We always get lots of questions about silicones, as they are in so many products and are of ongoing concern to many curly-haired consumers. I thought this month we could tackle a couple of those questions in a quick, practical manner (hopefully”> to aid in the seemingly never-ending process of ingredient scrutiny and product selection.

Which Silicones are Water Soluble?

It is difficult to actually rank the silicones in order of water solubility, simply because they are usually either soluble or not. Most silicones are water insoluble due to being non-polar, but there are a few that are chemically modified in order to render them more compatible with water. The following table lists the main types of silicones found in hair care formulations. It also indicates whether or not they are water soluble and includes which surfactants can be used to ensure good removal of the silicone from the hair. Studies have found that the water-insoluble silicones show no appreciable buildup when a shampoo containing one of the recommended surfactants was used.


Silicone

Water soluble?

Recommended cleansing agents

Dimethicone

No

SLS, SLES, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, ALS, or ALES

Dimethiconol

No

SLS, SLES, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, ALS, or ALES

Phenyl Trimethicone

No

SLS, SLES, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, ALS, or ALES

Amodimethicone

No

SLS, SLES, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, ALS, or ALES

Cyclomethicone

No

cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, other mild surfactants, or conditioner washing

PEG-modified dimethicone

Yes

cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, other mild surfactants, or conditioner washing

Dimethicone copolyol

Yes

cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, other mild surfactants, or conditioner washing

MORE: Water Soluble Silicones 101

Tonya McKay

Tonya McKay Becker is a curly-haired polymer scientist and cosmetic chemist whose academic and industrial research experience have provided her with expertise in the fundamentals and applications of polymer science and colloid chemistry. She has long had a fascination with the structure-property relationships of the complex solutions used in hair and skin care products, and how they interact with and impact these remarkable biological substrates. Ever curious, Tonya has dedicated herself for more than a decade to honing her expertise on the science of curly hair, how it differs from straight hair, and how product ingredients used on curly hair affect its health and beauty. Her passion for sharing this knowledge with others has led to her current career of educating people from all backgrounds who share an interest in this exciting field.

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