PEG-12 Dimethicone
A water-soluble silicone that adds slip and softness without the build-up of regular silicones. It rinses out with water and mild cleansers.
Curly Girl note: PEG-modified, so it is water-soluble and accepted by most CG lists.
About PEG-12 Dimethicone
PEG-12 dimethicone is dimethicone with polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains attached. Those PEG chains love water, so the whole molecule becomes water-soluble — a big difference from plain dimethicone, which repels water and needs a surfactant to remove.
In hair products it gives a lighter version of what silicones are known for: easier detangling, softer feel, a little shine and less friction between strands. It also helps foam in shampoos and improves spreadability in leave-ins and gels. Because it dissolves in water, it does not stack up wash after wash in the way insoluble silicones can.
Most Curly Girl ingredient lists treat PEG-modified silicones as acceptable for that reason, and we mark it as approved. It is a useful option for people who want some silicone slip without committing to sulfate shampoos.
Who tends to like it: people with fine or low porosity hair who find regular silicones heavy, co-washers, and anyone following CG who still struggles with tangles. Relaxed hair can benefit from the slip too, though it gives less heat protection than heavier, non-soluble silicones. Like other ethoxylated ingredients it is purified during manufacturing to remove by-products.
How our checker rates it
| Mode | Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Curly Girl | Good | Water-soluble silicone — rinses out with water; accepted by most CG guides. |
| Relaxed hair | Good | Silicone — coats the strand and helps protect relaxed hair from heat and friction. |
| Low porosity | OK | No concerns for this mode. |
| Protein-sensitive | OK | No concerns for this mode. |
Ratings assume it is listed near the top of the label. After the first preservative or fragrance (likely 1% or less) most cautions soften.
What water-soluble silicone ingredients do
Silicones modified (usually with PEG/PPG chains) so they rinse out with water. They add slip without the same build-up.
Also listed as
- peg 12 dimethicone
Similar ingredients
Sources
Last data update:
- Robbins CR. Chemical and Physical Behavior of Human Hair. 5th ed. Springer; 2012. Reference text on hair structure, surfactants, conditioning agents, protein, heat and chemical treatments.
- Massey L, Chiu M. Curly Girl: The Handbook. Workman Publishing; 2011. Origin of the Curly Girl Method rules (no sulfates, no non-soluble silicones, no drying alcohols).
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR). Ingredient safety assessments. Safety assessments for cosmetic ingredients cited on ingredient pages.
How we research and update pages: editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.