Has anyone stopped using hair products with silicones?

Yes... not just silicones, but parabens and sulfates also. My favorite brands are Acure and Derma-E. Those you can get at Whole Foods or similar.

I have thick dry frizzy hair. I use a mixture of coconut, argan, and jojoba oils before shampooing, shampoo and condition, and use a styling pomade or cream. I also decreased my heat styling and no longer blow dry my hair frequently but maybe once or twice a week at most. My hair feels healthy and I like the change I made.

Over a decade ago when I started co-washing.  I use Curly Hair Solutions and Deva Curl products.  I also co-wash with Burt's Bees conditioner.

I started using a product called AG Hair Care (Boost and Balance) a few months ago after my stylist gave me a free sample.

It doesn't have any of the "bad stuff." 

I'm "pretty sure"  there is a difference in my hair--softer and not as frizzy on the ends--but maybe I'm imagining this.

I have a friend that way back I asked her what she used on her hair because it was so beautiful (it still is).

She said "soap."  Said their family didn't have a lot of money so that is what she used.

Makes me think it might just be in the genes and the product doesn't really matter--but who knows!

If you can pick a time to just let your hair settle down by not using heat, it may get to a more curly stage. That's what I've done. I got rid of curling irons and when I do use the hair dryer it's on cool in the roots only. It went through a 30 day stage that was wavy with less curl and I wore it up most days in a messy bun for work. Then it started getting better, looking better and I started leaving it down.

I switched to Redken Color Extend Magnetics Sulfate free shampoo several years ago and my hair has never been so soft. I also use Redken Frizz Dismiss conditioner, which seems to help with frizz. Conditioner does not have sulfates in it, so you can use whatever kind you want.

I stopped using silicone and paraben about 7 years ago. My hair has never been happier. The curls are so much more defined, softer, and shinier. I use a very mild sulfate shampoo once a week, and co-wash the rest of the week.

shampoo: aveda color conserve
daily conditioner: devacurl one condition decadence
gel: I make my own with flax seeds and marshmallow root

I have. I started following the Curly Girl method over 10 years ago. When I hit menopause my hair turned from the way it was all my life (stick straight) to very wavy. I didn't have a clue as to how to take care of it so I went searching for a book. My father always told me you can learn how to do anything with a book. I found a book called, "Curly Girl" by Lorraine Massey. She started the Curly Girl Method which basically means using hair products with no silicones, no sulfates, and no parabens.  

What silicones do is coat each hair shaft like plastic. When this happens nothing good you use on your hair-like a great conditioner (a deep conditioning treatment) can get into the hair shaft to work. The longer you use a product with silicones the more damage you do to your hair. It happens very gradually but it does happen. Silicones are most often found in conditioners. They will make your hair look nice and shiny at first but eventually the damage will occur. 

Sulfates that are present in shampoos dry out your hair. 

It doesn't matter how expensive hair products are, what designer made them or what salon they come from. If they contain these products they will damage your hair. You don't have to have curly hair to benefit from using hair products without these ingredients. Every head of hair will benefit. 

Once you find a shampoo and conditioner that doesn't have them you'll need to first use your sulfate shampoo to get rid of the silicones you have in your hair. Only sulfate shampoo will remove them. Then you can move to the next step and use your new conditioner. It will take some time for your hair to recover, but it will recover and be better than ever. They make styling products without these ingredients too. 

My favorite line is rawhairorganics.com  They make hair products for straight hair, wavy and curly. At first the price might seem expensive but remember you get 24 oz. instead of the regular 18 oz. size so it's a bargain. In 2 weeks they will come out with smaller sizes for customers to try out so it'll be a cheaper way to try out the products.