Science-y Hair Blog © 2011 by Wendy M.S. is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 
I'm one of those people with silky-feeling hair that accumulates products like a lollipop dropped in the lint trap of a rarely-cleaned dryer. Some people and some products don't get along. For this post, the focus is on Polyquaternium products.
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| This curl asks, "Are poly- quats for me? |
Polyquaterniums (and a few other things in this post) are "active ingredients" or functional ingredients in hair care. They're not there to make the product look pretty or smell nice or feel nice, they're used because they actively condition or detangle or because they form a film that creates "hold" in a product. Some of these ingredients help your hair hold on to hair dye longer or provide UV protection.
©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
All of the ingredients that will be listed below with moderate to high build-up potential resist washing off with water and with shampoo (or anything else you use to clean your hair - conditioner, acids, baking soda…) unless noted. They are created with cationic (positive) charges so they bond with your hair rather than just forming a passive film. That is good for hair that needs a lasting film for hold or a slippery film for detangling. It's also great if you want all-day-long or humidity-resistant hold in a styling product. But it is not helpful if the product accumulates on your hair. Some people can use polyquaternium ingredients with no problems, but some of us get build-up from them.
©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
Not everybody's hair will accumulate build up! All conditioning ingredients have the potential to build up. ALL OF THEM. That doesn't mean you should not use them, it doesn't mean they're necessarily damaging. It just means that if you find your hair becomes stringy or sticky or dull or rough or too soft or spider-webby or unusually frizzy or just generally weird feeling that one of these ingredients may contribute to the problem and because you know that, you can make better choices and avoid spending money on products that won't work for you. All these ingredients have potential benefits! This post should not make you want to avoid them, this post is to help you understand what happens when you have problems with products. There is no reason to avoid these ingredients unless you know you have a problem with them, or unless you already know that everything under the sun builds up on your hair and you just don't want to deal with trial and error.
Film-formers are more likely to cause crusty or dull or stringy-hair type build up. This has to do with the ingredients used to make the final Polyquaternium product. Conditioning Polyquaterniums probably have a build-up that is more like overly-soft or overly slick hair.
Film-formers are more likely to cause crusty or dull or stringy-hair type build up. This has to do with the ingredients used to make the final Polyquaternium product. Conditioning Polyquaterniums probably have a build-up that is more like overly-soft or overly slick hair.
Worth mentioning: The numbers assigned to these products have nothing to do with their chemical composition, so no opportunity to do any sleuthing by the numbers! Darn.
One last word: You can't always condemn an ingredient based on one product or a product based on one ingredient. Many products have multiple ingredients that could cause build-up and you cannot just blame one ingredient. The combination of ingredients in a product (or that product, combined with other things you put in your hair) may be causing a problem.
©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
Higher Build-Up Potential
- Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride - A cationic conditioner often used in conditioning or mild shampoos. High potential for build-up, but is also very good for detangling, especially detangling wet hair which is why it is used in shampoos.©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
- Polyquaternium-4 - Cationic conditioner that has film-forming properties. Usually used to provide hold in styling products and also thicken a product. Moderate to high potential to build-up.
Moderate Build-Up Potential
- Polyquaternium-7 - A cationic conditioning ingredient which has moderate potential for build-up, used to lessen the drying effect of detergents and add a "conditioned" feel to products so hair or skin feel soft. It helps detangle wet and dry hair and may help create shine.
- Polyquaternium -11- A cationic conditioning ingredient which has moderate potential for build-up. Often used in hair mousses because it provides light hold. The film-forming plus the cationic nature of this ingredient can give hair a tacky feel while on the hair and after rinsing.
- Polyquaternium-55 - Cationic conditioning ingredient which is an excellent heat protectant, film-forming to help hair retain dyed color longer. Has build-up potential, possibly as "over-conditioning."
- Hydroxypropyltrimonium (fill in the blank, Honey, Wheat Protein, any other protein, Starch). When "Hydroxypropyltrimonium" precedes an ingredient, it means it has been modified to have a cationic charge so it sticks to your hair and that means it can cause build-up. In this case, it may be over-conditioned or too-soft hair. These ingredients provide slip and softness and help reduce frizz.
- Polyquatermium-59 - Cationic conditioner with UV light absorbing qualities - sun protection! Moderate build up potential, but in this case you probably want sun protection that stays on in water and sweat and taking hats on and off, so I don't feel that build up of UV protectants is such a bad thing. It won't last forever. Likely to feel over-conditioned.
- Polyquaternium-113 - A color-protecting cationic polymer that bonds firmly to hair to prevent fast water-uptake when hair is wetted. Because dyed or bleached-then-dyed (bright "rainbow" colors) hair tends to absorb water quickly - and because that water can pull dye molecules with it - keeping water out is a good thing to preserve color. Like any conditioning ingredient, this may be removed with most shampoos, but it's ability to bond to hair is also what makes it effective!
Lower Build-Up Potential©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
- Polyquaternium-10 - A cationic conditioning ingredient which may have slight to moderate build-up potential, depending on the source you consult. This may be removable with a polyquaternium-free, anionic (sulfate or olefin sulfonate) shampoo. It is often used in shampoos for detangling. May be used in styling products because it provides light hold.
- Polyquaternium-69 - Weakly cationic film-former for hold in hair products. Slight potential for build-up. Likely to be removed after 1-2 shampooings.
- Polyquaternium-37 - Used for conditioning for limp, thin or "fine" hair. Reported to help improve volume and body in hair.
- Polyquaternium-44 - Cationic conditioner/detangler used in some shampoos. Has slight potential for build-up, it was designed as an alternative to Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride and other more build-up provoking ingredients.©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
- Polyquaternium-87 - Amphoteric (can be positive or negatively charged) conditioner for shampoos created as an alternative to Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride for detangling, soft feel and helping hairs align (frizz control). Will be removed after 1-2 shampooings.
- Polyquaternium-47 - An amphoteric conditioning ingredient which has moderate potential for build-up. Used for detangling wet hair and dry, softens hair. Not a lot of information available yet about this ingredient. I'm putting it in the "lower build-up potential" category for now based on the variable charge. I'll update if I find out more.©Science-y Hair Blog 2013
Tonya McKay says "Some studies have shown that Polyquaternium-4 is particularly good about not causing build-up." http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/all-about-another-hard-to-pronounce-ingredient/
ReplyDeleteHowever it is a very old article so may be out of date?
Some studies do show that Polyquaternium-4 may not have as much build-up potential (I think there was one study), but other studies indicate that it is not removed with water nor removed easily with shampoo - as much so as Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (which doesn't cause problems for a lot of people either). In real life - hair products have to interact with real hair. Polyquaternium-4 is highly substantive, especially as hair increases in porosity. Unlike conditioning ingredients meant to reduce friction, Polyquaternium-4 creates rigid films. When this does not wash out completely, the result is a tacky residue. So even if it's not building up as much as some Polyquaterniums or other conditioning ingredients, the net effect of build-up is very noticeable.
DeleteIs it known how likely polyquaternium-37 will build up?
ReplyDeleteReports seem to indicate that this ingredient is helpful for increasing volume and is not likely to weigh hair down. This is a conditioning ingredient, not a styling ingredient or film-forming ingredient. So those two pieces of information seem to indicate that build-up is not especially likely. Over-softening is a possibility in some hair types, but that happens with any conditioning ingredient.
DeleteHi. I have 2 questions. Does polyquat -4 remove with a single shampoo .. sulfate or low poo? I bought the Aura hypoallergenic gel which has Polyquat-4 as the first ingredient after water and it leaves a reallly producty tacky feel on my hair if i dont shampoo inbetween. I try to be as CG as possible but my choices are limited due to my location and sensitivities.
ReplyDeleteI have facial eczema which goes crazy if i use stuff with artificial fragrances' colour and even Propylene glycol(an observation i made) . Are you sensitive to the glycol too?
Hello Stormchaser!
DeletePoluqyaternium-4 is NOT removed by a single shampooing. Polyquats are notoriously slow to be removed when they are causing build-up. The best detergent for removing polyquats is C14-16 olefin sulfonate. The shampoo "Pure & Basic Natural Clarifying Shampoo -Citrus" has that detergent as well as the ingredient sodium polystyrene sulfonate (not a sulfate) which also helps remove polyquat build-up.
I haven't any problem with propylene glycol that I am aware of, but some people are allergic to it (immune reaction) and will have contact dermatitis - or flare-ups of skin disease. It is difficult to have lots of sensitivities - but once you do find products that work, you feel like you have a lot of flexibility through being able to add things. For example, I have one fragrance-free hair conditioner. But I can add oil to it or powdered collagen protein or flat beer or whatever else I like to make it different. That also saves money.
Hi Wendy! It’s been three years (exactly) since you posted the response above, but is the fragrance-free conditioner mentioned above one that you have made yourself? If so, would you be willing to post it in your recipe section? I’ve been searching for a basic conditioner that can be customized as needed, but instead I’ve wasted so much money on products that are absolutely wrong for my hair. Most pre-made conditioners, especially “natural” ones, contain problematic ingredients like glycerin/aloe, heavy perfumes, or irritating essential oils. Most weigh down my 2A/2B, fine/medium, slightly thin hair and make it too soft, fluffy, and frizzy. The commercial ones for fine hair are almost always thickening in the wrong way for me, and I wind up with coarser-looking straight hair that looks dull and dry. Perhaps this has been your experience too; although your hair is less porous than mine. As always, thanks for all the great information you've posted here!
DeleteHello! I have a question for you about an ingredient in my Renepure Originals Biotin and Collagen shampoo. On the ingredient list, there is an ingredient called Silicone Quaternium 17. What can you tell me about it? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThere is more information about silicone solubility in a post by that name on this blog (I'll put the URL at the end). Silicone Quaternium-17 is a conditioner - a silicone that has been modified to bind to hair like conditioners do. The ingredient itself is water-soluble, but it may not rinse off with water. This ingredient is meant to bind to hair (specifically to damaged areas), it may build up or accumulate to weigh down especially build-up prone hair or lightweight hair types or it may contribute to over-softening. But in shampoos, it can offer much-needed lubrication. http://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/silicone-ingredient-solubility-list.html
DeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post! I read somewhere that Decyl Glucoside works well at removing quats build up in hair. Is that true?
Hello Border Crosser,
DeleteNo that is not true. Decyl glucoside is a non-ionic surfactant that can be mild, but it won't detach polyquats from hair. C14-16 olefin sulfonate (or just "olefin sulfonate") is an anionic surfactant that tends to be better than other anionic surfactants at removing cationic residue from hair (like polyquats).
I'd like to add that Border Brosser was referring to this fragment you wrote on another entry: "You may experience build-up from these products which you might consider tackling with a detergent such as Decyl or Lauryl glucoside (Polyglucosides) or Cocamidopropyl betaine detergent. This isn’t about “sulfate free” shampoo so much as that these detergents are non-ionic or amphoteric (can act either cationic or anionic). Why? Because (and this is where it gets weird), using an anionic shampoo does not do a very good job of removing cationic “soil” and the presence of cationic soil may increase anionic build-up on your hair. (If you wash your hair with anionic sodium lauryl sulfate and use a conditioner too, you’ll ultimately be left with more sodium lauryl sulfate left behind on your hair). It seems reasonable that if using an anionic shampoo plus a cationic conditioner equals more build-up, then you will have less build-up in your hair if you avoid anionic shampoos. Thoughts? I’d love to hear tham." (https://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/cationic-compounds-in-cosmetics.html)
DeleteThat being said, is olefin sulfonate the only detergent able to remove polyquats? Specifically, 7, 10, and 67 polyquats? Is it ok if both ingredients (olefin and polyquats) are in the same formula? Thanks a lot in advance. I know this is a super old post!
Hi,
ReplyDeleteYou have listed "Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride" as having high potential for buildup. But
does "HYDROXYPROPYL GUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM" also have potential for buildup ? This is an ingredient that is listed in Garnier Pure Clean(2-in-1).
Hello Jane,
DeleteFrom what I can find about this ingredient (which isn't much) - it appears to be a conditioning ingredient derived from Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride. That's about as clear as mud to me too. You'd have to try it to see if it builds up - but if you're a person who always gets dull, tacky hair from Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride in shampoos, this one might also be a problem.
Thanks for this post! It's so useful. I'm going to reference here for all my conditioners from now on. How much potential does Polyquaternium-6 have for build up? And is there some formula to predict which numbers are more prone to build up and which aren't?
ReplyDeleteHello Charlotte,
DeletePolyquaternium-6 is highly charged - so it has a strong attraction to hair, especially damaged hair. But it is not a film-forming polymer, it's a lubricating, static-reducing conditioner. So "build-up" in the sense of stringy hair or crunchy hair is less a problem. There is no formula for calculating which polyquaterniums might be problems for some people based on their number. The number-naming system for this ingredient does not carry any meaning, chemically. I know, very frustrating!
Tks for the post! It is really very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI keep having build up issues on my scalp, and I am wondering if polyquats may be the cause.
I get that they adhere to the hair because of they are cationic, but what about the scalp? Do they adhere to the scalp also?
My sulfate free silicone free shampos all have polyquats, specially Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, and my hair feels great, but I keep getting a waxy build up in my scalp and I am wondering if it could be from polyquats... Tks!
Hello,
DeleteCationic ingredients do bind to skin. Usually we think of skin as shedding cells on a daily basis, so the possibility of build-up on skin is less. With scalp - thanks to the protection of hair - sometimes skin cell shedding isn't as easy.
Make sure you're massaging your scalp gently when you wash. A scalp brush (they have smooth, flexible, rounded, chubby "bristles") might help too.
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride is well-known to leave a dull or matted feeling in hair - but you're not getting that.
Have you tried washing an arm or non-scalp skin with the shampoo to see if you get the same result? That might tell you a lot about the product - whether it's the product, or the product and your scalp. And whether you need to massage your scalp more, or use a sugar/oil scalp scrub from time to time to help exfoliate your scalp.
I hope that helps, I can't give you an answer, just more things to think about and try.
Hi, what surfactants effectively remove polquats?
ReplyDeleteHello Unknown,
DeleteThis post has that information: http://science-yhairblog.blogspot.com/2016/07/shampoos-which-remove-product-build-up.html
Hi, thank you so much for this post. My hair seems to react oppositely for some odd reason. From my experience it would seem that my hair doesn't experience build-up with "Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride" (high potential), experiences some build up with "Polyquaternium-7" (medium potential), and a LOT of build up with "Polyquaternium-10" (low potential). My type of build up is characterized by a coated feeling that leaves white residue on my comb, and sometimes my hair will feel like straw. Do you think it is likely to have such uncharacteristic reactions or is it more likely that this is due to other ingredients in the shampoos?
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Hello Mali, Feel free to ignore what the ingredient specifications say about any particular ingredient, your hair did not read that textbook! Your hair's reaction is very characteristic of hair accumulating product build-up. People's hair can have very unique tendencies to accumulate certain residues.
DeleteThe product formula as a whole matters a great deal - as you mentioned. Your hair may be reacting to a particular ingredient more when it is also paired with Ingredients X,Y, and Z - or included in a leave-on product vs. a rinse-out product. Or (also as you mentioned) Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride in a shampoo may not leave residue on your hair because the shampoo base doesn't favor its leaving residue on your hair. Best wishes - WS
Hello WS,
ReplyDeleteYou have an amazing blog.
I have question about polyquterniums. I'm making a permanent clear gel hair color based on xanthan gum. I made different samples in which as conditioner i used PQ-6, PQ-7 and PQ-22. Only sample with PQ-7 stayed clear - the other became white - which is obviously interaction between negatively charged xanthan gum and positively charged PQs. I have seen that Loreal uses PQ6 in some of it's hair colours. My question is if PQ-7 have film forming properties compared for example with PQ6? (Because film forming is not so desired when we are talking about permanent hair coloration)
Best wishes, Krasimir
Hello Krasimir, You will need to check the specifications of the ingredients you are working with for information about which ingredients these Polyquaterniums do and do not work well with and how they should be dissolved and added to the product. Sometimes cloudiness indicates that a different technique is needed. Polyquaternium-7 is a polymer made from Polyquaternium-6 (Dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride) and Acrylamide. It is commonly used in shampoos and hair gels for conditioning. It works well in anionic formulas, so that makes sense that it is compatible with a xanthan gum base. Polyquaternium-7 is meant for creating products which are clear and stay clear, so it's probably the better choice. Best wishes - W
DeleteI see many curly girls using the Ouidad ACC Humidity Resistant gel that has Polyquat 28. Do you know much about that one? Is it prone to build up?
ReplyDeletehello, thank you very much for this information, I have a question regarding polyquat 44, is it compatible with curly hair? i mean is it OK to use a co-wash contains polyquat 44 or it is better to avoid!
ReplyDeleteHello Unknown - It is probably as compatible for curly hair as any other conditioning or detangling ingredient. It isn't likely to cause tangles. Used in a shampoo (or any other product) it should add slip to reduce tangling and friction - 2 things that are usually good for curly hair!
Delete