Photo by PeopleImages — Getty Images

We love our readers! You keep us on our toes on everything from ingredients to hair tools to styles. We have been discussing silicones lately because they are always on our minds and one of our amazing readers, Adrinah, wanted to know about bis-aminopropyl dimethicone, which is found in Aussie Moist and Herbal Essence. Many of our beloved hair care brands and products have several key components that we are curious about. By learning what they are and what they can do for our hair we become smarter, ingredient-savvy consumers.

Read more: Silicones: Good, Bad, and Ugly

Why we love and hate silicones

We cannot stress enough the importance in knowing that not all silicones are bad and many actually have favorable benefits. If we have to put them in the good, bad, and downright ugly category, then it would be the water-soluble (good”>, semi-soluble (bad”>, and the water-insoluble (ugly”>. Water-soluble silicones will always fare better as they can be removed easily with water but bad or ugly require clarifying shampoos or sulfates and too much use of those can be counter-productive to moisture retention hair.

What is bis-aminopropyl dimethicone?

Bis-aminopropyl dimethicone is very similar to amodimethicone. These modified silicones have specific properties, which allow them to be excellent conditioning agents and create a protective barrier on the hair strands. They are considered the best high-performing conditioning polymers. This water-insoluble silicone is often found in regular conditioners.

Pros

Bis-aminopropyl dimethicone actually bonds to damaged areas on the hair’s cuticle and makes the hair feel softer. It also creates the protective barrier like other silicones and provides easier combing. What makes it different from other silicones and hair is that it does not cause buildup on the scalp and hair. It will provide conditioning to damage areas, increase color-retention, and aid in deep conditioning.

Cons

This silicone is a pain to remove from our hair despite it not being considered a build-up silicone. Bis-aminopropyl dimethicone is a semi-water soluble silicone that may build up hair over time, but it seems it is a trial and error kind of ingredient because some have no issue with buildup while others do. It is not as difficult to wash out, but it does create a barrier that may require a sulfate or clarifying shampoo to remove.

The takeaway

Out of the so-called bad silicones, many curlies like this ingredient and it can be found in many of our favorite brands and products. To say the good outweighs the bad would be too simplistic of an answer and a better one would be to decide for yourself if this is an ingredient you like. Since it is in many products curly girls love it may become a favorite for others, but know if you do feel a buildup then a sulfate shampoo should do the trick of removing it and know that sulfates can stave off moisture in our strands. Always follow up with a conditioner after you shampoo. Here are some products with bis-aminopropyl dimethicone.

Products with bis-aminopropyl dimethicone

Sabrina Perkins

Sabrina, founder of seriouslynatural.org and contributor to several online publications, is a freelance writer who engages her audiences on the relevance of natural hair, beauty, and style.

No comments yet.