TikTok video shows hairdresser removing plastic residue from hair left 'by silicone and paraben' products

‘This is what drugstore products can do to your hair!’ says Sydney Augusta

A video showing a hair stylist pulling a plastic-like substance from her hair has been shared online to highlight what some products can do.

In a video posted to the TikTok app, Seattle-based hairstylist Sydney Augusta can be seen using a pair of scissors to extract the substance from a strand of her hair.

She claims the process highlights the damage supermarket-bought products that include parabens and silicones can have on people’s hair.

“This is what drugstore products can do to your hair!” Ms August says in the clip, which had been viewed more than 8 million times as of Friday afternoon. “Say no to silicones and parabens!”

In the video, Augusta can be seen using one blade from an open pair of hairdressing scissors to scrape down a chunk of her hair.

A goopy substance begins to gather on the scissor blade as Augusta moves it through her hair.

By the end of the short clip, the substance has gathered in a clump at the end of her hair. This, Augusta says, is the result of using synthetic products on her hair.

Parabens and para-hydroxybenzoic acid are synthetically produced preservatives used in cosmetics and food.

@sydandmalone

SO. SATISFYING. 😮 ##hairstylistcheck ##MoodBoost ##foryoupage

♬ My Hair Is Oily – Anton Barbeau

The most common use for parabens is as a preservative in cosmetics and personal care products such as shampoo, conditioner and deodorants, according to Breast Cancer UK.

Meanwhile, silicones are a type of synthetic polymer – a flexible, plastic-like material that can be moulded for different uses and applications.

Silicones are mostly found in products that are used to give the hair a smooth, frizz-free look by coating the hair in moisture.

Both substances have been registered as safe to use in the UK but their inclusion in hair products has been controversial, with some people claiming they can be damaging if used long-term.

“Silicone will weigh the hair down, making it limp, lifeless, and, with time, very dull,” celebrity hairstylist Shai Amiel told Coveteur.

"It prevents moisture from penetrating the hair shaft and becomes like a magnet for dirt and other ingredients. So in essence, we get a good shine for a couple of days, but over time it will attract more buildup on the hair.

"With time it will dry the hair out because it won’t allow in the conditioner and it ends up sitting on the surface. Due to a lack of moisture, the hair will become very brittle and could lead to frizz and breakage."