Ingredient: Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride

Read "Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride" on the ingredient list of your shampoo and you might get concerned, but actually, this ingredient with the scary name is actually very safe. It is a water-soluble, organic compound. It is plant derived from the guar (cluster bean) plant. Although it is plant based, there is a synthetic portion to it. Guar beans are harvested from the guar gum bush. It is grown in India and Pakistan. In the U.S., it is found in Texas. Gums are used to impart creaminess. They are thus added to dairy products. They also are used in place of ingredients that contain gluten. The best known food in which this has occurred is certain breads.

It is 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 and provides a smoother brushing experience.

Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride is generally considered safe. It can cause a mild allergic reaction in the form of irritated skin for some with sensitive skin. This mostly depends on the amount used in the formula...it should not exceed 1.0%. Remember, the farther down the list of ingredients, the smaller the amount. All ingredient list are (should be) listed in order of predominance, with the item with the greatest amount first.