Carly’s Question:
There has been a lot of controversy lately about silicones in hair products. I am a member of a naturally curly hair website and many of the members are anti-silicone because of the claims that silicones bond to the hair and do not allow moisture into the hair shaft. Supposedly once the silicone is on the hair it acts as a barrier between your hair shaft and any moisture. Is all of this true, or is it just a myth? I will sometimes use a silicone product, but then later feel guilty that I am suffocating my hair, and wash it all off. I think it would be great if you can let everyone know the truth behind silicones.
The Right Brain’s Response:
Questions about silicones being bad for your hair come up a lot. But you can just call us the cosmetic mythbusters, Carly, because silicones do not really cause the problem you described. Shampoos and conditioners that contain a high level of high molecular weight, water insoluble silicones can build up on hair, that much is true. And if you over-use products like this everyday, it is possible to end up with hair that feels weighed down and limp. But even this does happen, you’re not really suffocating your hair.
3 Reasons Why Silicone Can’t Suffocate Hair:
1) Even if you didn’t wash all the silicone out, we’ve never seen any data that indicates that a small amount of silicone residue acts as a “barrier” between hair shaft and moisture. On average, your hair contains about 8 to 14% water by weight but it will equilibrate to the ambient humidity. In other words, it will pick up moisture when it’s very humid and it will lose moisture when it’s very dry. Slight silicone residue won’t substantially change that. Now, if you slather on a heavy layer of a silicone hair treatment product, that’s a different story!
2) Even though your hair absorbs moisture from the environment, its state of dryness isn’t completely controlled by this external water. Dryness is more a function of how damaged your hair is and how much natural lipids it contains.
3) Even if you did block your hair from absorbing moisture, the silicone would act like a moisturizing agent because it would plasticize and lubricate your hair. It would essentially fight the effects of dryness.
The Beauty Brains Bottom Line:
If you use a silicone containing product and you like the way it makes your hair look and feel, DONT WORRY ABOUT IT! Don’t feel guilty because some people tell you that it’s bad for your hair. Oil products like Ojon can work too if you don’t want to use silicone.
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Hi Beautybrains! Your site is a one of a kind site and absolutely amazing ‘coz you help us consumers to be more wise about cosmetic products. May I know what do you mean by plasticize as you describe above and also the meaning of plasticize you used to describe the effects of coconut oil in another post? KUTGW!!!
I’ve never had the problem of “silicone build up” and i use a silicone based leave-in conditioner every other day. I find that it has actually prevented my hair from getting more damaged!
Silicone molecules are practically indistructable hence the reason they are used for cooking and other high temperature applications. That being said the particles themselves are fairly harmless to your hair, BUT removing these molecules from your hair is very hard even with clarifying shapoo.
I used to use a silicone based leave in conditioner, it did my hair so much bad! it took me ages to get my hair back to normal. I am totally against using silicone based products.
As a hair stylist I can promise you silicones can cause great trouble for the hair. I have applied tint based high lights/lowlights onto a clients hair, developed them and washed off only to see the colour I applied flush down the sink and not stick to the hair.
This tends to happen with products such as L’Oreal Preference and Clairol ‘Nice & Easy’ who use silicones in both their colours and after treatment conditioners. Continual use of these conditioners does create a barrier (that’s why these brand’s colours do not fade), but they also stop other colours (with the exception of strong bleaches) getting into the cortex and working effectively. In particular red based colours have high levels of silicone to enable them to stay inside the hair.
I am still trying to find some kind of solvent which can dissolve these silicone molecules.
I should also add to my last post, the use of silicone isn’t just as a simple as applying a silicone based conditioner or styling aid (such as serum etc).
If you then use a very hot straightening iron you melt the silicone and compress it onto the hair shaft. This is what causes the problem of build up!
Please Help!
Anti-’cones’
I had heard that products which had coal tar in them were good. I didn’t have daneruff, but I thought I would try it. I used Denorex Daneruff Shampoo 2.5% Coal Tar. I used it for 2 1/2 months & noticed that it was not rinsing out. I had never heard of silicones in hair products!
I have a very heavy clear silicone build-up on the scalp, hair shaft, and body. I can feel it has melted and ran down on my skin and body.
I have tried everything that I can think of to remove it. Professional & over-the-counter Clarifying shampoos, aloe vera, green tea, tea tree oil, vinegar, baking soda and etc. But I can still feel it.
Before things like that are put in everyday common products, the manufacture needs to instruct buyers how to remove it. I have been to the doctor 8 times and the dermatology 5 times, they did not seem to know, what I was talking about. Most of them said, that they could not see anything and gave me some cream.
How can I remove this build-up from my scalp & skin? How can I make sure I do not use another product that does not rinse out.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Please help educate us!
Hey Shirley, have you considered seeing a psychiatrist? Silicones do was out after a few tries. Just think a bit: your skin is shedding all the time, notice that even superglue would wash off after a few days.
I’m serious about the psychiatrist, you sound like you have an OCD.
I use a butter in my hair that contains cones. My hair loves it! Without it my hair is dry,dry,dry.I have had no problems. Just out of habit,I clarify once in while.Not because of the cones but just because of different styling products and to begin with a clean slate.If they work for you,use them! My hair hates petroleum and this is from trying it,not because someone on a forum told me it’s bad. My hair is natural now and somethings that worked before doesnt work now.
People like Scott are annoying just because they are hair stylists they think their opinion is all that matters and is all the thruth you need to hear, as if their opinion is from scientific research facts, plus like is said before everyone’s hair is different, so is also irresponsable to state that, at least say in some people, leading to some people believe in all that they say starting to sort of panic about all this. and how many times i have heard totally different opinions from them, not even agreeing in the same topic seems like a joke.
to remove try Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo by Frédéric Fekkai. you can get it online: http://www.fekkai.com/collection/apple-cider. or try Sephora!
Well, I’m gonna be honest with you all…I tried going without cones for about 3 months…I did notice an increase in shedding …I was concerned about that since I co wash daily…I went back to using Aussie moist and the shedding stopped…So I see a pattern, at least for my hair…My hair does quite well with cones…I honestly think the tighter the curl the more you need the cone…IMO…
I have to agree with Lisa Brown. I use conditioner with silicone in it, and have done so for over a year and I have no problem with dry hair, buildup, breakage, or anything like that. Some people’s hair can tolerate silicones and some can’t. Just like some people’s hair can tolerate olive oil or coconut oil while it doesn’t work well for other people. To say it’s bad isn’t true. It just doesn’t work for everyone.
I became interested in this whole cone no cone thing as soon as I delved more in the Tightlycurly Method. For the past 4 days it’s worked BUT I was and maybe still am a cones are bad person. I say that because last summer I used garnier leave in because I had it around it felt nice on my hair. I watched a good amount of videos on youtube one with a woman who had really long hair and she spoke of the dryness she experienced AFTER rinsing out the conditioner from using it a while. Now when I used it I didn’t have damage BUT I don’t want to become dependent on something to “make” my hair “feel” moisturized so even if cones DON’T form a barrier I’d still be dependent on that “feeling of moisture”. I want my hair to BE moisturized not just feel. Anyway I digress, so now I have some he hello hydration because it is way more affordable than “natural brands” it has cones and I’ll be using it right after I see if the cones it has are water soluble or not. Honestly for people who follow regular regimens or wash their hair daily or bi daily with sulfates I doubt cones are an issue water soluble or not but if you’re using so called natural shampoos and bars like I usually do they may lack the necessary surfactants to remove the cones. Hopefully I won’t experience crazy dryness and anyone interested in the Tightly Curly Method should also know she has some cone-free products on there too and you can also use your own products. For now I used Desert Essence Theraputic Shampoo, Giovanni triple treat conditioner “rinse out” “think it has cones but I rinse it out and curl junkie curl assurance daily for the leave in or myhoneychild type 3 creme. So if the cones don’t work for you no one is to blame but the makers of the product and you for trying it lol.
heres my take on this (now i’m not hairstylist or scientist or expert or whatever- i’m just a girl with extremely dry and curly hair)
silicones themselves aren’t that bad. they actually make my hair quite nice. its the removal of them that cause my problems. all that shampooing just doesn’t go well with my already dry hair so THATS why i dont use cones.
also, cones act differently on people hair, just because they work for one person doesnt mean they work for everyone
People are saying cones aren’t bad for your hair because they’ve never seen research showing that. Well, I haven’t seen anyone cite research showing that cones aren’t detrimental to the health of your hair over time either. Unfortunately there isn’t enough research on this matter so we have to rely mostly on logic and anecdotal evidence. Personally, I have my doubts that they are generally detrimental by themselves. However, I am fairly certain that the condition they put your hair in typically results in the use of shampoos with heavy detergents, resulting in damage to your hair.
It’s a nasty cycle we’re in with these sulfate shampoos and cone conditioners and I’m sure the hair care companies love it. We can’t stop buying their products because our hair perpetually needs harsh cleaning and heavy sealing to feel temporarily healthy.
I think it’s important to note that not all silicones are the same. Some are more water soluble than others. Dimethicone, for example, (which I’ve seen so often in popular shampoo/conditioners) is not water soluble and will likely require a serious detergent to remove it from your hair. Let’s just ignore for a moment whether or not dimethicone will create some sort of barrier to moisture on your hair. It will likely build up on your hair in an unpleasant way and won’t just rinse out unless you’re washing with a serious detergent like sodium laureth sulfate. Washing with serious detergents like this strips so much of the natural oils present at/near the surface of your hair away. This alone, is going to damage your hair over time. So cones will imo damage your hair over time indirectly.
Silicone-free and sulfate-free for me! I’d rather rely on light natural oils that don’t require regular stripping for truly healthy hair.
Wow, what a topic! So, I love how passionate everyone is about this ingredient! People are so much more educated about chemicals than before. Clearly we are all trying to do the best we can to care for our hair and skin.
With that said, I am a professional hairstylist who specializes in Naturally Curly hair and this topic comes up often. My guests have read a popular book for curlies and it has shared a negative opinion for silicones. I politely disagree about that and many other bits in this book. Furthermore, I live in a extremely humid place with a large curly/frizzy population. Silicone is your friend under these conditions! I’m researching this topic for my book.
Like the article said above, silcone doesn’t suffocate the hair. Last I checked my lungs are in my chest and not my hair.
I have not personaly found this ingredient to cause issues as a stylist who does it all (color etc.). I encourage clients with frizzy/curly hair to look for products with natural oils and silcones. Gentle or sulfate free shampoos and infrequent shampooing.
Lastly, there are worse things you can do to your hair like: not trimming the damage off, flat iron/blow drying without a product to protect it from heat, constant tight ponies in the same place, angry and violent brushing to the point of hearing your hair make noise, swimming w/o protecting or clairfying the chlorine, picking your ends off, shampooing everyday without a real greasy reason, shall I go on…
Ladies keep your passion, the world needs it! Mwah, Joni Sansone
I can only speak from my own personal experiences. Once trying products containing silicone, I immediately fell in love with how this ingredient transformed my tresses. I became a faithful user of the polisher/gloss products. I did find however, that if the silicone came in direct contact with my scalp, my scalp began to flake. Once I eliminated products containing silicone from my haircare regimen, the flaking stopped.
So, although there may not be any formal documentation out there that confirms any potential harm that silicone may cause, I know that for me it isn’t good for my scalp. So, to everyone else, let it be a personal choice. My choice is to steer clear even though every now and then I am a little tempted to go back because of how it changed the manageability of my hair. However, I prefer to remain flake free.
@ Joni Sansone- When you say picking your ends does that mean removing loose nappy curls that attached a strand/strands of hair? I recently started wearing my natural curls and when its in a ponytail picking my ends is bad a habit!
More on the topic, silicone has been doing great for hair. I don’t usually rub it on my scalp, mostly in my ends. It detangles my hair very well which is great because I have extremely tight curls. My hair was really dry before using this silicone deep conditioner. I use it may once or twice a week depending on how nappy and tangle my hair is. In between that I cowash with alikay products I bought from http://www.blackonyxworld.com. I’ve heard from other people on youtube reviews that benozite is a very good to cleanse hair of build up which is also sold at that site or ebay. I have not tried it yet but I will soon.
I also started using the silicone leave in conditioner for a couple moths my hair was very curly and thick very hard to detangle. The leave in conditioner worked so well I used it every day. I loved how it made my hair look and feel but in time my hair became dry and limpy looking. just plain dead and stubborn. Is there anything I can do to get my hair back to how it was before?
I think everyone’s hair is different, but for me personally silicones are bad, bad, BAD. I use jojoba oil as a sealant instead and my hair retains its natural shape much better than it did when I was using a silicone-laden serum.
Also, it’s important to note that silicones will not cause build-up if you wash your hair with a sulfate shampoo. If you’re doing the sulfate-free thing, then silicones are something you should reconsider, but for most people it won’t be a problem.
I never knew why silicone products would not wash out of my hair until I read this article. It explained how some silicones are not water-soluble. That is something that a lot of people do not know.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8002753/silicone_hair_products_what_you_should.html?cat=69
I have found that my hair responds very well to cones. Its frizz/wavy/curly by nature and using a cone based product on my ends (my hair is long – mid back in length) and working it up no more than 3/4 of the way up, keeps the unruly frizz in check. I have less breakage as well. I wash every 3 days with a non cone cleansing conditioner and do bi-weekly washings followed by an overnight deep conditioning with coconut oil. I occasionally blow dry or curl with a flat iron and the cones (combined with my washing and deep conditioning routine) protect my ends from heat damage and split ends. I also dye my roots about once every 3-4 months and have had no problems getting the color to take and look consistent with my previously colored hair. I also don’t apply cones to my roots or scalp so I have not noticed any of the dry scalp issues others have mentioned.
To each their own. There wouldn’t be millions of different products on the market if everyone hair responded the same. Find what works and what your comfortable with and don’t worry about it.
For the record, hair is dead, it doesn’t breath and you can’t suffocate it.
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