Consider bamboo as a natural, exotic alternative to silicone! Typically bamboo is
used for decorative applications such as furniture, flooring and artwork.
Historically it has been used in Ayurvedic and Tibetan medicines as well as a
food source. Now bamboo may also be used for a broad range of applications in
the cosmetics and personal care industries. Although most think bamboo is a
type of wood, it is actually a grass that grows at surprisingly fast speeds,
which vary per species between 10 cm per day and 5 cm per hour. There are
approximately 87 genera of bamboo worldwide and over 1,500 different species.
Although many believe that bamboo only grows in Asia, bamboos are also native
to North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean Islands, and the
annual global harvest of bamboo is 10 million tons per year.
Arundinaria is a genus of small to medium sized hardy running bamboos with numerous
branches at each note and persistent culm sheaths. Arundinaria gigantea also
referred to as Giant Bamboo is native to the United States and typically grows
along rivers and streams as far north as New York down to Florida and Texas
with some growth in the mid-west states of southern Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri, Oklahoma as well as other southern states. Giant Bamboo is capable of
withstanding freezing conditions of -10°F (-23°C) and may grow to a height of
twenty feet tall with a diameter of one inch.
Bamboo serves as a natural source of silica. Although the function of
silica in bamboo is unclear, researchers postulate that silica provides
structural support for the plant. Deposits occur in the plant in the form of
hydrated amorphous silica that forms through the polymerization of monosilicic
acid, which is absorbed by the roots. The bio-silicate isolated from bamboo has
typically been used in supplements targeted for the treatment of arthritis.
In
cosmetic and personal care products silicone creates a smooth, soft feel also
referred to as slip, which is desirable for most skin care applications. It is
also useful for creating a glossy shine on hair while improving combability and
may be added to hair care products such as shampoo, conditioner, shine serums
and hairsprays. The standard process for obtaining silicon for making silicone
typically involves precipitating silica in a reaction mixture that is kept in
the alkaline pH region. FSS Bamboo Bioferment PF is suitable for
improving epidermal slip and aesthetics, and it may be used in applications
such as lotions, creams, shampoos, conditioners, leave in treatments, and
make-up.