Why silicones are bad for curly hair and my experience

Here’s the low down on silicones


Most of the highly commercialized lines of hair products (Pantene, Garnier Fructis, Aussie, Tressame, Sunsilk, etc.). contain silicones. These are ingredients that generally end in -cone, -conol, or -xane. If at all possible avoid silicones and also waxes in your hair products. Short term, silicones will make hair look sleeker and less frizzy, but in the long run they will coat the hair shaft of porous curly hair and seal out moisture, causing the hair to become straw like, less defined, and frizzy. Hence, silicones make quick fixes for frizz, but over time, they are truly damaging your hair. Sulfates get rid of silicones, but at the expense of completely stripping your hair of all of its natural oils! The solution to these problems is to eliminate both sulfates (in your shampoos) and silicones (in your conditioners and styling products). An exception to this rule: if a silicone has "PEG" in front of it, it is water-soluble and will not cause product build up.




My experience with silicone products
I ‘ve used all these products except Aussie.This is what used to happen to me(latina4u55)or(Mari)lol I would use the shampoo and conditioner of one line ex pantene every week on my hair . On top of that I was using conditioner to style my hair. My hair would be extremely dry knotty and sooooooooooo poofy . It would take me an hour to detangle in the shower. Then I started to lose the volume in my curls it would be super flat and I would get extremely dry scalp even though I was using the moisturizing ones too I thought my hair got used to the pantene line and I needed to switch and get a s+c that would give me volume. So then I would switch to another line and another line and the same thing would happen.

So I couldnt take my hair anymore it was soooo unmanageable and I was like I must be doing something wrong. So finally I started doing a lot of research alot. As I was researching I found out that using sulfate and silicones together on my hair was bad. The sulfate was taking away my natural hair oils and then the silicones was blocking the moisture from getting in my hair.I guess from all the years that I was doing this my hair just finally gave out. And I also found the curly girl method and more helpful tips and now I have been taking care of my curls thank god. Now my scalp isnt as dry as it used to be and my hair is softer and more moisturized. I still use silicones but I use light silicone products now And I shampoo once a month and that’s been working for me .



o Silicones that are not soluble in water and build up on the hair: Cetearyl methicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Stearyl Dimethicone, Amodimethicone (and) Trideceth-12 (and) Cetrimonium Chloride, and Trimethylsilylamodimethicone. Note: Trideceth-12 and Cetrimonium Chloride are only considered a silcone when both are combined with Amodimethicone.



o Silicones that are slightly soluble in water and will build up on most types of curly hair: Amodimethicone, Behenoxy Dimethicone, and Stearoxy Dimethicone.


o Silicones that are soluble in water and safe to use (they are not listed with PEG in front of them): Dimethicone Copolyol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Hydroxypropyl Polysiloxane, and Lauryl methicone copolyol. [6]


· Check to make sure your shampoo does not contain any sulfates listed here. Instead, look for the mild cleansers in the ingredient list if you need to use shampoo occasionally for cleansing or after swimming in chlorinated water. (In contrast, salt water from the ocean is actually beneficial for curls as sea salt is a natural curl enhancer.)


o Some common sulfates are Alkylbenzene sulfonate, Ammonium laureth or lauryl sulfate, Ammonium or Sodium Xylenesulfonate, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, Sodium laureth, myreth, or lauryl sulfate, Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, TEA-dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Ethyl PEG-15 cocamine sulfate, and Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate.


o Some mild cleansers, less drying and included in modified CG, are Cocamidopropyl betaine, Coco betaine, Cocoamphoacetate, Cocoamphodipropionate, Disodium cocoamphodiacetate or cocoamphodipropionate, Lauroamphoacetate, and Sodium cocoyl isethionate. [7]




Brushed curly hair
Never comb or brush dry curly hair.(my mom used always tell me you have to comb your hair so it doesn’t get notty lol but now I know not to ). Not only does it make your hair look like a poofball, it also damages it quite a bit. Don't even run your fingers through your hair if it is any more than wavy. Instead careful pull a knot or clump of curls apart. (Of course if you prefer the afro style, go right ahead.)


· If you normally straighten your curly hair and switch to the CG method it may seem like you are losing a lot of hair when untangling in the shower. Don't panic! It is normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day.[8] If you are wearing your hair straight or straighten your hair it will fall out naturally and you probably wont even notice. If you wear your hair curly the hair comes out when you untangle; this is why it feels like you are losing more hair.


· Diseases, medicines, diet changes, and high levels of stress can cause you to lose more hair than is normal.[9] So, if you do notice thinning in your hair or scalp consult with a doctor as soon as possible.



Most people will compliment you on your lovely curls. However, some people will never appreciate your curly hair. Don't let this affect you. No matter how hard you have tried to fight it with straightening irons and hairspray, you have curly hair. Enjoy it!