Ingredient

Ethanolamine

Mid risk

FunctionAlkalizer (ammonia substitute)

What it is — Ethanolamine (INCI: Ethanolamine) is an amino-alcohol used mainly as an alkalizer, often as a lower-odor substitute for ammonia in hair color.

What it does — It raises pH to help open the hair cuticle so dye can develop, commonly used in permanent hair-color systems.

Typical use — Found in permanent and demi-permanent hair colorants and some lightening products.

Who it suits / good to know — Relevant to those using cuticle-opening hair color. Because it changes pH, formulas are meant to be used as directed and rinsed thoroughly. It can be drying or irritating to scalp and skin at working strengths.

Safety — Graded mid risk: an effective alkalizer that regulators consider safe as used, but it can form nitrosamines in the presence of nitrosating agents, and it may irritate skin, eyes and scalp. This is general information, not medical advice. Follow product directions and patch-test per the color kit.

Why we grade it Mid: Mid risk — an effective alkalizer CIR considers safe as used, but it can form carcinogenic nitrosamines with nitrosating agents.
Cross-reference

Found in these DHALIORA products

Found in 1 DHALIORA product

GDS Hair Dye Shampoo — Grey Coverage in 3 Minutes GDS Hair Dye Shampoo — Grey Coverage in 3 MinutesScreening 8.6
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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