Hair salons don't use silicone-free products and here's why

If you’ve been keeping up with the latest beauty trends, you probably recognize the term ‘silicone-free.’ It has recently joined the beauty blacklist (alongside sulfates, parabens, and phthalates) for its questionable effects, particularly on our hair.

Despite its negative image, silicone may prove to be beneficial for your hair care - especially for those of you with damaged or dry hair.

So why the bad rep for silicone? The origin behind silicone’s negative image lies within the hair salon industry.

Keep reading to find out more about why you shouldn’t avoid silicone in your products and why it actually might be necessary to take care of your damaged and dry hair.

Table of Contents 1. What exactly is silicone? 2. But are they safe? Yes! 3. Hair salons needed silicone-free shampoos to keep business 3-1. At first, hair stylists demanded that silicone be included in hair products 3-2. But after realizing that silicone was causing hair dye and perms to wash away quicker, silicone-free products were created 3-3. In reality, dry hair looks messy because you don't use silicone 4. Should I invest in silicone-free products?

 

1. What exactly is silicone?

Silicone is an inorganic synthetic polymer, meaning it's made up of alternating silicone and oxygen atoms. Its low toxicity, high resistance to heat, and occlusive properties have pushed for its use in beauty products. 

2. But are they safe? Yes!

If they weren’t safe, cosmetic implants wouldn’t be made out of silicone. Despite its bad reputation, silicone is often misunderstood. It is extremely safe and non-comedogenic. Silicone is incredibly stable - it lasts longer, is not toxic, and doesn’t degrade easily under UV rays or heat. On top of that, it doesn’t assimilate into the skin so there’s no risk of silicone seeping into your blood or clogging pores.

3. Hair salons needed silicone-free products to keep business

3-1. At first, hair stylists demanded that silicone be included in hair products

It wasn’t until hair stylists demanded for it that silicone became a key ingredient in hair care. As shown in the graphic above, silicone has great moisture-locking and smoothing properties. And although it doesn’t stick to skin, it does stick to hair. Silicone creates a thin, waterproof layer on your hair, protecting it from humidity and closing damaged cuticles to give you smoother hair. 

These properties are extremely beneficial for hair stylists, whose job is to make people’s hair look nice. Hair stylists need products that make their customers’ hair feel nice, especially after damaging it with hair dye, bleach, perms, and so on. Silicone has great treatment qualities and gives the appearance of luscious, smooth hair. 

3-2. But after realizing that silicone was causing hair dye and perms to wash away quicker, silicone-free products were created

However, people began to realize that their new hair color or perm was washing away quickly - and that silicone was the culprit. Because silicone closes hair cuticles, it makes it more difficult for hair dyes and perms to stick onto the hair. Although hair care products need silicone to make your hair smooth, it simultaneously makes your hair more resistant to your salon desires. So, people began to think that silicone was bad and silicone-free hair products were born.  

3-3. In reality, dry hair looks messy because you don't use silicone

Silicone-containing shampoos are perfect for giving your dry hair some extra moisture, protection, and damage repair. It replenishes softness, smoothness, and shine to your hair.

In fact, most brands that sell silicone-free shampoos put silicone in their conditioners or treatments. These brands are cunningly navigating the fine line between making their hair care products satisfactory while adhering to the public’s large misconceptions about silicone.

4. Should I invest in silicone-free products?

Whether you use silicone-containing or silicone-free hair products depends on what you want to get out of your beauty products.

One prominent criticism against silicone hair care is that it doesn’t actually fix the problem. It gives the appearance of hydrated and smooth hair, but it’s just that - an appearance. 

That being said, there is no way to actually transform damaged hair. Unlike skin cells, hair cells don’t regenerate once they’re past scalp level. Once your hair is damaged, it’s gone - there’s no going back until you cut or grow out your hair. Dry hair and hair textures in general are also determined by our genetics, which is very difficult to ‘actually transform.’ 

Although silicone may not provide long-term benefits, they still act as a protective barrier for both your skin and hair. If you're looking for shampoos for dry hair or products to improve skin texture, silicone-free products may actually be counterintuitive.