Ingredient Spotlight - DAIKON SEED EXTRACT

Hi! Welcome to the ingredient spotlight, where I tell you exactly what is in your StarBars. Today I’ll talk about daikon seed extract, which is used in all of our conditioners.

I’m sure you’ve heard that you don’t want silicone in your hair products. Well why not? Silicone (often listed as dimethicone or cyclomethicone) makes hair look great. By coating each strand of hair with a waterproof barrier, silicone gives your hair a silky, frizz-free appearance. It also adds slip and makes it easier to comb and detangle wet hair. It protects from heat and makes damaged hair appear healthier. 

When I started formulating StarBars, I bought a bottle of dimethicone. I wanted to add all the features that silicone brings to the table. 

But after a while, I realized that maybe adding silicone to our shampoo and conditioner bars wasn’t the best idea. Silicones actually build up on the hair over time, causing it to look limp and flat. The coating that smooths hair also weakens hair, leading to breakage. So the original WOW! Factor soon becomes the “why does my hair look so bad now?”

Plus, silicone is made to withstand water. It takes 50-500 years for it to break down. Do you really want to wash that down the drain? 

Enter Daikon seed extract! Daikon root, which is similar to a radish, is often used in asian foods, and it’s super delicious. The extract from its seeds is a light colored, odorless liquid. When added to hair products, it is delightfully similar to synthetic silicone. It imparts a delicate slip with good absorption, while adding strength and shine to hair. In fact, it has been shown to out-perform chemical silicones.

Daikon seed extract doesn’t cause buildup on hair. It washes out cleanly and doesn’t pollute the water on its way down the drain. 

You will find daikon seed extract in all our conditioners - Strength, Clarity, Protect and Freedom.