Q: The efficacy of silicones is already wellestablished. How about their safety profile?
A: Silicones are some of the most innocuous and gentle ingredients known to man, evidenced by nearly 70 years of research and consumer use history. Due to their incredibly low incidence of allergies, hospitals rely on silicone-based dressings for wound care. Syringe tips are coated with silicone to enhance durability and sharpness, as well as to provide lubricity. In the consumer market, over-the-counter skin protectants and silicone scar sheets are FDA-approved to prevent scarring. 

Q: The one concern often expressed regarding performance is to do with weighing down hair. Can you explain this phenomenon?
A: It began in online forums with complaints of silicones weighing down long hair. This issue was traced to the overuse of 2-in-1 type shampoos that contain very high molecular weight silicone gums in combination with the cationic polymers to enhance the deposition of these gums. Obviously, the 2-in-1 shampoo is not as popular as it used to be (at least for women with long hair) and the market has shifted dramatically since then. However, the siliconefree demand remains for now, due to rampant alarmism.