Official 2010 Ceramides Challenge

[Yoshi3329]

I've seen threads on the subject elsewhere and decided to bring it here for discussion.

What are Ceramides?

Ceramides are naturally occurring lipids (or fatty materials) found in the hair fiber or naturally in the skin. According to Butler and Poucher, ceramides molecules that "bind the cuticle cells to the cortex and Ceramides naturally exist within the hair fiber, sandwiched in a region between the cuticle and cortex called the cell membrane complex (CMC). Here along with the proteins in the CMC, they regulate the flow of materials in and out of the cortex. Because they essentially bind the cuticle cells to the cortical cells, ceramides help keep our hair from falling apart! Ceramides are also believed to play a role in the hair's transition from "live cells" within the follicle and beneath the skin's surface, to the dead, keratinized hair shafts that we see.

Think of ceramides as hair glue. Without them, our cuticle layers would simply fall off and unhinge themselves, rather than gently weather and erode, from the constant damage they endure. Damaged hair has typically exhausted its natural supply of ceramides, and is often brittle, dry, and difficult to manage as a result. Many hair products contain synthetic, lab-created ceramides to help replace the ceramides naturally lost from the hair during regular washing, styling, and chemical treating. Ceramides are needed as a part of any basic moisture and protein conditioning plan to restore the hair's health.

What Do Ceramides Do?

Ceramides perform a "barrier function" and help reduce the hair's overall porosity. Ceramides bind to the hair fiber in damaged, vulnerable areas to help prevent natural moisture and protein loss that occurs when we manipulate our hair. Natural ceramides keep the hair fiber tight, and cuticles flat so that the hair shines and has low porosity.

NOTE: HYDROLIZED WHEAT PROTEIN IS NOT A CERAMIDE. CERAMIDES ARE NOT A PROTEIN!

***Look for the following in your products***
3 Octadecandiol
Barley Malt Oil
Ceramide
Ceramide 3
Eucalyptus Extract
Hemp Seed Oil
Kukui Oil
Rice Bran Oil
Sunflower Oil
Walnut Oil
Wheat Germ Oil

PRODUCTS CONTAINING CERAMIDES:
Alterna Hemp with Organics Shine Conditioner
Alterna Hemp with Organics Shine Conditioner
Alterna Hemp with Organics Spray Leave-in Conditioner
Aubrey Organics Products
Aveeno Nourish + Condition Leave-In Treatment
BPT Wheat Germ Conditioner
Claudie's Hair Revitalizer Growth Elixir
Claudie's Hair Revitalizer Ends Insurance
Crece Pelo Leave-In
Creme of Nature (Green Bottle/Old Formula)
Elvive Anti-Breakage Conditioner
Garnier Fructis Instant Melting Strength and Repair Masque
GVP Color Protecting Conditioner
Hask Cerafix
Ion Moisturizing Treatment
Ion Extreme Moisture Nurturing Creme
Jane Carter's Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner
Joico K-Pak Reconstructor
Kanechomn Ceramide Deep Conditioning Cream
Kanechom Ceramide Hair Moisturizing Cream
Kerastase Resistance Laque Double Force Multi-protective spray for weak hair
Kiehl's Since 1851 Sunflower Oil Color Preserving Shampoo
Kiehl's Since 1851 Sunflower Oil Color Preserving Deep Recovery Pak
Kiehl's Since 1851 Sunflower Oil Color Preserving Conditioner
L'Anza Healing Strength Neem Plant Silk Serum
L'Oreal Elvive Nutri-Ceramide Deep Repair Concentrate
L'Oreal Serle Expert Liss Starter Ionene G + Ceramide Pre-Smoothing Treatment
Lustrasilk Cholesterol
Lustrasilk Shea Butter
Lustrasilk Mango
Matrix Biolage Cera-Repair
Matrix Biolage Color Care Therapie Cera-Repair Pro
Matrix Biolage Fortifying Conditioner
Matrix Biolage Cera-Repair Hydratherapie
Miss Key 10 en 1 Conditioner
Mizani Coconut Souffle Light Moisturizing Hairdress
Mizani Therma Smooth
Nature's Gate Hemp Nourishing Conditioner
Nexxus Aloe Rid
Nexxus Botanic Oil Shampoo
Nexxus Headdress
Nexxus Humectress
Nexxus Keraphix
Nexxus Therappe
Olde Jamaica Black Castor Oil Combo with Hair Treatment, Shampoo & Conditioner
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Stay Strong Shampoo
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Stay Strong Conditioner
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Leave-in Ultimate Strengthener
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Split End Reconstructor
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Cream Hairdress
Optimum Care Anti-Breakage Therapy Featherlight Hairdress
ORS Hair Mayonaise (New Formula *WGO*)
Proclaim Aloe Hot Oil
Proclaim Natural 7 Oil
Proclaim Natural Olive Oil
Redken Extreme Conditioner
Redken Extreme Rescue Force
Redken Extreme Anti-Snap
Redken 07
Redken Color Extend Sun Sparkling Shield Leave-In Smoother
Redken Color Extend Sun After-Sun Mask
Redken COLOR EXTEND SUN AFTER-SUN SHAMPOO
Renpure Organic Conditioner Body & Shine
Renpure Organics Conditioner Moisturizing
Salerm Wheat Germ Conditioner
Salerm Deep Impact Moisturizing Deep-action Mask
Satinique Products
Sedal Products
Shalmi Vadhera Coconut Alma Revitalizing Hair Treatment
Shey Butter Oil (Sally's)
Silicona Rinse Silicone Ceramide & Rice
Silicona Treatment Silicone Ceramide & Rice
Silicon Mix Proteina de Perla (Pearl Protein) Leave-In
Silicon Mix Conditioner
Silicon Mix Leave-in
Skala Ceramide 3 Conditioner (Brazilian)
SOFN'FREE N'PRETTY Olive & Sunflower Oil Moisturizing Lotion
SOFN'FREE N'PRETTY Olive & Sunflower Oil Edge Tamer
SOFN'FREE N'PRETTY Olive Oil & Sunflower Oil Hair and Scalp Nourisher
Softsheen Carson Breakthru Anti-Breakage - Protecting Foam
Softsheen Carson Breakthru Anti-Breakage - Fortifying Moisturizing Shampoo
Taliah Waajid Enhancing Herbal Conditioner
Taaliah Waajid Bodyfing Herbal Conditioner
Thermafuse Volume Conditioner
TIGI Serious Conditioner
Ultra Black Hair Conditioner
Ultra Black hair Deep Conditioner
Vanart Expert Bio Ceramids Conditioner
WEN Re-Moist Hydrating Mask (Fig)
Yes to Carrots Pampering Mud Conditioner
Yes to Cucumbers Leave-In Cooling Cucumber Conditioner
Yes to Cucumbers Color Care Daily Makeover Conditioner

***This study explains the benefits to ceramides on African hair***

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/j...TRY=1&SRETRY=0

ABSTRACT

Repetitive hair-relaxing treatments often applied to African–American hair weaken the hair structure. Therefore hair breakage is a common feature of African–American hair and an important cause of hair loss. Recently, by analysing the lipids extracted from human hair, a fraction of free-ceramide was isolated in which sphinganine was predominant. This study shows that this sphinganine-derived ceramide (i.e. C18-dhCer) binds to African–American hair and protects it from weakening caused by chemicals. To show this binding, we used two methods: radioactivity detection with a microimagerTM and secondary ion mass spectrometry.

We evaluated the benefits of C18-dhCer on African–American hair fibre, relaxed by guanidine hydroxide, using a new method called the Break'in Brush Technique (BBT®). This method determines the hair breakage resistance during a brushing. Using this technique, we have shown less breakage when applying a shampoo with ceramide.

The present study opens new prospects for the development of products able to increase the protection, provide better care and meet the needs of African–American hair thanks to the effect of ceramide binding.

NOTE: While we thankfully don't relax our hair it's still beneficial to all hair types.

***HERE ARE THE RULES (From another forum, I don't know if it's okay for me to say)***

1. You must use at least one product a week (oil, leave-in, moisturizer, conditioner, or shampoo) that contains ceramides.

2. You must post/share results of your experimentation/trial-and-errors/product reviews for the benefit of the group as a whole.

3. You must keep the group up-to-date on your progress, regimen, and (at the bare minimum) post pics at the end of the year (12/31/2010) with your progress. PLEASE NO POSTS OF "CHECKING IN". THERE IS NO VALUE ADDED AND WASTES SPACE.

4. When you discover ceramide products not listed below, please PM me so that I can add it to our inventory list. Once again, for the benefit of the group.

***PARTICIPANTS***
Yoshi3329

BEGINS JUNE 27 AND ENDS DECEMBER 31

Do note that ceramides can and often do build up on the hair shaft, so regular clarifying may be needed between conditionings. The build up associated with ceramides may also be linked to other ingredients in the product formula (i.e. oils, silicones). These ingredients tend to work hand in hand with ceramides more often than not, so whether it is actually the silicones, oils or ceramides causing the build up is ultimately of little consequence. The buildup will need to be clarified regardless of the instigating ingredient to prevent moisture problems down the road.