Are Silicones Bad For Your Hair? Advantages & Disadvantages

What Are Silicones?

Silicones are a part of skin and hair care products since the 1950s for their lubricating properties. They are synthetic compounds that form a protective coating that smooths the cuticle and reduces frizz to impart a soft, smooth, and silky feeling to your hair (1). Silicones are especially beneficial for dry, frizzy, and rough hair as they help tame the tresses and improve manageability.

Trivia

Frederick Stanley Kipping coined the word “silicone” in 1901 when describing the formula of polydiphenylsiloxane, marking a significant contribution to the field of organosilicon chemistry.

While silicones are not toxic for your hair and scalp, they are occlusive substances that form a barrier to prevent moisture loss. Therefore, they can leave behind residue and weigh your hair down. However, this mainly depends on the type of silicones used in the product. Let’s find out in the next section.

Silicones For Hair: Are They Safe?

The use of silicones in hair care products has been debated, with some highlighting their benefits and others cautioning about potential drawbacks. While they make your hair feel soft and silky, they also weigh it down and prevent the penetration of other hair care ingredients, moisture, and products. As a result, your hair may respond in two ways:

• Produce excess oil to cover the lack of moisture.
• Become dry and brittle in the long run.

Not all silicones are bad for the hair. Water-soluble silicones are hair-friendly. You should be specifically aware of the non-soluble silicones or the bad silicones. Let’s take a deeper look into the types.

Types Of Silicones For Hair

1. Water-Soluble Silicones

Water-soluble silicones easily dissolve in water and can be washed out from the hair. They do not leave behind any buildup. They are breathable, add shine, and condition the hair without causing any damage. The water-soluble silicones include:

• Dimethicone copolyol
• Lauryl methicone copolyol
• PEG-12 dimethicone
• PEG-7 amodimethicone

Hair care products containing these silicones are safe to use. Remember, all silicones with the prefix PEG are water-soluble.

2. Non-Water-Soluble Silicones

Non-water-soluble silicones are the bad silicones you should be aware of. They will stick to the strands no matter how many times you rinse. Bad silicones include:

• Dimethicone
• Cetearyl methicone
• Cetyle dimethicone
• Dimethiconol
• Stearyl dimethicone
• Amodimethicone
• Cyclomethicone
• Trimethylsilylamodimethicone
• Cyclopentasiloxane
• Cetyl dimethicone
• Pheryl trimethicone
• Behenoxy dimethicone
• Propyl dimethicone

Amodimethicone is a popular non-water-soluble silicone that makes the hair feel heavy. However, it is water-soluble when combined with other ingredients like trideceth-12 and cetrimonium chloride.

The next section explores the advantages and disadvantages of silicones for your hair.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Silicones In Hair Care

Advantages

Water-soluble silicones have various positive impacts on the hair, like:

• They prevent hair damage and dryness.
• They prevent frizz and minimize split ends.
• They protect the hair from dust and pollution while keeping it smooth and shiny.
• Silicones add shine to the hair and prevent friction, minimizing hair damage and breakage (2).
• They prevent tangles, lock in moisture, and make the strands appear healthy.
• Silicones make it easier to detangle the hair and comb.

Disadvantages

• Silicones, especially the bad ones, coat the hair strands and prevent moisture absorption, which may dry out the hair in the long run.
• They are tough to wash off and make the hair limp, lifeless, and dull.
• They may leave residue on the scalp and choke the hair follicles, affecting healthy hair growth.
• Silicone buildup can make the hair sticky, especially when wet, and can cause breakage when trying to detangle wet strands.
• Silicones may weigh down fine or thin hair, increase dryness in curly or textured hair, irritate sensitive scalps, or cause dullness in hair that has had color treatment.

Deja Arielle, a YouTuber has used silicone-based products on her hair and shared her experience in a video. She says, “I decided that I’m gonna detox on silicone and just not use any products with silicone in my hair for a little bit so I did this for a period of three days. I’ve got all of its moisture back it was easier to tangle my curls, my hair looked healthier, it felt better and I was like wow okay, so silicones really do make a difference. I still do use silicone products but I am more careful about how I care for my hair (i).”

You need a proper clarifying routine to remove silicones from your hair and scalp. Here are a few ways you may try.

How To Remove Silicones From The Hair And Scalp

1. Use A Clarifying Shampoo

Clarifying shampoos contain sulfates, surfactants that can remove product buildup from the scalp and hair. However, ensure you follow up with a conditioner and never use the shampoo more than once in two weeks.

2. Vinegar

White vinegar or apple cider is often used in traditional recipes to clarify the hair and add shine. You can mix equal parts of vinegar and water and use it as a post-wash rinse.

3. Baking Soda

Baking soda has abrasive properties and may help remove buildup from your hair and scalp. You can mix a tablespoon of baking soda with the shampoo and wash your hair. Another way is to wet the hair, rub some baking soda on it, and shampoo the hair.

Note: Baking soda has a high pH and can be harsh on the hair. Do not use it more than once in two weeks. Avoid it completely if you have a sensitive scalp.

DIY Hair Mask For Dry And Dull Tresses Caused By Silicone

Silicone can dull the natural shine of the mane and make it look lifeless. Using hair masks containing moisturizing ingredients can improve the vibrancy of the hair. Check this DIY hair mask recipe to add luster to your mane.

1. Avocado Mask

It is rich in fats that can nourish and moisturize the tresses (3). It also reduces frizz and makes the hair smooth and shiny.

You Will Need

• 1 Avocado
• 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil

Method

1. Take a bowl and mash the avocado inside it using a fork.
2. Combine it with coconut oil and mix well to form a smooth paste.
3. Apply the mixture on the scalp and the lengths of the hair.
4. Leave it for 10-20 minutes.
5. Shampoo and condition as usual using lukewarm or cool water.

If you do not want to use silicones, worry not! Here are a few ingredients to look for in hair care products for similar results as silicones.

Alternatives To Silicones For The Hair

1. Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate (OFPMA)

OFPMA creates an invisible shield to protect your hair from dirt, dust, and environmental damage. It is lightweight and does not leave behind a residue like silicones. OFPMA makes the hair look wonderfully sleek and shiny. Also, unlike silicones, OFPMA is lightweight and may not weigh the hair down.

2. Mackaderm

Mackaderm is a popular silicone alternative and works as an emollient to keep your hair moisturized. This is a COSMOS-certified ingredient used in many hair care products, especially shampoos.

3. Alkamuls

Alkamuls is a natural oil solubilizer formulated with different types of vegetable oil. This component adds shine to your tresses without making them look greasy or heavy. It is mainly used in silicone-free hair products, especially in clear shampoos.

Did You Know?

Silicone was initially used for toys, particularly adult novelties, because of its unique properties like safety, durability, and easy molding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do silicones cause hair loss?

Silicones may not directly cause hair loss, but they can clog hair follicles, resulting in product buildup and eventually leading to hair fall.

Is silicone-free shampoo better?

Silicone has some benefits for hair and is not necessarily all bad. However, silicone-free shampoos are better for those who are concerned about the environmental effects of silicone or individuals who have fine hair, oily hair, or low-porosity hair.

Are silicones bad for low porosity hair?

Yes, silicones that cannot be easily washed off with water are bad for low porosity hair as these may cling to the hair strands and make it more difficult for them to absorb water and become hydrated.

What happens when you switch to a silicone-free shampoo?

Switching to a silicone-free shampoo may initially make your hair feel less silky and smooth, tangled, and even frizzy. However, in the long run (after a minimum of 5-8 washes with silicone-free shampoos), your hair may start feeling softer, lighter, and more voluminous. Your scalp may also feel lighter and cleaner with no residue buildup.

Do sulfate-free shampoos remove silicones?

Yes, sulfate-free shampoos usually contain alternative surfactants that may help remove silicone buildup from the hair and scalp.

Should curly hair avoid silicones?

Individuals with curly hair types should avoid certain types of silicones—the ones that are not water soluble—to prevent hair from becoming heavy, weighed down, or brittle.

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Dr. Hannah KopelmanSkin & Hair Care Specialist

   

Dr. Hannah Kopelman is a hair loss surgeon and a dermatology resident with over three years of experience. She is dual fellowship trained in treating hair loss from Columbia University and cutaneous oncology from Boston University. Dr. Kopelman has a profound passion for addressing hair loss conditions. She also hosts a weekly Derm Club podcast, where she interviews leading dermatologists...more

Arshiya SyedaSenior Editor

 

Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor's degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological...more

Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy. She has taken it upon herself to show...more

Swathi ESenior Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

Swathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over three years of experience in writing on beauty, health, and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach. Her interest in staying updated on beauty and lifestyle...more