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Ive used relaxers to straighten my hair since I was seven years old.
In my world, applying chemicals on my hair was as common as usingdeodorant.
I didnt think twice about it; I just did it.
But in the fall of 2014, I had a major change of heart.
I finally felt free.
I began watching YouTube videos and reading hair forums to help me better care for mycurly hair.
One tip I constantly ran into was the importance of using silicone-free products.
And it doesnt end with YouTube.
But I realized that I didn’t even know what I was worrying about.
What are silicones anyway, and are they indeed harmful?
I decided to do a little digging.
They are created for a variety of industries, including household, mechanical, and personal care.
Silicones are also used as heat protectants.
They arent labeled as simple silicone on the bottles.
It sounds like complicated chemistry class, but identifying silicones in your beauty products isnt that hard.
They’re not what people are talking about when they say that silicones build up on hair.
Nandagiri says esters come with an added advantage of providing the hair and scalp with nourishment.
Oils, for example, can give you slip, but they can’t offer heat protection.
In case you didnt know, oils are notorious forburning your hairwhen exposed to high levels of heat.
(I don’t heat-style my hair very often.)
Here, a few good silicone-free products to add to your arsenal.
