Silicone Checker: Does Your Hair Product Have Silicones?
Quick answer: Scan the ingredient list for names ending in -cone, -conol, -siloxane or -silanol — dimethicone, amodimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane are the most common. The key question isn't just “does it have silicone?” but “is it water-soluble?” — PEG-prefixed silicones rinse out; the rest can build up. HairWise flags every silicone and tells you which kind it is.
How to spot silicones on a label
- -cone: Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Trimethicone, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone
- -siloxane: Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclomethicone (cyclic — evaporates), Polysiloxane
- -conol / -silanol: Dimethiconol, Silanetriol
Water-soluble vs. build-up silicones
Silicones coat the hair to add slip, shine and heat protection. Whether that coat becomes a problem depends on solubility:
| Type | Examples | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Water-soluble | PEG-8 Dimethicone, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Dimethicone Copolyol | Rinses out with water — low build-up risk |
| Evaporating (cyclic) | Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane | Evaporates after application |
| Non-soluble | Dimethicone, Amodimethicone* | Needs a proper cleanser to remove; builds up, can block moisture |
*Amodimethicone targets damaged areas and resists over-depositing, so many consider it a middle case.
Who should care most
Low-porosity hair (product tends to sit on top rather than absorb) and Curly Girl Method followers using no-sulfate washes: without a strong cleanser, non-soluble silicones accumulate, leaving hair limp, dull and weirdly dry under the shine. High-porosity, heat-styled hair, on the other hand, often benefits from a light silicone seal.
Check silicones the fast way
- Scan the label — HairWise's silicone indicator flags every -cone and -siloxane automatically.
- See per-ingredient notes: water-soluble, evaporating, or build-up prone.
- Your porosity (from the profile quiz) decides the final verdict — the same dimethicone can score fine for high-porosity hair and “risky” for low.