Cetrimonium Chloride
The question

Is Cetrimonium Chloride safe in conditioner?

CautionConditioner

Quaternary ammonium salt used as a conditioning agent and preservative. At cosmetic concentrations it is generally safe, but has cytotoxic potential at higher doses.

What the research flags

  • Cytotoxic at high concentrations — damages cell membranes
  • Skin sensitization possible in individuals with sensitive skin
  • Antimicrobial — may disrupt skin microbiome with frequent use
  • Environmental toxicity to aquatic organisms

Other conditioner ingredients on file

Sources & references

  1. [1]
    DatabaseIngredient database — 700459-CETRIMONIUM_CHLORIDE
  2. [2]
    Peer-reviewedPubMed / NCBI — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · ref 16401029
  3. [3]
    DatabaseIngredient database — ctrimn092013rep.pdf

Research disclaimer: Ratings reflect peer-reviewed research and regulatory assessments available at the time of publication, not the dose or formulation of any specific conditioner product. This is not medical advice.