What's in Your Edge Control?

I have dreams about achieving a sleek high ponytail like Janet Jackson wore during the State of the World tour, but even after pulling out a tooth brush, gel, edge control, silk scarf, and a prayer and anointing from a southern Baptist auntie, my hair still gets that my-bonnet-slipped-off-last-night frizz. After trying enough edge controls, I started to the think my hair would never get smooth. But then I started to wonder: What’s in this stuff? How can my hair be stiff, greasy, and still frizzy? It is stiff enough that I feel like I have lash glue on my edges, and not only is it bad for my hair, but it dries my scalp, so I end up with stiff, sticky hair with flakes of dry scalp glued in. Not a cute look. 

If you struggle to get your edges slick like I do, watch out for these ingredients: 

Alcohol: Not all alcohols are created equal. It may seem like a no brainer that alcohol in edge control is bad, but not all alcohols are like the kind you rub against your knee. There are common alcohols in hair products that help products maintain their consistency. But these are the ones that can mess with PH balance of your hair.  

Petroleum: Petroleum blocs moisture from penetrating your hair strain. The weight of petroleum may lay your edge flat for a second, but you’ll be left with greasy, dry hair that frizzes. 

Fragrance: Your edges may smell heavenly, but edge control with artificial fragrance may cause irritation to your scalp resulting in flakes of dead skin along your parts.

Is your edge control free of all these ingredients and you are still having problems?  If you are a product junkie like me, you might mixing products that are not compatible. The mess in your head my just be the result of formulas that have incompatible ingredients. Try using a product line clean of those problem ingredients that is meant to work as a system like the Protective Styles line. Healthy slicked-down tension-free edges are possible with the right products and technique. Take the time to scroll through that ingredients list, and your scalp and laid edges will thank you. 

Tonesa Jones is an Atlanta-based freelance writer with a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing. She loves a good cup of tea and watching Bobby Flay throw down in a kitchen. Keep up with her on Instagram.