Centrimonium Chloride

• INCI name: Centrimonium Chlorid
• Solubility: Water-soluble
• Appearance: Usually supplied as a clear to pale-yellow aqueous liquid
• Charge: Positively charged/cationic

Functions

Centrimonium Chloride is primarily used as a:

• Hair-conditioning agent
• Antistatic agent
• Detangling agent
• Surfactant and emulsifying aid
• Mild antimicrobial ingredient

It attaches to negatively charged areas of the hair, helping smooth the cuticle, reduce friction, control frizz and improve wet and dry combing.

Common applications

Suitable for:

• Rinse-off and leave-in conditioners
• Detangling sprays
• Hair masks and treatments
• Conditioning shampoos
• Anti-frizz products
• Hair creams and lotions

Recommended usage

A common supplier-recommended range is 0.5–4% as supplied, added to the water phase. However, commercial grades may contain only 25–30% active Cetrimonium Chloride, so the formulation percentage must be calculated according to the product’s active matter. 

Compatible with most:

• Cationic ingredients
• Non-ionic surfactants
• Fatty alcohols such as cetyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol

Avoid combining directly with strongly anionic ingredients such as SLS, SLES, soaps and some anionic polymers, as they can form insoluble complexes or reduce conditioning performance.

Formulation notes

• Add to the water phase.
• A finished-product pH of approximately 4.0–5.5 is commonly preferred for hair conditioners.
• Centrimonium Chloride is not a complete emulsifier by itself; combine it with fatty alcohols or an appropriate emulsifying system.
• Do not automatically treat its mild antimicrobial action as complete product preservation. Conduct preservative-efficacy and stability testing.
• On the finished-product ingredient list, declare it as Centrimonium Chloride. If the supplied material contains water or other carriers, list those ingredients according to the supplier’s INCI composition.

Centrimonium Chloride (also known as Cetrimonium Chloride or CTAC) is a premium-grade quaternary ammonium salt widely utilized in the cosmetic and personal care industry. Celebrated for its exceptional conditioning, antistatic, and emulsifying properties, it is a staple ingredient for formulating high-performance hair care and skin care products.

Storage & Safety: Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep the container tightly sealed when not in use. Handle with appropriate personal protective equipment as per standard laboratory and manufacturing practices.