Recommended Silicones for Water-Based Hair Treatment

For a water-silicone liquid designed to add weight, shine, straightness, and smoothness to human hair extensions, consider silicones that are specifically designed to be water-soluble or easily dispersed in water. This allows you to create a liquid with a high water content.

Here are a few options that fit your needs:

• SiliWater™: This is a clear liquid silicone that can be mixed directly with water without needing additional emulsifiers. It is known for providing softness and weight to the hair without causing build-up, making it highly suitable for your goal of adding weight to hair extensions. It also contributes to softness and smoothness.
• Silicone Hi-Cond: This is a liquid silicone with self-emulsifying properties, allowing it to be mixed readily with water. It is effective at coating the hair, providing softness, smoothness, preventing tangling, and contributing good weight. This is another excellent option for adding substance to the hair extensions.
• HairSoft™ 843: This is a water-soluble organosilicone copolymer. It offers excellent conditioning, silky softness, improved combability, fly-away control, and noticeable sheen/gloss. While its primary benefit isn't weight, its conditioning and shine properties are highly relevant to your desired outcome of shine and smoothness.
• Hair-Cond™ XL: This is a large particle dimethicone emulsion that mixes instantly with water. It is effective at reducing frizz, adding shine, and making hair easier to comb when wet. It contributes to softness and smoothness.
• Silicone Micro-Cond: This is an Amodimethicone silicone in a microemulsion form that mixes clearly with water. It provides softness and smoothness, prevents tangling, and offers good, long-lasting coating without build-up. It's a good general conditioning silicone for water-based formulas.

How to Mix

These silicones are designed to be added directly into the water phase of your formulation. Simply add the chosen silicone(s) to your water base and mix until fully dispersed or dissolved, depending on the specific product. You can typically do this at room temperature, although some can withstand heat up to 80°C if your formulation process requires it.

The specific usage rate will depend on the desired level of conditioning, weight, and shine. You will need to experiment to find the optimal concentration for your hair extensions. Refer to the product descriptions for recommended usage ranges (typically between 0.5% to 10% depending on the product and desired effect).

By using one or a combination of these water-compatible silicones, you can create a liquid treatment that effectively coats human hair extensions, providing the desired increase in weight, shine, straightness, and smoothness.