Conditioners

Cetrimonium chloride

INCI: CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE · also CTAC

A positively charged conditioner with a 16-carbon tail.

drag to turn

C₁₉H₄₂ClN320.00 g/mol

chlorinenitrogencarbon

2D drawing from PubChem 8154 (hydrogens hidden)

All products2.7%

In conditioners29%

In hair colours22%

In shampoos3.6%

403 of 14,784 products with a full ingredient list in Open Beauty Facts; No. 113 of all the names found on their labels.

A “quat” (quaternary ammonium salt): hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, a positively charged head on a 16-carbon tail.
2 sourcesHide

hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC)[1] Study · 2026 · open source
C 16 -alkyltrimethylammonium chloride Cetrimonium chloride[2] EU law · 2026 · open source

To condition hair and stop static. Agents like it are the backbone of a conditioner.
2 sourcesHide

used in cosmetics mainly as surfactant-cleansing agents, hair-conditioning agents, and antistatic agents[3] US Cosmetic Ingredient Review expert panel · 2012 · open source
Cationic surfactants: Cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, behentrimonium or propyltrimonium, stearamidopropyl dimethylamine. They are considered the backbone of a conditioner[4] Study · 2015 · open source

Makes combing easier: in one lab study of conditioner gels made with it, combing force fell by 65 to 88%.
Some evidencehairSourceHide

At a CTAC/CA system of ratio 2:10, there is a 65% reduction in combing force and a 88% reduction in combing force in the CTAC/CA system of ratio 6:10.[5] Study · 2020 · open source
In a 2026 lab comparison, the longer-chain behentrimonium salts conditioned better than it.
Some evidencehairSourceHide

BTMC and BTMS were superior against CTAC and STAC due to their longer carbon chain length.[1] Study · 2026 · open source

Like other quats it can irritate if a product is badly made: the US panel’s verdict is safe when formulated not to irritate.
Well establishedSourceHide

These ingredients were determined to be safe in the present practices of use and concentration when formulated to be nonirritating.[3] US Cosmetic Ingredient Review expert panel · 2012 · open source

On the hair’s surface, drawn by the hair’s negative charge.

Well establishedSourceHide

The negative charge of the hair is attracted to the positively charged conditioner molecules[4] Study · 2015 · open source

Limited by EU law (Annex III, entry 286), together with steartrimonium chloride: at most 2.5% in rinse-off hair products, 1.0% in leave-on hair products and 0.5% in leave-on face products.
3 sourcesHide

(a) Rinse-off hair products (a) 2,5 % for the individual concentrations or the sum of the individual concentrations of cetrimonium chloride and steartrimonium chloride[2] EU law · 2026 · open source
(b) Leave-on hair products (b) 1,0 % for the individual concentrations or the sum of the individual concentrations of cetrimonium chloride and steartrimonium chloride[2] EU law · 2026 · open source
(c) Leave-on face products (c) 0,5 % for the individual concentrations or the sum of the individual concentrations of cetrimonium chloride and steartrimonium chloride[2] EU law · 2026 · open source
Used as a preservative, it is allowed only up to 0.1% (Annex V, entry 44).
SourceHide

0,1 % cetrimonium bromide, 57-09-0, 200-311-3, cetrimonium chloride ( 16 )[2] EU law · 2026 · open source

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[6] US Food and Drug Administration · open source
We searched the FDA’s list of prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients: no entry.open the list

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