Silicones in Hair Care

What is it and where can I find it?

Initially, silicones have been limited to skin care products. Now, its use spread into hair care products and applications.

Silicones are recognised for their lubricating properties and the soft smooth feel they create.

Silicones include every ingtredients that end with " -cone "

They can be separated in 2 categories

Non-Soluble and water soluble silicones.

Non-soluble silicones:

These silicones can't be removed or penetrated with water.

These types of silicones have an advantage when protecting hair against high heat styling, being a lot more efficient in this task than most natural oils.

Examples: Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Amodimethicone, Pheryl Trimethicone, Ceteraryl Methicone

Water soluble silicones:

These silicones can dissolve in water.

They are easy to wash out of the hair using mild-shampoos or conditioner-only techniques and does not leave a heavy buildup. They do everything silicones promise to do, with minimal buildup.

Examples: Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone Copolyol, Lauryl Methicone Copolyol or any silicone with PEG as a prefix

Why should I avoid it?

The build up creating from the use of silicones can damage the hair and lead to breakage. The silicones sticks on the surface of the hair creating a plastic-like film which prevents the hair from absorbing water or hair nutriments. Also, your hair can't "breath".

If you don't want to stop using products with silicone in it, try to use water soluble ones.

How do I remove it?

Use gentle silicone-free clarifying shampoo. Use it only a few times a month depending on your silicone-product usage.

You can also rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar to remove mild product build up.

Avoid Harsh surfactants like sulfates, sodium laureth or myreth.

Instead you should use:

sodium cocyl isethionate, cocamidopropyl betaine or sodium lauryl sulfoacetate

Take Care!