Are all silicones bad for your hair?

In one of our past blog posts (What’s better? Silicone vs. Silicone-Free Shampoo) we mentioned silicones could be a bit of a complex topic. There’s a good mix of opinions out there on silicones. Here’s the reason why.

First, let's go over the pros and cons of silicone.

Pros:

• Makes your hair feel slippery and less tangled
• Makes your hair look smoother
• Makes your hair look shinier

Cons:

• Damages your hair cuticles
• Creates more problems in your scalp
• Makes it difficult to perm and color your hair
• Weighs down your hair and makes it look flat
• Your perms won't last

The good silicones to the bad silicones

With that said, there are different types of silicones with different properties. It's important for you to know the good from the bad. Here’s a break down of the 4 main types of silicone:

1. Cyclomethicone
This is the most common type of silicone used in hair products. You can often find
them in shine sprays and treatment oils. It easily evaporates with heat and won’t
build up on your hair for the most part.

2. Dimethicone Copolyol
A lightweight, water-soluble silicone often used in conditioning shampoos. It
creates very little buildup and can easily be washed off with shampoo.

3. Amodimethicone (silicones that have “amo” “amine” or “amino” in their
name)
This type of silicone is modified to stick to your hair, which means it conditions well
and makes your hair shiny and smooth. But it also means it’s harder to remove.
Typically found in leave-in conditioners.

4. Dimethicone
The most inexpensive silicone out there. It’s sometimes referred to as silicone oil
and often found in serums and leave-in hair products. It’s great for adding instant
shine but on the downside, the insolubility can make it difficult to remove. On top of
that, the heavy coating can attract dirt and pollutants, weighing down your hair.

Bottom line

Not all silicones are bad for you. You just need to know what you're putting into your hair and make an informed choice. 

Silicone or Silicone-free is a choice

We think silicone-free shampoos are better off because it keeps your hair healthy and brings out your natural shine and volume in the long run. If you want an instantaneous fix, go for silicone. But just be aware that if you use it for a long time, your hair will lose its volume and hair will be damaged by the silicone getting stuck in your pores. Do you want a short-term fixer-upper? Or do you want longevity? It's your choice. If you have any questions or concerns, ask our expert hair stylists.

Source:

http://www.xovain.com/hair/silicones-in-hair-and-skin-products-to-avoid

http://www.self.com/story/is-silicone-good-for-your-hair

What’s better? Silicone vs. Silicone-Free Shampoo

Photo by krystle at Morguefile.com

What exactly is silicone? Why does it matter for your hair? Ponder no longer, as we explain silicone in the simplest and easiest way possible.

What is silicone:

Silicone is a synthetic ingredient that coats your hair, usually used in shampoos to make your hair smoother and shinier. Seems like the best invention in the world? Not so fast. There’s a downside. Silicone tends to stick to your hair when used continuously and creates a sort of a fake cuticle. So your hair may “look” shiny and smooth, but on the inside, it may be super damaged. Yeah, take a second to digest that.

What is silicone-free:

On the other hand, when you use silicone-free shampoo, your hair may feel squeaky at first. But as you continue to use it for a long period of time, you’re able to regain the natural beauty of your hair.

It’s hard to decipher which one’s better, but if you want to get your hair’s natural beauty back, we recommend using silicone-free shampoo.

At Viange Hair, we use Rene for silicone-free shampoo and MILBON for silicone shampoo. Ask your hair stylist for more advice on which one’s best for you!

* We explained silicone in the easiest way possible but it’s a rather complex topic to talk about. When we used the word “silicone” in this blog post, we’re referring to silicone oil. There are various types of silicones out there and there are ones that won’t stick to your hair. So, stay tuned for our future blog post for in-depth information about the different types of silicone!