Ingredient guide ›

Polyquaternium 10

The smoothing conditioner.

What it does

Made from cellulose, the fiber in plants. It coats hair so it's easier to comb and less staticky.

Good to know

Its long chains carry a positive charge, so they cling to hair after rinsing.

Often found in: Shampoos, Shower gels, Shampoos for dry hair

Around the world

• United States: No FDA limit. The FDA doesn't approve cosmetic ingredients before sale. Source
• EU and UK: No special limit in the EU or UK. Source
• Canada: Not on Health Canada's Hotlist of restricted ingredients. Source
• Australia: No limit in Australia's Poisons Standard. Source

Sources

No independent safety review found. The only review is industry-funded.

• CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Polyquaternium-10 (1988) (Industry-funded)