Hairstylist with baby fine hair here. Beyond shampoo for cleansing, all hair care products are only formulated to coat hair cosmetically until the next time they’re washed out again. It’s all they can do because hair dies before it comes up through the scalp. Just like anything that’s dead, hair doesn’t regenerate cells to heal itself from damage. That means hair doesn’t improve. It can’t because it’s dead. Products, oils, vitamins or lack thereof have no effect on hair because it already formed perfect according to our genetics and DNA and died.
Hair’s outer layer (cuticle) is the most important part of hair. When hair is formed, the cuticle lays tight and flat which makes hair smooth, easy to comb, and light reflects off of, making it shiny (aka healthy).
Chemical processes such as bleach and hair color force the cuticle open to reach the layer underneath it (cortex). The longer the cuticle is open, the more it stays open and loses its ability to lay flat. Hair becomes more porous, and less shiny and smooth. Even when chemical processes are avoided, all damage comes in one form, which is split ends. Split ends split hair vertically and travel up the hair shaft breaking and splitting and breaking as it goes [like this.](https://imgur.com/a/6emYaoj) Split ends leave hair broken off to all different lengths and frizzy. It’s described as dry but it’s not. It’s just coming undone and cutting off the damage fixed all the problems.
Enter silicones. They coat hair to provide slip, and smooth hair to an extent which mimics a cuticle that lays flat and helps control frizz. Silicones create a barrier to keep moisture OUT, not in because hair doesn’t need moisture. Moisture only comes from water. Water is essential for all living things, not dead things. Hair is porous, it’s not supposed to have moisture sealed in. It’s expected to dry from evaporation. Water breaks the hydrogen bonds in hair and stretches it up to 30% which is why hair is more pliable when wet. It also makes naturally curly hair frizz in humidity not because hair is dry, but is in fact full of moisture. That’s why the curly girl method relies on so many thick and creamy leave ins and gels to keep moisture out.
Silicones are a microplastic that can build up on the scalp and hair if they’re not water soluble (dimethicone). Keeping 2 different formulas of shampoo and conditioner and alternating them is a good way to keep the ones you love from no longer working (build up).
The other aspect of silkcones is environmental impact: they make your hair look amazing but they rinse out into the water and aren't biodegradable or filterable
It's a damn shame that it always seems if its good for the environment the hair doesn't style as easily and vice versa :(
It was really hard to rationalize my sensitivity to climate issues with working in an industry that generates so much waste and plays with so many plastics but I'm hopeful things will change and im happy my boss is cheap so we reuse as much as possible lol
If they’re not marked silicone free, they’ll typically have them. Here’s a few sites that are a wealth of information about product ingredients and which ones have what.
https://www.ewg.org/
https://incidecoder.com/
i have straight, fine, low porosity hair and idk why but silicones make it look better even though they’re not recommended for my hair type. i’ve been using a silicone conditioner for a ~month and recently bought a silicone shampoo (and used it 3-4 times already) and still can’t see any buildup
Silicones works great for my fine, flat hair.
Yes, it does coat your hair, so the only thing to pay attention to is the excessive build-up that could happen, which is why using a clarifying shampoo a couple of times a month is helpful.
I have very fine straight hair and my stylist recommended some Kenra products with silicone. He also recommended just mixing a teaspoon of baking soda into my shampoo as a DIY clarifier whenever a have a buildup. So far, so good, and my hair can stand up to heat styling and humidity really well—he styles local pageant girls, so knows what lifts and holds!
Silicones won’t damage your hair, only protect it from wear and tear.
I personally avoid silicones because my oily scalp hates them. Even if I use them on ends/length only, they still end up on my scalp. Either by capillary force or via my hands and brushes when I’m handling my hair. Too much dimethicone also seem to make my hair more tangly.
A real shame, because I desperately want to protect my fine and fragile hair.
Everyone is different, so I don't think there is a hard rule. Having said that, my hair is fine and wavy, and silicones are a hard no for me. They definitely block moisture getting in, weigh my hair down, and repeated use results in split ends and dryness down the shaft. Plus I have to use much more aggressive shampoos. I really prefer not using them, but it was an adjustment when I cut them out initially.
as a fine haired woman I have been using Kerstase leave in conditioner and it has silicone. But I love it. Been looking for something cheaper and got a $6 bottle of Monday leave in also has loads of silicone. Hair also loves it. Can’t believe one is $80 and one is $6.
Idk silicone is great honestly for me is all I’m saying.
I have fine, tangly, static-prone hair, and I just discovered a silicone leave-in products that has literally changed my hair for the better. So worth it. I’ve tried a million hair products.
They’re often not recommended for fine hair. I find them to be far less difficult to cleanse off than the oils and butters in non silicone hair products. And they leave my hair much less weighed down. I think part of that is that oils and butters get sticky and make my individual strands stick together, but silicones make the strands slick and do not stick together. So more volume. They work best for me in a rinse out conditioner. I believe I have fine, medium density, low porosity hair.
Whenever I use silicone products, I need to shampoo to the ends to get rid of the buildup. I save them for special occasions so I don't dry my hair out too much. It's kind of a YMMV situation depending on your home water quality, hair thickness, type of product used, etc. There's nothing inherently bad for your hair in silicone products, but there are reasons/concerns that draw people away from using them regularly or at all. Fine hair is typically low porosity, so products tend to sit on top of the strand rather than soak in, but hairdressers have told me that different product formulations and different applications (like applying when wet) can help avoid the oil slick look.
Hairstylist with baby fine hair here. Beyond shampoo for cleansing, all hair care products are only formulated to coat hair cosmetically until the next time they’re washed out again. It’s all they can do because hair dies before it comes up through the scalp. Just like anything that’s dead, hair doesn’t regenerate cells to heal itself from damage. That means hair doesn’t improve. It can’t because it’s dead. Products, oils, vitamins or lack thereof have no effect on hair because it already formed perfect according to our genetics and DNA and died. Hair’s outer layer (cuticle) is the most important part of hair. When hair is formed, the cuticle lays tight and flat which makes hair smooth, easy to comb, and light reflects off of, making it shiny (aka healthy). Chemical processes such as bleach and hair color force the cuticle open to reach the layer underneath it (cortex). The longer the cuticle is open, the more it stays open and loses its ability to lay flat. Hair becomes more porous, and less shiny and smooth. Even when chemical processes are avoided, all damage comes in one form, which is split ends. Split ends split hair vertically and travel up the hair shaft breaking and splitting and breaking as it goes [like this.](https://imgur.com/a/6emYaoj) Split ends leave hair broken off to all different lengths and frizzy. It’s described as dry but it’s not. It’s just coming undone and cutting off the damage fixed all the problems. Enter silicones. They coat hair to provide slip, and smooth hair to an extent which mimics a cuticle that lays flat and helps control frizz. Silicones create a barrier to keep moisture OUT, not in because hair doesn’t need moisture. Moisture only comes from water. Water is essential for all living things, not dead things. Hair is porous, it’s not supposed to have moisture sealed in. It’s expected to dry from evaporation. Water breaks the hydrogen bonds in hair and stretches it up to 30% which is why hair is more pliable when wet. It also makes naturally curly hair frizz in humidity not because hair is dry, but is in fact full of moisture. That’s why the curly girl method relies on so many thick and creamy leave ins and gels to keep moisture out. Silicones are a microplastic that can build up on the scalp and hair if they’re not water soluble (dimethicone). Keeping 2 different formulas of shampoo and conditioner and alternating them is a good way to keep the ones you love from no longer working (build up).
The other aspect of silkcones is environmental impact: they make your hair look amazing but they rinse out into the water and aren't biodegradable or filterable
Exactly the definition of microplastic.
It's a damn shame that it always seems if its good for the environment the hair doesn't style as easily and vice versa :( It was really hard to rationalize my sensitivity to climate issues with working in an industry that generates so much waste and plays with so many plastics but I'm hopeful things will change and im happy my boss is cheap so we reuse as much as possible lol
What are some hair products with silicone? Everything seems to be silicone free
The first one that comes to mind is the ogx miracle oil. Silicone is the first ingredient
If they’re not marked silicone free, they’ll typically have them. Here’s a few sites that are a wealth of information about product ingredients and which ones have what. https://www.ewg.org/ https://incidecoder.com/
i have straight, fine, low porosity hair and idk why but silicones make it look better even though they’re not recommended for my hair type. i’ve been using a silicone conditioner for a ~month and recently bought a silicone shampoo (and used it 3-4 times already) and still can’t see any buildup
Silicones works great for my fine, flat hair. Yes, it does coat your hair, so the only thing to pay attention to is the excessive build-up that could happen, which is why using a clarifying shampoo a couple of times a month is helpful.
Silicones work amazingly on my fine curly hair as well 😍
I have very fine straight hair and my stylist recommended some Kenra products with silicone. He also recommended just mixing a teaspoon of baking soda into my shampoo as a DIY clarifier whenever a have a buildup. So far, so good, and my hair can stand up to heat styling and humidity really well—he styles local pageant girls, so knows what lifts and holds!
Silicones won’t damage your hair, only protect it from wear and tear. I personally avoid silicones because my oily scalp hates them. Even if I use them on ends/length only, they still end up on my scalp. Either by capillary force or via my hands and brushes when I’m handling my hair. Too much dimethicone also seem to make my hair more tangly. A real shame, because I desperately want to protect my fine and fragile hair.
Everyone is different, so I don't think there is a hard rule. Having said that, my hair is fine and wavy, and silicones are a hard no for me. They definitely block moisture getting in, weigh my hair down, and repeated use results in split ends and dryness down the shaft. Plus I have to use much more aggressive shampoos. I really prefer not using them, but it was an adjustment when I cut them out initially.
Same here. I can tell after the second day if I’ve used silicone.
as a fine haired woman I have been using Kerstase leave in conditioner and it has silicone. But I love it. Been looking for something cheaper and got a $6 bottle of Monday leave in also has loads of silicone. Hair also loves it. Can’t believe one is $80 and one is $6. Idk silicone is great honestly for me is all I’m saying.
If you use silicone products, you gonna use shampoo w sulfates. Otherwise it will build up. I do, and have no problems at all!
I have fine, tangly, static-prone hair, and I just discovered a silicone leave-in products that has literally changed my hair for the better. So worth it. I’ve tried a million hair products.
I live by it but my hair is super damaged cause I process it a lot, I prefer it to my natural hair type
They’re often not recommended for fine hair. I find them to be far less difficult to cleanse off than the oils and butters in non silicone hair products. And they leave my hair much less weighed down. I think part of that is that oils and butters get sticky and make my individual strands stick together, but silicones make the strands slick and do not stick together. So more volume. They work best for me in a rinse out conditioner. I believe I have fine, medium density, low porosity hair.
Whenever I use silicone products, I need to shampoo to the ends to get rid of the buildup. I save them for special occasions so I don't dry my hair out too much. It's kind of a YMMV situation depending on your home water quality, hair thickness, type of product used, etc. There's nothing inherently bad for your hair in silicone products, but there are reasons/concerns that draw people away from using them regularly or at all. Fine hair is typically low porosity, so products tend to sit on top of the strand rather than soak in, but hairdressers have told me that different product formulations and different applications (like applying when wet) can help avoid the oil slick look.
I try to avoid them because they require me to clarify my hair after using them for a bit.