How to identify silicones in product ingredient list?

**DanceInSunshine** · September 3rd, 2018, 11:48 AM

Hey! I’ve recently decided to make the switch to natural shampoo and conditioner with no silicones, parabens, or phthalates. The labeling very clearly states that it doesn’t have any of these things, so that makes it easy

. I want to make sure my styling products/leave-ins don’t have silicones either, but if the labeling doesn’t say either way, how do I know? What names should I look for on the ingredients list that indicate silicones?

**littlestarface** · September 3rd, 2018, 12:00 PM

Here is a thread that's good to read.

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com...d.php?t=122421

**MusicalSpoons** · September 3rd, 2018, 12:40 PM

They usually end in -cone, -conol, -xane. This blog post gives lots of examples: http://thebeautybrains.com/2010/06/a...ilicone-savvy/

A couple of things not mentioned on the thread littlestarface linked above:
Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone might look a bit like cones in an ingredient list but they're not; they're preservatives.
Cyclopentasiloxane is apparently a volatile silicone which evaporates, so doesn't build up.
Amodimethicone is not water-soluble, but does not build up on itself. It creates the first layer, attaching to areas of the hair, but no more than that first layer in any area will attach.

This was mentioned in the linked thread but is worth reiterating, in case it's of use to you or anyone else stopping by to read the thread: silicones with a PEG- prefix are water-soluble by themselves (but as always, the exact formulation of a product will determine the effect it has overall).

Oops, re-reading your post I see you're steering clear of silicones in favour of more natural products rather than because of build-up potential so half of my comment might be irrelevant to you, but I'll leave all the above info here anyway in case it's relevant to others

**Ylva** · September 3rd, 2018, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by MusicalSpoons

Cyclopentasiloxane is apparently a volatile silicone which evaporates, so doesn't build up.

How does it evaporate? Just over time? Does it affect the feeling of the hair? Does the hair start to feel less slippy over time? Is it still water-insoluble even though it ****s off on its own? So many questions!

**MusicalSpoons** · September 3rd, 2018, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by Ylva

How does it evaporate? Just over time? Does it affect the feeling of the hair? Does the hair start to feel less slippy over time? Is it still water-insoluble even though it ****s off on its own? So many questions!

Heh, I ran into these kinds of questions myself checking to make sure I was giving correct information, but it's not something I'm currently considering using so didn't delve much deeper. However I did find that, like any other ingredient, it seems different people's hair reacts differently to it! So that's no help, sorry.

(I'm also curious to know what word you wrote to invoke the automatic forum censoring - it makes me laugh when innocent words fall foul of the filter

)

**Ylva** · September 3rd, 2018, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by MusicalSpoons

Heh, I ran into these kinds of questions myself checking to make sure I was giving correct information, but it's not something I'm currently considering using so didn't delve much deeper. However I did find that, like any other ingredient, it seems different people's hair reacts differently to it! So that's no help, sorry.

(I'm also curious to know what word you wrote to invoke the automatic forum censoring - it makes me laugh when innocent words fall foul of the filter

)

Ah, I see! No matter then. Thank you.

LOL, it was far from innocent, but I trusted that the automatic censoring would cover for me! I was just in a hurry when I wrote that and couldn't come up with any other expression!

**nycelle** · September 3rd, 2018, 07:28 PM

Silicones aren't too hard these days, but how do you identify Phthalates or Parabens?

I can't, so I just use a brand that's free of all of them. That's the easiest way for me.

**illicitlizard** · September 4th, 2018, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by nycelle

Silicones aren't too hard these days, but how do you identify Phthalates or Parabens?

I can't, so I just use a brand that's free of all of them. That's the easiest way for me.

I just google all the ingreds I don't know... Or chuck it in the ingredient analyzer on skincarisma.com it's a godsend

**nycelle** · September 4th, 2018, 05:35 AM

Originally Posted by illicitlizard

I just google all the ingreds I don't know... Or chuck it in the ingredient analyzer on skincarisma.com it's a godsend

Yeah, you can absolutely do that. But when I'm looking for a shampoo or conditioner, it's just too much work for me to google all the ingredients. I'm lazy, prefer the company to let me know if it's free of what I don't want to use..lol.