Tallow in your hair products, is it worth the hype?

Today California Pro-Stylist Sarah Jane of Kind Sol Haircare is taking a deep dive into the history of Tallow in the cosmetic industry and discover if there are any benefits to using a Tallow based hair conditioner to restore fragile, dry, damaged hair.

Wellness and beauty rooted in the natural world.

In the wellness and beauty culture we're always looking the next super ingredients that will unleash a powerful resource to fuel our bodies with nutrition, have an impact on our selfcare rituals, and the environment. To better understand this let's take a look back to our ancient ancestors to uncover some really compelling information that still stands true today, proven with the test of time.In the early 18th and 19th centuries people relied heavily on natural products for various aspects of daily life, including medicine, food, and selfcare products. They used natural ingredients for cosmetics that included animal fats, plant-based oils, and herbal remedies to create pomades and hair oils. Often these products were made from bear fat, lard, beeswax and essential oils to style hair for generations. Today modern haircare formulations we still use a combination of beeswax, fats, and essential oils to create natural and effective beauty and cosmetic regiments. One natural ingredient that's gaining in popularity right now is Tallow. Grass feed Tallow is showing up in our food markets, cosmetics and now in our haircare, but the question is that is it worth all the hype?

How did grass feed Tallow become part of a beauty ritual?

As it turns out Tallow has been being used in the cosmetic industry since the Middle Ages. During the industrial revolution marked a significant turnaround in the history of Tallow. With the development of new manufacturing practices, tallow became a key ingredient in the production of soap.In the early 20th century, the use of Tallow in cosmetics declined as companies started using petroleum and water-based fillers because it was cheaper to produce. Also, at this time they introduced vegetable oils and synthetic alternatives - marking a stop in the evolution of Tallow based products.However, in the recent years Tallow has made a resurgence in popularity as a natural and eco-friendly ingredient in the cosmetic and beauty industry, revolutionizing the wellness market. This was driven in part by the sustainable living and zero-waste movements. Tallow is now being rediscovered as a renewable energy source.

What is Tallow?Tallow is the rendered suet fat [also known as leaf fat] from animals like cows and sheep. Unlike pork fat, which is called lard. Tallow comes from these specific animals.

How do they process Tallow to be used in cosmetic products?

Tallow is processed through a rendering and purification regiment. Rendering involves heating up the fat to melt it, separating it from other solids and impurities. While purification involves additional detailed steps to refine the product. The source of the high-quality tallow is typically from grass feed or organic cattle to ensure purity and minimize potential contamination.Is tallow safe for your hair and skin?Yes, beef tallow can be safe for skin and hair, especially for dry or sensitive skin and hair types. However, it is crucial to understand if your cosmetic brands are ethically soured.What are the top benefits of using a Tallow based conditioning treatment? Tallow, particularly beef tallow, offers numerous benefits for skin and hair health due to its high content of fatty acids, vitamins, and other nutrients. Tallow can moisturize and condition hair, leaving it soft, shinny, and manageable. It can help strengthen hair and potentially promoting healthy hair growth.Deep Hydration and Moisturizing: Tallow's fatty acids easily penetrate the skin and hair, locking in moisture andpreventing dryness.Scalp Health: Tallow's structure mimics the skin natural oils, strengthening the skin barrier and protecting it from environmental stressors.Anti-inflammatory and Soothing Properties: Tallow can help reduce inflammation, redness, and irritation, making it beneficial for sensitive skin and scalp conditions like rosacea.Rich in Vitamin and Antioxidants: Tallow contains vitamins A, D, E and K, which are essential for hair health promoting strong elasticity, repair, and fighting free radicals.Natural and Holistic: Tallow is a natural ingredient, making it suitable for those seeking a more holistic approach to haircare.
What hair type should be using a Tallow based conditioning treatment?Tallow can be a beneficial conditioner for various hair types, especially those that are dry, damaged, or textured. It's particularly effective on curly hair due to its ability to moisturize and reduce frizz. While suitable for most hair types, those with fine hair may find it best used sparingly or as a pre-wash treatment to avoid buildup.The moisturizing helps hydrate the hair, making it softer and more manageable. It will reduce unruly hair with its emollient properties that help smooth out the hair follicle. Tallow adds a natural shine and luster to dehydrated hair. Finally, it beneficial to the nourishment of proper scalp health.
How do you use a Tallow based conditioning treatment?First thing to do is identify if your hair is thick, medium, or fine density while noting if your hair is curly, wavy, or straight. Questions to ask yourself: is your hair dry, damaged and breaking or is it just a little dehydrated?Thick, coarse or curly hair textures We discovered at the Kind Sol Haircare Lab that a Tallow based conditioning treatment applied to thick, coarse, curly, or wavy hair from ends to scalp, that was slightly dehydrated to dry and damaged had showed an increase in moisture and overall improvement in hairs vitality.Normal to medium hair textures Here you really want to assess the condition of your hair as it will change how you apply a Tallow conditioning treatment. If your hair is extremely dry and damaged apply from ends to roots but if your hair is just a little dehydrated apply from ends to mid-shaft and avoid applying to scalp area to prevent your hair becoming too heavy and lack natural body.Fine dry hair textures We recommend applying the Tallow conditioning treatment on pre-washed hair from ends to mid-shaft of your hair. Follow up with a post treatment repair shampoo for best results without weighing your hair down.
Suggestions and professional tips from expert stylists:Working a Tallow conditioning treatment through your hair can very between the different brands and purity ethics, but we've uncovered some tips to optimize your Tallow conditioning treatment. Our Kind Sol Haircare stylist found that first preparing your hair with a detoxifying shampoo prior to the use of Tallow. This allows all the benefits of the Tallow to truly penetrate your hair follicles with nutrients with enlightened results.Pro tip for extremely dry, damaged, or fragile hair: After prepping your hair with a detox cleanse, apply the Tallow based conditioning treatment from ends working up to the scalp. If you need maximum benefits of this treatment, we recommend wrapping your head with a hot towel infused with essential oils. This will allow for the product to drive deep into hair follicle. Leave on for fifteen minutes, rinse off well.Pro tip for hair breakage: When your hair is in such a fragile and weaken state, we recommend first preparing your hair with a repair shampoo. Apply your Tallow conditioning treatment on from the ends working towards the scalp area. Let the treatment dry into your hair and then use your repair shampoo to remove the treatment, perhaps in the next morning.Pro tip for dry & fine hair: With dry fine hair it can be really tricky to get the moisture that your hair follicles need to hydrate without weighing your hair down. With this texture we found that Tallow will rehydrate your hair nicely but highly recommend after you rinse out your conditioning treatment that you will follow up with a repair shampoo and by doing this it will not weigh your down and leave your hair soft and manageable.

Kind Sol Haircare ~ Solstice Repair Treatment with Tallow

The Solstice Repair Treatment with Tallow is formulated, handcrafted in small batches by California hair expert Sarah Jane of Kind Sol Haircare. As a professional stylist working behind the chair for the past thirty-five years, Kind Sol is dedicated to improving the health and quality of the hair and scalp for as many people as possible. These products are ethically sourced with, natural, clean ingredients, and are formulated for restoring moisture to your hair follicles that has lived in the sun's element's leaving your hair dry, brittle, and dehydrated. Kind Sol is a brand that tries to build complete trust and authenticity with their consumers by offering a money back guarantee. They are in high hopes your hair aligns with the clean and conscious ingredients but for some reason it doesn't they kindly refund your money.

The restoration results of dry, dehydrated, and dull hair with Tallow

The Solstice Repair Treatment has been tested on many different hair textures, formations, and various levels of damage with shown improved results. We've tested this product on over one hundred of our personal salon guests. 85% of guests shown improvement with overall softness, hydration, and manageability to the hair follicle, with another 25% of guests results shown the improvement in helping their hair from breakage and shedding.

Pro-Stylist recommendations for using the Kind Sol Tallow Treatment for optimum results

This product can be used in combination with other Kind Sol Haircare products or used solo. We are going to share with you our top recommendations to achieving optimal results. First prewash hair with the Ocean Rush Detox Shampoo to gently remove any impurities in your hair follicle. This shampoo is extremely gentle unlike other clarifying or purifying shampoos that strip your hair of all natural oils. Activated Charcoal and other natural ingredients are used to prep your hair. Follow up with the Solstice Repair Treatment as mentioned above. After rinsing use Solstice Repair Shampoo to remove all the treatment and keep hair soft and manageable, and finish with the leave-in Solar Guard Protective Spray to ensure all protection from the harmful UV rays.

Conclusion

In conclusion we discovered how Tallow became a part of beauty industry; we dove deep into the best ways to use Tallow as a conditioning treatment for the hair and scalp restoration and gave some detailed recommendations using Tallow to improve dry, damaged, brittle, and dehydrated hair. Go enjoy living in the rhythm of the outdoors, now you have the tools and information to protect your hair and keep your locks safe from the elements. ~ Sarah Jane