101 Dimethicones

The debate over dimethicones is going strong. On one hand, they are to be completely avoided at all cost. But on the other hand, they're not as bad as they are portrayed. I have, to be honest. I didn't' know a lot about silicones and dimethicones nor the effects they had on hair. I did some research and now I'm going to share what I learned with you.


Dimethicones is a silicone oil, which is also known as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and it's used in a lot of health and beauty products. It is an emulsifier (which means it keeps ingredients from separating) and a moisturizer that is a highly effective additive to skin and hair products.

Dimethicones are often found in shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, and detangling products. Acting as an emulsifier, dimethicones keeps other ingredients better mixed thus helping the product coat the hair strands more evenly. Once the hair is coated with the product containing dimethicones, problems like knots, snags, curls and frizz can be easily managed.

How to spot a cone:

Look at the ingredients of the product label thoroughly. Silicones are often hard to pronounce and have a super long name.  To spot the cones, look for anything ending with "cone", "col", "conol", or "zane".

Good or Bad?

Silicone will weigh the hair down making it limp, lifeless, and with time, very dull. It prevents moisture from penetrating the hair shaft and becomes like a magnet for dirt and other ingredients. So in essence, we get a good shine for a couple of days, but over time it will attract more buildup on the hair. With time it will dry the hair out because it won't allow in the conditioner and it ends up sitting on the surface. Due to lack of moisture, the hair will become very brittle and could lead to frizz and breakage.” —Shai Amiel, Celebrity Hairstylist & Owner, CAPELLA Salon

Dimethicones/silicones get a bad rap but the truth of the matter is they are not as bad as they are made out to be. There are exceptions to the rules when it comes to silicones and using silicones can actually be part of a good hair care regimen.  You just need to understand which silicone does what.

Here's a video demonstrating what bad silicones can do to your hair:

Not all created equal...

Bad: Non -Water soluble

Silicones offer great slip for detangling and combating frizz. Most silicones are not water-soluble and cause buildup and weighs the hair down. Individuals who are prone to having oily hair should restrict the use of products the contain this chemical because it can weigh the hair down or make it look overly greasy. The non-water soluble silicones are known as "bad silicones".  There are silicones that are water soluble that slow down the build up process.

Good: Water soluble

 “A water-soluble silicone means that it is able to dissolve in water. It is a silicone that is easy to wash out of the hair and doesn't leave a heavy build up. Look for products containing Cyclomethicone. This is the most commonly used silicone in hair care products and it does everything Silicone promises to do, but won’t leave build up on the hair. Dimethicone Copolyol is water soluble, too. It’s a bit more pricey, but it’s lightweight and leaves very little build up.” —Bridget Brager

Water soluble silicones:

(No build up)

1. Stearoxy Dimethicone.
2. Behenoxy Dimethicone.
3. Dimethicone copolyol.
4. Hydrolyzed wheat protein.
5. Lauryl methicone copolyol.
6. Silicone with PEG listed before it.

Slightly soluble:

(May cause build up over a period of time. Can be easily co-washed)

1. Amodimethicone
2. Behenoxy dimethicone.
3. Cyclomethicone.
4. Cyclohexasiloxane.
5. Stearoxy dimethicone.

Non-water soluble:

(Doesn't dissolve in water. Worst silicones and cause build up quickly. Avoid these if at all possible.)

1. Dimethicone.
2. Cetyl dimethicone.
3. Cetearyl methicone.
4. Stearyl dimethicone.
5. Dimethiconol.
6. Trimethylsilylamodimethicone.
7. Phenyl Trimethicone.

Getting Rid of Build Up...

If you use products with silicones especially the ones that contain non-water soluble dimethicones, you need to get a good clarifying shampoo.  Wash your hair at least once a week to manage the build up. Be sure to follow with a deep conditioner because clarifying shampoos strip the hair of all products and natural oils.  If you use silicones often, it's suggested to look for shampoos containing cocamidopropylbetaine to rid your hair of silicones. Some individuals add baking soda to their regular shampoo. Apple cider vinegar rinses also are an option.

Here's how do do ACV rinse.

Bottom Line...

All silicones are not bad news, but as with everything, silicones products should be used in moderation based oh how they react with your hair. You have the freedom to choose if you want to use products with silicone. There's no right or wrong answer. Listen to your hair. If  it works for you, go for it. If your hair hates it. Put the product back on the shelf, and continue your quest to find the perfect product with your new found knowledge.

Thinking of going silicone free? Click below:

Sources:
http://www.nenonatural.com/hair-blog/-water-soluble-vs-non-soluble-silicones-found-in-hair-products

http://coveteur.com/2015/10/06/silicone-hair-products/
http://www.xovain.com/hair/silicones-in-hair-and-skin-products-to-avoid
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/kinky-hair-type-4a/silicones-good-bad-the-ugly/


Comment. Share. Ask. I want to hear from you.

Hair: Curly ponytail
Emotion: Relaxed

An Easy Guide to Understanding the Importance of Emotional Health

Have you ever heard  of emotional health? I have to admit, it was all new to me. It sparked my interest and I decided to look a little deeper.

I heard this phrase, "when you look good, you'll feel good, when you feel good, you'll look good." I can agree with this statement. To find out more, read my about me section.  I've discovered that it wouldn't be productive if we only fix the outside and the inside is broken. It certainly wouldn't be beneficial to have the inside together and look a mess on the outside.

That is the reason for this blog. Usually, you'd be getting advice on how to take care of your hair or tips on the latest product. But after being enlightened to the importance of emotional health, I had to address the issue.

 We first must understand what emotional health is and how it is vital to our overall health. It is vital to digest this information before we move forward with the wonderful things I have in store for you. Let's work on the inside as well as the outside.


What is Emotional Health? View below.

Chapter 3: Achieving Mental and Emotional Health from hjohnson1

As you can see, it is very important that we take care of our emotions in order to optimize our lives. Having a positive outlook can help reduce stress and increase our chances for success.

There are six components of health. The are listed as:

1. Physical
2. Social
3. Environmental
4. Emotional
5. Spiritual
6. Mental/Intellectual

Emotional health is expressing your emotions in a positive nondestructive way.

Many components of health can be affected by other components. If one is weak, it can affect the overall health. Wellness is the achievement of a person's best in all six components of health. 

Emotional healthy people are:

• In control of their emotions.
• Able to handle life's challenges.
• Build strong relationships.
• Put effort into building and maintaining mental and emotional health.
• Enjoy life.

People with healthy emotions tend to have a zest for life, are balanced, and have a sense of meaning and purpose. 

I created Hairmojis with the idea that there is a mind-body connection. I chose hair as the tool to teach this idea with. In my research, I found that:

• Taking care of your body is a powerful first step towards emotional health.
• When you improve your emotional health, you automatically experience greater emotional well-being.

Enjoy this quote from Dalai Lama:

A skillful, balanced approach is helpful for one's physical and emotional health, and it applies to one's spiritual growth as well.

— Dalai Lama Quotes (@DaIaiLamaQuotes) October 20, 2016

How to achieve emotional health:

How To Take Care Of Your Emotional Health from enritsch

I'm a regular at the gym. I'm working on getting healthy. Everybody has a reason for being there. I see a variety of people frequent the building. From die hard meat heads to the casual senior citizen looking for company. They are all looking for something to help them feel and hopefully look better. I hope that it doesn't stop there. I hope they are taking the necessary steps to build  strong, healthy self-images as well as healthy bodies. I've been to the beauty salons and I've seen women come in looking like the ugly duckling and leave a beautiful swan. I wonder if they took the process of becoming beautiful to the next level. How does she really see herself? Is she only beautiful now?  I always tell my daughters that attitude is everything. I want them to feel good about themselves inside and out. It's not always easy to maintain that healthy image. Especially when we start comparing ourselves to others. We don't always have good hair days and everything we put on drapes perfectly. I want to get to the place where even on the bad days. I know that I'm good. I want my emotional health to be healthy. I'm working on this daily. I want to be operation on all cylinders. I now know that with a few changes, this is possible.  I know that beauty really comes from within.

Please enjoy this video that breaks down how to take practice emotional hygiene.


It is my desire that you are healthy in all six areas of your life. I believe that starting with our emotional health is a great place to start.  Take advantage of these tips and resources to guide you to a well-balanced life.



What things are you doing to improve your emotional health? Comment below.

Hair: Ponytail
Emotion: Balanced

The Beginning....

For as far back as I can remember, hair has been a big deal in my life.  From the days of the press and curl, jerry curl, afro, perms, weaves, braids, and so on. I've learned that hair is a big part of our identity, and has an impact on our emotions. I remember the days I hated to leave the house if my hair wasn't right. Being African American, getting my hair wet was a HUGE no-no. And that's partly the reason I don't know how to swim today. I didn't even want to workout because I didn't want to "sweat my hair out."  It's not like that anymore. I'm on team natural and I love it.  Looking back I can say that  I've learned lessons from dealing with my hair about how to wait, take risks, to not being envious of someone else's hair and so much more. Walk with me as I share my findings and my heart. I hope I can inspire all that read this blog to first understand that we are so much more than our hair.  Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, hairmojis.