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This endpoint uses GPT-4o-mini to return a structured safety and compatibility analysis for any hair care ingredient. You supply an ingredient name and the API responds with INCI nomenclature, solubility, curl-friendliness, porosity guidance, buildup risk, and curated notes written specifically for Black and textured hair.

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Endpoint

GET https://api.blackhairapi.com/v1/ingredients/lookup

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Request headers

HeaderValueRequired
X-API-Keybha_...Yes

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Query parameters

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name
string
required
The ingredient name to look up. Accepts common names, INCI names, or trade names (e.g. glycerin, dimethicone, shea butter). Must be at least two characters.

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Response

A successful request returns a single JSON object with the following fields.
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name
string
The normalised form of the ingredient name as recognised by the AI model.
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inci_name
string
The official International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) name for the ingredient, if known. Returns null when no INCI name exists.
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type
string
The functional category of the ingredient. One of: protein, oil, butter, humectant, emulsifier, surfactant, silicone, preservative, fragrance, or other.
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is_water_soluble
boolean
true if the ingredient dissolves readily in water. Water-insoluble ingredients (oils, silicones, butters) generally require a surfactant to remove and may contribute to buildup.
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curl_friendly
boolean
true if the ingredient is considered curl-friendly based on its chemistry and typical formulation behaviour. Non-curl-friendly ingredients (e.g. heavy non-water-soluble silicones) may require clarifying to remove.
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porosity_recommendation
string
The porosity level(s) for which this ingredient is best suited. One of: low, medium, high, all, or none.
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what_it_does
string
A 2–3 sentence plain-English explanation of what the ingredient does inside a hair product formula and how it interacts with the hair shaft.
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black_hair_notes
string
One to two sentences focused specifically on how this ingredient affects Black, natural, curly, or coily hair textures.
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can_cause_buildup
boolean
true if regular use of this ingredient is likely to cause product buildup on the hair or scalp.
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requires_clarifying
boolean
true if you need a clarifying or chelating shampoo to fully remove this ingredient from the hair.
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common_in_products
array of strings
A list of product types where this ingredient frequently appears, e.g. ["conditioner", "leave-in", "styling cream"].
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avoid_if
array of strings
A list of hair concerns or conditions where you should avoid or limit this ingredient, e.g. ["low porosity", "protein sensitive"].

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Example

curl -X GET \
  "https://api.blackhairapi.com/v1/ingredients/lookup?name=glycerin" \
  -H "X-API-Key: bha_your_key_here"

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Response

{
  "name": "glycerin",
  "inci_name": "Glycerin",
  "type": "humectant",
  "is_water_soluble": true,
  "curl_friendly": true,
  "porosity_recommendation": "all",
  "what_it_does": "Glycerin draws moisture from the surrounding air into the hair shaft, acting as a powerful humectant. It helps maintain the hair's hydration balance and improves softness and manageability in conditioners, leave-ins, and stylers.",
  "black_hair_notes": "Works well in humid climates for Type 3 and 4 hair; may cause hygral fatigue on low-porosity strands if used in high concentrations without a sealant.",
  "can_cause_buildup": false,
  "requires_clarifying": false,
  "common_in_products": ["conditioner", "leave-in conditioner", "styling cream", "shampoo"],
  "avoid_if": ["very low humidity environments — glycerin can draw moisture out of the hair shaft when ambient humidity is low"]
}

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Error responses

StatusMeaning
400Ingredient name is too short (fewer than 2 characters).
401Missing or invalid X-API-Key header.
422The name query parameter was not provided.
429You have exceeded your plan’s monthly request limit.
Ingredient names are case-insensitive. You can pass Glycerin, glycerin, or GLYCERIN and receive the same result.