Why did we stop using Blue Magic Grease? #38

Hair grease was traditionally used on our scalps during slavery but not to help grow our hair but to prevent being attacked by fleas and ticks when forcibly working long hours outdoors in the sun. This habit was therefore perpetuated and the knowledge of how to properly care for our strands was lost throughout the generations.

During the 00’s many naturalistas claimed that hair greases such as DAX , Ultra Sheen and Blue Magic filled with Petroleum Jelly (Petrolatum) and Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) were extremely detrimental to hair growth. The theory behind this was, that when applied to the scalp hair grease would block hair follicles, which in turn would slow hair growth and prevent the scalp from breathing. Application to the hair strands was not viewed in the best light either, with claims that daily use could cause build-up consequently preventing hair from absorbing moisture and nutrients.

In recent years a few naturalistas now claim that this is not actually true for everyone and that most of us had long flowing natural tresses when our mothers were using grease to style our hair in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. As much as this is true for a lot of us, we need to make the distinction between how often our mothers were styling our strands back in the day. Most hairstyles were made to last for a while and there was no daily application of product, this means we lived in protective hairstyles. Also lifestyle and diet choices were way healthier than today, making growing long hair much easier than it is today with the convenience of fast food and sedentary lifestyles.

In conclusion, you can use hair grease and pomades with mineral oil and petroleum jelly if it works for you. I can see how it would be amazing for high porosity hair if used right. It is one of the best sealants there is! Remember it has no nutritional value though, so layering other nourishing oils and products before application is extremely important. I would recommend using a good clarifying shampoo once a week and focus on the length of hair strands. Also remember to use a good moisturizer and oil underneath so you can lock moisture in.

Other interesting articles about this subject:

Videos about this subject:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMA2xO2uEus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i21MKeae-AI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsUzlJAGQWA&feature=emb_logo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKuJ33grF-Y