Ingredients matter, so let’s state the facts. Just so we’re clear, not all alcohols are bad or drying to the hair. As an emulsifier or surfactant, the white, waxy alcohol allows oil and water ingredients (which don't usually mix) to blend to produce a rich, creamy moisturizer like what you’ll see in leave-in conditioners, conditioners and deep treatments.

Cetyl Alcohol a common ingredient in conditioners like our Banana Nut & Avocado Deep Treatment is used to control the consistency of a liquid product during manufacturing and as a carrier for other substances in a mixture. Other fatty, moisturizing alcohols include stearyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol.

Fatty alcohol that is a mixture of gentle cetyl and stearyl alcohols. Is used as an emollient, texture enhancer, foam stabilizer, and carrying agent for other ingredients.

Can be derived naturally, as in coconut fatty alcohol, or made synthetically. It is almost always combined with similar-feeling ingredients to create a product’s texture and influence its slip when applied to skin.

Cosmetic products labeled "alcohol free" are allowed to contain cetearyl alcohol which is found in our Thirsty Kurls Leave-in Conditioner, whose effects are quite different from skin-aggravating forms of alcohol like isopropyl, ethanol or propyl. We repeat: fatty alcohols like Cetearyl Alcohol are not drying or pose a risk of sensitizing skin.

Kurlee Belle is available at select Sally Beauty stores, SallyBeauty.com or www.kurleebelle.com.