Silicones Documentation

Silicones have been used in Personal Care applications since the early 1950s. Silicone materials debuted in the hair care market first in the form of a leave-on conditioning spray, followed several years later by a 2-in-1 shampoo composition containing Dimethicone. Even with the unmistakable benefits afforded by silicone polymers in hair care products, it was not until 30 years later that silicones began to appear on a majority of ingredient labels for hair care compositions, often in combination of two or more types of silicone compounds.

The main areas of application for silicones are hair care, deodorants, antiperspirants, and skin care. The effects observed in these applications are: shine, improved hair feel, softness, actives delivery, lubricity, easy combing, film forming, and improved skin feel. Silicone preferences vary from region to region, both in type of silicone used and in the end use application.

The primary types of silicones used in the personal care market are: Anine-functional silicones, cyclomethicines, and Dimethicones.  

Functional silicones are a new product platform for the Home & Personal Care Polymer Systems group. Our first offering in this product segment is TINOCARE Si A1. It is a reactive aminofunctionized silicone polymer, which provides intensive conditioning. This class of silicone is substantive to the hair surface due to their mild cationic properties. Amodimethicones combine the conditioning properties of cationic polymers with the softness, shine, and lubricity of silicone polymers. Amodimethicone was chosen as our first product offering because they are functional products that deliver value-added effects.