PG-Hydroxyethylcellulose Cocodimonium Chloride

TL;DR. This ingredient is a cationic conditioning polymer used mainly in hair care to improve wet combing, reduce static, and leave a light film on hair fibers. It can also help deposit conditioning agents from rinse-off formulas.

What does PG-Hydroxyethylcellulose Cocodimonium Chloride do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is a cationic conditioning polymer used mainly in hair care to improve wet combing, reduce static, and leave a light film on hair fibers. It can also help deposit conditioning agents from rinse-off formulas.

Is PG-Hydroxyethylcellulose Cocodimonium Chloride clean?

From a clean-beauty perspective, it carries friction because it is a quaternized polymer, a class often restricted by stricter retailer and brand standards. Skin irritation is usually low at cosmetic use levels, but eye irritation can be formula-dependent in rinse-off products.

Is PG-Hydroxyethylcellulose Cocodimonium Chloride sustainable?

This material is partly based on renewable feedstocks such as cellulose and coconut-derived fatty chains, but it is chemically modified into a cationic polymer. Its biodegradability is less favorable than simple plant oils, sugars, or fatty alcohols, and cationic polymers can bind strongly to wastewater solids.

Is PG-Hydroxyethylcellulose Cocodimonium Chloride COSMOS-approved?

It is generally not aligned with COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards because the quaternary modification and polymeric conditioning profile do not fit the standard’s preferred natural-derived ingredient pathways. Green Chemistry alignment is mixed, with some renewable carbon but weaker marks for biodegradation and synthesis complexity.

How does PG-Hydroxyethylcellulose Cocodimonium Chloride work chemically?

The molecule is a modified cellulose ether bearing hydroxyethyl, propylene glycol, and cationic coconut-derived quaternary ammonium substituents, which gives it strong affinity for negatively charged hair surfaces. It is typically used at low levels in shampoos and conditioners, often around 0.1% to 1%, and is generally compatible with many surfactant systems when dispersed carefully to prevent clumping.

Last updated 2026-05-14