shampoo Ingredients.
Cranford, NJ: Micelle Press, Inc., 1983.

New York: Marcel Dekker, 1997. Print.

Madison Heights: CRC, 2001.


New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1999.

New York: Three Rivers Press, 2005.

New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1986.


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