Silica is a rising trend in hair care products—but what is it, and how does it benefit you? If you’ve recently glanced at your split ends or pushed a hand through your tresses and felt dry patches or flakes, mounting evidence points to this compound as a potential solution.
People who experience issues like breakage, dry scalp, and brittle hair may find it useful to add silica powder to their routine.
Our extensive guide is here to help you discover every little detail about the beauty benefits of silica. Below, we’ll break down the science behind silica, its benefits for hair and healthy skin, and how you can incorporate this ingredient into your routine. Read along to discover how silica can become your hair’s new best friend.
What Is Silica?
Silica is a naturally occurring compound in rocks, clay, and sand—though it’s also present as a water-soluble form in plants and foods. Some of these include:
- Horsetail
- Rice
- Green beans
- Cucumber
- Whole grains
- Tomatoes
You’re likely familiar with silica in some manner already—from moisture-absorbing packets in food to base materials for pottery. Since the various forms of silica may cause confusion, we’ll examine them a little closer so you can better understand which one supports your luscious locks.
Silica Vs. Silicon Dioxide vs. Silicone—Help!
Let’s clarify: silicon is an element you’ll find in the periodic table, whereas silica and silicone are different compounds made with that element.
- Silica and silicon dioxide are the same thing—a compound of silicon and oxygen. Regardless of which of these two names the ingredient goes by, it’s generally safe for use on your hair and skin.
- Silicone is another chemical compound derived from silicon, but for entirely different use cases. It’s the kind we use to make things like silicone baking mats or sealants.
But wait—we know you’re probably saying you’ve seen silicone in your hair and skin products’ ingredient lists!
That’s because many manufacturers include silicone or silicone-based compounds in their personal care products.
What Are the Benefits of Silica for Hair?
Using silica offers many beauty benefits for your tresses, with growing scientific support to back up much anecdotal evidence. Some of the major advantages associated with using silicon dioxide for your hair include the following.
Improved Hair Strength
For people with issues like brittle hair, taking or using products with silica may prove beneficial.
Silica can increase your collagen production, a protein that helps form the structure of hair and also promotes healthy skin. In one study, adults who used a silica supplement for 90 days saw increased hair growth over time.
Reduced Breakage
Similarly, many people who experience breakage and split ends can start adding silica into their hair routine.
While experts remain unsure whether silicon dioxide can stop or reverse hair loss, a growing number of studies suggest that it can reduce breakage.
Enhanced Scalp Health
Silica may help people with scalp issues too, including:
- Dryness
- Flaking
- Dermatitis
- Acne
- Psoriasis
According to one study, it may deliver essential nutrients to your scalp and hair follicles. When your scalp has more nutrients, blood circulation can improve. And that means you’re creating a better growth environment.
While more research is needed to determine all the benefits of adding silica to your hair care routine, it offers several advantages for people with thinning and breakage.
Other Health Benefits of Silica
While silica may offer hair advantages, evidence suggests it can help other parts of your health. Some of these benefits include:
Depending on how you use silica—topical treatments, food, or oral supplements—you may receive multiple benefits from routine use.
Types of Hair Concerns That May Benefit From Silica
It’s no secret that many people experience at least one hair concern throughout their lifetime, from split ends to a flaky scalp. Changing up your routine with the help of silica could be the solution you’ve been waiting for.
Some common hair problems you may encounter include:
Besides these, you may also experience dandruff and brittle hair due to chlorine from swimming pools. Shampoo and conditioner, supplements, or foods high in silica may alleviate some of these issues.
How to Choose the Right Silica Personal Care Product
Incorporating silica into your routine can be done in several ways. You can increase dietary silica intake through the foods you eat, your hair products, and supplements.
Vitamins and Supplements
Today, a wide variety of dietary silica supplements are available on the market. Often, the silicon dioxide in these tablets is derived from bamboo or the horsetail plant, both of which are high in it.
Foods
Silica or silicon dioxide occurs naturally in many foods, though manufacturers add it to others as an anti-caking agent. If you want to up your intake of natural silica, try consuming more of these foods in your diet:
- Whole grains
- Eggs
- Fish
- Bananas
- Leafy greens
- Milk
- Green beans
- Fruits and vegetables
Adding more of these to your meals can increase your intake of silica without the need for other supplements.
Hair-Specific Treatments
Another simple way to increase silica in your routine? Through your shampoo and conditioner. If you want haircare products with it, find the word (or silicon dioxide) on the ingredient label.
Look for acne-safe shampoo and conditioner with cucumber, bamboo, or horsetail extracts, as they are naturally high in silica. Conversely, to get the most out of your haircare products, you’ll want to avoid ingredients like:
- Parabens
- Synthetic fragrances
- Phalates
- Formaldehyde
- Petroleum
Ingredients you should love to see in your shampoo for healthy hair include:
- Fruit extracts
- Chamomile
- Plant oils
- Root extracts
- Glucosides
- Disodium
- Glycerin
- Keratin
Finding non-comedogenic shampoos and conditioners filled with clean ingredients can help your hair reap the benefits associated with silica. If you’re worried about your hair products breaking you out, check their ingredients list to make sure they are non-comedogenic.
Can You Use Other Haircare Products With Silica?
Yes, if you’re using a shampoo or conditioner with silica, you can certainly continue using other products. Here’s how we recommend starting your haircare routine:
- Massage the non-toxic shampoo into your hair and scalp until it lathers.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Use a non-comedogenic conditioner on your hair, particularly the ends.
- Leave the conditioner in for three to five minutes if you want to use it as a hair mask.
- Rinse, dry, and style your hair.
To take your silica hair care routine to the next level, consider using a scalp scrubber. Scalp massagers and scrubbers may increase blood circulation, which could influence product absorption and symptom reduction.
What About Biotin?
Biotin is a B vitamin that offers many advantages for your health. Most notably, biotin assists with metabolizing food. However, some anecdotal evidence suggests it helps with skin, hair, and nail health. So, does silica offer a replacement, or do they complement each other?
Depending on your needs, both biotin and silica offer hair benefits. Some evidence suggests that they each help with growth while also stimulating keratin and collagen production.
How do you know which is right for you? Your skin. People more prone to acne already have excess keratin on their skin. Since biotin may increase your keratin production, it can exacerbate your acne—making silica an acne-safe alternative.
See the Difference With CLEARSTEM Shampoo and Conditioner Today
Now that you know the granular details about silica for hair, you’re ready to embark on a new journey for your locks. At CLEARSTEM, we make it our mission to create acne-safe hair and skin products for anybody, no matter where they are in their routine.
We craft our luxury shampoos and conditioners with only the cleanest ingredients that provide real results and support healthy hair. With everything from cucumber and chamomile extracts to butters and oils, our products are here to help.
Plus—if you struggle with scalp or face acne (who hasn’t?), our non-pore-clogging formula is right for you. Shop our shampoo and conditioner to start your new haircare journey today!
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National Library of Medicine. The chemistry of silica and its potential health benefits. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17435951/
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David Suzuki Foundation. The Dirty Dozen: Siloxanes. https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/dirty-dozen-siloxanes/
Wiley. A 3-Month, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Ability of an Extra-Strength Marine Protein Supplement to Promote Hair Growth and Decrease Shedding in Women with Self-Perceived Thinning Hair. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2015/841570
National Library of Medicine. Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on hair tensile strength and morphology in women with fine hair. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17960402/
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Healthline. Shampoo Ingredients for Different Hair Needs: What to Look For. https://www.healthline.com/health/shampoo-ingredients-for-different-hair-needs
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