What are silicones?
Silicones are synthetic polymers that possess hydrophobic properties. In plain English? They are man-made chemicals that are water repellent. They behave similarly to plastic in that they are a flexible material that can be molded for different uses.
Silicones are commonly found in cosmetics + hair products, including shampoo, conditioner + many makeup items. When you’re looking for silicones in the ingredients list these are ones that are typically found in hair products:
- Dimethicone
- Cyclomethicone
- Amodimethicone
- Phenyl Trimethicone
- Cetearyl Methicone
- Dimethiconol
- Stearyl Dimethicone
Why are silicones found in shampoo + hair products?
Silicones are added to hair products as the main conditioning component, creating shine + smoothness. Sounds great! But silicones achieve this by forming a layer around the hair shaft, preventing any moisture from penetrating the hair which, over time, can actually lead to dryness, brittleness + breakage - things we all want to avoid when it comes to our hair.
Additionally, consistent use of shampoo + conditioners containing silicones will cause build up which is particularly troublesome for those with thin or limp hair as the build up will weigh down the hair.
Silicones are very good at hiding any damage that your hair has from heat use + general wear + tear. So your hair may feel silky smooth + manageable in the short-term, but in the long-term, silicone shampoo + conditioner will actually be causing + hiding the problems you want to overcome.
Do silicones damage the environment?
Many choose not to use silicone based products because of their environmental impact. They don’t break down that easily + are therefore more difficult to dispose of. Because they’re not biodegradable, they wash down into our drains + into natural water sources, sometimes accumulating inside of wildlife. It’s not clear what the long-term effects of this accumulation will be on the earth + the living things on it.
Cleansing your hair from silicone build up
Apple cider vinegar removes toxins + product build up caused by silicones, creating a weightless shine - which is why we’ve included it in our rose quartz range. Not only does our rose quartz shampoo + conditioner remove build up, they are designed to balance + nourish + breathe life into tired limp hair + dissolve stress + tension from heat damage.
As a brand, we don’t create products that contain sulphates, parabens or silicones + they’re completely vegan + cruelty free. We instead produce natural + chemical free shampoo + conditioner. If you’re looking for silicone free shampoo + conditioner try our rose quartz range today.
