Basic Violet 4
AKA “Ethyl violet, 2390-59-2, C.I. Basic Violet 4, Ethyl Violet AX, Ethyl Violet GGA, Lowacryl Violet 4, Ethyl crystal violet, C.I. 42600, Shikiso Acid Brilliant Blue 6B
Ingredient
Ingredient Facts
Basic violet 4
AKA: Ethyl violet, 2390-59-2, C.I. Basic Violet 4, Ethyl Violet AX, Ethyl Violet GGA, Lowacryl Violet 4, Ethyl crystal violet, C.I. 42600, Shikiso Acid Brilliant Blue 6B
Ingredient · Hair Dyeing · EWG: 5
Synthetic
Not Clean
[4-[bis[4-(diethylamino)phenyl]methylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene]diethylammonium chloride (CI 42600)
Formula
C31H42ClN3
Mol. Weight
492.10
CAS #
2390-59-2
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Hair Dyeing
Colors Hair
Traditional Use
A synthetic xanthene dye developed for cosmetic use in the 20th century. Created to achieve consistent purple and violet hues in color cosmetics.
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
General
EWG
5
CIR
Insufficient data
Pregnancy
CIR Safety Findings
ewg-5
all-shades-safe
Potential Sensitizer
Regulatory Status
USAunder review
EUpermitted
JAPANpermitted
CANADApermitted
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3 and Basic Violet 4
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final report on the safety assessment of Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3, and Basic Violet 4.
Diamante C, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final report on the safety assessment of Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3, and Basic Violet 4.
Diamante C, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final report on the safety assessment of Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3, and Basic Violet 4.
Diamante C, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Basic Violet 4
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR