Silicones: what are the pros and cons

[ShiraEllie]

I’m looking for a new shampoo and conditioner and I’ve heard going silicone free can be beneficial for many reasons. I want to go sulfate free but fear if I do that the silicone will cause buildup. Honestly I don’t know much and am looking for some guidance. My hair takes A LOT of heat and is and oily at the roots but normal at the ends. It has lost its texture and volume as well. It’s in desperate need of something and I don’t know if silicones will help or hurt.

[greeneyedgirl107]

@ShiraEllie Just my two cents: I personally tend to rally around silicones for styling products b/c I think they're excellent at preventing frizz and adding silkiness.  I use a lot, and I don't find them to buildup.  I've also been sulfate-free for going on two years at least, and it's been fine for cleansing my hair.  It's made my hair healthier.  But to each her own - esp since we all have different hair needs.  In the end you might want to experiment.  For example, when I went sulfate-free I started by mixing my usual shampoo with the new one.  That turned out to be a nice transition.

[ShiraEllie]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge 🙂

[GG84]

@ShiraEllie @MissPuff 

In regards to Silicones (sorry Sephora, this goes against your “clean” labelling) there is a place for them in hair products, I prefer them 90% of the time. 
Silicones help with shine, spreadability of product, feel and slip (you know that feeling of a great conditioner that you can just glide your fingers through your hair). 
Dimethicones are occlusive agents therefore increase moisture on a surface level. They are water soluble and rinse away the next time you wash. Because they are water soluble they don’t cause build up. 

Sulfates (sorry again Sephora) - Sulfates are the surfactant in the Shampoo. A surfactant attracts water and oil and essentially carry dirty off your skin/hair when mixed with water and wash down the drain. If we don’t have surfactants, we aren’t cleansing thoroughly. There is no evidence that sulfates cause cancer. They are just an irritant, like if you get shampoo in your eyes it stings. 
When you remove Sulfates you need a replacement surfactant, Coconut and palm oil derivatives are used. Much much much less effective at cleaning the hair and skin but get the job done for those who worry about sulfates. 

[ShiraEllie]

Thank you so much this helps a ton! I’m happy to know I don’t have to splurge on “clean” hair products

[treestar86]

baking soda cleans really well, and if you spend a few min. rubbing it in, it lathers a lot too!  which then you can use the foamy lather as a body wash, or just the runoff from your hair makes skin squeaky clean.

[GG84]

@ShiraEllie 

Hello! 
I can shed some light on this topic, actually both (sulfates and silicones) but the answer will be lengthy. Give me some time to get home from work and I’ll answer this for you. 

[MissPuff]

@GG84 oOOOOooo!!! I want to know too!!! 🙂 I've been meaning to ask you a silicone related question since I know you're the hair expert, but keep forgetting 🙂

 

[Jules1029]

I'm currently on a sulfate-free shampoo, silicone-free conditioner routine! I do have to do a clarifying wash maybe once a week to get rid of buildup -- you can either use a specific 'branded' shampoo (I use an ACV rinse!) or really just any old shampoo WITH sulfate will work to clarify 🙂 Going silicone free definitely helped my hair retain volume because the silicone isn't weighing it down. I use drugstore brands for both my shampoo (Herbal Essence's new honey line is sulfate free) and my conditioner (I like the Whole Blends silicone free olive).

[ShiraEllie]

Thanks for the advice! I may try going silicone free once when I have the budget to see the difference it makes!