People seem to be becoming more aware of the ingredients in the hair and skin care products they use. Silicones are one of the ingredients that are seen as controversial. However, the question remains whether this is justified.
What are silicones?
Silicones are synthetic substances made up of a chain of oxygen atoms and silicon atoms. The oxygen atom no longer has any free bonds; the silicon atom, on the other hand, can be bonded to several other elements. In most cases these are carbon and hydrogen atoms. The length of the chain and the connections with the atoms influence the final properties of a silicone molecule. Characteristic of all types of molecules is that they conduct heat poorly, are not or hardly toxic and are resistant to UV radiation and high or low temperatures. It is these properties that make silicone so popular within the cosmetics industry. You can recognize silicone by the addition -cone or -xane on the ingredients list of a product.
Different types of silicone
In fact, there are countless silicones; it is the mutual relationships and structure of a molecule that determine the final properties of the silicone in question. It is therefore difficult to mention all these silicones and their specific properties in one breath; In short, silicones with cosmetic applications can be divided into three categories; the water-soluble silicones , the water-insoluble silicones and the volatile silicones . The first group can be removed by water, the second group can only be removed with the help of oils or cleaners, such as sulphates. The third group consists of silicones that evaporate quickly after applying the product.
Effect on skin and hair
Silicones are popular in both hair and skin care because of the property that they form a layer on the skin or around the hair. Silicones in hair products make the hair soft, supple and easy to comb; On the skin, this layer ensures that moisture is retained in the skin and imperfections are filled. Silicone also has a protective function for skin and hair due to its high temperature and often water resistance. In addition, the addition of silicone improves the spreadability of creams, care products and make-up.There is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of silicone in cosmetics. Opponents claim that they seal off the hair and skin, preventing nutrients from entering and potentially drying out the skin and hair over time. However, this does not appear to be entirely the case; Although there is indeed a layer, it is not that the skin is completely closed off. It has also never been proven that silicones worsen acne. However, it is true that silicones can have an adverse effect when used in hair care. Although the silicones in themselves are not harmful to the hair, they can often only be removed by aggressive cleaning agents such as sulphates. Using this can damage and dry out the hair in the long term. Although silicone also forms a layer on the skin, there are no known adverse effects regarding the use of sulphates. I suspect this is due to the production of sebum in the face, an oily fluid that silicone can potentially dissolve in. However, little is known about this.However, everyone has different skin and hair. Some swear by a completely silicone-free existence, while others have no problems using it. It is therefore advisable to see what the effects are on your own skin and hair and draw your own conclusions.