With so many ingredients and options available in hair care, it’s hard to know what’s right to put on our curly hair.
Products that contain Silicone—like serums, hairsprays, shampoos, and conditioners—are some of the best defrizzing products.
But we often get asked, Is Silicone good for hair? Truth is, Silicones are a very common hair care ingredient, but they do have a bad rep.
What do Silicones do to your hair?
There’s a reason why Silicones are such a popular ingredient.
Silicones coat the hair to stop frizz, which sounds great. But as with everything in life, moderation is key (except when it comes to chocolate).
Silicone can build up if used too much, leaving the hair dull and weighed down.
That's why it's handy to know if you're using products that contain Silicones, so you don’t overwhelm your hair.
Silicone goes by many different names in hair products:
Cyclomethicone
Dimethicone (listed in silicon based shampoo)
Cetearyl methicone
Dimethicone copolyol
Phenyl trimethicone
Amodimethicone (often one of the silicone names in conditioner)
When Silicone is applied to curly and frizzy hair, it creates a protective barrier around the hair cuticle. This helps porous (dry) hair appear healthy, soft, and sleek.
So why do Silicones get such a bad rap?
Well, by stopping moisture from leaving the hair, over time Silicones can also prevent the hair from receiving moisture and nutrients.
By creating a protective barrier against humidity, Silicones block other products from penetrating the hair, making for major build-up. This coating can leave hair feeling heavy and limp—not exactly the beautiful, bouncy curls we’re aiming for.
Basically, Silicones are good for sleekness but not for actual hair health
If you have curly hair, you may lose definition in your curls as your hair becomes weighed down.
Curly hair is generally a lot drier than straight hair. And the protective barrier of Silicone can prevent moisture from penetrating.
The result is that curly hair feels even drier and more prone to frizz over time.
Now you might be reading this like 'weighed down?!'...'dry hair?!'... - is silicone actually good for hair?
If you have frizz prone hair, you'll be well aware of the terror of humidity.
Frizzy hair is caused by an uneven and open cuticle surface, which invites in humidity that causes the hair strands to swell.