Many of you have probably seen/heard the word "Cones" (short for Silicones) thrown out there while reading hair boards, watching you-Tube videos...or even when reading the ingredients list on products. Many are afraid or don't use products containing cones....I for one don't have a problem with them.
Read on for more info about "cones"
I tried to break this down as much as possible!
What are Silicones? (in reference to hair care) -Silicones are a group of chemicals(which have a silky/waxy feel to them) which are widely used in hair care products such as shampoos, conditioners or serums. They are commonly used in hair products to provide "slip"(which helps the comb glide gently through your hair) and to help bind moisture.
Pros of Cones
- provides slip
- Helps smooth down the surface of your hair (prevents frizz)
- Some say they help temporarily glue split ends together
- prevents tangles and breakage as a result
- Makes hair soft
- makes the hair shiny
- locks moisture into the hair- a great sealant
- Great for Heat Protection
Cons
- is likely to build up on the hair (because some types of cones are not water soluble)
- cannot be removed without detergents (clarifying shampoo, sulfate shampoo..etc????)
- can lock moisture out of the hair
- Some say it can hide the extent of the damage your hair has
How to Safely use Cones- If you use products that contain cones on a daily basis wash your hair at least once a week and you should be fine. As you see above, some believe you need to use a clarifying shampoo or a sulfate shampoo to do so, but I believe every week is excessive. I would just be sure to clarify if you indeed experience extreme build-up. If you know your hair..you will know when build-up occurs.
How do you Know if a Product Contains Cones- Just look at the first few ingredients, the long words will end in "cone"
Types of silicones:
Amodimethicone not soluble in water by itself
Amodimethicone (and) Trideceth-12 (and) Cetrimonium Chloride mixture that is soluble in water in the bottle
Behenoxy Dimethicone sparingly soluble in water
Cetearyl methicone not soluble in water
Cetyl Dimethicone not soluble in water
Cyclomethicone not soluble in water
Cyclopentasiloxane not soluble in water
Dimethicone not soluble in water
Dimethicone Copolyol water soluble
Dimethiconol not soluble in water
Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Hydroxypropyl Polysiloxane water soluble
Stearoxy Dimethicone sparingly soluble in water
Stearyl Dimethicone not soluble in water
Trimethylsilylamodimethicone not soluble in water
Lauryl methicone copolyol water soluble
Good info! I will have to look at my VO5's and see if they have a lot of cones. I would like to try using the mud shampoo that naptural 85 uses. I need to use what I have first!
ReplyDeleteThanks! If it does have cones and your hair is fine..then I wouldn't change a thing.
ReplyDeleteI did see her video(love her!) on that.and it looks ultra moisturizing and cleansing. I'm with you on using what we have first!