Wait, QQ: Should I Be Using a Silicone-Free Shampoo and Conditioner? (2024)

Lemme guess, you've definitely, totally heard of silicones by now, but you have no idea what they actually do for your hair. Hey, I get it—the whole debate on silicones and whether or not they're necessary in shampoos and conditioners is kind of a tricky topic. As a refresher, silicones are synthetic polymers often found in hair products that coat your hair strand and temporarily "glue" your hair cuticles down to make your hair look super smooth and shiny. Basically, silicones act as FaceTune for damaged, dry, or blah hair.

Buuut too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Though silicones are harmless, they do tend to build up on your hair, which can eventually leave your hair weighed down, limp, and undefined, says dermatologist and hair-expert Dhaval G. Bhanusali, MD. And since silicones form a protective coat around the hair strand, they can also prevent water from fully penetrating your hair, which can lead to excess dryness and damage over time, especially in curls and coils.

If this all sounds familiar (hair greasier than it used to be? Curls lost their definition?), don't freak—silicones can, thankfully, be stripped from your hair with a sulfate-filled clarifying shampoo. But you'll need to use it regularly, and these harsh shampoos aren't ideal for anyone whose hair is damaged, curly, or color-treated. So, what's the fix? Trying out a silicone-free shampoo and conditioner, like one of the 10 below, which are spiked with moisturizing ingredients to keep hair smooth and shiny, without the silicones that'll build up or dry you out.

Remember when I said silicone-free cleansers were especially beneficial for curly and coily hair types? Yeah, this hydrating co-wash (aka cleansing conditioner) is proof. Work it through your scalp and hair, and it'll gentlybreak down buildup and oil without drying you out, thanks to moisturizing ingredients like avocado, coconut, and shea butter.

Good news: This silicone-free shampoo is lightweight enough to cleanse your curls without leaving behind any greasy residues. Massage a couple pumps through your roots and the formula's mango butter and gardenia flower will help soften and define your curls as it breaks down oils. P.S., This one, like many others on this list, is also Curly Girl Method-approved.

Moisturizing is arguably the most important part of any curly hair routine, and this silicone-free conditioner is a great place to start. The formula is spiked with hydrating ingredients like vitamin E and olive oil, both of which help detangle and soften your curls without weighing them down.

Hot tip: Even super-dry hair types can give the silicone-free lifestyle a try. This hydrating shampoo features a blend of tiger herb and coconut oil that helps to gently (but effectively!) enhance shine and softness. And thanks to the fact that it's lightweight and non-irritating, it's also safe for soothing dry or flaky scalps.

There's a reason this silicone-free conditioner has so many glowing reviews on Sephora—it's powerful enough to hydrate even the driest of dry hair types (shout out to the formula's argan oil and algae extract), and it does so without leaving behind any heavy or greasy residues. Look towards this one if you're dealing with damage, dryness, or even breakage.

Finding the perfect shampoo for fine hair is no easy feat—use the wrong one and you'll be left with hair that looks evenfiner—but this silicone-free formula is the exception. It easily washes away product buildup and grime, and it leaves your hair looking noticeably thicker and fuller for longer (aka no need to worry about excess grease or shine in-between washes).

Unlike those heavy, cream-based conditioners you usually go for, this silicone-free gel is genuinely lightweight—like, lightweight enough that it won't drag down your fine hair. And not only will it gently detangle, but it'll also add a nice amount of volume and lift to your roots.

Finding a gentle, non-stripping shampoo is top of mind for folks with color-treated hair, so it only makes sense to try a formula that's silicone-free too. This one helpsprotects your color from fadingandworks to enhance it.

Kumquat and sunflower seed extracts are the hero ingredients in this silicone-free conditioner, which helpprevent color fading and enhance shine. Comb it through your hair post shampoo, rinse it out after a couple minutes, and you'll notice how soft and shiny your hair looks (and, tbh, feels!).

Here's the thing: Clarifying shampoos are notoriously harsh and stripping,but this silicone-free cleanser is surprisingly gentle.Rather than using drying sulfates, this formula get its clarifying magic from natural ingredients likerosemary, peppermint, and spearmint. Just work it into your cleansing routine every few washes (i.e. not daily) for best results.