Silicone conditioners - is there any difference?

I'm not sure I understood your question, but as far as I know no silicone can prevent breakage, they're most likely to cause breakage on the long run.

there are two kinds of silicones, water-soluble ones and non-water soluble ones. Water soluble silicones won't stick to the hair and you don't need anything "special" to remove them as water is enough to wash them away. They are less likely to damage your hair. Dimethicone copolyol, hydrolyzed wheat protein are water soluble silicones. Non-water soluble ones are the ones that stick to your hair and potentially damage it. They can create build-up and they are so heavy that they coat the hair and make it impossible for oils and other treatment products to actually enter the hair fibers, and you need sulphates to get rid of them (so you need a shampoo like the clarifying ones, and that will dry your hair out.) Most silicones are like this. Dimethicone, amodimethicone, dimethiconol, cyclomethicone...

I bought a Tresemme conditioner, that has two silicones very high in the ingredients list, and it makes my hair *feel* great, but is my way of thinking, the higher the silicone - the better, correct?

The higher an ingredient is placed in the list, the more you have of it. So if you are looking for a conditioner that has few silicones, they should be at the lowest part of the ingredients list.

I'm not sure this is helpful, let me know if I understood your question wrong!

You did, however, I have heard different things in terms of what silicones can do.

I know they just cover up the damage and coat the hair making it seem like there's no damage, but I have read they do protect your hair from mechanical breakage, they do strengthen the hair (artificially) and do make your hair look soft and shiny.

Whether we like it or not, silicones are the best conditioning agents that give instant results and long term results if used consistently.

My question regarded which silicones are best at getting into the hair and really strengthening it artifically helping with the breakage etc, in terms of.. is dimethicone better than amodimethicone? or are all cones/xanes really the same?

Thank You!

There are other reasons use of silicones aren't good for us dyers. It blocks the dye, either stopping it dying in the first place or causing uneven fading.

I can't comment on what you've said though, it's not something I've ever heard.

My question regarded which silicones are best at getting into the hair and really strengthening it artifically helping with the breakage etc, in terms of.. is dimethicone better than amodimethicone? or are all cones/xanes really the same?
Thank You!

I think they are pretty much the same from this point of view. Dimethicone is one of the worst silicones as it's very heavy, it will create build up and stick to the hair a lot. Amodimethicone is not as bad and still it works pretty much in the same way.. same as this one are cyclomethicone and dimethicone copolyol. I mean, they will make your hair shiny and healthy looking but won't build up as much as dimethicone for example. But I have no idea of which silicone works best at this...

Silicones don't cause long-term improvements to hair. They don't penetrate or nourish the hair, they just form a physical coating on the outside of the hairshaft. This coating prevents oil and water from leaving the hair but also stops it entering, which is why long term silicone use can actually dry your hair out.
The only exception I am aware of is that a specific type of amodimethicone has been shown to be able to penetrate bleached hair to a degree.

It was mentioned on another thread that silicone is used in certain products (such as the XXL box dyes) as a delivery method. So the silicone actually helps the intake of color.
I dont know which silicones do that but maybe try googling it and go from there.
Otherwise i think it was Scott Cornwall who posted it so you could try getting in touch with him. He is very nice and helpful.

would anyone know which conditioners are best to use? either the water based silicone ones, or silicone free ones?  As i'm sure anyone dying there hair a lot wants the colours to penetrate best, plus i dont think im keen on having silicone ones that are going to dry my hair out long term :S

I use fructis smooth and sleek. It's silicone free.

I'm in love with the new Garnier Ultimate Blends:  The Sleek Restorer.  It's silicone-free.

I'm in love with the new Garnier Ultimate Blends:  The Sleek Restorer.  It's silicone-free.

I agree, this stuff is great!

I'm in love with the new Garnier Ultimate Blends:  The Sleek Restorer.  It's silicone-free.

I had to google this as I use these products too and I am in love with them, but they are sold with a totally different name here. I had a look and found out they don't even sell the same ones in every country and they might differ a little in the way they advertise them. For example, the one that is sold as The Nourishing Repairer in the UK is sold as a range for curly, frizzy hair here. So weird... Anyway, this one you mentioned is really good indeed. My favourite from this brand, though, is with mango and tiaré flowers. It's great and smells so good