THE TRUTH ABOUT BEESWAX
Forget everything you’ve heard about “beeswax”. Beeswax is an amazing natural ingredient that is often ridiculed out of ignorance or misunderstanding. Most store bought products that call themselves beeswax are over 90% petrolatum. Anyone that has tried these products will tell you that wax is bad. We've always understood that it's not the wax itself that causes the problems because beeswax as long as it is pure and natural in and of itself isn't evil...actually it's not bad at all. Most people make the mistake of lumping all products that contain beeswax together and this is unfortunate.
Also, contrary to popular belief, using all-natural product Beeswax does not create ‘fake’ or ‘unnatural’ locks, but rather, it utilizes the properties of natural, earth grown ingredients to facilitate and speed up the natural locking process.. Nothing unnatural happens when you use Beeswax along with other carrier oils. It simply helps to make better locks, faster.
Beeswax is a solid, all-natural golden-yellow wax with a wonderful, light honey-like scent. You can use it as thickener, transforming ordinary oils into luscious lip balms, body balms, salves, hair conditioners and more. It also forms a lovely, light barrier on your skin, helping to seal in those moisturizing oils and butters, without clogging pores. Natural Beeswax is not bleached, deodorized, or chemically processed in any way. This is the type of Beeswas you want to use.
Raw or natural beeswax is beeswax that has not been filtered, bleached, or dyed. Raw beeswax is scented by honey and colored by pollen. This is why the color of raw beeswax may vary depending on what flowers the bees are pollinating.
Most beeswax on the market today, including the popular "honeycomb" beeswax, has been highly filtered and sometimes even bleached.
Beeswax is a byproduct secreted from the wax glands on a worker bees abdomen. The tiny flakes of secreted wax are needed for the building of comb. The comb is necessary for rearing brood (baby bees), storing pollen and honey.
Wax is secreted after the worker bee consumes relatively large amounts of honey or nectar. 8-10 pounds of honey is said to be consumed to make one pound of wax. Wax glands are at their height of production in bees 12-18 days old. There are many everyday uses for raw beeswax.
THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXERPT FROM NAANIS NATURALS. She goes into detail about the misconceptions of Beeswax: My dreadlocks are approximately 8 years old and about 5-6 of those years I've been using the same product. Here's the thing, I don't have any Build-up. My dreadlocks are amongst the softest. I don't have problems with lint becoming embedded in my locks either. So why then does everyone say to avoid beeswax? I myself used to argue against it but now I know better...
Also, contrary to popular belief, using all-natural product Beeswax does not create ‘fake’ or ‘unnatural’ locks, but rather, it utilizes the properties of natural, earth grown ingredients to facilitate and speed up the natural locking process.. Nothing unnatural happens when you use Beeswax along with other carrier oils. It simply helps to make better locks, faster.
Beeswax is a solid, all-natural golden-yellow wax with a wonderful, light honey-like scent. You can use it as thickener, transforming ordinary oils into luscious lip balms, body balms, salves, hair conditioners and more. It also forms a lovely, light barrier on your skin, helping to seal in those moisturizing oils and butters, without clogging pores. Natural Beeswax is not bleached, deodorized, or chemically processed in any way. This is the type of Beeswas you want to use.
Raw or natural beeswax is beeswax that has not been filtered, bleached, or dyed. Raw beeswax is scented by honey and colored by pollen. This is why the color of raw beeswax may vary depending on what flowers the bees are pollinating.
Most beeswax on the market today, including the popular "honeycomb" beeswax, has been highly filtered and sometimes even bleached.
Beeswax is a byproduct secreted from the wax glands on a worker bees abdomen. The tiny flakes of secreted wax are needed for the building of comb. The comb is necessary for rearing brood (baby bees), storing pollen and honey.
Wax is secreted after the worker bee consumes relatively large amounts of honey or nectar. 8-10 pounds of honey is said to be consumed to make one pound of wax. Wax glands are at their height of production in bees 12-18 days old. There are many everyday uses for raw beeswax.
THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXERPT FROM NAANIS NATURALS. She goes into detail about the misconceptions of Beeswax: My dreadlocks are approximately 8 years old and about 5-6 of those years I've been using the same product. Here's the thing, I don't have any Build-up. My dreadlocks are amongst the softest. I don't have problems with lint becoming embedded in my locks either. So why then does everyone say to avoid beeswax? I myself used to argue against it but now I know better...
Back in 2000 when I started my dreadlocks journey, I got on the web, went to a dreadlocks site that catered to individuals with naturally straight hair and used the information provided there to lock my hair. The one thing that I remember from this site was an article and online video where it was suggest that I continually and repeatedly use "wax" on my locks. Back then I didn't shop online so I went to Sally's Beauty Supply store and purchased a jar of Murray's beeswax, the black kind because well...my hair was black.
About two weeks later I was searching the internet and stumbled upon a Black hair forum with a dreadlocks section. The first article I read said that I needed to avoid beeswax products. GREAT! Now you tell me. I spent the next few hours using the hottest water possible to wash my locks. No matter how much I washed my hair every time I squeezed my locks black Murray's beeswax would show up on my white towel. Long story short I learned that beeswax wasn't for me. That is until I saw a beautiful man online who subsequently became one of our first Naani MODELS...Mandingo
That's Mandingo on the right. In his naani MODEL profile one of the questions I asked was "what products do you use on your locks." He said, "beeswax." Turns out, Mandingo was not only a real estate professional and actor but a licensed stylist as well. Wait, he uses beeswax? Why are his locks so clean? Maybe it's not the beeswax, maybe it's how the beeswax is incorporated in the product.
About two weeks later I was searching the internet and stumbled upon a Black hair forum with a dreadlocks section. The first article I read said that I needed to avoid beeswax products. GREAT! Now you tell me. I spent the next few hours using the hottest water possible to wash my locks. No matter how much I washed my hair every time I squeezed my locks black Murray's beeswax would show up on my white towel. Long story short I learned that beeswax wasn't for me. That is until I saw a beautiful man online who subsequently became one of our first Naani MODELS...Mandingo
That's Mandingo on the right. In his naani MODEL profile one of the questions I asked was "what products do you use on your locks." He said, "beeswax." Turns out, Mandingo was not only a real estate professional and actor but a licensed stylist as well. Wait, he uses beeswax? Why are his locks so clean? Maybe it's not the beeswax, maybe it's how the beeswax is incorporated in the product.
When most people refer to beeswax, they're usually talking about Murray's Beeswax. It's not for use on dreadlocks and here's why...
Yellow Jar Ingredients: Petrolatum, Select Australian Beeswax, Fragrance
Black Jar Ingredients: Petrolatum, Select Australian Beeswax, Iron Oxides, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Fragrance
The first ingredient in a product is the ingredient that's used in highest concentration. Now ask yourself, what's the consistency of Murray's Beeswax? It's about the same consistency as Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly. Now I wonder what's in Vaseline? 100% PETROLATUM!
The point is, even without the beeswax, Murray's would still have the consistency of Vaseline. You wouldn't use Vaseline to twist your locks would you? Then why are you using Murray's? It's virtually the same thing.
THE TRUTH ABOUT BEESWAX
Beeswax has traditionally been used to help keep twists intact and smooth fly-aways during the initial locking stages. The problem with traditional beeswax products is that they were manufactured to be so thick that they are very difficult to shampoo out of your hair. Very hot water is often needed to fully remove the product and even then, there may still be some residue which overtime leads to build-up.
Over the Counter Beeswax products usually contain additives like petrolatum/petroleum or mineral oil which clogs pores and gets trapped in dreadlocks. So imagine having it in your hair after regular applications. How can you truly expect to remove it all in just one setting...especially when you have dreadlocks?
Using petroleum based products repeatedly can cause a build-up of the material in your dreadlocks that may be impossible to remove. In addition as your locks mature, OTC (Over The Couner) beeswax or petroleum based products can give your hair a dull, lifeless appearance and can also cause your dreadlocks to become quite heavy.
Unfortunately, some of the company's that manufacturer "dreadlocks wax" design it for use on naturally straight hair which is difficult to lock. These are the companies/sites that will tell you to put tons of their product on your hair in order to lock it. Most of the customer examples on these website show people with dreadlocks that look sticky, discolored and frankly untouchable. This is due to excessive use of a product that's poor for locks and/or infrequent shampoos. Don't fall into the trap. Just because you entered a search term in Google and the site popped up doesn't mean the products they offer are for you. Even if you don't trust me, once you get the product, if it's hard as brick...you were warned.
We've discussed the ingredients in Murray's Beeswax and we now know that the problem with it and lock care is that Murray's contains petrolatum. We now know that it's the petrolatum, not the beeswax that makes this particular a poor choice for use on dreadlocks. But what about products that are termed "Dreadlocks Wax?" How are they bad
A lot of folks make the mistake of calling any product that contains beeswax, "dreadlocks wax." They also make the mistake of thinking that one can use beeswax straight. The only way to use 100% beeswax on your hair is to melt it down (which requires high heat). Beeswax, sans the addition of other ingredients, is hard. But remember, cocoa butter is hard. You can't apply 100% cocoa butter to your hair without melting it down so don't get distracted by the use of the word "hard."
Black Jar Ingredients: Petrolatum, Select Australian Beeswax, Iron Oxides, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Fragrance
The first ingredient in a product is the ingredient that's used in highest concentration. Now ask yourself, what's the consistency of Murray's Beeswax? It's about the same consistency as Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly. Now I wonder what's in Vaseline? 100% PETROLATUM!
The point is, even without the beeswax, Murray's would still have the consistency of Vaseline. You wouldn't use Vaseline to twist your locks would you? Then why are you using Murray's? It's virtually the same thing.
THE TRUTH ABOUT BEESWAX
Beeswax has traditionally been used to help keep twists intact and smooth fly-aways during the initial locking stages. The problem with traditional beeswax products is that they were manufactured to be so thick that they are very difficult to shampoo out of your hair. Very hot water is often needed to fully remove the product and even then, there may still be some residue which overtime leads to build-up.
Over the Counter Beeswax products usually contain additives like petrolatum/petroleum or mineral oil which clogs pores and gets trapped in dreadlocks. So imagine having it in your hair after regular applications. How can you truly expect to remove it all in just one setting...especially when you have dreadlocks?
Using petroleum based products repeatedly can cause a build-up of the material in your dreadlocks that may be impossible to remove. In addition as your locks mature, OTC (Over The Couner) beeswax or petroleum based products can give your hair a dull, lifeless appearance and can also cause your dreadlocks to become quite heavy.
Unfortunately, some of the company's that manufacturer "dreadlocks wax" design it for use on naturally straight hair which is difficult to lock. These are the companies/sites that will tell you to put tons of their product on your hair in order to lock it. Most of the customer examples on these website show people with dreadlocks that look sticky, discolored and frankly untouchable. This is due to excessive use of a product that's poor for locks and/or infrequent shampoos. Don't fall into the trap. Just because you entered a search term in Google and the site popped up doesn't mean the products they offer are for you. Even if you don't trust me, once you get the product, if it's hard as brick...you were warned.
We've discussed the ingredients in Murray's Beeswax and we now know that the problem with it and lock care is that Murray's contains petrolatum. We now know that it's the petrolatum, not the beeswax that makes this particular a poor choice for use on dreadlocks. But what about products that are termed "Dreadlocks Wax?" How are they bad
A lot of folks make the mistake of calling any product that contains beeswax, "dreadlocks wax." They also make the mistake of thinking that one can use beeswax straight. The only way to use 100% beeswax on your hair is to melt it down (which requires high heat). Beeswax, sans the addition of other ingredients, is hard. But remember, cocoa butter is hard. You can't apply 100% cocoa butter to your hair without melting it down so don't get distracted by the use of the word "hard."
The benefits of using beeswax is because it acts as a stabilizer. If you were to use cocoa butter and cocoa butter ONLY to twist your locks, on a very hot day, the cocoa butter would melt due to the heat from the sun. Next thing you know, you got a greasy, oily mess on your head.
Beeswax can stabilize the cocoa. Since cocoa butter has a lower melting point, we need to add ingredients to it to raise the temperature at which it melts...hence, beeswax. By adding beeswax, on a hot day, you won't have to worry about the cocoa butter melting to the point that your hair is oily beyond belief.
However, what happens if you use too much wax. Here are the ingredients of a popular "dreadlocks wax:" Beeswax, Microcrystaline wax, Mineral/White Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Vitamin E.
Notice that the first ingredient is Beeswax. This particular product uses too much wax. As a result, you get a product that's, well...wax. It's hard, it's water repellent, it's difficult to shampoo out of your hair and in the long-term, creates dull/ashen, heavy locks. The problem here is that the manufacturer relies on wax to "glue" your hair together versus using the wax to "stabilize" other beneficial ingredients.
Of course there has to be a way to get the stability hold that beeswax offers and not get the negatives.
Beeswax can stabilize the cocoa. Since cocoa butter has a lower melting point, we need to add ingredients to it to raise the temperature at which it melts...hence, beeswax. By adding beeswax, on a hot day, you won't have to worry about the cocoa butter melting to the point that your hair is oily beyond belief.
However, what happens if you use too much wax. Here are the ingredients of a popular "dreadlocks wax:" Beeswax, Microcrystaline wax, Mineral/White Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Vitamin E.
Notice that the first ingredient is Beeswax. This particular product uses too much wax. As a result, you get a product that's, well...wax. It's hard, it's water repellent, it's difficult to shampoo out of your hair and in the long-term, creates dull/ashen, heavy locks. The problem here is that the manufacturer relies on wax to "glue" your hair together versus using the wax to "stabilize" other beneficial ingredients.
Of course there has to be a way to get the stability hold that beeswax offers and not get the negatives.
Look closely and you will see splotchy white areas in Naani Model SoulSista's dreadlocks. This isn't beeswax Build-up people. It's RAW SHEA BUTTER!
The point in showing you the above photo of Naani Model SoulSista is to demonstrate that there are plenty of things that can build-up on locks. Shea butter has waxy properties and when used in excess, it too can build-up/in locks.
Now take a look at the photo bel. This is Naani Model SoulSista after a THOROUGH deep cleanse I then twisted with the following Ingredients: Herb Infused Olive Oil, Jojoba, Cocoa Butter, Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Illipe Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Essential Oil and/or Fragrance Oil Blend.
Note, it contains Beeswax.
Wd that it's not about gluing your hair together. You want hold, you want sheen, but you don't want your locks to look dry or damaged. We use beeswax as it's intended with hair care...to stabilize. We rely on BUTTERS, not wax to hold your hair. The end result is a product that's safe for use on dreadlocks.
Wax and dreadlocks butter? Dreadlocks wax is damaging to hair, dreadlocks butter is not.
Heavy pomades and styling elements lead to unhealthy dreadlocks. as your dreadlocks mature, removing the residue they leave behind will prove tedious, if not impossible. it's best to use light, natural butters or they melt/absorb quickly as they are easier to wash away and are less likely to result in the formation of mildew.
The point in showing you the above photo of Naani Model SoulSista is to demonstrate that there are plenty of things that can build-up on locks. Shea butter has waxy properties and when used in excess, it too can build-up/in locks.
Now take a look at the photo bel. This is Naani Model SoulSista after a THOROUGH deep cleanse I then twisted with the following Ingredients: Herb Infused Olive Oil, Jojoba, Cocoa Butter, Beeswax, Coconut Oil, Illipe Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Essential Oil and/or Fragrance Oil Blend.
Note, it contains Beeswax.
Wd that it's not about gluing your hair together. You want hold, you want sheen, but you don't want your locks to look dry or damaged. We use beeswax as it's intended with hair care...to stabilize. We rely on BUTTERS, not wax to hold your hair. The end result is a product that's safe for use on dreadlocks.
Wax and dreadlocks butter? Dreadlocks wax is damaging to hair, dreadlocks butter is not.
Heavy pomades and styling elements lead to unhealthy dreadlocks. as your dreadlocks mature, removing the residue they leave behind will prove tedious, if not impossible. it's best to use light, natural butters or they melt/absorb quickly as they are easier to wash away and are less likely to result in the formation of mildew.
This is a close-up after pic of SoulSista's locks. Notice how the white splotches are gone and how much healthier her hair looks. We used naani's naturals products to thoroughly cleanse and twist her locks.
100% Beeswax refers to using beeswax stand alone. Pure beeswax has the consistency of a candle. Virtually NO ONE uses 100% Beeswax. So when people refer to 100% Beeswax, they're usually making a misstatement. They're usually referring to Murray's Beeswax which contains petrolatum OR "Dreadlocks Waxes" where the first ingredient is beeswax.
If the beeswax concentration is high, then the product will be thick, gooey or extremely stiff. Getting it out of the jar will be difficult and when you try to rub the product between your fingers, it will take a great deal of effort to make it smooth. Once smooth, it will still have a pasty/stiff Texture. It will have a higher melting point and as a result, it'll be difficult to wash out of your hair.
If the product has a good concentration then you'll be aware that something's on your hair (it will shine better, hold better, etc) but it won't weigh it down or feel thick. When you remove it from the jar, you will be able to move it between your finger and you'll find that the consistency is that of traditional "hair Grease." It'll have a lower melting point so it will react to your body heat and hot water. Meaning it will shampoo out easily.
Look at it this way...have you ever gotten up in the morning, lotioned yourself down only to find that a few hours later your legs, elbows and hands are ashy again? Wonder why?
Well your lotion is probably water-based. The water evaporates and you're left with ashy skin. So the better quality the lotion, the less you have to worry about lubricating those ashy knuckles.
That's pretty much the idea of using beeswax in products. If the concentration is right, you only need a little and a little goes a long way. It's not that the beeswax based product is thick either (some are, some aren’t). It just doesn't evaporate or wear away as easily as other products. As a result, you can use a lot less and reap the benefits a lot longer.
Here's where the problem comes in. Ever heard of too much of a good thing? Too high a beeswax concentration and it'll take longer for the product to wear/wash away. If you're a product junkie, then you may over-applicate and if that's the case, the problem is you...not the wax. Over-application will make ANY product difficult to wash out.
Hemp Oil provides luster and manageability, relieves dry scalp & protects hair from regular styling damage. This sensual, creamy butter is terrific for use on hair and skin. Great for use on all hair types, including Dreadlocks!
Heavenly Hemp Hair and Body Butter features a combination of essential oils and fragrances offering a deeply intoxicating, musky aroma.
Some customers assume that because Hemp Sead Oil is used, THC must be present in this product. Reportedly, Hemp Seed Oil has no detectable levels of THC and is safe for use. Please visit Hempoilcan.com/compo.html or Industrialhemp.net for details.
Ingredients: 100% Pure Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Essential & Fragrance Oil Blend.
100% Beeswax refers to using beeswax stand alone. Pure beeswax has the consistency of a candle. Virtually NO ONE uses 100% Beeswax. So when people refer to 100% Beeswax, they're usually making a misstatement. They're usually referring to Murray's Beeswax which contains petrolatum OR "Dreadlocks Waxes" where the first ingredient is beeswax.
If the beeswax concentration is high, then the product will be thick, gooey or extremely stiff. Getting it out of the jar will be difficult and when you try to rub the product between your fingers, it will take a great deal of effort to make it smooth. Once smooth, it will still have a pasty/stiff Texture. It will have a higher melting point and as a result, it'll be difficult to wash out of your hair.
If the product has a good concentration then you'll be aware that something's on your hair (it will shine better, hold better, etc) but it won't weigh it down or feel thick. When you remove it from the jar, you will be able to move it between your finger and you'll find that the consistency is that of traditional "hair Grease." It'll have a lower melting point so it will react to your body heat and hot water. Meaning it will shampoo out easily.
Look at it this way...have you ever gotten up in the morning, lotioned yourself down only to find that a few hours later your legs, elbows and hands are ashy again? Wonder why?
Well your lotion is probably water-based. The water evaporates and you're left with ashy skin. So the better quality the lotion, the less you have to worry about lubricating those ashy knuckles.
That's pretty much the idea of using beeswax in products. If the concentration is right, you only need a little and a little goes a long way. It's not that the beeswax based product is thick either (some are, some aren’t). It just doesn't evaporate or wear away as easily as other products. As a result, you can use a lot less and reap the benefits a lot longer.
Here's where the problem comes in. Ever heard of too much of a good thing? Too high a beeswax concentration and it'll take longer for the product to wear/wash away. If you're a product junkie, then you may over-applicate and if that's the case, the problem is you...not the wax. Over-application will make ANY product difficult to wash out.
Hemp Oil provides luster and manageability, relieves dry scalp & protects hair from regular styling damage. This sensual, creamy butter is terrific for use on hair and skin. Great for use on all hair types, including Dreadlocks!
Heavenly Hemp Hair and Body Butter features a combination of essential oils and fragrances offering a deeply intoxicating, musky aroma.
Some customers assume that because Hemp Sead Oil is used, THC must be present in this product. Reportedly, Hemp Seed Oil has no detectable levels of THC and is safe for use. Please visit Hempoilcan.com/compo.html or Industrialhemp.net for details.
Ingredients: 100% Pure Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Vitamin E, Essential & Fragrance Oil Blend.