Cyclopentasiloxane

I had a totally blonde moment reading the back of my hairspray today. I read this ingredient, "Cyclopentasiloxane" which is kind of a beast to pronounce and type out. I immediately thought to myself "what essence of a one-eyed creature was ground up and made into this hairspray!?" Knowing that must be ridiculous, I was still curious if there were some word root association with a cyclops, because although gross it would ultimately make hairspray that much more fascinating.

Here's what I found:

"Cyclopentasiloxane (or CPS for short) is one of many types of silicones. In general, silcones are known for their ability to lubricate, waterproof and provide shine. (Think “Armor All” for your head.) There are many types of silcones – some have a very heavy, sticky consistency and others are very lightweight. CPS is a water-thin so it’s very good at dispersing thicker, greasier silicones. For this reason it’s often used in combination with dimethicone. It is also volatile, which means it will evaporate. So, not only does it help spread heavier silicones but it doesn’t leave your hair feeling weighed down after it’s done."

Pretty much a ridiculously long fancy word for a silicone they use in lots of cosmetics. Stupid factoid for the day.