When it comes to natural products, many consumers aren’t fazed by ingredients such as aloe Vera, Rosemary or Witch Hazel, but there are other, more obscure ingredients that may be long-named, difficult to pronounce or simply seem intimidating. However, they are actually quite natural, beneficial and most importantly, safe.
Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride is one of these. And it isn’t nearly as scary as an ingredient as it is to pronounce or spell. Here is what you need to know.
What is Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride?
Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride is a water-soluble, organic compound that is a quaternary ammonium derivative of guar (aka cluster beans). This means it is a substance whose chemical structure has four carbon groups attached to a positively charged nitrogen atom. While plant derived, there is a synthetic portion to it.
Why is it used?
Although a great conditioning agent for both skin and hair, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride is especially beneficial as a hair care product. Because it is positively charged, or cationic, it neutralizes the negative charges on hair strands that cause hair to become static or tangled. Better yet, it does this without weighing hair down. With this ingredient, you can have silky, non-static hair that retains its volume.
How safe is it?
With an EWG score of 1 and a rating of GOOD from Paula’s Choice, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride is deemed to be very safe, a non-irritant, and is biodegradable.
In Conclusion:
While newer to the North American market, Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride has been found to be both mild and effective. With excellent ratings from the Environmental Working group and Paula’s Choice, it has also been given a ‘no health concern’ rating from GoodGuide, where it does not appear on any of their lists of toxic chemicals. Further, studies have found it to be an excellent conditioning agent with even low concentrations proving effective at detangling hair and providing a smoother brushing experience.
Sources:
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/quaternary+ammonium+derivative http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/guar-hydroxypropyltrimonium-chloride
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702759/GUAR_HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM_CHLORIDE/
http://www.goodguide.com/ingredients/166597-guar-hydroxypropyltrimonium-chloride-ingredient information-reviews
http://www.ashland.com/Ashland/Static/Documents/ASI/Personal%20Care/PCTR001_Efficacy_of_Guar2.pdf
