Hi! Just my 2 cents, but my two sisters have used Pantene for years and they both have thick, long hair that would grow forever if they didn't cut it now and then.

They even "abuse" it--brushing it out when it is wet with a plastic bristle brush, rubbing it dry with a towel, using metal-clasp hairties, etc. 

So--I wouldn't worry about cones if I were you.  I think you can safely grow your hair to waist length while using them.  The most important thing I have found, in the quest for long hair,  is to make sure your ends especially don't get dried and damaged.  Oil the ends generously, the length moderately, and go ahead and use cones.

I don't know how to tell if cones have damaged your hair or not--I really don't know much about them at all!!!       Just use what ever makes your hair look the best.  (Chewing gum, tar, and super glue not recommended...)

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LOL Christiana... 

Granted, each of us can only speak from personal experience, myself included, so I don't think that any one of us could really tell you what to do with your own hair.

I personally have used Pantene for years with awesome results. It just plain works better for my hair than anything else out there.
    Of course, I have extremely fine, thin, straight hair which tangles hopelessly as such texture is prone to doing. The cones in Pantene (actually, Dimethicone is the only one they now use) really help with this. Not to mention all of that extra conditioning and shine... 

I have used many other brands with countless different formulations; the most recent being Herbal Essences which causes dryness, static and massive tangles in my hair, even if I use oil. And the cheaper brands (like Suave) turn my hair into a dry, stringy, gummy mess...not to mention the harsh detergents. 
    So yeah, finally discovering Pantene's Daily Moisture Renewal was like a Godsend to me. I've had better results with it than anything else.
    I do clarify with Pantene's Purity shampoo and a distilled white vinegar rinse once a week so I don't get too much build-up of cones & conditioners. I also spray a mixture of oil & water onto the very ends of my hair. It's not entirely necessary, but it keeps the tips nice & moisturized so they don't split & I am able to put more time in between trims. 

More than anything, I think it's important to just try new & different things to learn what works best for your hair. Products are just one of those things that you can't know if you like or not until you try them. It can be a bit frustrating (and expensive) at times, but just try to use good judgment in what you think will benefit your hair best. Once you find the ideal product or line, you find hair bliss. 

Do be sure and report your results back here, as I'm sure all of us are on the lookout for a tip-off or two. 

Best of luck & happy growing.

lol no kidding, LJ.

jojoba, cones, sulfates, DMR, ACV, BBB, WC, WCC, CWC, C-COW-C, S&C...WTF? 

Cones (silicone derived ingredients) can build up on the hair shaft and eventually make the hair very brittle when no moisture can get to the hair itself. 

Some hair can handle the -cones better than others.  The amount of -cones can also be a factor.  Some -cones are considered water soluble, which would not build up on the hair.  Amodimethicone when combined with Centrmonium Chloride is an example of a cone that does not build up on the hair.

I have fine, thin wavy hair that is at BSL right now and also is chemically treated.  I have tried going cone free, and it worked well last summer during the humid summer when my hair was(slightly) shorter. but all of a sudden, this winter, with a bit of extra length, or maybe it's the dryness from the artificial heat, my hair has been tangling badly, no matter what I use.
I've had to go back to 'cones.  I make sure to use water soluble cones in good quality products and to do my vinegar rinse.
I've heard cones can be damaging but honestly,I don't think I can have long hair(anything past this length anyway) without cones.  I am not planning to color treat my hair any more, and am slowly cutting off the old dyed hair, so maybe when(the dye) is all gone things will be different.  My tangles were so bad I had to break out my old Infusium 23 spray.  I also use LHL leave in which has a water soluble cone.
I've been switching back and forth between no cones and cones because I use non-sulfate shampoos twice a week.  I figure the infrequent use, along with my vinegar rinses of about twice a month, keeps away build up. I've been doing this routine for about 6 months and haven't noticed any buildup- and neither has my stylist.