Silicone-based hair care products

Silicone in hair care products? 

Silicone can be found in a great number of shampoos, conditioners, and other hair care products.  Silicone covers the hair with a thin water-proof layer (does not penetrate the hair).  Thus, the hair absorbs less humidity, helps lock in moisture, and it makes your hair look smooth and less frizzy.  So, should you use silicone-based hair care products?  Keep reading to find out the advantages and disadvantages of silicone.

Advantages: 

It makes your hair look really good, for a while (read the disadvantages). Silicone adds shine and softness and also reduces fizz.

Disadvantages:

Silicone does not penetrate the hair (its molecules are too large to be absorbed into the hair shaft).  If you use hair treatment and masks and do not see the results, this is probably why.  Silicone is not water-soluble and you can’t wash it out with regular shampoo.  Ultimately, product build-up will make your hair look dull, flat and dirty.  So, if you use silicone-based products, use a clarifying shampoo once a week!

In most cases, any chemical that ends in _cone or _one is silicone.  However, not all silicones are the same.  Some are heavier than others.  Dimethicone is the heaviest of all silicones used in hair care products.               

Personally, I do not use silicone in my hair anymore.  Silicone used to weigh down my hair and make it look dull and flat.  Now my hair looks so much different; it’s wavy and has a lot of volume!

Still, I can’t say that all silicones are bad.  Some people will find silicones too heavy for their hair, while others will love the way it makes their hair look and feel.  You have to try different products to find out what’s best for your hair.   

So tell me, do you use any silicone-based hair care products?  If so, I want to know about your experiences.

XOXO

Euphrasie85