Quaternium-87 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a cationic conditioning agent used mainly in hair care to reduce static, improve combability, and leave a smoother feel on the fiber.
What does Quaternium-87 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a cationic conditioning agent used mainly in hair care to reduce static, improve combability, and leave a smoother feel on the fiber.
Is Quaternium-87 clean?
Clean-beauty frameworks often flag it because this class of cationic conditioners can be irritating at higher levels and is associated with aquatic-life concerns. It is not a common fragrance allergen, but its synthetic profile and restricted-list friction make it a poor fit for stricter clean standards.
Is Quaternium-87 sustainable?
This material is typically synthetic and may use petrochemical and fatty-derived inputs, depending on the supply chain. Its strong cationic charge can increase binding to sludge and aquatic surfaces, so biodegradability and wastewater behavior are key concerns.
Is Quaternium-87 COSMOS-approved?
It is generally not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards. From a Green Chemistry view, it has weak alignment because it is synthetically processed, not clearly renewable, and has environmental persistence and aquatic-impact concerns relative to simpler biodegradable conditioners.
How does Quaternium-87 work chemically?
The molecule carries a permanent positive charge, which helps it adsorb onto negatively charged hair and reduce friction during wet and dry combing. It is most relevant in rinse-off conditioners, masks, and conditioning shampoos, where compatibility with anionic surfactants can be limited because oppositely charged materials may form complexes.
Last updated 2026-05-14