Perfectly Coned Tresses

Let's talk cones for a minute. No, not ice cream cones (although that sounds quite yummy), but rather, silicones. What are they? They're based on Silicon, an element found on the periodic table (hello chemistry), and they act as a water-resistant lubricant. Silicones, usually found in most hair conditioners as dimethicone, form a kind of shield over the hair shaft, sealing off the cuticle (making it appear smoother) and keeping out moisture (warding off frizz). They also happen to be used in shoe polish. (So, next time when you're out of conditioner, just rub shoe polish on your hair. Ha, just kidding.) So what's the controversy?

Simply put, there has been speculation that silicones will dry out your hair (Wait, what? Didn't I just say that it makes hair smoother and frizz-free?) Yes, it does, but some people claim that when they keep out moisture, they also lock in whatever moisture is in your hair cuticle. So if your hair has no moisture, it stays that way, meaning it supposedly suffocates your hair and prevents it from fulfilling its thirst. And also, being waterproof has its downsides. It doesn't wash off easily. A dull film on your hair? Lots of buildup? Yep, you've found your culprit. (Oh well, you say, that means I must look for products that have absolutely no silicones in them and condemn any hair product that does.) Well, not so fast.

The thing is, silicones work. (Duh, that's why they use it.) To a certain point. If you use too much, too often, yes I do believe it will not be good for your hair. (But doesn't that apply to pretty much everything?) So my advice is to use silicones...in moderation. If you condition every single day, you might want to alternate between a silicone-free conditioner and a regular one. And use a clarifying shampoo if you feel extra buildup. But you're not even supposed to wash your hair everyday anyway (every other day, at most). So you shouldn't even have to worry.

If you are to avoid any ingredients, I would suggest the following:

Parabens: These preservatives have an infamous reputation for being carcinogens and disrupting estrogen levels. Look for glucose oxidase or lactoperoxidase, which are natural alternatives to keep products fresh.

Sulfates: These are harsh detergents that strip your natural oils. Squeaky clean? yes. Dry, irritated skin? You got it. Look for decyl/lauryl glucosides instead. They clean just as well, without removing all the moisture.

Mineral oil: Ah, all you acne sufferers out there, beware. Two words: clogs pores. Look for beeswax. It moisturizes better but still maintains that buttery consistency you find in body creams.

Thanks for reading, and please comment!!

Mother and Daughter Companies

Yes, I know. I haven't been here in a while. Okay, more like a year and a half. Forgive me. I got busy. I must admit, blogging is harder than you think it is. You have to keep it up. It's like having a job. Well, anyway, enough of that. On to the important stuff.

I was looking for a good conditioner for my long, thick hair the other day and was about to check out Makeupalley for some reviews and recommendations when I remembered something The Beauty Brains had written about. According to their article, products from the same "mother" company most likely will use the same formulations and ingredients for all of their "daughter" companies. One of the best known "mother" companies, as far as cosmetics goes, is L'Oreal (I mean, come on, they practically dominate the beauty scene). I had speculated this topic myself, even before reading The Beauty Brains' article and decided that this would be a good time to see if it was really true.

So I (somewhat reluctantly) x-ed out of my Makeupalley account and went to compare ingredients of three different conditioners, all of which are made by companies that happen to be owned by L'Oreal. The first one, the one I originally had my eye on, was Redken Smooth Down conditioner (Yes, Redken is owned by L'Oreal, along with Kerastase, Matrix, Shu Uemura, and Kiehl's. Surprise, surprise). The second is Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine, and the last, but not least, is L'Oreal Vive Pro Smooth Intense. All three of these conditioners are supposed to smooth down hair. I've compiled the ingredients lists for each below. The findings? They are very similar, indeed. Take a look for yourself:

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine
Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Fragrance (Parfum), Cetyl Esters, Lauryl PEG/PPG 18/18 Methicone, Methylparaben, Persea Gratissima (Avocado Oil), Niacinamide, Pyridoxine HCl, Trideceth 12, Citric Acid, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot Kernel Oil), Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane Extract), Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Citrus Limonum (Lemon Peel Extract), Camellia Sinensis (Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract)

Redken Smooth Down
Aqua/Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, PEG 180, Cetyl Esters, Amodimethicone, Perfume (Fragrance), Methylparaben, Mica, Linalool, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Limonene, Citrimonium Chloride, Butylphenyl, Methylpropional, Trideceth 12, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, PPG 5 Ceteth 20, Oleth 10, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, Disodium Cocamphodipropionate, Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Lecithin, Phosphoric Acid, Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil), Candelilla Cera/Candelilla Wax, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben

L'Oreal Vive Pro Smooth Intense
Aqua/Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycerine, Amodimethicone, Lanolin, Parfum/Fragrance, Cetyl Esters, Methylparaben, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth 12, Hexyl Cinnamal, Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Yellow 10 (CI 47005), Citronellol, Amyl Cinnamal, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Red 4 (CI 14700)

So similar are they, that, in fact, their first three ingredients (which are pretty much the bulk of the product) are exactly the same! Enlightening? Perhaps. If we could only figure out those ridiculously long, unfathomable ingredients, right?

What point does that bring us to? Well, why waste money on a very similar product that will most likely end in the same result? Or maybe, more fairly, are expensive products really worth the extra money?

Now I'm beginning to doubt the holiness of Redken and opting for the cheaper drugstore version. Should I? What are your thoughts?