Silicones are common synthetic ingredients that give your hair that silky feeling. They can provide great slip for detangling and combat frizz, but they have the tendency to build up on our hair which would then require clarifying products to remove it. There are types of silicones that are not water soluble and can be found in many hair shampoos, conditioners, and gels. One of the best means of removing silicones is using a sulfate shampoo, which tends to be harsh to our curls and can strip the hair of the natural oils it needs. Silicones can also weigh down your curls. The ingredients are usually words that end in ‘cone, ‘col, or ‘xane like:
- dimethicone, amodimethocone, cyclomethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, trimethicone, dimethiconol
If your hair is feeling dry and out of shape, it might be time to do a silicone detox and cut cones out of your life. Try this out for one month and see how your hair reacts to your new regimen. We’ve rounded up a list of silicone-free products that will still give your tresses all the slip, shine, and nourishment you want while you detox.
Silicone Free products
Silicone-free Shampoos
Many of these shampoos are botanical (plant-based”> and can be used in the Curly Girl Method (CGM”> and are what we call curly girl friendly. They are often coupled with the term sulfate free so you will not see the lather that many of us are used it. It’s truly ok to not see lather and still have your clean hair. We are just conditioned to see it, but using a silicone-free and sulfate-free shampoo can minimize tangling and dry hair.
Silicone-free Conditioners
Here we may have a problem with some who feel the silicones are essential for slip in order to remove tangles. That is simply not true as the online stores are filed with amazing products that can free your hair of tangles without the use of silicones. Again, many curly girl friendly products like KinkyCurly Knot Today, SheaMoisture African Black Soap Purification Masque, and all Devacurl products pride themselves on creating products that use natural ingredients and will be gentle to your tresses. Using cowashes will help release tangles and reduce frizz as well.
Silicone-free Styling Products
They are out there as well and are also on the CGM. These gels, butters, leave-in conditioners, and creams are high in water, essential oils, carrier oils, and plants like marshmallow root that sound funny but work wonders on your tresses. They will hold your hair without weighing it down and leave less or no build-up.
Natural Oils
If you are used to using silicones to fight frizz, then check out the more natural route like using carrier oils to help. Jojoba oil is great for combating frizz and detangling in place of the silicones.
