Is Dimethicone Hair Good For All hair Types?

Dimethicone can be an excellent way to moisturize and condition the hair when used correctly; however, not all types will benefit. Non-water soluble silicones may build up on finer textures over time, leading to buildup that makes your locks appear greasy. These silicones prevent water from penetrating your hair cuticle, creating the condition known as sebophobia. Switching to silicone-free products or switching to clarifying shampoo may provide the answer to this problem.

Benefits

Dimethicone-containing makeup products such as primers and foundations make skin feel silky-smooth by sealing in moisture to reduce transepidermal water loss and retain it longer in the epidermis. Dimethicone is also widely used as an ingredient in shampoo and conditioner for its ability to smooth cuticles, enhance detangling processes, and leave hair silky-smooth with shine. Water-soluble wax is generally safe for skin use, and there have been no reports of acne breakouts or irritation from its use; however, over time, it can build up into a waxy buildup which prevents water from reaching your hair cuticle, drying out both scalp and strands in turn. Therefore, it’s essential to use clarifying shampoo regularly to maintain healthy locks. Argan oil is also widely used as an effective ingredient in frizz-smoothing and split-end-minimizing products. It helps ‘glue’ hair cuticles down, helping reduce frizz and flyaways.

Side Effects

Dimethicone is a silicone polymer that creates the luxurious textures associated with skin and hair products, such as lotions. Additionally, dimethicone helps reduce friction when brushing strands to help avoid breakage or damage and lock moisture into them – giving your strands softness that feels luxuriously silky! The ingredient’s occlusive properties may help lock in moisture for added suppleness. However, silicones can build up on skin and hair if used repeatedly without clarifying shampoo between products, leading to clogged pores, dryness, and oily scalps. This buildup can clog pores, cause dryness, and result in greasy scalps. Dimethicone can weaken your cuticle layer over time, leaving strands thin and brittle, leading to hair loss due to easily broken off and shed strands. Furthermore, lack of moisture causes dull and lifeless locks – so eliminating dimethicone from products is one of the best things you can do for the health of your locks.

Alternatives

Dimethicone may be a safe and popular ingredient, but there are sustainable alternatives that provide similar results. Many eco-friendly hair and skin care brands include natural emollients, such as shea butter, avocado, jojoba, and olive oil, to help products penetrate the skin quickly. Organic ingredients offer much safer solutions than dimethicone, which can harm the environment and hair over time. They also help prevent hair loss, protect against breakage, and make locks shiny and tangle-free! Cyclomethicone, a plant-based alternative to dimethicone, offers similar slip properties without having harmful impacts on both the environment and your hair. Another eco-friendly choice is LexFeel N350 MB (INCI: Diheptyl Succinate (and) Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer), an all-in-one conditioner and color-protecting agent that delivers sheen as well as slip.

Prevention

As a non-water soluble product, Dimethicone can lead to product buildup over time. This buildup traps dirt, oil, and dry skin products on the scalp surface and prevents nutrients from reaching cells effectively – leading to an unhealthy scalp environment and thinning out, weakening, and greasing of hair. Dimethicone can wreak havoc on hair strands by restricting moisture flow into their cuticle layer – stopping any moisture from entering and resulting in fragile, breakable locks. Dimethicone can have long-term negative impacts, but you can decrease them by including a clarifying routine in your daily beauty regime. This should consist of using sulfate shampoo washes, apple cider vinegar rinses, and silicone-free moisturizers after washing your hair – this will help avoid product buildup while encouraging thick, lustrous, shiny locks with healthy strands that feel thick and luxurious to the touch. It is also beneficial to wipe your scalp down regularly with a warm, damp cloth or toweling for optimal results.