Baby oil is made from mineral oil and is often called liquid petroleum because it is a by-product of the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline and other products which come from crude oil.
Mineral oil is used in many skincare products, but in recent times consumers have become more conscious of ingredients and many feel that mineral oil is linked to cancer and several skin diseases because it can be absorbed into the skin which is our largest organ.
Some use baby oil to treat cradle cap in infants. Others use it to add shine to hair and lock in moisture. Then there are those who simply use it for the pleasant baby fragrance.
By virtue of the fact that baby oil is not a natural oil and it is made of mineral oil, it has been on the list of no-nos for many in the natural hair community, yet several of us in the healthy hair community use mineral oil because as with everything else, it comes down to a matter of one’s personal choice.
Perhaps cosmetic grade mineral oil* doesn’t pose any threats to health but if you are unsure I don’t think you really want to take that chance.
If you are new to healthy hair care and you mean to stay away from mineral oil*, it’s best that you don’t add it to your product to stretch it a bit farther since it really doesn’t add any natural goodness to moisturize or strengthen your hair anyway.
I will however recommend applying it to your fingertips and running it through your wigs* or synthetic hair of any kind though, especially if you are looking for sheen or shine.
As I said before, the decision to use or not to use mineral oil lies with the individual, we just give you the information so you can make your choice.
Stefani Johnson says
I think sometimes people are too deperate for hair growth…..to answer your question HECK NO!!
Kendra Morgan says
That’s because baldies like you don’t know how to take care of their hair coming from a daughter of a professional hair stylist that studies these thing it does work try again babes
Nicole Gidharry says
NO
Carmella McCoy says
No.
Annalisa Thompson says
No
Calie Cal says
Yes I have tried it over 20yrs ago. When there were no natural hair movement. I liked it because it was light on my hair. It wasn’t about being desperate or anything like what some people think. It didn’t do any harm and it smelled good.
Caramel Kimmie says
Shut up pls baby oil has mineral in it and thats not healthy
Calie Cal says
Neither is a lot of things the government allow in your food and we still eat them. If its good for a baby it’s good for me.
cole says
Dag people can be so rude.
Anyways I’ve never tried it on hair.
Andrea D Brayboy says
That was in my braid spray in the 90s. I know now not to use it but my hair grew out of control while using that stuff.
Charlene Jeffers says
Never. Has mineral oil and I’m not fond of the smell. Wouldn’t be gd as a moisturizer for my natural hair because the mineral oil wouldn’t allow it to penetrate my hair.
Tiela Lewis says
Girl, i have used it in a pinch. 😉
Mekia Q Jones says
No!!!!
Keatha Weatha says
No
Keisha Randle says
No
CoCoo Trina says
Its not good to use at all. I used on my daughter hair when she was a baby cuz someone said it would be good to use. All my daughter hair came out Lil by Lil I’m still trying to grow her hair back. She six going on seven. Please Ppl don’t use this for hair use coconut oil.
Tiela Lewis says
Organic coconut oil for me!!! Trust, i have used baby oil in a pinch. I love the smell of it
Yazmyne Bright says
No thank you
Sabrina Williams-Newberry says
Love the smell but i have learned that mineral oil is not good for your hair.
Tafara Tapfumanei says
Yes… I makes my hair really soft whenever i do use it.
Tafara Tapfumanei says
It*
Cherrelle Mitchel says
If you use something on your body, you should be able to use it on your hair. If that’s not the case you shouldn’t use it on your skin.
DayDay Mckee says
No
Valencia Rawls says
No
Darlene Waller says
nooooooo! especially NOT J&J products! They are not welcome in this house. Shea Butter is 100 times better in so many ways.
Kisha B Masters says
Why not?
LeeLee Petty says
I use it to clean clippers. That’s all
Darlene Waller says
Johnson’s uses so many ingredients that are not needed for skin care… my fam is into stuff like making your own hair/skin products and home remedies. I buy vitamin E and add it to almost everything.
Daniela Karas says
Darlene , can i use shea Butter on my 2month old baby ? And on his hair too?
Marsha Buchanan says
You sure can Daniela, both in baby’s hair and on the skin :).
Chanel Oden says
No
Lozette Clemons says
Tried it didn’t work well. I used it becuase I ran out of olive oil one day and it was there
Jamie Carter-Bailey says
Absolutely not its a by product of gasoline.
Shea L says
I personally wouldn’t use it. I just don’t see it adding any nutrients or anything to make your hair healthier. I think it’s like using Vaseline or body lotion on your hair (I don’t do it, but I know people who do). It’s good when you have absolutely nothing else to use, but I wouldn’t ever use it on a daily basis.
XoXo Shea L. ——–> kissmychocolate.com
Gwen Keke Williams says
No never again it broke my hair plus I dyed it and it took what felt like a lifetime to get it back
Denise Thomas says
Yes
Charnique Williams Neka says
I use to use it in the past many times when I wore weave to remove glue from my head without pulling out my hair but not for hair growth…washed it after sitting for about 15-20 mins
Latisha Monique Griffin says
No
Andrea Rose Valentine says
Believe it or not I used to use it for my daughter’s hair and it worked miracles given the fact that she had cradles crap. I used the Johnson and Johnson aloe vera and the cocoa butter one. I think that it actually made her hair grow even more! She’s now 1 with a HEAD FULL OF CURLS! I made it apart of her regimen but now she has way too much hair that it doesn’t do anything as far as moisture goes.
Michelle Shields says
no cause then I would be trying to keep my skin cleared
Aeishayonette Wong King says
I hve used but it cut up my hair
Adrena Shenet Luster says
NOOOOO
Angel Mathews says
Yes and I have….but not too often.
Krista Kinchen says
Isn’t it just mineral oil that smells really good?
Andrea D Brayboy says
That’s funny. It was the #1 ingredient in EVERYONE’s homemade braid spray in the 90s. I had tons of growth back then. I wouldn’t go that route now but it did me good back then. Lol
Andraya Smith says
No
Esther Williams Jordan says
No
Marsha Buchanan says
I’m liking some of the responses here. Some of you have used it and had no problems, while others did and were none too pleased about the results. We all are different and as I said, at the end of the day it comes down to each person’s conviction about the thing.
Annie Brown says
Yes. I agree with a lot of these comments I’ve used it for taking weave out an I’ve used it for the smell. not a daily thing tho I just believe everything aint for everybody. if you trying to get your hair to grow you should consider coconut oil,Shea butter,olive oil. Baby oil has mineral oil which is not good for your hear but most products have it in the ingredients. all the j&j oils I’d use for smell good. 1 or maybe 2 out the month. my opinion
Tracy Jurzygirl says
Yes, I have used baby oil in my hair. I don’t anymore tho.
Nicole Smith says
No, especially that brand.
Dede Ekachaka says
On synthetics weaves, yeah
Silvia Rocha says
I’ve used it on my hair and it was very good on my hair
Sonya Allen says
Yeah I have but not now only if I run out of my hair product lol
Carla Pollack Nielsen says
Yes
Akeyla Monae says
Its just mineral oil
Felix Castello says
Yes I did back in 70’s. It made my hair soft ,didn’t weight my hair down plus if it was good for Babies it was good for me.
NaturallyUnbothered says
Have tried back when my hair was relaxed.