Connie questions copolyol: Suave Daily Clarifying shampoo is supposed to remove daily build up for normal to oily hair (without leaving any residue ). One of its ingredients is dimethicone copolyol, which according to my dermatologist is a silicone derived emollient that clogs up your pores and makes fine hair very limp. Could you please tell me if this is true?
The Right Brain clarifies:
Your Derm is right about dimethicone copolyol being a silicone derived emollient, but there’s more to it than just that.
Silicone in Suave
We’ve tested Suave’s Daily Clarifying shampoo and although it does contain dimethicone copolyol, it’s an insignificant amount in terms of actually conditioning your hair. As any good cosmetic chemist knows, dimethicone is a highly effective, water insoluble, conditioning agent. Dimethicone copolyol, on the other hand, is a chemically modified version of dimethicone that is much more water soluble and much less conditioning. While dimethicone can make your hair feel limp, the copolyol version mostly rinses away and won’t cause this problem.
Does copolyol clog?
Does it clog your pores? We’re not medical professionals so it’s not our place to contradict your doctor but it seems highly unlikely that this ingredient is an issue. First of all, we can’t find any reference that says dimethicone copolyol is comedogenic (meaning that it clogs pores and causes acne.) Secondly, even if the chemical does have a slight comedogenic potential, it’s used in this formula at very low levels and it’s rinsed out of your hair. It seems inconceivable that you’ll actually have clogged scalp pores just from using Suave Clarifying shampoo.
Other clarifying shampoos
Still, if you’re concerned because of what your Derm told you, there are plenty of other clarifying shampoos on the market that don’t contain dimethicone copolyol. Here are few you might want to check out: (Warning: Not all of these are as inexpensive as Suave!)
Tresemme Deep Cleansing Shampoo
June Jacobs Clarifying Shampoo
Terz Hair Care Latte Clarifying Shampoo
What do YOU use when you want to deep clean your hair? Leave a comment and share your scalp cleansing secrets with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.
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I’m not entirely sure if this is good for my hair, but if I want my hair to feel especially clean, I add about a teaspoon of baking soda to the amount of shampoo that I normally use. I do this about once a month.
I’ve used the Suave clarifying shampoo a few times, and every time I use it, I get scalp pimples. So maybe there’s something to this clogged pores theory.
apple cider vinegar as a final rinse!
just pour over about 1/4 – 1/2 a cup (depending on hair length) and rinse with cool water.
done.
not advisable on colour treated hair, apparently.
My hair is fine + oily. So I have been using clarifying shampoos my whole life. The BEST? It’s definitely Bumble & Bumble’s Sunday shampoo. But in a pinch, baby shampoo {only the Johnson’s brand–I don’t know why} can work wonders.
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