🥚Can Mayonnaise Really Help a Struggling Afro? Old School Hair Treatments EXAMINED — The Kemetri Rating Series Starts NOW!

Farrah Evans
19 hours ago
3 min read

Welcome to the very first edition of the Kemetri Old School Hair Care Breakdown Series, where our founder Farrah takes your auntie’s favorite kitchen remedies, grandma’s beauty secrets, and internet throwbacks—and puts them under the science + Afro-respect microscope.

Each remedy will earn a rating of ⭐ to ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Afros based on:

Safety
Effectiveness
Long-term results
Afro compatibility
Scalp health impact

And today’s first contestant is…

🥁🥁🥁MAYONNAISE.

Yes. The sandwich spread. The BBQ sidekick. The legendary 90s deep conditioner.

Let’s talk about it.

🧠 Why Did People Ever Put Mayonnaise on Their Hair?

Back in the day, mayonnaise became popular in hair care because it contains:

Eggs (protein)
Oil (fat)
Vinegar or lemon juice (pH)

On paper, people thought:

“Protein + oil = strong, shiny hair!”

And for a short time… many people did notice:

Temporary softness
Temporary shine
Reduced frizz right after rinsing

So the tradition stuck.

But temporary results don’t automatically mean safe or sustainable, especially for Afros.

🔬 What’s ACTUALLY in Mayonnaise (Hair-Wise)?

Typical mayonnaise contains:

Egg yolk → protein + fat
Vegetable oil → sealing fat
Vinegar or lemon juice → acid preservative
Salt
Preservatives & stabilizers

Now let’s look at how each of these behaves on Afro hair.

🥚 Egg Protein

Protein can be great for weak hair…But raw or food-grade protein molecules are very large. They:

Sit on the surface of the hair
Do not penetrate deeply
Can leave hair stiff when overused
Spoil quickly

🛢️ Vegetable Oil

This does add:

Temporary slip
Temporary shine But it often:
Coats without truly nourishing
Traps odors
Mixes poorly with water

🍋 Vinegar or Lemon Juice

Acids can smooth the cuticle in small, controlled cosmetic formulas. But in food concentrations they can:

Irritate the scalp
Strip too much moisture from fragile strands
Cause burning on sensitive skin

🧂 Salt & Preservatives

These are not formulated for scalp health and over time can:

Dry out the hair
Irritate the skin
Disrupt the scalp barrier

🚨 The Biggest Hidden Risk of Using Mayonnaise on Afros

Here’s the part people rarely talk about:

❗ Mayonnaise SPOILS.

This means:

Bacteria growth risk
Fungal exposure risk
Scalp irritation
Follicle inflammation
Odor residue in the hair

Afro hair thrives in warm, moist environments—the exact conditions bacteria love. Food on the scalp can quietly trigger:

Itching
Flaking
Tenderness
Shedding
Inflammation-based hair loss over time

💛 Why It Sometimes Felt Like It Worked

Let’s be fair—people weren’t imagining things. Mayonnaise can:

Temporarily soften dry strands
Temporarily increase shine
Help detangle right after use

But that softness comes from coating, not repair.

It does not:

Strengthen the hair shaft
Improve follicle health
Correct protein loss safely
Support long-term Afro resilience

It’s a cosmetic illusion of health, not structural improvement.

🌿 What Kemetri Would Use Instead (Same Goal, Safer Science)

If your goal is:

Strength
Softness
Shine
Elasticity

Use cosmetic-grade, shelf-stable, Afro-compatible ingredients like:

Aloe vera
Honey
Properly hydrolyzed proteins
Plant oils
Shea & mango butter

These deliver:

✅ Real penetration

✅ Stable preservation

✅ No bacterial risk

✅ Safer scalp environment

You get the benefit without the food spoilage danger.

⭐ FINAL KEMETRI RATING FOR MAYONNAISE

🥁🥁🥁

⭐ ⭐ (2 out of 5 Afros)

Why it earned 2 Afros instead of 1:

It does give temporary slip
It can make hair feel softer briefly

Why it did NOT score higher:

High spoilage risk
Not formulated for scalp biology
Inconsistent protein delivery
Can cause irritation and buildup
Not safe for long-term Afro care

Kemetri Verdict: Mayonnaise is a nostalgic quick fix, not a sustainable Afro care solution.

💬 Farrah’s Founder’s Note

“Old school doesn’t mean wrong—but it does deserve re-evaluation. Our ancestors worked with what they had. We honor that wisdom best by improving the science, not ignoring the risks. The Afro deserves better than k.”