Why Choose Sulfate-Free and Silicone-Free Products For Fine Natural Hair?

How many of us have purchased a new product, lured in by the cool packaging or bold claims? How many of those products then go on to clutter our bathroom shelves once we discover they aren’t what they promised? Selecting hair care products can be a tricky gamble, but by knowing a few of the ingredients to steer clear of, we can better choose products that our fine coils will love!

Sulfate-free and silicone-free products are best for coily hair because they avoid the use of cheap, frizz-creating chemicals that cause long-term damage. Fine coily hair is especially susceptible to this damage, meaning that it’s important to select products that treat our delicate coils with the love they deserve.

In this article, we’ll be reviewing what exactly silicones and sulfates are, how to avoid them, and what products you can choose instead. Read on!

What Are Silicones?

Silicones, a cheap, common ingredient found in many shampoos and conditioners, were originally designed to be sealants. This chemical forms a waxy coating over your hair, blocking out moisture in the hopes of keeping your hair sleek and shining.

However, though this ingredient often seems to work immediately, there’s a downside. Because this waxy layer is not water-soluble, it quickly coats your hair, leading to heavy, greasy build-up. Even if the silicone-based product you’re using seems to work at first, eventually, you’ll find yourself battling flat, waxy feeling roots and limp ends. Worse yet, this build-up can prove difficult to remove, requiring the use of heavy-duty cleansers that strip your hair of its natural oil.

As Type 4A- Type 4C fine naturals, our complex coils are naturally thin and light. While that means amazing potential for fluffy, lifted volume, it also means that our delicate strands can easily become weighed down by heavy products.

When shopping for shampoo and conditioner for your Type 4A, 4B, 4C and 3C coily hair, turn away from products with any of the following silicones listed among the ingredients: Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Amodimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol.

What Are Sulfates?

In their purest form, sulfates work as detergents. Whether they’re fully synthetic or derived from natural plant sources, these chemicals work to completely strip grease and oil, making them incredibly popular in cleansers and shampoos.

As is often the case, what works for straight hair types isn’t necessarily the best idea for our coily hair.

You may have noticed that your coily hair tends to be more naturally dry; this is because the tight, coiled shape makes it more difficult for the natural oils of your scalp to find their way to the ends. When you use sulfates, you strip your hair of the natural oils it already craves, making it hard for your coils to stay moisturized. Not only that, but the constant, high-level stripping can harm your scalp, leaving you with dry, fragile strands and itchy, irritated roots!

That lack of moisture can be detrimental to any hair type, but when it comes to fine natural hair, it’s an especially big problem. Our thin strands need lightweight moisture in order to stay strong, elastic, and capable of standing up to weather. Rather than using sulfates, you’d be better off avoiding any products that list ammonium laureth or lauryl sulfate, sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, sodium lauryl sulfate, or sodium laureth sulfate on the label.

Easy Solutions

Coily naturals tend to be well versed in what ingredients to avoid, but so often, no one takes the time to tell us what ingredients to use instead! Taking care of your delicate coils shouldn’t just be about avoiding the wrong products; it should be about embracing what keeps our coils healthy, moisturized, and thriving!

Rather than depending on heavy silicones, we recommend the use of lightweight oils. In particular, look for products utilizing argan oil, grapeseed oil, and apricot oil. These light, natural ingredients soak deep into each individual strand, providing moisture without creating greasy build-up. You deserve to enjoy conditioned, moisturizing products that don’t leave coils looking weighted down or lifeless.

Though sulfates aren’t necessarily terrible for every hair type, they are the exact opposite of what your fine strands need. When looking at sulfate-free products, look for “decyl-glucoside” instead. Unlike harsh sulfates, this ingredient cleanses hair gently, creating a light, foamy lather without leading to irritation.

At van + veronica, we use only ingredients designed to leave fine coils healthy and shining. Try our sulfate-free and silicone-free Shampoo to cleanse fine curly hair without drying it out. Follow up with our sulfate-free and silicone-free Conditioner as part of your regular Wash Day routine.

Coily naturals know that the hair-care process doesn’t stop once you step out of the shower. From here, it’s time to seal in that moisture! Choose van + veronica for a silicone-free and sulfate-free Leave-In that will leave your coils soft, manageable, and shining.

Follow through on the van + veronica Haircare System for Fine Coils™ with the final touch:

Styler. Our silicone-free and sulfate-free Styler seals out humidity, leaving you with a frizz-defying definition that lasts all day!

van + veronica Silicone and Sulfate-Free Haircare for Fine Naturals

Caring for your fine natural hair isn’t just about protecting it from harm. It’s about making the choice to invest in products that help your fine coils grow, shine, and thrive! The van + veronica haircare system for fine natural hair was designed specifically with the needs of fine coilies in mind. You can now choose silicone and sulfate free lightweight haircare products that won’t weigh down your fine strands. Best of all, you can go about your day knowing that your fine coily hair has the protection and lightweight moisture it needs without greasy or harmful ingredients.

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