Despite conditioners, treatments and leave in conditioners all making claims to moisturise and hydrate hair, few of them achieve this statement. Many brands successfully pull off the illusion of giving you smoother, softer hair after using their products. In saying this, appearance and texture are not the only criteria to use when assessing hydration/moisture.
Although your hair might feel and look healthily hydrated, this definitely does not mean it is. Whether your hair truly is hydrated or not depends on the ingredients used in your products.
Fake conditioning
Silicones give the appearance of soft and smooth hair, but they actually do the opposite. Silicones sit on top of the strand and coat it. They do not enter the strand to moisturise it, rather, they give the illusion of smooth and soft hair. Your conditioner might have coconut oil in it, but if silicone is sitting on top of the strand then it will block out any goodness you try to put in.
Bonus tip: Don't be deceived by packaging that places a big emphasis on powerful ingredients like avocado and coconut oil without investigating further. Take the extra step and examine the rest of the ingredients. Are those powerful ingredients closer to the beginning of the list or closer to the end? Ingredients closer to the beginning appear in larger quantities, while ingredients toward the end appear in smaller quantities. Avocado oil is well and good, but if it is near the bottom of the list then the product won't contain much in it.
Real conditioning
"Conditioning" with chemicals and fake ingredients never ends well. Instead, real conditioning uses the powers of nature to condition. Products with natural and real ingredients won't sit on top of the strand and do nothing impactful, rather, they enter the strand and condition the hair from the inside out.
Where to go from here
If you've been using products with silicones, it is best to phase yourself out of them and turn to natural products. It's a good idea to use a clarifying treatment to thoroughly cleanse and strip away built up silicones. It will take a few washes for the silicones to completely go away, but it will definitely be worth it! Once incorporating truly hydrating products into your routine, you'll be shocked and how soft your hair will become when it is properly conditioned.
Ready to turn to real conditioning products? Browse the curated collection designed for you!
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