Curly Girls' Public Enemy No. 2

A few weeks back we wrote about sulfates, which may be in fact be every Curly Girl's Top Enemy.

A close second on our Most Wanted List are silicones, particularly non-water soluble ones. 

For the prettiest of curls,
keep away from silicone!

Now, Curly Friends, take a deep breath. We know silicones seem innocent, perhaps even like they should be our friends. They smooth down the hair shaft and make the frizz go away.  But they're just a temporary fix. Worse yet, they also suck out the moisture from inside the hair, dehydrating curly locks and creating more frizz in the long run.

And because they can't be rinsed away with water, they also build up on the hair shaft and generally require a surfactant (detergent)-based shampoo to remove. Which leads to boring, dry hair. And dry hair won't hold the curls. Yet another vicious cycle in the minefield of curly hair health. In our book we explain more about how all this works, and how to keep curly hair beautifully frizz-free.

Top rule here: You absolutely, positively must use a conditioner that's silicone-free or has acceptable, water-soluble silicones in it to condition your hair. No exceptions, no substitutes. And don't be skimpy when it comes to shampoos. Apply liberally, and let it sit for a few minutes so your hair can absorb what it needs. Rinse out any excess with cool water. Cool water, like acid-based products, will shut your cuticle down and help keep all that healthy product inside your hair shaft where it belongs.

 

Live Curly, Live Free, The e-book, is available for Kindle, iPad and Nook formats. In it, Curl Whisperer Tiffany Anderson-Taylor tells us all we need to know to have healthy, happy curls.