The Ultimate Guide to Glycerin for Hair: Benefits, Uses, and Tips

When you check out the labels of most haircare products, you'll often spot the same ingredients over and over. There's almost always water, maybe some alcohol, and more and more, you'll see glycerin. It turns out there are some really good reasons glycerin keeps popping up in hair and skincare products.

In this article, we'll dive into everything about glycerin and hair: what it is, how it works, and whether using glycerin for hair growth is a good idea. Keep reading to learn more.

Glycerin, sometimes called glycerol, is a sugar alcohol derived from certain plant and animal fats (like coconut oil, beef tallow, shea butter, or petroleum). Typically when you see the ingredient used in a product, it’s vegetable glycerin derived from plants.

Glycerin is also said to be the most effective humectant, meaning it can pull moisture from the environment and draw it into skin and hair. For this reason, it’s a deeply hydrating ingredient.

Glycerin also creates a barrier that helps to lock moisture in. So in short, glycerin delivers moisture to hair and skin and works to keep it there.

Glycerin is generally cheap and highly effective, so you’ll find it in many personal care products.

But what does glycerin do for hair? We’re glad you asked. Below we’ll cover glycerin benefits for hair.

Glycerin Moisturizes and Hydrates Hair

Glycerin helps to hydrate the hair and scalp by drawing moisture from the environment, which can lead to healthier hair. A 2017 study found that glycerin can keep skin significantly more hydrated as long as 24 hours after application.  Conditioned hair may also be less prone to damage.

Glycerin Softens Hair

Because of its conditioning properties, glycerin can make hair feel softer. Glycerin also helps to close and smooth the hair cuticle, and when the hair shaft has a closed cuticle, hair looks shinier.

Glycerin Moisturizes the Scalp

Glycerin is commonly used in beauty products because of its moisturizing properties. Considering the scalp is made of skin, it makes sense that glycerin would be hydrating there, too. You may not give too much thought to keeping your scalp moisturized, but a hydrated scalp sets the stage for healthy hair, as oil from the scalp helps to condition hair.

Glycerin May Aid in Dandruff Reduction

When the scalp is hydrated, it can help reduce certain scalp conditions like dandruff. One study found that a leave-in treatment made with ten percent glycerin can help to reduce dandruff. The treatment was used three times a week for eight weeks, and the scalp benefits continued for up to a week without any treatment.

Research shows that glycerin naturally has antimicrobial properties, which can also help keep dandruff and other scalp conditions caused by scalp fungus or yeast (like scalp ringworm) at bay.

Glycerin Improves Skin Barrier Function

The skin barrier helps protect the body from external threats like toxins, infections, and chemicals. It also plays a role in regulating transdermal water loss, so when it’s strong, the skin stays hydrated. The study mentioned above also found that glycerin improved skin barrier function.

Helps Fight Frizz and Split Ends

Hydrated hair is generally less prone to frizz and split ends because the moisture helps to seal the hair. Dry hair is often more prone to breakage, split ends, and overall damage because it becomes brittle and less pliable than well-moisturized strands.

While glycerin is generally well-tolerated, its moisturizing properties may make it best for people with frizzy, dry, or curly hair.

Some people also wonder, Is glycerin bad for hair? A safety assessment of glycerin used in cosmetics found that glycerin is safe when used as a cosmetic ingredient.

Generally, anyone can use glycerin. However, if you live in an extremely dry environment, it’s possible that glycerin will actually pull moisture from your hair into the air, which is the opposite of what you want if you want hydrated hair.

If you’ve recently colored your hair, allow one to two washes before using glycerin products, as they could potentially strip the hair.

Glycerin is found in many over-the-counter and prescription hair care products, including our hair loss spray with ketoconazole and biotin (this product is prescription as it contains finasteride). You can also make DIY glycerin hair products at home. Glycerin is generally very affordable and available online or at certain grocery stores.

Generally, you’ll need about a quarter cup of glycerin to make a hair mask and around two tablespoons of glycerin for a leave-in spray. Some people like to add honey (another natural humectant), rosewater, olive oil, distilled water, or aloe vera gel. You can experiment with the ratio of ingredients, but glycerin should be the most prominent.

If you’re making a hair mask, allow it to sit on dry or damp hair for thirty minutes, then rinse thoroughly. You can look up glycerin DIY glycerin deep conditioning masks for specific recipes.

As we discussed, glycerin works well to keep the scalp hydrated and flake-free, which can be beneficial for hair growth. While dandruff and other scalp conditions that cause an itchy scalp, like seborrheic dermatitis, aren’t known to cause hair loss directly, itching is associated with temporary hair loss, as intense scratching can damage hair follicles.

While glycerin benefits hair health due to its moisturizing properties, it is not typically used as a primary treatment for hair loss.

If you’re looking for proven hair loss treatments, topical minoxidil, and oral finasteride are two popular treatments for hair loss.

Minoxidil is a topical solution or foam applied directly to your scalp. It's known for boosting blood flow to the hair follicles, which helps extend the growth phase of your hair and encourages regrowth. People usually use it twice a day, and while it can cause some scalp irritation or dryness, it's a go-to for both men and women dealing with pattern baldness.

Topical minoxidil is approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for treating male pattern baldness. Still, sometimes, oral minoxidil is prescribed off-label for hair loss, typically in people who find the upkeep of a topical product difficult.

Finasteride is a medication taken once daily, specifically targeting male pattern baldness. It works by reducing levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that can shrink hair follicles and lead to hair loss.

Topical finasteride is also an option, which some people prefer because side effects are localized to the application site.

Minoxidil and finasteride can also be taken together, which research shows is more effective than either alone.

The following treatments are available through our platform following a consultation with one of our healthcare professionals:

• Finasteride

• Topical finasteride and minoxidil spray

• Minoxidil foam

• Minoxidil solution

• Minoxidil chews

TL;DR? No worries. Here’s a recap of the benefits of glycerin for hair health.

• Glycerin is a powerful humectant that hydrates, softens, and protects hair, making it a helpful ingredient for anyone looking to improve their hair's health and manageability.

• While glycerin is beneficial for most hair types, it's especially effective for dry or frizzy hair and those who live in at least a slightly humid climate. In very dry climates, it may not be as effective because there isn’t much moisture to take in.

• Whether you choose to use over-the-counter products or create your own glycerin-based hair treatments at home, there are plenty of options to incorporate the versatile (and affordable) ingredient into your hair care routine.

If you’re disappointed to find out that glycerin is not a magical cure for hair loss, you can talk with a healthcare professional about your hair loss, and get advice on how to treat and even reverse balding with proven treatments for hair loss.

If you’re interested in learning more about products for hair growth, check out our post on the five best hair growth products for men.