Ingredient

Dicocodimonium Chloride

Mid risk

Also known asdicoco dimethyl ammonium chloride, di(coco alkyl)dimethylammonium chloride, CAS 61789-77-3

FunctionConditioning agent

What it is — Dicocodimonium Chloride (CAS 61789-77-3) is a quaternary ammonium salt, or "quat", made from two fatty chains derived from coconut oil attached to a positively charged nitrogen. That positive charge is the whole point: damaged hair carries a negative charge, so the molecule is drawn to it.

What it does — It deposits a thin conditioning film on the cuticle, which makes wet hair easier to comb, cuts frizz and static, and leaves a softer feel. It also helps colour-depositing products spread evenly and rinse cleanly.

Typical use — Rinse-off conditioners, colour-depositing shampoos and colour lotions. In the GDS Hair Dye Shampoo it is declared in the Brown and Dark Brown formulas as part of the conditioning system that offsets the drying effect of oxidative colour.

Who it suits / good to know — Suits coarse, dry or colour-treated hair that needs slip. Very fine hair can feel weighed down by heavier quats, though at rinse-off levels this is rarely an issue. It is not a silicone, so it does not contribute to silicone build-up.

Safety — Quaternary ammonium compounds of this type are skin and eye irritants in concentrated form, and the US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) has assessed this family for use in cosmetics with that in mind. At the low use levels in rinse-off products it is generally well tolerated; keep it out of the eyes and avoid applying to broken or inflamed scalp. Colour products containing it also carry the mandatory hair-dye warnings because of the dye ingredients, not the quat. This is general information, not medical advice.

Why we grade it Mid: Mid risk — a cationic quat that is irritating to skin and eyes in concentrated form; well tolerated at the low levels used in rinse-off conditioners, but not an ingredient to leave on irritated skin.
Cross-reference

Found in these DHALIORA products

Found in 0 DHALIORA products

Not currently in any DHALIORA product.

How grades are set — Risk reflects our own reading of publicly available safety data, an EWG-style reading shown at the worst-case grade we've assigned this ingredient across products. It isn't a third party's proprietary score, and it isn't medical advice. Always read the packaging and patch-test where indicated.
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