The presence of silicone agents in hair care products has experienced major setbacks and criticisms in the market. However, the real reason behind this stems from lack of knowledge about what silicone is and what it can do to your hair. Lack of information is damaging in itself, but misinformation is even more critical that clouds people’s mind about deciding whether or not silicone is good or bad for hair.
The first big question is this: are silicone-based products beneficial or fit for my hair? The ideal way to approach that is to determine your own hair type, as well as the type of hair that you wish to achieve using these hair products. Silicones are active ingredients found in several hair cosmetic products that are included into the formula to serve a specific purpose.
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The simplest way to determine if the hair product you use contains silicone as an ingredient is to always read the label. Most people are surprised to know that more products contain this agent than they think.
Silicone agents used in hair care products are divided into two major categories: water soluble and non-soluble. As the name implies, water soluble silicones are those that can be rinsed off of your hair using water. Meanwhile, non-soluble silicones require sulfate in order to wash it off. But there is no definitive conclusion as to which of these two are better because both only give temporary soothing effect on your hair, thus giving only the appearance of healthier, more beautiful hair without any lasting results. This is also the same reason why it pays to be extra careful when using such products to avoid harsh effects in the long run, especially with constant use.
To help you read the label, here are the common types of silicones found in hair care products:
Water Soluble Silicones: Dimethicone Copolyol, Hydrolized Wheat Protein, Lauryl Methicone Copolyol
Non-Soluble Silicones: Dimethicone, Cetearyl Methicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethiconol, Amodimethicon, Trimethylsilylamodimetheicone, Stearyl Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone
The main purpose of silicone when used in hair is to coat the strands so it looks frizz-free and shiny. Some types of silicones also give more weight to the hair, especially for those with naturally fine strands. An important consideration to make, though, is that moisture-stricken hair should refrain from using any products that contain non-soluble silicones. The fact that you have to use sulfate to rinse off the silicone agents can produce negative results to hair that needs moisture.
To conclude, silicone is not exactly as bad as it is being projected in the mainstream media. However, there are some negative effects to constantly using silicone-based products, especially noting how you need to use certain products to rinse it off (products that are in itself damaging to the hair). But with proper moderation, as with any kinds of styling products or tools, you have no reason to worry.
Do you use silicone-based hair products as part of your hair care regimen?
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