A chemical ingredient that can be found in many hair care products from shampoo to serums and shine products. Silicone and related "cones" were originally designed to surround the hair cuticle and plug tiny holes and gaps where the hair was damaged or broken. While some people can use a variety of cone enhanced hair care products with no long term damage, some people will experience hair dryness and/or brittleness after long term use of heavy cone enhanced products. This because the cones build up over time and may in essence suffocate the hair cuticle. The cones of 2002 are much better than the original cone products but each product that contains cone ingredients should be evaluated for their own performance on individual hair.