Silicone's roots in the world of cosmetology goes back several decades ago in the 1950s. While this material is ubiquitous in usage in almost all facets of the beauty industry the debate whether it is harmful or not still remains.
In terms of using silicone on the hair, many women are skeptical about the effects that silicone could bring to hair and thus prefer to stick to the traditional products. Others, on the other hand, are pro-silicone and they believe that the silicone is helpful since it brings many benefits to the hair's appearance.
Is it harmful or helpful? Let's dive into the explanation.
Silicone is a synthetic material produced by mixing hundreds of different elements but mainly oxygen, and silicon. What it does is it gives your hair a layer of coating that not only protects but also gives it a smooth, shiny and curly effect. There are several types of silicone for the hair and each possess their particular chemical properties.
Silicone Types for the Hair - From XoVain.com
Cyclomethicone is one of the most commonly used silicones in hair care. It evaporates and won't leave buildup on your hair. It gives a silky, smooth feel and leaves wet hair with incredible slip. You'll find cyclomethicone in both leave-in and rinse-off products
Dimethicone is the most common and least expensive silicone. It's great for conditioning and adding shine, but it can be difficult to remove. Additionally, this heavy coating can make hair feel heavy.
Amodimethicone is modified to stick to your hair better. While they condition well, they can be challenging to remove. Amodimethicones are common in leave-in conditioners and are well suited for people with thick, tight curls or “unruly” hair.
Dimethicone Copolyol is actually a water-soluble silicone. It is lightweight and provides very little buildup. It is often used in conditioning shampoos, but it can be expensive and will increase the cost of whatever product it's added to. It is used for heavily damaged hair and extension curls. Present in sprays, serums, and other means to recover the strands. Dimethicone provides the effect of healthy hair and gives them a beautiful shine. However, at the same time, it makes the hair heavy and retains dust which is why the hair can quickly become dirty. Rinsing dimethicone is not easy and you'll have to repeatedly soap your hair with shampoo.
Those were some of the most common types of silicones that exist out there.
Now let's talk about of the types advantages and disadvantages, the benefits as well as the drawbacks that this material provides.
The Disadvantages Silicone - From Hairmystory.com
Certainly, the silicone does not penetrate inside the hair, but its negative impacts are visible after using the medium-term hair care containing it. Indeed, silicone which is wound on the hair shaft prevents them from breathing. Eventually, they suffocate and become brittle and dull. The barrier formed by the silicone remains on the stem and even new products you use, that care more succeed to penetrate into the hair. And as the hair stand up to the new treatment, they become more rebellious.
The characteristics of the hair can change over the use of products containing silicone. The hair may become drier or more fatty, they can no longer breathe. Faced with these drawbacks, it is more than essential to identify products that contain silicone. To do this, check whether the first four ingredients in your care contain substances whose nomenclature eventually thicone-or-siloxane. If you think these products are essential silicone, limit damage to your hair by using them less frequently.
The Advantages Silicone - From Hairmystory.com
Silicone is an inert material. It is frequently used as a constituent of hair products for its protective capacity of the hair shaft. Applied to the hair, silicone does not penetrate inside the stem, but wraps around. With this feature, it is an innovative care anti-frizz. The layer formed by the silicone protects the hair from moisture. They are thus less rebellious and easier to style.
By forming a protective barrier at each hair, silicone protects against the harmful effects of heat caused by blow drying and curling irons. It even ensures the protection of the hair against ultraviolet rays. Being protected by this layer, the hair looks shiny. Thus, products containing silicone, either shampoo, or spray masks, provide softness, shine and protection to hair.
Hope that helped!
That was our om our explanation on the different types of silicones out there as well as the advantages and disadvantages.
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