Quaterenium-91 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a cationic conditioning agent used mainly in hair care to reduce static, improve slip, and support detangling. It can also help stabilize conditioning emulsions because its charged head group anchors to hair while its fatty portion adds softness.
What does Quaterenium-91 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a cationic conditioning agent used mainly in hair care to reduce static, improve slip, and support detangling. It can also help stabilize conditioning emulsions because its charged head group anchors to hair while its fatty portion adds softness.
Is Quaterenium-91 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has friction because it belongs to the quaternary ammonium conditioner category, which many standards scrutinize for aquatic profile and limited biodegradability. Skin tolerance is usually formulation-dependent, with higher concern around eye area exposure and leave-on use.
Is Quaterenium-91 sustainable?
This material is typically made through synthetic quaternization chemistry using fatty alkyl feedstocks and petrochemical-derived reagents. It is not a strong sustainability fit because cationic conditioners can persist, bind to sludge and sediments, and show elevated aquatic concern.
Is Quaterenium-91 COSMOS-approved?
It is generally not aligned with COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic expectations for allowed ingredient chemistry. Its permanent cationic structure, synthetic processing route, and biodegradation profile make it a weak fit with Green Chemistry priorities.
How does Quaterenium-91 work chemically?
The molecule is a permanently positively charged quaternary ammonium surfactant with hydrophobic fatty chains, which drives strong adsorption to negatively charged keratin surfaces. It is usually used at low levels in conditioners and treatments, performs best in acidic to mildly acidic systems, and can be incompatible with anionic surfactants, anionic polymers, and high-electrolyte formulas.
Last updated 2026-05-13