topic Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products? in Beauty

What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

kcladyz — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:35:33 GMT

I never had a problem with residue or buildup then again I never use the same shampoo 2 days in a row.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

Kathlen — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:47:20 GMT

I'm like you ... I have several products there and I switch each day. Just on a whim ... I pick up a different product from the shelf. I'm happy with my hair.

Once a week I clarify to remove any excess anything.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

LTT1 — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:49:32 GMT

This reminds me to thank the ladies on this board... used baking soda in my new shampoo (which really doesn't work as well as the discontinued old). Love it! So many thanks!

I don't know why silicone is bad for hair!

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

Ibby114 — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:54:56 GMT

Silicone- for me anyway- gives the false illusion that my hair is well conditioned and healthy. It jsut provides a coating rather that doing anything to benefit the hair. Most products have some- but if it's too much it's also impossible to rinse from my hair!

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

Icegoddess — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:00:58 GMT

Many silicones require a sulfate-based shampoo to remove from your hair, so buildup can be a problem for those of us who use only sulfate-free shampoos.

It does protect hair from heat-styling products, so there can be a benefit besides the false illusion of healthy, shiny hair that ibb38 referred to.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

Ibby114 — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:06:16 GMT

I can see the 'protection from heat' aspect of silicones for some - I air dry my hair 95% of the time, though.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

sun8shine — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:36:48 GMT

On 7/18/2014 ibb38 said:
Silicone- for me anyway- gives the false illusion that my hair is well conditioned and healthy. It jsut provides a coating rather that doing anything to benefit the hair. Most products have some- but if it's too much it's also impossible to rinse from my hair!

The hair on your head is dead. All any product does is coat it.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:54:05 GMT

Not all silicones cause build-up. I use WEN, which doesn't have harsh detergents that might remove all silicones. Because of that, I look for water-soluble silicones in products. That's trickier than it sounds, because some non-water-soluble silicones become water-soluble when combined with other ingredients.

Do some Google searches and you'll get a lot of information back about the different kinds of silicones. Or, if you don't seem to have any problems with them, don't do any and go on about things the way you are now because silicones seem to be working for you.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

suzyQ3 — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:57:26 GMT

On 7/18/2014 sun8shine said:
On 7/18/2014 ibb38 said:
Silicone- for me anyway- gives the false illusion that my hair is well conditioned and healthy. It jsut provides a coating rather that doing anything to benefit the hair. Most products have some- but if it's too much it's also impossible to rinse from my hair!

The hair on your head is dead. All any product does is coat it.

That's probably very true, sun8shine, but silicones (and many polyquaterniums, for that matter) are difficult to remove from the hair. The majority of silicones (under a variety of names) are not water soluble, so only sulfates (and other equally harsh ingredients) will remove them.

I am using the curly girl method, although I modify it somewhat because I do use shampoo (non-sulfate). The method also recommends no styling products with silicone and no heat drying. I do the latter two now.

It's not easy to find good styling products without silicone, but I have some that I like very much.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

suzyQ3 — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:59:33 GMT

On 7/18/2014 ChynnaBlue said:
Not all silicones cause build-up. I use WEN, which doesn't have harsh detergents that might remove all silicones. Because of that, I look for non-water-soluble silicones in products. That's trickier than it sounds, because some non-water-soluble silicones become water-soluble when combined with other ingredients.

Do some Google searches and you'll get a lot of information back about the different kinds of silicones. Or, if you don't seem to have any problems with them, don't do any and go on about things the way you are now because silicones seem to be working for you.

ChynnaBlue, I think you must mean that you look for water-soluble silicones. Those are not easy to find, but they are the ones that will wash out more easily.

Non-water-silicones, which are the primary ones used in products, do not wash out easily and really require harsher ingredients to do the trick.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 18:10:57 GMT

On 7/18/2014 suzyQ3 said:
On 7/18/2014 ChynnaBlue said:
Not all silicones cause build-up. I use WEN, which doesn't have harsh detergents that might remove all silicones. Because of that, I look for non-water-soluble silicones in products. That's trickier than it sounds, because some non-water-soluble silicones become water-soluble when combined with other ingredients.<br /> <br /> Do some Google searches and you'll get a lot of information back about the different kinds of silicones. Or, if you don't seem to have any problems with them, don't do any and go on about things the way you are now because silicones seem to be working for you.

ChynnaBlue, I think you must mean that you look for water-soluble silicones. Those are not easy to find, but they are the ones that will wash out more easily.

Non-water-silicones, which are the primary ones used in products, do not wash out easily and really require harsher ingredients to do the trick.

You're right! I'll edit that. I wrote out the whole post and then hit a key that took me backwards and deleted my post, so I had to re-enter the whole thing. (I just did it again, too! I must have shifted my keyboard so I'm all over the place.)

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

expatgal — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 18:13:37 GMT

Silicones give you that false sense of having "healthy, shiny hair". They coat the hair and build up even though you don't realize it. The really bad thing is they only way to remove them from your hair is using a shampoo with sulfates. That starts a very toxic cycle.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

suzyQ3 — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 18:19:06 GMT

On 7/18/2014 ChynnaBlue said:
On 7/18/2014 suzyQ3 said:
On 7/18/2014 ChynnaBlue said:
Not all silicones cause build-up. I use WEN, which doesn't have harsh detergents that might remove all silicones. Because of that, I look for non-water-soluble silicones in products. That's trickier than it sounds, because some non-water-soluble silicones become water-soluble when combined with other ingredients.<br /> <br /> Do some Google searches and you'll get a lot of information back about the different kinds of silicones. Or, if you don't seem to have any problems with them, don't do any and go on about things the way you are now because silicones seem to be working for you.

ChynnaBlue, I think you must mean that you look for water-soluble silicones. Those are not easy to find, but they are the ones that will wash out more easily.

Non-water-silicones, which are the primary ones used in products, do not wash out easily and really require harsher ingredients to do the trick.

You're right! I'll edit that. I wrote out the whole post and then hit a key that took me backwards and deleted my post, so I had to re-enter the whole thing. (I just did it again, too! I must have shifted my keyboard so I'm all over the place.)

You know what? I've done that, and it is so darn annoying. It's a demon key, I tell ya.

Anyway, I had a feeling you had just accidentally reversed the "water" and "non-water" types.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

kcladyz — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 00:21:37 GMT

Does anyone know if there is a list somewhere of water soluble silicon products? Maybe I do not have a problem because I switch off from sulfate to sulfate free shampoos all the time? I have so much shampoo I can shampoo with a different product every day for 3 weeks Im guessing lol

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

kcladyz — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 00:22:36 GMT

On 7/18/2014 expatgal said:
Silicones give you that false sense of having "healthy, shiny hair". They coat the hair and build up even though you don't realize it. The really bad thing is they only way to remove them from your hair is using a shampoo with sulfates. That starts a very toxic cycle.

That sounds a lot like pantene color protect volume ( I think its called) Hair feels coated but looks and feels good

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

winamac1 — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 00:24:03 GMT

On 7/18/2014 ibb38 said:
Silicone- for me anyway- gives the false illusion that my hair is well conditioned and healthy. It jsut provides a coating rather that doing anything to benefit the hair. Most products have some- but if it's too much it's also impossible to rinse from my hair!

ITA

I avoid silicones in hair products.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

winamac1 — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 00:24:23 GMT

On 7/18/2014 kcladyz said:
On 7/18/2014 expatgal said:
Silicones give you that false sense of having "healthy, shiny hair". They coat the hair and build up even though you don't realize it. The really bad thing is they only way to remove them from your hair is using a shampoo with sulfates. That starts a very toxic cycle.

That sounds a lot like pantene color protect volume ( I think its called) Hair feels coated but looks and feels good

Pantene is FULL of cones.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

HonnyBrown — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 00:27:07 GMT

On 7/18/2014 Icegoddess said:
Many silicones require a sulfate-based shampoo to remove from your hair, so buildup can be a problem for those of us who use only sulfate-free shampoos.

It does protect hair from heat-styling products, so there can be a benefit besides the false illusion of healthy, shiny hair that ibb38 referred to.

That's not true. Shampoo, whether it's sulfate or non-sulfate, is designed to remove buildup, including oils. Silicones are synthetic oils.

If a shampoo does not remove silicone buildup, it's a bad shampoo.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

HonnyBrown — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 00:29:50 GMT

On 7/18/2014 winamac1 said:
On 7/18/2014 kcladyz said:
On 7/18/2014 expatgal said:
Silicones give you that false sense of having "healthy, shiny hair". They coat the hair and build up even though you don't realize it. The really bad thing is they only way to remove them from your hair is using a shampoo with sulfates. That starts a very toxic cycle.

That sounds a lot like pantene color protect volume ( I think its called) Hair feels coated but looks and feels good

Pantene is FULL of cones.

That's why it's such a good, effective product!

When I used Pantene Curly, the shampoo was so moisturizing, I could detangle my hair. It removed all buildup in one application.

The conditioner was great as a rinse out, deep conditioner and leave-in.

It was my staple for years until I discovered Wen.

Re: What is so bad about silicone in hair products?

MaggieOla — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 01:39:09 GMT

From what I understand, silicones coat the hair and prevent your other, more hydrating products from being taken in to the hair. So it's not just a coating or buildup that's annoying, it also prohibits your other products from working more efficiently. I've never fully researched the topic, so I hope I'm right