Octacosatrimonium Chloride
AKA “Conditioning agent, Quaternary ammonium compound
Hair Conditioning
Ingredient Facts
Octacosatrimonium chloride
AKA: Conditioning agent, Quaternary ammonium compound
Hair Conditioning · Antistatic · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Skin Conditioner
Hair Care
Not Clean
Trimethyloctacosylammonium chloride
CAS #
1119-94-4; 112-00-5
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Antistatic
Hair Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Reduces Static
Conditions Hair
Reduces flyaways
Softens and detangles hair
Traditional Use
Synthetic cationic conditioning agent created in the 20th century. Designed to mimic the conditioning properties of natural plant extracts in hair and skincare products.
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
Octacosatrimonium Chloride
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Protective effect of conditioning agents on Afro-ethnic hair chemically treated with thioglycolate-based straightening emulsion.
Dias TC, Baby AR, Kaneko TM, Velasco MV
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2008
Protective effect of conditioning agents on Afro-ethnic hair chemically treated with thioglycolate-based straightening emulsion.
Dias TC, Baby AR, Kaneko TM, Velasco MV
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2008
Protective effect of conditioning agents on Afro-ethnic hair chemically treated with thioglycolate-based straightening emulsion.
Dias TC, Baby AR, Kaneko TM, Velasco MV
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2008
Protective effect of conditioning agents on Afro-ethnic hair chemically treated with thioglycolate-based straightening emulsion.
Dias TC, Baby AR, Kaneko TM, Velasco MV
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2008
Protective effect of conditioning agents on Afro-ethnic hair chemically treated with thioglycolate-based straightening emulsion.
Dias TC, Baby AR, Kaneko TM, Velasco MV
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2008
b) As a conditioning agent in rinse-off hair care products, (i.e. benzalkonium chloride with chain lengths ≥ 16 C).
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds and Contact Dermatitis: A Review and Considerations During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Okeke CAV, Khanna R, Ehrlich A
Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2023
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds and Contact Dermatitis: A Review and Considerations During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Okeke CAV, Khanna R, Ehrlich A
Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2023
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR