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Cholesterol and Hair Growth 101: Five Great Reasons to Do a Cholesterol Treatment

By Jacqueline Samaroo

Been hearing a lot lately about the wonderful benefits of a cholesterol treatment for hair growth? Well, all that hype is really well-deserved. There is a definite link between a cholesterol treatment and hair growth that is healthier, shinier, and less prone to breakage.

What’s more, the benefits are real whether you’re a naturalista or you currently have chemically processed hair.

Keep reading! This post looks at what a cholesterol treatment is, how to tell if your hair needs one, and how cholesterol promotes healthy hair growth.

What is a cholesterol treatment for hair?

Cholesterol is a type of lipid. Lipids serve many important functions in our bodies. These include their role in the transport and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Other types of lipids include triglycerides (fats and oils), lecithin, and ceramides.

Cholesterol also forms a part of the cells that make up the hair follicle from which each strand of hair grows.

Lipids can be used topically as a way to hydrate and moisturize the skin and hair. A cholesterol treatment coats each strand of hair with lipids. They add moisture to each strand and seal that moisture in.

Who should do a cholesterol treatment?

Anyone can benefit from a cholesterol treatment for hair growth. They were traditionally used to repair the damage caused by chemical processing. However, there are several benefits of cholesterol for natural hair, as well. That’s because cholesterol also helps to repair the damage caused by heat styling and over-manipulation of the hair.

Whether natural, processed, or in a protective style, you can benefit from a cholesterol hair treatment if you have hair that is:

• Dry
• Brittle
• Breaking
• Frizzy

It’s also a very good way to condition thick, coarse hair, leaving it softer and more manageable.

How often should you do a cholesterol hair treatment?

The best answer is: as often as your hair needs it. That could be as often as once a week or as far apart as once every few months. Keep checking on the state of your hair. It will let you know what it needs. You’ll also know based on what you have been doing to your hair, in terms of color treatments, relaxers, protective styling, heat styling, etc.

5 awesome benefits of cholesterol for natural hair

1. Hair is rehydrated by a cholesterol treatment.

Over time, strands of hair lose some of the lipids they naturally contain. The lost lipids equals lost moisture, causing hair to become dehydrated and brittle. The lipids in a cholesterol hair treatment add moisture, helping to improve the health and resilience of the hair.

2. Cholesterol helps to repair your hair.

Lipids also add to the structure of the hair. The cholesterol and other lipids in a cholesterol treatment help to repair the hair by replacing lipids that have been lost.

3. Cholesterol improves curl definition.

Cholesterol can revive hair that is limp and lifeless from lack of moisture. The added moisture helps to make the hair more elastic, bouncier, and yes – brings your lovely natural curl pattern back in all its glory.

4. A cholesterol treatment fights frizzing.

A lack of moisture inside the strands is one of the reasons behind frizzing hair. By adding moisture, a cholesterol hair treatment plumps up and smooths the strands. As a result, the cuticle that makes up the outer layer of the hair remains flat and it’s “Bye, bye, frizz!”

5. Cholesterol leaves your hair softer and shinier.

The lipids in a cholesterol treatment soften the hair in much the same way as they soften skin. They also make your hair look fuller and help to give it a healthy shine.

Cholesterol treatment vs protein treatment for hair growth

There’s always been some confusion around how cholesterol and protein treatments differ from each other.

The basic fact to remember is that while they both help with repairing and nurturing damaged hair, they do so in different ways.

Whereas a cholesterol treatment adds moisture to the hair, a protein treatment adds proteins. Both moisture and protein are very important for the health and appearance of your hair.

What’s wonderful about many cholesterol hair treatments (especially a DIY cholesterol treatment) is that they tend to contain both cholesterol AND some amount of protein for your hair.

What to learn more?

In a recent post, we looked at the benefits of protein treatments for hair growth. You can check that article out here: Protein Treatments for Hair Growth – 6 Things You Should Know.

You can also read about the moisture-protein balance, here: Natural Hair Care: Protein and Hair – 7 Questions Answered.

Now, your turn! Do you use a cholesterol treatment in your hair care routine? Tell us about it!

* This article was originally published here