Having a good hair day today? You've probably got your hair care products to thank for that. For today's #ReadTheLabel, we're zooming in on one ingredient in a lot of shampoos, conditioners and hair serums that's been getting a lot of talk because of its pros and cons: silicone.

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Silicone is what you call a feel modifier, meaning it gives hair that luxuriously soft, smooth feel. It also adds shine, helps straighten hair, and makes it easier to brush and style. It comes in a lot of different names, usually ending with "-cone", "-siloxane" or "-conol" like dimethicone, methicone, cyclomethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, or trisiloxane. Silicone is loved by lots because of its multitude of benefits, but there's also been a growing movement to skip silicone when shopping for hair products, so much so that big brands over the years have come out with their own line of silicone-free hair products. To understand this on-going shift, we'll first need a little bit of hair care science one-oh-one.

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Each of our hair strands have an outer layer called hair cuticles. Naturally healthy hair – meaning it's properly hydrated and free from any heat or chemical treatment – have a sealed cuticle layer which gives hair that soft, smooth feel. And since light reflects off easily on sealed cuticles, it also gives hair that natural healthy shine. For those who aren't blessed with naturally healthy hair or those who use heat on their hair or have done chemical treatment, their hair's cuticles are open, giving it that rough, dry look and feel. Here's where silicone in hair care products comes to the rescue: it acts as a second outer layer so it mimics the feel of having naturally soft, smooth hair and gives an illusion of shine. At the same time, it also "waterproofs" the strands, protecting them from the elements like sun and pollution. But this added layer on your hair strands prevents moisture from going in, and becomes a magnet for dirt. Devoid of moisture, here's when your hair starts to weaken, and eventually be very prone to frizz and breakage. Since silicone is hard to completely wash off, it build ups over time, weighing your hair down, making it limp  and lifeless. The sealing off of the strands also means the nutrients from your conditioner and other hair products don't go in and just sit on top, making hair dry and dull.

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You've probably experienced this a few times when switching to a new hair product: your hair looks and feels great afterwards for a day or two, but then with time your hair starts going back its lifeless, frizzy self and soon enough you're back to looking for a new solution. Silicone's effects on the environment is also getting a bad rep. Studies suggest that silicone, when washed off from hair and skin, is potentially toxic when it builds up in the marine environment. Since its structure is similar to plastic, some consider it an environmental hazard. Like plastic, it's non-biodegradable and can stay in the environment for hundreds of years.

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All these factors combined with the clamor for silicone-free products from shoppers have not just pushed brands to release their own silicone-free hair care lines but also raw material providers to look for better, safer alternatives. Human Nature from the very start stayed away from any silicone-based formulation and instead use potent and nourishing blends of all-natural oils and other natural ingredients – a true feast your crowning glory deserves! So next time you replenish your hair care products, flip the bottle and look for the "-cones", "-siloxanes" and "-conols": "-cone" Methicone Trimethicone Cyclomethicone Amodimethicone Trimethylsilylamodimethicone "-siloxane" Cyclopentasiloxane Polydimethylsiloxane "-conol" Dimethiconol If you see any, put the bottle down! Your hair deserves better. Opt for those with genuinely natural formulations instead, which use natural, nourishing oils like soybean, broccoli, avocado, sunflower and coconut! Get the 101 on healthy hair (and a cool treat!) athttp://bit.ly/truthbehindsmooth

Share the lifesaving knowledge and get 10% off a single receipt purchase of Human Nature products at any of our branches or the online store!*

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Simply share in a public post any of our #ReadTheLabel posts (look for the pink heart!) and message our page with the link or screenshot to receive a 10% discount code. Tag as many friends as you like - if they share our posts, they can also claim the discount!

Watch out for more #ReadTheLabel posts coming up this week!

*This code is valid up to October 31, 2017 and is for non-dealers and non-members only. Members and dealers will enjoy 5% off on top of their existing discount.

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