Silicone Hair Treatment: How Does It Help Your Hair?

What Do Silicones Do To Your Hair?

Silicones are man-made polymers known for their hydrophobic (water-repellant) characteristics. They may help retain moisture in the hair shaft. Silicones are among the key ingredients in many shampoos, conditioners, and other styling products.

Silicone works by forming a thin coating around your hair cuticle. This coating keeps your hair hydrated from within. It also keeps excess moisture from penetrating the hair shaft and ensures your hair does not go frizzy. Silicones are also known to protect your hair from heat damage caused by heat-styling tools (1), (2).

The advantage of silicones is they can be modified based on the products they are being used in. Silicones are hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic – while some types of silicone have a water-hating tendency, others have an affinity towards water (3).

The hydrophobic silicones help form a protective layer around the hair. They seal the moisture and keep hair frizz-free. Hydrophilic silicones, on the other hand, can be easily washed with water. They may help prevent static.

Quick Tip

Silicone treatment involves thoroughly washing your hair and conditioning it. The formulation is applied for 15-20 mins, then rinsed out, followed by a blowout and hair styling.

Why Should You Opt For A Silicone Hair Treatment?

A silicone hair treatment makes your hair smoother and shinier (1), (2). It gives more weight to your hair as it coats each strand. It also boosts hair volume. As we had seen earlier, the treatment minimizes the damage caused by heat-styling tools. It is a treatment that promotes hair repair and hair conditioning while imparting hair protection and nourishment to help reduce damage.

Another major advantage is that silicones also lubricate your hair, making it easier to be detangled.

Quick Tip

Silicone treatment lasts 2-5 months, depending on your hair care routine.

It is important to note, nonetheless, that a silicone hair treatment has certain disadvantages too.

Silicone Hair Treatment Disadvantages

As the silicones create a protective layer around the hair cuticles, they may build up over time. The hydrophobic nature of silicones could make washing them out with a normal shampoo a challenge. Accumulation of silicone scalp buildups can dry your hair out and make it look dull (4).  In some cases, these buildups can lead to hair breakage as well.

If the disadvantages of the silicone hair treatment concern you, check with your hairstylist or hair professional on how you can remove these buildups safely.

On another note, Deja Arielle, a YouTuber, tried silicon-based hair products and explained the condition of her hair. In her vlog, she says, “I bought a new leave-in and it just so happened to have silicones and really was not paying attention to how many silicones I was putting into my hair. And it’s getting really dry and breaking off (i).”

Frequently Asked Questions

Do silicones cause hair loss?

Hair products containing silicone leave residue on the hair strands. This residue can clog your follicles and lead to damage and hair loss. You can remove this residue with a clarifying shampoo. Making sure that you have the correct hair care regimen before leaving your stylist is critical for your scalp and hair health.

Do silicones stop hair growth?

Silicones do not stop hair growth. They improve hair appearance and protect the hair from frizz.

Are silicones good for high-porosity hair?

High-porosity hair can get dry, brittle, tangled, and frizzy. Silicone coats the hair strands to prevent frizz and tangles. It makes high-porosity hair look healthy and smooth and restores hair shine.

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

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Want to know about hair silicone treatment? If the idea intrigues you, quickly click on this video to know how it helps to give you smooth, sleek hair and decide if it’s the thing for you.

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Monica DickensonCertified Trichologist

     

Monica Dickenson has more than 30 years of experience as a dedicated technician and business owner. She is very passionate about providing the best service possible to anyone experiencing hair loss and has certifications in hair replacement and holistic trichology. She was awarded USTI Associate Trichologist of the year in 2018.   Monica graduated from Garfield High School in Woodbridge,...more

Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

 

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy. She has taken it upon herself to show...more

Eshna DasAssociate Editor

Eshna is an associate editor and a certified skin care coach. She has over three years of experience, a triple main bachelor’s degree in psychology, English, and journalism from Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, and a master’s degree in psychology from Sampurna Montfort College, Bengaluru. Her passion for writing and editing and her background in psychology help her create content that...more

Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach. Her passion for and understanding of all things related to skin, hair, and beauty propelled her to pursue a career in writing....more