Silicones in Modern Hair Care: What UK Consumers Should Really Know

Silicones have become some of the most debated ingredients in hair care. While many high-performance formulas still rely on them for silky slip and shine, social media is awash with claims that they are suffocating, dulling or even damaging to hair. Ahead of the Personal Care Insights webinar, “Tailoring silicone selection for high-performing hair care: Form and function,” the industry is once again examining how silicones can be used more intelligently in shampoos, conditioners and styling products. For UK consumers and professionals, the real question is not “silicones: yes or no?” but “which silicones, used how, and on which hair types?”

Why Silicones Still Matter in Hair Care

Silicones are a family of synthetic ingredients derived from silica (a component of sand), engineered into lightweight fluids, gums or resins. In hair products, they are prized for their ability to coat the hair fibre very thinly, smoothing rough cuticles and helping strands glide past one another. This is why silicones appear so frequently in detangling conditioners, heat-protecting blow-dry creams and finishing serums.

In the run-up to Univar Solutions’ hair care webinar, formulators are focusing on how different silicone structures change the “feel” of a product. Cyclic silicones such as cyclopentasiloxane are known for their fast-evaporating, dry-touch slip, while heavier dimethicone provides a more substantial lubricating film. Some newer silicone copolymers are designed to cling more strongly to damaged areas of the hair shaft, offering targeted conditioning rather than coating everything equally.

From a salon perspective, many UK stylists still rely on silicone-rich products for:

• Detangling textured, coily or highly processed hair without breakage.
• Heat styling, where a silicone layer can help reduce friction from brushes and tools.
• Humidity defence, particularly for frizz-prone hair in the UK’s often damp climate.
• Colour protection, helping to minimise surface abrasion that can cause dullness.

However, professional educators increasingly stress that silicone choice and concentration need to be tailored, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all formula. This is precisely the conversation industry webinars such as Univar Solutions’ are driving: how to tune silicone systems for performance while respecting hair’s longer-term condition.

Understanding Different Types of Silicones

“Silicones” is an umbrella term covering a range of ingredients with very different behaviours in water, on hair and in the environment. Appreciating these differences can help consumers decode labels and select products that fit their routine instead of avoiding all silicones on principle.

Common classes of silicones found in shampoos, conditioners and leave-ins include:

• Non-water-soluble silicones – For example, dimethicone and amodimethicone. These form a persistent film on the hair surface, prized for long-lasting smoothness and reduced friction. They are typically removed with thorough cleansing, often using shampoos that contain stronger surfactants. Used thoughtfully, they can be beneficial for damaged or highly porous hair that struggles to retain moisture.
• Water-dispersible or water-soluble silicones – These are silicones that have been chemically modified (for instance, with PEG groups) so they can be more easily washed away. They aim to offer some of the slip and shine of traditional silicones, but with a lighter feel and reduced tendency to build up when used alongside gentler, sulphate-free cleansers.
• Volatile silicones – Such as cyclomethicone variants, which evaporate quickly after application. These are useful in sprays and light serums to spread other conditioning agents evenly before flashing off, leaving less weight behind.
• Functional silicone copolymers – Designed to provide specific benefits, such as enhanced heat protection, humidity resistance or colour retention. Many of the innovations highlighted in ingredient webinars involve these more sophisticated structures.

Many stylists in the UK now discuss silicone choice in the same way they talk about choosing between different oils or butters: by asking what the hair needs. Fine, easily weighed-down hair may prefer volatile or water-dispersible silicones, while thick, coarse or relaxed hair might benefit from richer films that make detangling and maintenance easier.

From a practical standpoint, one useful habit is to rotate products: for example, using a richer, silicone-containing mask after colouring or heat styling, balanced with simpler, lighter formulas on days when hair only needs gentle refreshment.

Build-Up, Clarifying and Scalp Considerations

Concerns around silicones often centre on “build-up” – the idea that layer upon layer of product can leave hair feeling coated, dull or resistant to moisture. While some of these worries have been amplified online, there is a kernel of practical truth: if you rely heavily on rich conditioners, leave-ins, styling creams and serums containing non-water-soluble silicones, and rarely clarify, hair may gradually lose its bounce and appear less responsive.

Many professional stylists and trichologists recommend a balanced approach:

• Clarifying regularly – Using a clarifying shampoo every few weeks (or more often for very heavy product users) can help lift excess residue from silicones, styling polymers, oils and environmental pollutants.
• Scalp-friendly routines – Dermatologists often suggest keeping heavy silicone-based products mainly on the mid-lengths and ends, rather than massaging them directly into the scalp, especially for those prone to sensitivity or oiliness.
• Listening to your hair – If strands suddenly feel flat, waxy or unusually tangly despite using conditioners, it may be time for a reset wash and a simplified routine for a week or two.

It is worth noting that build-up is rarely caused by silicones alone; a mixture of styling resins, waxes, mineral oils and pollution particles can all contribute. Clarifying occasionally and brushing through to distribute natural oils can be enough for most people to enjoy the benefits of silicones without undesirable side-effects.

For those following low-poo or co-wash routines common in the UK natural hair community, water-dispersible silicones or silicone-free options may be more compatible with their chosen cleansing style. As ingredient suppliers refine new polymers and lighter silicones, more products are appearing that are both co-wash friendly and sensorially luxurious.

Where Silicone-Science Is Heading Next

The Univar Solutions webinar sits within a wider industry movement towards “smarter” silicone systems. Personal Care Insights reports that the December 2025 event will explore tailoring silicone selection for both form and function – essentially, how formulas look, feel and behave in real-world use.

Key directions highlighted by ingredient specialists include:

• Targeted conditioning – Using amino-functional or specially structured silicones that preferentially deposit on damaged, porous areas of the cuticle, helping to minimise weight on healthier sections of hair.
• Enhanced sensory design – Blending volatile and non-volatile silicones to choreograph the feel of a product as it is applied, rinsed and dried. For consumers, this translates to more luxurious lather, easier rinsing and non-greasy after-feel.
• Compatibility with milder cleansers – As sulphate-free and low-foaming shampoos remain popular in the UK, there is growing emphasis on silicones that do not require very strong surfactants to remove.
• Support for colour and styling longevity – Silicone technologies that aim to reduce fibre-to-fibre friction may help limit mechanical damage from brushing and styling, indirectly supporting longer-lasting colour and smoother cuticles.

For informed consumers, this means the silicone conversation is evolving beyond simple yes/no lists. Instead, we are moving towards understanding what each ingredient family contributes and how it can be balanced with film-forming naturals, proteins, humectants and other technologies.

Practically, the most useful step you can take is to review your current routine: identify which products contain heavier silicones, note how your hair feels a day or two after use, and adjust how frequently you apply or how often you clarify to keep your results consistent.

Key Takeaways

• Silicones remain core ingredients in many high-performing hair products, valued for detangling, shine, frizz control and enhanced styling slip.
• Not all silicones behave the same: non-soluble, water-dispersible, volatile and functional copolymers each interact differently with hair and cleansing routines.
• Build-up is more about total routine than one ingredient; occasional clarifying and focusing richer products on mid-lengths and ends can help maintain balance.
• Industry discussions, such as Univar Solutions’ “Tailoring silicone selection for high-performing hair care” webinar, are shifting focus toward smarter, targeted silicone systems.
• For everyday practicality, UK consumers can audit their products, adjust how frequently they use heavy conditioners or serums, and match silicone type to their hair density and texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are silicones bad for my hair?
Most professionals do not view silicones as inherently “bad”. When used in moderation and paired with appropriate cleansing, they can improve slip, reduce breakage during detangling and enhance shine. Problems typically arise when rich products are layered without regular clarifying or when very heavy formulas are used on fine hair types.

How can I tell if a product contains silicones?
Check the ingredients list for names ending in “-cone”, “-conol” or “-siloxane”, such as dimethicone, amodimethicone or cyclopentasiloxane. Some newer silicone copolymers have more complex names, but many brands now highlight “silicone-free” on the front label if they do not use them.

Will silicones stop moisture getting into my hair?
Silicones create a thin film on the hair surface, which can slow the rate at which water moves in and out of the fibre. Many stylists note that this can actually help retain hydration in damaged hair. If hair begins to feel coated or resistant to your usual treatments, a clarifying wash followed by a hydrating mask can restore balance.

Can I use silicones if I follow a sulphate-free routine?
Yes, but you may find water-dispersible or lighter silicones easier to manage if you avoid strong surfactants. Look for products formulated specifically to be compatible with low-foam or sulphate-free shampoos, and consider clarifying occasionally if you use richer silicone serums or creams.

What is the simplest way to use silicones more intelligently?
Apply heavier silicone-based products mainly to mid-lengths and ends, not directly on the scalp; rotate them with lighter or silicone-free formulas; and incorporate a clarifying shampoo into your routine every few weeks. Observing how your hair responds over several washes is more reliable than following blanket rules from social media.