Is Silicone in Shampoo Bad for the Environment?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is that there are a lot of misconceptions about silicone in shampoo, and the biggest one is that silicone is bad for the environment.

Silicone is a synthetic material that’s used for a variety of things, including shampoos. It’s made from petroleum and its main use is to provide a lubricant and to create a barrier between shampoo and your hair.

Because silicone is synthetic and petroleum-based, it’s not biodegradable and it can’t be broken down by nature. That means it doesn’t go away.

Silicone is bad for the environment because it builds up in the water supply and can be toxic to aquatic life. It can also build up inside your body, which means it stays there for a long time and can cause health issues.

The good news is that there are some common-sense ways to avoid this issue:

Only buy shampoos with natural, biodegradable ingredients. This includes natural oils like coconut oil and argan oil as well as ingredients like tea tree oil and essential oils like lavender and peppermint. Don’t buy products with silicone in them unless you absolutely need them. For example, if you have very dry hair, you might need some silicone to make your hair feel better, but if your hair isn’t very dry, you can probably skip this ingredient altogether. Buy products that are environmentally friendly. Look for “green” brands that use natural ingredients or even all-natural ingredients. You can also look for brands that are cruelty-free, so they don’t test their products on animals.

If you want to avoid silicone in shampoo altogether, you have a few options:

• Buy all-natural shampoos that don’t have any ingredients at all or just natural ingredients. 
• Buy shampoos that are specially designed to be free of silicone. These are typically labeled as “silicone-free” or “no silicones.” 
• Look for shampoos made with plant-based ingredients like coconut oil or argan oil. These work well as a replacement for silicone. 
• If you have dry hair, buy shampoos with hydrating ingredients like aloe vera or shea butter. These will make your hair feel better without using silicone at all.