Up until a couple of months ago, I was completely oblivious to what silicones were and how they can damage your hair, so you can tell that I was surprised by this discovery and hearing about their potentially damaging effects. For those of you who don't know, silicones build up around the hair shaft and give the appearance of health and shine, however in excess they weigh down your hair and make it appear greasy and dull. As someone who suffers from greasy roots, I was intrigued to find out more and decided to completely cut out silicones from my hair products over the past month, so keep reading to find out the results.
When deciding to go silicone-free, I opted for the Garnier Ultimate Blends Coconut Water shampoo and conditioner. I wanted something that I'd heard positive reviews of and from a brand that I trusted, yet was still affordable (if eliminating silicones worked out, I didn't want to be paying £50 per bottle!) These silicone-free products aim to help hydrate your hair without weighing it down, which is what I needed as my hair was seemingly dry and dehydrated (especially the ends) yet since it's quite fine it can tend to look flat and limp. The coconut water hydrates the hair and prevents it from breaking, and the aloe vera contains proteolytic enzymes which repairs dead skin cells on the scalp, both of which sounded ideal for my hair.
I also purchased the Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food, again opting for the aloe vera one, after hearing some amazing reviews of it online. This 3-in-1 product can be used as a substitute for your usual conditioner, as a rapid hair mask or in small amounts as a leave-in conditioner. It's 98% natural, has a vegan formula and aims to make the hair look nourished and shinier in a natural way, opposed to containing silicones. This product comes in four different varieties (papaya for damaged hair, banana for dry hair, coconut for frizzy hair, and aloe vera for normal hair) and the incredibly large tub means it'll hopefully last me quite some time.
So... what were the results?
I have to admit, my hair not only looks a lot healthier and shinier but also feels it, and I'm really impressed with how these products have performed after only a month. The dehydrated ends of my hair have been much better and definitely seems more nourished. I have also recently had my hair trimmed and added some highlights, so in combination with this my hair is definitely looking and feeling so much better.
I have to say, I absolutely love the Hair Food mask, and think that it has worked wonders on the ends of my hair. It does everything it claims to do and honestly just leaves my hair looking and feeling so much more nourished and cared for. I tend to concentrate it on the ends of my hair rather than applying it throughout, and it also helps to detangle my hair. I'd definitely be interested in trying the papaya one, as my hair can appear a bit damaged at the ends, but I have to say that I couldn't be happier with this product!
Despite this, I perhaps think that the shampoo isn't quite right for me. My roots are naturally greasy, not because of a build-up of silicones but just because that's the way they are, despite the ends of my hair being dry. I've found that whilst using this shampoo my hair has started to look considerably greasy the day after washing, and I can't last as long as usual in between washes, which is probably due to the shampoo aiming to hydrate hair and reinject moisture. Although this is ideal for the ends of my hair, my roots haven't been coping well with this shampoo, and so I probably won't be repurchasing it. If you have dry or normal hair then I'm confident you will love this product, however if you're like me and prone to greasiness then perhaps other silicone-free shampoos will work better.
So in summary, I really have noticed the difference in cutting out silicones from my hair products, and I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon! If you've opted for silicone-free hair products then I'd love to know your thoughts, so make sure you leave a comment!
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