Ingredient glossary / Conditioning agent
Behentrimonium chloride
On the label: Behentrimonium Chloride · Conditioning agent
What it is
A cationic conditioning agent from rapeseed oil that detangles and smooths hair; the working part of most conditioners.
Conditioning agents: Conditioning agents smooth hair or skin and reduce static; most are cationic (positively charged) so they cling to the hair shaft.
Wikidata: Chemical compound. Q4880765 →
In the research
3 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Electrokinetic analysis reveals common conditioner ingredient interactions with human hair · International journal of cosmetic science, 2026
- Investigation of the interactions of cationic guar with human hair by electrokinetic analysis · International journal of cosmetic science, 2021
- Confirmation of in vitro and clinical safety assessment of behentrimonium chloride-containing leave-on body lotions using post-marketing adverse event data · Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIB, 2013
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Other conditioning agents
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.