Silicone is present in almost every hair care product we pick up today. Used as a sealant, silicone coats and seals the hair shaft to prevent the passage of water and air. It’s responsible for giving hair that shine and gloss. However, it’s not the natural shine that we would like, the gloss looks more like plastic and can ruin the texture of your hair. Since silicone as an ingredient is not water-soluble, it causes build-up on the scalp and hair follicles. If not washed off, this can cause hair to thin and break – ultimately leading to hair fall.
When one uses any hair care product, be it a conditioner, serum or shampoo, it should serve two primary purposes – nourish the locks and clean the scalp. Once these two are taken care of, your hair will eventually start to grow thicker, longer and shinier. Forget about this happening if you are using a product that contains silicone. The sheen will be temporary and in the long run, you’ll cause long-term damage to your hair because you’ve deprived the hair roots of the blood supply, oxygen and nutrients. One of the main benefits of using a silicone-free conditioner is that it nourishes your hair without causing any damage to the strands and scalp.
10 Best Silicone-Free Conditioners In India
Here we have curated a list of the best silicone-free conditioners in India because your hair deserves the best!
Aveda Nutriplenish Deep Moisture Conditioner
One of the best gifts you can give your hair is this amazing conditioner. Rich in Omega-5 organic pomegranate oil, this conditioner will nourish dry, brittle hair. Not to mention that this product is one of the best silicone-free conditioners in the market right now. It’s also free from all the nasty stuff like gluten, mineral oil, petrolatum, sulfated cleansers, paraben and of course, silicones. It’s a vegan product that’s enriched with mango butter packed with fatty acids that help to nourish the hair follicles and make your locks smooth and soft. A little on the pricey side, but after you use it often, you’ll realise that it’s worth every penny.
Suitable for: Dry & rough hair.
Mamaearth Argan Conditioner With Argan & Apple Cider Vinegar
If you see any conditioner that contains argan oil and apple cider vinegar, don’t think twice, just pick it up. These two ingredients will do two things – nourish your locks and tame the frizz. As it is, the monsoons are a curly-haired woman’s worst nightmare. To deal with the frizz, a basic silicone conditioner won’t make the cut. It will add sheen, but that’s about it. You need a conditioner that will nourish, moisturise and keep your locks soft and this one will get the job done. Loaded with antioxidants, vitamin E and argan oil, this product is a silicone-free deep conditioner for curly hair that’s gone frizzy. It also helps to restore the hair’s elasticity and volume. The apple cider vinegar helps to restore the scalp’s PH balance and combat split ends. It truly is a wonder product!
Suitable for: Frizzy & curly hair.
Forest Essentials Hair Conditioner Bhringraj & Shikakai
Free from sulphates and silicones, this product is one of the best silicone-free conditioners in India. It’s enriched with coconut milk, liquorice, bhringraj and shikakai extract. For damaged and dry hair, the kalonji seed oil will help to stimulate the hair roots and improve hair’s texture. It also smells heavenly and your hair feels smooth and silky after every use. You gotta try it to believe it!
Suitable for: Damaged & dull hair.
Re’equil Murumuru Damage Repair Conditioner
A dermatologically tested product, this conditioner is enriched with organic murumuru butter which is fab for curly-haired women. How safe is it, you ask? Well, you can tell by its ingredient list. It’s free from parabens, silicones, mineral oil and sulphates. Not only will it strengthen your curls, but it will also improve its elasticity by making them firm and tight.
Suitable for: Undefined curls.
Kaya Hair Naturals Soothing Conditioning Gel
This silicone-free conditioner has some pretty interesting ingredients such as black pepper and inga alba bark extracts. These two power ingredients help to rebalance the scalp by soothing and hydrating it. An important point to note is that most hair conditioners aren’t safe to be applied on the scalp as it causes itchiness, but this one is different. It can be applied from the scalp to root tip. However, there have been reviews that this conditioner can be a little drying for the hair, so make sure that you oil your hair first an hour before conditioning it.
Suitable for: Oily and greasy hair.
L’Occitane Aromachologie Revitalizing Fresh Conditioner
Another silicone-free hair conditioner that’s fantastic at detangling and revitalizing your hair. It has a non-greasy velvety formula that’s made from a combination of 5 essential oils and a purifying plant-based vinegar. When applying this conditioner, make sure that your hair is not dripping wet, but is damp. Pour a small amount of conditioner onto your palms and rub them together. Then, run your fingers through your hair and gently scrunch it while you’re at it.
Suitable for: Dry hair.
Nuray Naturals Hair Conditioner
This hair conditioner is fairly new in the Indian market and if you’re looking to switch conditioners, this one is a good product to experiment with. Enriched with sarsaparilla and argan oil, this silicone-free conditioner helps to deep condition the hair, strengthen the locks and repair damaged hair.
Suitable for: Weak, dry hair.
Love Beauty & Planet Volume and Bounty Conditioner
Happiness is bringing home this bottle of conditioner. Made from coconut water and mimosa flowers, you can also use this product as a silicone-free leave-in conditioner. It adds both volume and strength to your hair, making it bouncy, silky and oh-so-smooth. The brand stays true to its name by claiming that it contains no silicones, no parabens, no dyes and of course, no guilt.
Suitable for: Weak & brittle hair.
Just Herbs Ayurvedic Hair Conditioner
A great silicone-free conditioner for fine hair and hair fall as it contains fenugreek extract. It’s an Ayurveda conditioner that contains rich ingredients such as amla, bhringraj and hibiscus too. When you use it often, you’ll surely notice a difference in the texture of your hair.
Suitable for: Hair fall and hair thinning.
WOW Skin Science Moroccan Argan Oil Hair Conditioner
Ladies who have extremely dry hair should opt for this hair conditioner. It’s one of the best silicone-free conditioners for dry hair. Powered with pure Moroccan argan oil, vitamins B5 and E, these ingredients help to boost hair growth and restore hair health. It also claims to be made from a holistically healthy formula that’s totally free from parabens, salt, silicones, colour and sulphates.
Suitable for: Dry hair.
FAQs
Why is silicone bad for the hair?
Silicone coats the hair shaft to give your hair a glossy, shiny finish. However, if you don’t wash the silicone off your hair properly, it will weigh your hair down, dry out your hair and cause product buildup. One way to restore moisture back into your hair is either invest in a silicone-free hair conditioner or a hydrating hair mask.
How to remove the silicone from hair naturally?
Rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar and white vinegar. This must be done 30 minutes before you wash your hair. Both these ingredients help to remove silicone buildup from the hair and scalp.
Does silicone dry out the hair?
Silicone won’t dry out your hair out if you oil your hair regularly. Even applying a hair mask often and deep conditioning your hair will help keep your locks moist, nourished and soft.
Does silicone cause hair loss?
When there’s too much silicone build-up on the hair, it deprives the hair shaft of oxygen. When that happens, your hair starts to become weak and brittle causing it to eventually fall.
How to tell if my hair is damaged because of silicone?
Texture! How does it feel when you touch your hair? Is it rough? Does it break easily? Are you experiencing hair fall? Apart from poor diet, lack of hygiene, colour treatment gone wrong and inconsistent oiling, silicone is another factor to blame. Certain silicones to stay away from are Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone. Amodimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetearyl Methicone, basically, anything ending with ‘cone’.
More than investing in a conditioner, pay attention to the ingredient list and your hair type before shelling out the bucks. These factors will help you make a good buying decision. Don’t give in to glossy packaging. Think about whether the product will help improve your hair’s texture. Look out for natural, organic ingredients and as mentioned in the FAQ above, stay away from anything ending with ‘cone’. These tiny reminders will help you get healthy, thick and voluminous hair.
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