CosmeticBet
Conditioners

Amodimethicone

INCI: AMODIMETHICONE · also Amino-functional silicone

A silicone with a positive charge.

How common

All products1.7%
In hair colours16%
In conditioners14%
In shampoos4.4%

253 of 14,784 products with a full ingredient list in Open Beauty Facts; No. 163 of all the names found on their labels.

What it is

  • A silicone from the dimethicone family, with amino groups that carry a positive charge.

    2 sourcesHide
    aminopropyl dimethicone, amodimethicone[1] US Cosmetic Ingredient Review expert panel · 2003 · open source
    Amino functional silicones are cationic substances[2] Study · 2015 · open source

Why it is in products

  • To condition hair, like the other silicones of its family.

    SourceHide
    Most of these ingredients function as conditioning agents in cosmetic formulations[1] US Cosmetic Ingredient Review expert panel · 2003 · open source

What it does

  • The positive charge doesn’t guarantee it sticks better than dimethicone: that depends on the molecule’s size and on the formula.

    Some evidencehairSourceHide
    Amino functional silicones are cationic substances but not necessarily are more substantive to the hair than dimethicone, depending on the size of the molecule and the charge of the system.[2] Study · 2015 · open source

Downsides and safety

  • The US expert panel found it safe as used in cosmetics.

    Well established2 sourcesHide
    Amodimethicone, Amodimethicone Hydroxystearate[1] US Cosmetic Ingredient Review expert panel · 2003 · open source
    are safe as used in cosmetic formulations[1] US Cosmetic Ingredient Review expert panel · 2003 · open source

Where it works

Surface (cuticle)Inside (cortex)Core (medulla)

On the hair’s surface, like other silicones.

Some evidenceSourceHide
entropy is important for its adsorption to the hair surface[2] Study · 2015 · open source

Rules

European Union

  • No EU limit: it is not on the regulation’s lists of banned or restricted substances, preservatives or UV filters.

    How we checkedHide
    We searched Annexes II to VI of the EU regulation (consolidated text of 18 May 2026): no entry.open the list

United States

  • Not on the FDA’s list of prohibited or restricted cosmetic ingredients. In the US, cosmetics and their ingredients (other than colour additives) don’t need FDA approval before sale.

    SourceHide
    Under U.S. law, cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, do not need FDA approval before they go on the market[3] US Food and Drug Administration · open source
    We searched the FDA’s list of prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients: no entry.open the list

Sources

  1. Final report on the safety assessment of stearoxy dimethicone, dimethicone, methicone, amino bispropyl dimethicone, aminopropyl dimethicone, amodimethicone, amodimethicone hydroxystearate, behenoxy dimethicone, C24-28 alkyl methicone, C30-45 alkyl methicone, C30-45 alkyl dimethicone, cetearyl methicone, cetyl dimethicone, dimethoxysilyl ethylenediaminopropyl dimethicone, hexyl methicone, hydroxypropyldimethicone, stearamidopropyl dimethicone, stearyl dimethicone, stearyl methicone, and vinyldimethicone International journal of toxicology, 2003US Cosmetic Ingredient Review expert panel
  2. Hair Cosmetics: An Overview International Journal of Trichology, 2015Study
  3. Prohibited & Restricted Ingredients in Cosmetics | FDA US Food and Drug Administration

Checked against these sources on 4 November 2026. Spot a mistake? Tell us.