How It's Madeby Matta
Hair cream, shown as a concept pack by the invented brand ÌRUN
3D render · invented brand
Cosmetics & personal careHair care

What is hair cream made of?

A classic hair cream, often sold as hair food or pomade, contains no water. It is a melted blend of petroleum jelly and mineral oil for the base, lanolin and shea butter for softness, paraffin wax to firm it, and castor oil for shine, with fragrance. The mix coats the hair and scalp, seals in moisture and adds gloss.

86%
Ingredient-count coverage6 of 7 ingredients match a Matta listing
  • Listed price6
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  • Not listed yet1
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Shown as a concept pack: ÌRUN · Shea & Lanolin Hair Food, 200 g tub. The brand is invented; this is not a real product.
Ingredients and raw materials

What goes into hair cream

Typical ingredients of hair cream, in typical order, without quantities. Select an ingredient for its details and every Matta listing.
IngredientWhat it does in hair creamGrade buyers ask forSource on Matta
PetrolatumIngredient guide → Base. The base. It coats hair and scalp with an occlusive layer that slows moisture loss and adds shine. White, USP/BP ₦2,511.25 /kgSolevo · read 19 Oct 2026Request this product ↗View current listing ↗
Paraffinum Liquidum Slip. Thins the base so it spreads through the hair, and adds slip and gloss. White oil, cosmetic/USP ₦2,578.03 /kgCarl Roth GmbH · read 19 Oct 2026Request this product ↗View current listing ↗
Lanolin Moisture. A wax from sheep's wool that softens the blend and helps it cling to dry hair and scalp. Anhydrous, cosmetic or USP grade ₦13,950 /kgHefei TNJ Chemical Industry Co.,Ltd. · read 27 Oct 2026Request this product ↗View current listing ↗
Butyrospermum Parkii ButterIngredient guide → Softness. A West African plant butter that adds a rich, softening feel and is a popular label ingredient for natural hair. Refined, cosmetic grade ₦15,375 /kgAllied Farmers · read 15 Oct 2026Request this product ↗View current listing ↗
Paraffin Firmness. Firms the cream so it holds its shape in the tub, even in a warm room. Fully refined, cosmetic grade ₦2,818.75 /kgSasol Chemicals · read 20 Oct 2026Request this product ↗View current listing ↗
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil Shine. A thick, glossy oil that adds shine and body. Castor oil is widely used in African hair care. Cosmetic or first special grade (FSG) ₦6,867.5 /kgM/S Spell Organics · read 19 Oct 2026Request this product ↗View current listing ↗
Parfum Scent. Masks the neutral smell of the petroleum base and gives the cream its identity. Specify to supplier Not listed yetRequest this product ↗
Illustrative, not a validated formula. Every manufacturer's recipe differs, and processing, safety and regulatory requirements must be assessed by qualified professionals. Prices are copied from matta.trade on the date shown and are not live.
How it's made

How hair cream is made

Anhydrous products like hair cream are made by melting and blending rather than emulsifying, so there is no water phase.

  1. Melt

    Petroleum jelly and paraffin wax are melted together in a heated vessel.

  2. Blend

    Mineral oil, lanolin, shea butter and castor oil are stirred in until clear and uniform.

  3. Cool and fragrance

    The blend is cooled while stirring and fragrance is added once the temperature drops.

  4. Fill and set

    The cream is poured into tubs and allowed to set; the cooling rate affects how smooth the surface looks.

Variations and applications

Common variations

Water-based hair creams and leave-ins
Many modern products are emulsions with water, conditioning agents and humectants, closer to hair conditioner than to pomade.
Natural or petroleum-free blends
Replace petroleum jelly and mineral oil with plant butters and oils, which cost more and can go rancid without an antioxidant.
Hair growth oils
Liquid blends of castor and other oils with no wax.
Safety and regulation

Safety, quality and regulation

Because they contain no water, anhydrous hair creams are less prone to microbial growth than emulsions, but raw materials and filling equipment still need hygiene controls. Lanolin and fragrance can cause reactions in sensitive users.

Hair creams are cosmetics and must be registered with NAFDAC before manufacture or sale in Nigeria.

Supply chain

Where the raw materials come from

Petroleum jelly, mineral oil and paraffin wax are refinery products, refined to cosmetic grades. Lanolin is a by-product of wool washing and is imported. Shea butter comes from West Africa's shea belt, and castor oil is pressed from castor beans grown in India, Africa and elsewhere.

Source the ingredients for hair cream

Request petroleum jelly, waxes, oils and butters through Matta. For raw materials, see Matta's raw materials page.

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Related products and ingredients

Cosmetics & personal carePetroleum jellyCosmetics & personal careBody lotionCosmetics & personal careHair conditionerCosmetics & personal careLip balm

Ingredients in hair cream

Petroleum jellyMineral oilLanolinShea butterParaffin waxCastor oilFragrance

Sources and method

  1. Cosmetics and Skin: Petrolatum
  2. Wikipedia: Moisturizer
  3. USAID: Sustainable Shea Initiative fact sheet (Oct 2023)
  4. NAFDAC: Cosmetic Products Registration Regulations 2023 (consultation draft)

Published by Matta · Last updated · Ingredient lists and Matta listing matches come from the How It's Made dataset; see how pages are made.

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