Stearalkonium Chloride
Conditioner CG-friendly
A long-used conditioning quat that softens and detangles. Found in many classic instant conditioners.
How our checker rates it
| Mode | Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Curly Girl | OK | No concerns for this mode. |
| Relaxed hair | Good | Conditioning agent — adds slip and helps protect damaged areas. |
| Low porosity | OK | No concerns for this mode. |
| Protein-sensitive | OK | No concerns for this mode. |
Ratings assume it is listed near the top of the label. After the first preservative or fragrance (likely 1% or less) most cautions soften.
What conditioner ingredients do
Positively charged (cationic) ingredients — quats and polyquats — that cling to damaged areas of the hair for slip, detangling and less static.
Similar ingredients
Sources
Last data update:
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR). Ingredient safety assessments. Safety assessments for cosmetic ingredients cited on ingredient pages.
How we research and update pages: editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.