Table Of Content
- Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
- Best Silicone-Free Leave-In Conditioner: Biogeo Farewell Frizz Roscaro Milk Leave-In Conditioner
- Silicone for Hair: Benefits and How to Use
- Why Should You Avoid Silicone in Hair Products? 5 Things You Need to Know
- Examples of Water-Soluble Silicones:
- How to Identify Silicone Compounds in Hair Products?
Using sulfate shampoo is a whole other hair conversation. When you don’t regularly clarify your hair, products build up making your hair look dull. Silicone is a polymer added to hair products to provide deep conditioning and detangling effects. They are common to hair products because they add moisture to the hair, making it look sleek and shiny.
Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Silica For Hair: Benefits, Supplements, and More - Healthline
Silica For Hair: Benefits, Supplements, and More.
Posted: Tue, 20 Oct 2020 07:00:00 GMT [source]
A lot of hair care products market themselves as “silicone-free” when they really mean they don’t contain any of the “bad” silicones. Certain heavy silicones like dimethicone and cyclopentasiloxane can lead to product buildup, making hair appear dull and weighed down over time. Products with clay like Sahara Clay and Rhassoul Clay can also be used to deep clean hair and remove silicone buildup. So, simply rinsing them out with water won't remove them. But, the good news is most silicones are easily removed with surfactants (cleansers) that are in most shampoos. You might have heard that silicones (or 'cones) are bad for your hair causing damage and you should avoid all products with any ingredients ending in 'cone.
Best Silicone-Free Leave-In Conditioner: Biogeo Farewell Frizz Roscaro Milk Leave-In Conditioner
In recent years, there’s been a lot of buzz about the perils of using silicones on your strands, with silicone-free products being touted as “better” for tresses. It can give your hair a nice glossy look, help prevent tangles, and protect against heat damage when you’re using hot tools. Just because a brand says that it's silicone-free doesn't necessarily mean that it has zero silicones, rather that it has none of the bad ones. That's why it's important to know the names of good and bad silicones so that when you see a "silicone-free" label, you can easily determine if it's actually free of all the bad guys. Also, if you have a sensitive scalp, suffer from dandruff, or have a dry scalp, you should avoid using silicones. This is because silicones can lead to the development of scalp acne and promote the build-up of bacteria on your scalp.
Silicone for Hair: Benefits and How to Use
To avoid having silicones damage your hair, don't use products with silicones too often. If you use a shampoo, conditioner or styling product with silicones, switch up and don't use them too often. For people who wash their hair every day or multiple times a week this is extremely important. Silicones will not appear as is in the ingredients list of a product. So, how will you know if the shampoo or any other hair products you are using contains it?
Why Should You Avoid Silicone in Hair Products? 5 Things You Need to Know
It contains a modified type of silicone that doesn’t build up over time. I love this product because it reduces drying time by up to 30%, plus it adds tons of softness and shine. If I use a product containing silicone, I focus on my ends to avoid irritating my scalp or weighing down my hair. If any of your products contain these ingredients and you’re seeing signs of buildup, it’s time for a clarifying shampoo.
Examples of Water-Soluble Silicones:
This leave-in conditioner can be used on all hair types and comes with 16 essential oils that leave that long lasting fragrance on your strands. You will not find any harmful ingredients in it such as phthalates, silicones, parabens, and artificial fragrances just to name a few. Two to four pumps will be enough to condition your strands.

For that reason, many experts suggest that they use a water-soluble silicone hair product instead of popular non-soluble silicones like dimethicone. Water-soluble silicone products have less propensity to cause buildup, and their names typically begin with "PEG" on ingredient lists, according to Color Wow, so always look out for what's best for your hair. If you ultimately determine that sulfates and silicones aren't for you, you'll want to carefully scan every hair products' ingredient list. Rëzo points out the words "sulfate" or "silicone" will not explicitly appear.
If you use sulfate-free shampoos, you should skip silicones.
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Keep in mind that the higher the ingredient is in the list, the higher its percentage will be. It would help if you know what type of silicone is appropriate for your hair type. If you are not a fan of using anything with synthetic ingredients, then look for those that do not have this ingredient. Like it was mentioned before, silicones in products for your hair create a protective covering to keep the strands hydrated within. They also repel moisture from getting inside the cuticle since it will lead to frizz. Silicones can also act as protection when you will be using heat such as from styling tools.
But don’t mistake silicone for an occlusive (a substance that forms a waterproof barrier). Water-soluble silicone dissolves in water and washes off easily, so product buildup in hair is much less compared to non-soluble silicones. While it's perfectly fine for you to choose to not use silicones in your hair care products, there's no need to unequivocally fear them. Here are some of Brad's favorite products that contain water-soluble, healthy silicones to give your hair a beautiful shine. While silicones are safe for human use, they don't necessarily add benefit to your overall health. They exist to provide aesthetic improvements in the short run but cause buildup and overwashing in the long term due to their occlusive nature.
We say "to a certain extent" since, given it's a catch 22, the ingredient is also responsible for blocking hydration out, which might eventually lead to breakage. People with dry, frizzy, curly or coarse hair are the ones that typically benefit most from using products with silicone, as it helps reduce the appearance of frizz and tame flyaways. If you want to keep using silicone products, you'll need to make sure that you are washing them out correctly so your hair doesn't get too coated with product. Great silicone-free alternatives include argan oil and jojoba oil. There are quite a few hair products that contain these oils instead of silicones, too. I use this serum anytime I want to wear my hair straight.
However, silicones come in many different forms, and some may be heavier or lighter — or some might attach longer than others. With a focus on ingredient awareness, many people have begun to wonder if silicones are actually safe to use. These are all great attributes to have in a hair-care ingredient — so far, so good — but there are actually two different types of silicone, and that's where things get tricky. Shelby Samaria, a New York City-based hairstylist, adds that silicones can give your hair an instant shiny, luxurious feel. The key to deciding whether hair products containing silicone have a place in your routine, she explains, is to get to know what your hair type is and understand why they’re added to hair products in the first place.