No haircare regime is complete without a perfect conditioner. And when it comes to choosing a conditioner, most of us look for silicone-free options. No doubt that silicone conditioners prevent hair from damage and lock moisture for scalp hydration. The fact is they offer short-term and superficial benefits. They tame frizzy hair by creating a waterproof coating around your hair cuticles and shaft.

But it wipes off easily with shampoo, and your hair remain dry. You don’t see any large difference. According to Joshua Zeichner, MD, associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York “silicones accumulate on the hair over time, weighing it down. The hairs then become heavy and greasy as more and more silicone deposits on the hair.”

So it wouldn't be wrong to say that such conditioners just create an illusion of providing healthy hair. Here's why you must switch to the best silicone-free conditioners that do their job perfectly and give you beautiful hair, like Zendaya or Jennifer Garner. 

Below we have listed some of our recommendations for no-silicone conditioners that are a haircare staple and leave you with smooth and shiny hair strands. We have picked these products based on our thorough research and real-time experiences so you can be least assured of safety. 

• 1
  Best Overall

  L'Oreal Paris EverStrong Thickening Sulfate Free Conditioner

  Buy on Amazon

Pamper your hair with the L'Oreal Paris EverStrong conditioner. Infused with natural botanicals like rosemary extract, the thickening shampoo plus conditioner is best for fragile, fine, or thin hair types. It deeply repairs your damaged hair strands and adds a new life. If you're frustrated with split ends and breakages, this product is your helping hand. It's an anti-breakage formula that nourishes your scalp and hair strands to minimize breakdown. Unlike other shampoos and conditioners, this duo works well on color-treated hair while strengthening hair follicles. 

2

Best for Dryness

Tree to Tub Moisturizing Conditioner for Dry Hair & Dry Scalp

Buy on Amazon

Say goodbye to your dry scalp with Tree to Tub moisturizing conditioner. Made with the goodness of argan and coconut oil, this 8.5oz bottle restores hydration and reduces flakiness to all hair types- thick, curly, thin, long, etc. It quenches your scalp's thirst leaving your hair smooth and manageable. Of course, it helps you get rid of tangles and flyaways. The weightless formula adds natural bounce and shine to your hair strands. Your hair will become so soft that you can't resist playing with them.

3

Best for Hair Repair

Maple Holistics Argan Oil Conditioner

Buy on Amazon

This argan conditioner by Maple Holistics gives your dry and curly hair a hydration boost and volumizes your strands. Enriched with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, Moroccan oil, pomegranate, hibiscus, etc., the natural conditioner protects your hair from damage, controls frizz, and improves moisturization. It's a total repair formula free from sulfate, silicone, and other harsh chemicals and promotes hair growth. Drawing from our experience, the conditioner is ideal for everyday use. But make sure to determine its amount for application depending on your needs. 

4

Natural Curl Definer

Not Your Mother's Naturals Tahitian Gardenia Flower Butter Curl Defining Conditioner

Buy on Amazon

The first which will attract your eyeballs is the bottle's design and color. It's a super cute pink bottle by Not Your Mother's and is fully loaded with botanicals and organic ingredients that set and defines your curly hair. Whatever your hair type is, this blend will replenish your scalp and restore bounce for a natural-like finish. The best part is it comes in a pump bottle for ease of application and avoids mess. It's one of the best silicone-free conditioners for curly hair that you'll definitely like to add to your haircare kit. 

5

Best for Daily Use

Verb Ghost Conditioner

Buy on Amazon

Offering oodles of weightless hydration is something this ghost conditioner by Verb is known for, and it rightly gets the name as it leaves no tacky residue or buildup on your hair after rinsing. The silicone-free conditioner is formulated with aloe extracts, and cacao butter which deliver oodles of nourishment to your precious hair, and revive its appearance. It contains hydrolyzed vegetable proteins that act as natural film-formers to smoothen and detangle your hair while also replenishing it — a fantastic choice for people with dull, dry, and fine hair. And, the product smells like a dream — something you cannot resist but use for your hair!

6

StBotanica Moroccan Argan Hair Conditioner

Buy on Amazon

When it's about the best haircare brands, StBotanica deserves a sweet top spot on our list. This ultra-rich blend of argan and vitamin E is a solution to all your hair woes. The essential nutrients penetrate deeply into the hair strands and start nourishing them. Packed in a customized bottle, the formula is simple to use. Wash your hair with StBotanica Moroccan Argan shampoo. Apply the conditioner in a required amount on hair strands (avoid scalp). Wash off the conditioner and get silky smooth hair all day. 

7

Deeply Cleanses

SheaMoisture Silicone Free Conditioner

Buy on Amazon

This product will be a hit for those frustrated with dry, flaky, and greasy hair. The SheaMoisture conditioner for curly hair is formulated with plant extracts like sugarcane and meadowfoam that intensely cleanses dry hair and prevents moisture loss keeping the scalp and hair hydrated. This magical formula is your haircare professional at home, so if you've any appointments for a salon, cancel them and bring on this conditioner for a perfect haircare treatment and get salon-worthy results. 

8

Your Personal Salon

Bouclème Curl Conditioner

Buy on Amazon

You don't need to spend thousands of bucks to have natural and stunning curls like Blake Lively or Taylor Swift. All you need is an appropriate silicone-free conditioner to awaken your dull and dead curls again. And this Bouclème Curl Conditioner is your good-to-go partner helping you achieve your fav curl looks. Unlocking the power of coconut oil, argan, and vitamin E, the conditioner absorbs deep into hair cuticles and maintains moisture balance. It defends your hair against environmental stresses like pollution and prevents hair damage. Interestingly, the brand believes in sustainability and packages its products with 100% recyclable materials. 

9

Lightweight

Aveda Rosemary Mint Conditioner

Buy on Amazon

Aveda's liquid conditioner is a lightweight formulation that doesn't make you feel heavy and uncomfortable after application. It calms and soothes your scalp. No matter whether you've oily, dry, or sensitive scalp or hair type, the works equally well on all. What's more the conditioner runs smoothly on your hair strands from top to bottom without forming any clumps. Based on our first-hand experience, the product exceptionally defines and manages fine hair as well as enhances volume.

10

Scientific Formula

Accure Curiously Clarifying Conditioner

Buy on Amazon

If you wish to go beyond your basic, conventional hair products, try Accure Clarifying Conditioner to level up your haircare routine. It's an ultra-scientific formulation featuring lemongrass and argan that works by nourishing and moisturizing the scalp and hair roots. This facilitates hair growth and minimizes hair dryness and damage. The product is best suited for color-treated all hair types. The conditioner is packed in a classic sleek designed bottle with a tight cap that prevents leakage. 

11

Best for Daily Use

Bumble and Bumble Seaweed Conditioner

Buy on Amazon

Made with marine botanicals like kelp and algae, Bumble and Bumble conditioner is an excellent taming formula for thick, curly, and unruly hair. It's a hydrating shampoo and is mild on the scalp. Further, it gently cleanses and moisturizes your dry and frizzy hair without adding weight, meaning you won't feel heavy on your head. If you wash your hair frequently, this would be an ideal pick. Unlike regular cleansers, this conditioner won't wipe off your scalp's natural oil and will maintain the oil and moisture balance.

12

L'Occitane Intensive Repair Conditioner for Damaged Hair

Buy on Amazon

Reveal the true shine of your hair with this L'Occitane Intensive Repair Conditioner. Every woman deserves healthy, lustrous, and bouncy hair to take over the world. And this product exactly offers the same. It's a fusion of 100% natural oils, orange, lavender, oat proteins, and Angelica (wild celery) that work on hair from root to tip and strengthen them. The cream gives you 3X stronger hair compared to other traditional shampoos and conditioners. Our findings show that the product features a highly natural complex that amplifies your hair's radiance and texture. 

We expect you have found our list of the best silicone-free conditioners useful. Now it's time to know the merits and demerits of silicone.

Silicone has been a staple haircare ingredient that we've been for decades due to its wide array of benefits. From reducing frizz to smoothening hair strands, silicone does it all. However, many people are quitting silicone-based haircare products and are looking for more sustainable options. The reason is that regular use of silicone can damage hair and may cause scalp irritation leading to hair problems.

Silicone works by forming a protective layer on your scalp and hair strands to inhibit moisture loss and enable them to withstand environmental changes. But excessive use of silicone shampoos and conditioners thickens this protective layer blocking the entry of other nutrients into the hair follicles. 

Over time, this makes your hair dry and dull, and you may experience hair fall and breakage. Since silicone is not soluble in water, it doesn't wash off easily with a regular wash. Technically, silicone isn't a toxic chemical and doesn't harm your physical health. The only issue is it affects your hair health and makes your scalp and strands vulnerable to damage. So, the solution could be switching to silicone-free and natural products to avoid complications. 

Let's check out some benefits of using silicone-free shampoos and conditioners. 

It's great that you are taking a big leap and restructuring your haircare routine by dumping off your silicone shampoos and conditioners. These days our focus is shifting to natural options with zero silicone as the component triggers hair problems more rather than solving them. Here are some benefits that silicone-free conditioners can bless you with. 

Improves scalp health 

As you know, most hair problems start with hair roots and scalp, so why not tackle them first? If you have an itchy or delicate scalp, using shampoos or conditioners without silicone might suppress or relieve some of your symptoms. That's because they unclog the follicles and remove residue allowing penetration of nutrients and air deep into the layers. This reduces inflammation and soothes your scalp. 

Hydrates hair 

Unlike silicone hair products, the free versions don't ban the entry of essential nutrients and moisture leaving your mane volumized and hydrated. 

Tames flyaways and frizz 

Whether your frizz or flyaways are natural or due to environmental factors, conditioners and shampoos without silicone always come in handy to prevent your hair from being a mess. As per our contributor, Dr. Anna Chacon, a board-certified dermatologist, silicone-free conditioners can effectively manage frizz by hydrating the hair and sealing the hair's cuticle layer. However, they may not provide the same level of sleekness and shine as silicone-based products. Hair products infused with essential oils, plant extracts, and organic ingredients tame your frizzy mane and make them manageable.

Define your curls 

For curly hair fans, silicone is a big no ingredient. Though it detangles those stubborn locks, it can weigh your hair down and vanish your natural curls leaving your strands dead and flat. Whereas natural and no silicone products revive your lifeless mane and improve volume. As per our contributor, Dr. Anna Chacon, the usage of silicone or silicone-free products for tangles can depend on your specific hair type and needs. Silicone products can provide a sleek, smooth finish and help to detangle hair, but they can also build up over time and weigh hair down. She says, “In my experience, it can be beneficial to alternate between silicone and silicone-free products. This can help to prevent buildup while still reaping the benefits of silicone.”

Conclusion 

The best Silicone-free hair products are a must-have haircare staple that deserves a spot in your bathroom. It can make your hair look silky, smooth, and glossy. Not just that, the conditioners volumize your mane and remove dirt, dust, flakes, excess oil, and all sorts of residues forming greasy layers on your scalp. Cleaning these let your hair follicles breathe and absorb nutrients deep into the skin layers. When you have to purchase silicone-free conditioners, make sure they are free from harsh chemicals and irritants like sulfates, mineral oils, parabens, etc. They should be gentle on your scalp and hair and help achieve your haircare goals. 

Contributor:Dr. Anna Chacon, M.D. Dermatologist, MyPsoriasisTeam