I want to start with something personal, because if you’re struggling with hair loss right now, I’ve been exactly where you are.
After having C*VID back in 2023, a time when my hair felt like it was falling out in handfuls, I realized just how quickly you can lose a significant amount of hair, and it honestly scared me. And then I thought that chapter was behind me, but the following year, postpartum hair loss hit. And if you’ve experienced postpartum shedding, you know how shocking and emotional it can be. Your temples thin, your ponytail shrinks, and suddenly you don’t feel like yourself in the mirror.
What made it worse was realizing that my scalp was already stressed… and something in my routine was quietly making everything harder for my follicles to recover. It sounds dramatic, but it’s true: your shampoo might be contributing to your hair loss.
That’s when I started digging deeper into the ingredients in my hair care.
I learned that many shampoos and conditioners, even the ones marketed as “clean,” “natural,” or “organic", contain chemicals known to irritate the scalp and clog follicles. What shocked me most was how it's widely present in Kids' Hair Care Products! As a first-time mom, that alarmed me, and it completely changed how I look at hair care.
The Big Culprit Behind Hair Loss
Dimethicone is a type of silicone used in shampoos, conditioners, and serums to give hair that smooth, instant “silky” feel. On the surface, it makes hair look shiny and frizz-free…but underneath, it’s a very different story.
Research published in Hair Cosmetics: An Overview (Dias, 2015) and a 2025 review in Skin Appendage Disorders found that dimethicone and other non-water-soluble silicones can accumulate on the hair and scalp. This buildup traps debris, blocks proper cleansing, and creates an environment where follicles struggle to function.
Here’s what manufacturers don’t emphasize:
1. Dimethicone Creates a Plastic-Like Film
This coating may feel silky at first, but over time, it builds up, preventing the scalp from breathing properly. A healthy scalp needs oxygen and balanced oil flow. When that process is disrupted, hair follicles become stressed and weaker.
2. It Traps Sweat, Bacteria, and Product Residue
Because dimethicone is not water-soluble, it doesn’t fully wash out with regular shampoo. That buildup can clog follicles, inflame the scalp, and worsen shedding in people who are already vulnerable — especially during hormonal shifts or after illness.
3. It Can Lead to Breakage Misdiagnosed as “Hair Loss”
Dimethicone can make hair appear smooth while actually drying it from within. The result? More breakage that looks like thinning.
This is why so many people experience that cycle of “my hair only looks good right after I wash it” followed by limp, dull roots and shedding throughout the week.
And when your hair is already under stress, from illness, postpartum shifts, hormones, or inflammation, silicone buildup can be the tipping point that intensifies shedding. That’s exactly what I lived through. My scalp felt tight, irritated, and congested — and at the time, I didn’t realize the “healthy-looking” products I trusted were loaded with dimethicone that wasn’t rinsing out. It was emotionally overwhelming.
Should I Use Minoxidil for Hair Growth?
What I hate the most is how I was immediately recommended to use minoxidil, also known as Rogaine. It’s one of the most well-known hair-loss treatments, but what most people don’t realize is that it comes with real drawbacks. Minoxidil can sometimes cause irritation, inflammation, and flaking on the scalp. But the part that concerns me most is that once you start using it, you often have to keep using it long-term to maintain any results. When you stop, many people experience “shedding shock,” where the hair they gained (and sometimes even more) starts falling out again. For women already dealing with postpartum changes, stress, or hormonal shifts, that cycle can feel incredibly discouraging. I personally didn’t want to depend on a drug forever or worry about the side effects, so I focused instead on solutions that support the scalp naturally and work with the body rather than against it.
Everything changed when I removed dimethicone-heavy products, supported my scalp, and returned to something I always trust: dermarolling.
My Hair Growth Secret
Dermarolling helped restore circulation, soothe my scalp, and support healthier follicle activity. Research published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology shows that microneedling can encourage a healthier environment for growth, which is exactly what my scalp needed!
And if you want to learn the proper and safe technique I personally use, here’s my full dermaroller tutorial on how to grow hair to be thicker, longer, and stronger:
I also simplified my routine and used products that actually supported my scalp instead of suffocating it. The two that helped me the most:
- A natural boar-bristle brush
- Real Individual Needles Dermaroller (Use code LEI15 for 15% off) + Aloe Vera
- Clean, Organic Dry Shampoo
These changes made such a difference. My scalp felt lighter and cleaner. The tightness disappeared. I started seeing new growth, tiny baby hairs that gave me so much hope. And slowly, month by month, my confidence came back.
So my best advice? Start by checking what’s in your products. Removing dimethicone is one of the simplest, most empowering steps you can take. Your scalp needs clarity, not coating. Your follicles need room to breathe.
Clean, silicone-free hair products paired with consistent, safe dermarolling can help your hair return to a place of strength, resilience, and natural beauty, just like mine did. Thank you for reading, till next time, my Amber Babies! Please don't forget to subscribe and follow me on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok 🥳