How to Spot and Avoid Silicones in Your Hair Products

Everybody loves a soft, silky finish when we apply hair products. But what cost are you willing to incur in order to achieve that slippery finish? Did you know that companies add cheap, man-made plastics, aka silicones, to give your hair that fake feeling? Silicones in hair products can pose a major risk to your hair and health. Read on to figure out what ingredients you need to watch for in your hair products!

What Are Silicones?
Silicone is technically a mineral, but companies produce it on the cheap to achieve slip and shine in hair care products. Modern-day silicones are man-made plastics that make hair feel hydrated when its technically just covered in a slippery coating. Silicones in hair products are typically added to avoid spending on truly hydrating ingredients.

Why Are Silicones in Hair Products Bad for You?
Instead of actually repairing your hair, silicones fill in the uneven texture with cheap, man-made plastic. Silicones also interfere with cell renewal, they can trap debris in your hair shaft and can block other ingredients in your expensive products from penetrating creating a barrier. As if this wasn’t bad enough, silicones in hair conditioners are notoriously difficult to remove. Even if you rinse multiple times, the most common silicone, dimethicone, is insanely heavy (compared to its size) and leaves a thick coating.

How Can You Spot Bad Silicones on an Ingredients label?
You don’t have to have a Ph.D. to spot these devil compounds in your product labels. Look for words that end with this: -cones, -conols, -silanes, and -siloxanes. You need to be extra suspicious when buying hydrating shampoos and conditioners, leave-in and mask treatments as well as hair oils and styling creams. The above mentioned product categories typically run the highest risk for silicon additives.

This information is brought to you from Mane Addicts