What is Slip?
Slip refers to the slippery-ness or lubrication of a detangling conditioner or leave-in. The more slip the product has, the easier it is to detangle knots during wash day. Slip makes it easier to detangle hair with our fingers or a wide-toothed comb with less friction. Less friction, tugging and pulling equals less damage to the hair. Every curly, coily or wavy should have at least one (or two or three) amazing “slippery” products in their hair styling arsenal!
What are the magical ingredients that give products the BEST slip? Read on to find out.
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- Fatty Alcohols
Fatty alcohols are the so-called “good” alcohols. They tend to be oilier and thus, more slippery and lubricating. This quality helps smooth down the cuticle thereby reducing friction and providing shine to the hair.
Popular fatty alcohols that provide slip include:
- Behenyl alcohol
- Cetearyl alcohol
- Cetyl alcohol
- Isocetyl alcohol
- Isostearyl alcohol
- Lauryl alcohol
- Myristyl alcohol
- Stearyl alcohol
- Vegetable Oils
These liquid oils are derived from plants and are often used in creams, conditioners, and detanglers because they provide excellent moisture, strength, and nourishment to hair.
Popular vegetable oils include:
- Avocado oil
- Coconut oil
- Jojoba (“hohoba”) oil
- Olive oil
- Vegetable Butters
These butters are also derived from plants but are solid at room temperature and liquid around body temperature. They are often used in hair shampoos, conditioners, and creams because they also provide excellent moisture, strength, and nourishment to dry, coarse hair.
Popular vegetable butters include:
- Cocoa butter
- Mango butter
- Shea butter
- Seeds / Herbs Derived From Mucilage Plants
These ingredients tend to be so slippery they are slimy when extracted as a liquid. They promote healthy strands and are great at tackling tangles.
Popular herb-derived ingredients include:
- Flaxseed Gel
- Marshmallow Root
- Okra Gel
- Slippery Elm
- Hydrolyzed Proteins
These are proteins that have been split into smaller units. The hydrolyzed proteins are small enough to be easily absorbed into and onto the hair strand, where they can fill in gaps and smooth the cuticle layer.
Popular hydrolyzed proteins include:
- Hydrolyzed silk protein
- Hydrolyzed soy protein
- Hydrolyzed wheat protein
- Other Surprising Ingredients
There are some unusual ingredients with odd-sounding names. They are excellent for detangling as they are designed for improving softness, manageability, reducing frizz, and static. They also smooth the cuticle layer. Some of the more popular ones include:
- Behentrimonium methosulfate. (Despite its name, behentrimonium methosulfate is not a sulfate. It is an oil derived from rapeseed (canola). Behentrimonium methosulfate can penetrate the hair shaft making it an excellent moisturizer and conditioner, without causing scalp buildup or irritation.)
- Behentrimonium chloride
- Cetrimonium chloride
- Cetrimonium bromide
- Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride (provides shine and gloss but binds tightly to hair and can lead to buildup for some)
- Stearamidopropyl dimethylamine (helps repair damaged strands, adds shine and rinses out easily)
Here are some products that based on their First Five or so ingredients should have good slip. You can see the full ingredient list for each product on www.curlplanet.com (paid affiliate links).
Acure Wave & Curl Color Wellness Conditioner
Water (Eau), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Stearalkonium Chloride, Cetearyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Tanacetum Annuum Flower Oil
Acure Ultra Hydrating Conditioner
Water (Eau), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearalkonium Chloride, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate
Aqua/Water/Eau, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Powder, Phyllanthus Emblica Fruit Powder, Beta Vulgaris (Beet) Root Extract
Camille Rose Naturals Curl Love Moisture Milk
Deionized Water, Behentrimonium Methosulfate and Cetearyl Alcohol, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice Bran) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Ricinus Communis (Castor Seed) Oil
Camille Rose Algae Renew Deep Conditioning Mask Cocoa & Mango Butter
Deionized Water, Aloe Vera Juice, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol
Curls Blueberry Bliss Leave-In Conditioner
Purified Water, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Certified Organic Blueberry Fruit Extract, Certified Organic Coconut Oil
Ecoslay Banana Cream Deep Conditioner
Okra extract, Marshmallow root extract, Aloe vera juice, Coconut cream, Cetearyl Alcohol
Jessicurl Deep Conditioning Treatment, No Fragrance
Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-In Conditioner/Detangler
Organic mango fruit extract, organic slippery elm, organic marshmallow root, organic lemongrass, cetyl alcohol
Raw Sugar Healing Power Hair Masque
Purified Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Steartrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, *Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract, *Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil
SheaMoisture Strengthen and Restore Conditioner
Water, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, fragrance (essential oil blend), behentrimonium chloride, hydroxyethylcellulose, panthenol, mentha piperita (peppermint) leaf extract
Soapbox Coconut Oil Moisture & Nourish Deep Conditioner
Water (Aqua), Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Glycerin, Stearalkonium Chloride, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
Click the two links for a Comprehensive List of over 100 Leave-in Conditioners & Deep Conditioners or go to SHOP to peruse all of our other Ultimate Guides.
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