If you are a curly-haired girl, chances are that the term hair grease rings a bell. While it may have disappeared for a decade or two thanks to all the products meant for curly-haired girls popping up in the market, we always held a special place in our hearts for hair grease.
Now, the once ride-or-die product seems to have made a comeback with Youtubers and beauty bloggers raving about it, and switching to it once more. But if all this chatter about hair grease is going over your head, or if you simply need a refresher on all things hair grease, you've come to the right place. Read on for everything you need to know about hair grease.
- What is hair grease?
- Pros of hair grease
- Cons of hair grease
- Usage and removal
- Is hair grease better than other hair care products?
What is hair grease?

A mineral oil and petroleum jelly-based product, hair grease is used to prevent moisture loss and seal hair strands in curly hair. Hair greasing comes with both its pros and cons and while some people can't stop raving about it, others believe that it can clog hair follicles and ruin hair health.
Pros of hair grease

Hair grease works especially well for a certain type of curly hair, type 4 hair, that can't retain moisture and is prone to breakage. Applying hair grease can seal the hydration, and improve hair health. Apart from that, it protects the strands from external damage from chemicals, moisturises the scalp when applied wet, is easy to use, and is budget-friendly too!
Cons of hair grease

While all the pros sound great, there's always a little bit of risk involved with using hair grease. Many curly hair-enthusiasts believe that hair grease could clog the hair follicles due to the petrolatum and mineral oil in it, which could cause scalp buildup, collection of dirt and grime, and even hair fall. The natural hair could also be more prone to breakage, and eventually, look dull and flat — which is why it's only recommended that type 4 hair use it.
Usage and removal

Hair grease is pretty simple to use. At the end of your regular hair care routine, just apply a pea-sized amount of grease and evenly massage it all over your strands. Removal, on the other hand, is an important step, since it can help you avoid a lot of the drawbacks that come with using hair grease. To get rid of the grease, cleanse your scalp thoroughly with a clarifying shampoo, and then deep condition your mane before washing off the conditioner after 10-15 minutes. Always make sure that you're using a clarifying shampoo like the Love Beauty & Planet Tea Tree Oil & Vetiver Clarifying Shampoo when getting rid of grease since a mild shampoo won't be enough to do the job.
Is hair grease better than other hair care products?

If you have thin hair, wavy hair, or even any sort of curls under type 3 porosity — the short answer is no. While it may make a mane with type 4 curls look magnificent, on other hair types, the grease will simply weigh down the hair, make the locks look limp and dull, and cause more breakage and hair fall.
Written by Nishtha Bhalla on 14th Oct 2021
Nishtha is a freelance writer who loves all things beauty, fashion, culture, and lifestyle. With content covering a variety of topics, she brings a holistic, nuanced perspective to her writing. In her free time, she can be found watching reruns of The Office, reading anything she can get her hands on, and experimenting with astrology.