Guide
Gorgeous hair thanks to Italian beauty products
by Anne Fischer
Silicones in hair - friend or foe?
6.5.2019
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Carolin Teufelberger
I have been avoiding care products containing silicone for a year now. My hair has thanked me for it. But why?
When I felt the urge to colour my mane platinum blonde nine years ago, it was the first time I had to deal with hair that needed a lot of care. Lightening it made it dry and brittle. Almost lifeless. Nevertheless, I was surprised that I could make a difference with what I thought was the right care. I even had the feeling that I could repair the damage done to a certain extent. Today I know that's rubbish. It was the silicones in the shampoo, conditioner and mask that "reanimated" my hair at the time. However, the solution was short-lived, as this ingredient doesn't only have advantages.
More shine than being
There are two types of silicone: water-soluble and non-water-soluble. The former can be removed from the hair with a simple shampoo and are labelled as "high quality" by the manufacturers. The non-water-soluble silicone, on the other hand, sticks to your hair. With regular use, it accumulates on the surface of the hair and forms a layer that coats the hair. As damaged hair often no longer has a cuticle, the silicone acts as a kind of substitute. This protective coating allows your comb to glide better and smoothes your mane so that the light is reflected. We then perceive this as shine, which we mistakenly equate with healthy hair. A dyed mop of hair also benefits from the silicone film, as the colour is retained for longer. Silicone conceals unhealthy hair, but does not repair it.
Unfortunately, the silicone weighs your hair down, making it look and feel flat and greasy. Because the protective film prevents conditioning agents from penetrating the hair, the hair dries out from the inside over time and becomes brittle. Silicones can also clog the pores on your scalp. This causes dandruff or irritation. Last but not least, silicones end up in our waters. As they are a plastic derived from petroleum, they are not biodegradable. They are used in production because they are well tolerated and represent a cheaper alternative to expensive vegetable oils.
You can do without it
I am no longer a platinum blonde and therefore no longer need to give my hair first aid. That's why I decided to turn my back on silicones a year ago. There are numerous instructions on the internet on how to quickly wash silicone residue out of your hair. I myself switched to silicone-free products. Time has done the rest for me. If you also want to do without it, you can usually recognise silicones by endings such as "-xane", "-cone", "-conol". To avoid having to deal with long lists of ingredients, you can use the Codecheck app like I do. You can use it to scan the barcode of a product and find out immediately whether it contains silicones.
My hair feels much lighter and more voluminous now. Even my horse tail, which used to hang sadly down the back of my head, now has more bounce and vigour. I don't have to wash my mane as often because I no longer have the feeling that it gets greasy after just one day. If you have damaged hair, you can achieve good results quickly with products containing silicone and make your hair look healthy. In my experience, however, this effect does not last long. Sooner or later, you will have to take other measures to keep your hair healthy. Not only will your hair thank you, but so will the environment.
Speaking of thanks: Why don't you click on the black "Follow author" button next to my profile. 😛
Natalie Hemengül
Senior Editor
Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.chAs a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.
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