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Silicones are Hi-Tech materials commonly blended in Hair & Skin Care formulations. They are acknowledged for their high-performance results and multi-functional benefits. Their usage has been in high gear over the last two decades as new functionalized silicone polymers are introduced into the market. The consumer generally considers silicones as oils that work just like any other natural emollients, oils, and butter. Recently, consumer sections have also raised some reservations about the silicone application in hair care products, particularly products for curly hair. They have been discussed to cause buildup, oily surface layers, and poor curl behaviour. However, these observations may not be accurate.
Today, a whole new range of silicones is available to cosmetic chemists with added diversification and chemical modifications promising unique benefits. Scientific studies involving new generation functionalized silicones demonstrate that silicones are excellent in offering superior aesthetic and cosmetic benefits. They offer ease in wet & dry combing, softness, minimise fiber-to-fiber friction, lustrous shine & gloss, moisture retention, improve colour lock, and provide photoprotection. New materials are available that do not cause any buildup, greasiness, or cause damage to your curl shape. That’s why we believe; silicones are amazing and should be explored scientifically. They are fully Curl Friendly and improve your curly hair health.
So, do we know The Silicones? And how they are friendly to curly hair consumers? Let’s go through some basics
Silicones & Curly Hair
Curly hairs have characteristic physical & morphological features which make them quite distinct from all other hair types. The microscopic analysis highlights a significant variation in fiber diameter along the hair shaft. Moreover, they have a critically smaller diameter at the curvature site (curl point). At this particular site, hair is weak, and fragile, and may even break easily by applying minimal physical force. These structural differences significantly influence the product development & formulation science for curly hair. They are fragile, vulnerable to break, and may get frizzed very quickly under the influence of outdoor humidity and temperature. That’s why curly hair requires customised hair care formulations that meet curly hair specifications.
Generally, consumer understanding is that silicones are not suitable for curly hair. Most consumers believe, silicones are viscous, high molecular weight, and highly hydrophobic (oily) in nature. They stick to hair fibers and make hair oily & greasy. However, this is not always true. New generation silicones are even water-soluble, thin, and do not cause any buildup at all. They are suitable for the Curly Girl Method to achieve a well-defined curl pattern. Moreover, researchers have developed a new active delivery mechanism to extract the maximum benefits of silicones. Here, silicones are solubilised and emulsified using cationic conditioning agents to make them lighter and water friendly. One particular example is amino-functional silicones, commonly known as Amodimethicone. Our Alldoer for curls leave-in conditioner also contains this special silicone ingredient because of its multi-functionality and high-resolution results. It is fiber friendly and does not cause any buildup because it washes off easily on subsequent shampoo.
Amodimethicone & its cationic emulsion in Curly hair Leave-in Conditioner
Amodimethicone is completely different from traditional silicones e.g. Dimethicone, Simethicone, & Phenyltrimethicone, etc. It contains amino (-NH2) groups attached to the silicone backbone. This amino group greatly alters the physical & chemical properties of parent silicone molecules. The resultant amino silicones (Amodimethicone) become more hydrophilic (water-loving) due to the hydrophilic nature of amino groups. This Amodimethicone is further modified by emulsifying it in water employing surfactants, cetrimonium chloride, and tridecth-12. Both these surfactants boost the water solubility of Amodimethicone and make it Curl Friendly water-soluble silicone. Cetrimonium Chloride is a cationic conditioning agent which makes hair soft, detangles, and improves wet & dry combing. Whereas, Tridecth-12, is a non-ionic surfactant that is added to stabilize Amodimethicone, a water-based product. The combination gives a unique composition (DC 939) which is water-thin having a higher affinity to the hair fiber without any oil or greasy feel. Being a Curly friendly water-soluble silicone, it is easy to wash off. The product is completely Curl Friendly and can be applied for great results in Curly Girl Method (CGM). This is the ideal composition you need for curly hair. The key benefits of having DC 939 in Leave-in conditioner are
- Ease of wet & dry combing
- Detangles your curls
- Improves hair cuticular layer by minimising the drag force or fiber friction
- Visually characteristic shine
- NO buildup at all, ease of wash off
- Dry softness
- Anti-frizz
- Improves hair moisture content and prevents any moisture loss during dry & cold weather conditions
- Photoprotection against UV solar radiation
- Colour lock prevent the colour bleeding
A synergy of DC 939 Silicone with other ingredients: Our Leave-in Conditioner
Curly hair requires c and carefully designed products. This is a fact that consumers, as well as formulators, acknowledge. Understanding the demands of curly hair consumers, our Alldoer for curls leave-in conditioner is a blend of natural oils, butter, and cationic silicone to efficiently detangle & condition curly hairs. Shea butter, Argan, Avocado & Grapeseed oil ensures a uniform hair coating lubricating the hair shaft. They enhance the hair shine synergistically, working with amodimethicone. Moreover, positively charged cationic conditioning agents, e.g. Behentrimonium Chloride & cetrimonium chloride, make hair soft and control any static charge buildup combating frizz. Herbal extracts of Amla, Retha, Ginger, and curry lead soothe the scalp and work as an anti-inflammatory. Also, it heightens the mildness of the overall product and its bio-sustainability score. The formulation is s using non-ionic emulsifiers, PEG-150 distearate and Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate. These ingredients are Curl Friendly and do not lead to any buildup. These emulsifiers are hydrophilic (water-loving) and thus demonstrate their ability to keep silicones stable in the water phase and eventually ease rinse off. The oils, amodimethicone, and cationics team up working together to have a well-organized curl definition, improve curly body, and have a beautiful curly hair outlook.
Formulation ingredient listing:
Water(Aqua), Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera), Sodium Gluconate, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Glyceryl Stearate (and) PEG 100 Stearate( Softmul 165), Emulsifying Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Argania Spinosa(Argan) Oil, Persea Americana(Avocado) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grapeseed) Oil, Peg 150 Distearate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium PCA, D Panthenol, DC 939, Coco Amido Propyl Betaine, Botanical Extract Of Curry Leaf, Phyllanthus Emblica (Amla), Sapindus Mukorossi (Reetha), Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola), Hibiscus, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin, Zingiber Officinale(Ginger) Extract, Cocos Nucifera(Coconut) Oil, Chamomile Oil, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Oil, Medium-Chain Triglyceride (MCT) Oil And Blend Of Essential Oil Frag.
Remember (Home Taking)!!!!
Silicones are amazing materials that improve hair quality. It is vital to communicate; all silicones are not the same. Modern high-tech functionalized silicones do not cause any buildup at all. They are more hydrophilic (water-loving) and thus are easy to rinse off. Alldoer for curls leave-in conditioner is an excellent example of having such modern silicones blended with nature-derived emollients to deliver excellent curl definition. The amodimethicone & rest of the formulation are curl-friendly. It has been studied & evaluated by our panel of experts for curly hairs. We promise the quality and are optimistic it meets your expectations.
Give it a try!
Further reading!
- Robbins, C. R., Chemical and physical behaviour of human hair. 4th ed.; Springer-Verlag: New York, 2002.
- Zviak, C., The Science of Hair Care. Taylor & Francis: 2005.
- Schueller, R.; Romanowski, P., Conditioning Agents for Hair and Skin. Taylor & Francis: 1999.
- O'Lenick, A. J., Silicones for personal care. Allured Pub. Carol Stream, IL: 2008
- Rojas Wahl Roy, U.; Nicholson, J. R.; Kerschner Judith, L., Silicones in Personal Care Applications. In Cosmetic Nanotechnology, American Chemical Society: 2007; Vol. 961, pp 177-189.
- Yahagi, K., Silicones as conditioning agents in shampoos. J. Soc. Cosmet. Chem. 1992, 43 (5), 275-284.