By Winnie Gaturu
VapoRub is a common item in every household. It is a mentholated ointment that’s used to suppress coughs and reduce pains in joints and muscles. However, people seem to use it for far more than that. As a matter of fact, some women are using it to stimulate hair growth and regrow thinning edges. So, Why Is Vicks VapoRub Being Used?
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According to Essence magazine, an Atlanta-based Youtuber, Just Jocq, posted about the benefits of Vicks in March 2016. After that, the trend started spreading widely with many women trying it out to see whether it works. The Vicks VapoRub ingredients that stimulate hair growth are camphor, lavender, eucalyptus and menthol.
Lavender – Serves as a great treatment for hair loss and improves blood circulation around the hair follicles.
Camphor – Improves blood circulation in the hair follicles which in turn boosts the growth of strong healthy hair.
Eucalyptus – Soothes an itchy scalp, prevents dandruff and stimulates hair follicles. Eucalyptus also improves hair elasticity and keeps it strong.
Menthol – Gets rid of irritants thus giving room for hair to grow easily.
Pros
Since Vicks VapoRub is also affordable and easily available, it is no wonder that women with both natural and relaxed have embraced it for hair growth. Some apply it directly on their scalp and massage it in while others mix it with another product or oil. Most of the women who’ve used Vicks VapoRub swear that it works.
Cons
Allergic Reaction
Vicks VapoRub is generally safe for use. However, it does contain ingredients that could cause allergic reactions or irritate the skin. So, if it doesn’t react well with you when applied on other areas of your body, you probably shouldn’t use it on your scalp.
It Contains Petroleum
Petroleum, one of the ingredients in Vicks VapoRub, creates a thick film on the hair shaft thus preventing moisture from getting out and most importantly from getting in. Because of this, some women prefer to stay away from petroleum-based products on their hair. If you’re one of them, you might not fancy using Vicks VapoRub on your hair.
Alternatives
If you’re a bit skeptical about using Vicks VapoRub to grow your hair, you can make your own DIY hair growth product. There are many recipes out there to guide you through the process. Most of these DIY’s use essential oils and might also include herbs and carrier oils. Some of the most effective essential oils for hair growth include rosemary oil, Clary sage oil, peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil. You might need to do a bit of experimenting to find out what works best for you.
What do you think about the use of VapoRub for hair growth?
Winnie Gaturu is a writer, tech lover, mom, wife and student from Nairobi, Kenya. During her free time, she loves trying out new recipes, diy projects, filling in crossword puzzles and spending time with her family. You can catch up with her on yourhairandbeautywrite.wordpress.com.
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