Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Hair Cationic surfactants comparison

  • Cationic surfactants comparison

    Posted by abdullah on August 24, 2021 at 2:37 pm

    Of these three cationic surfactants, SPDMA, BTMS, Behentrimonium chloride in a hair conditioner, which one works better for improving which one of these?

    1. Fly-away
    2. Dry feel
    3. Dry combing
    4. Wet smoothness
    5. Wet combing
    6. Detangling
    7. Volume
    8. Shine

    Alone and combined with 1% Amodimethicone.

    abdullah replied 2 years, 7 months ago 2 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Syl

    Member
    August 25, 2021 at 5:35 pm

    In my personal opinion, they all perform well as conditioners for 1-6.

    BTMS leaves a greasy feel if you have fine hair like mine.
    Behentrimonium Chloride is high-performing, leaves a small residue.
    SPDMA or Stearamidopropyl dimethylamine works well for me, it does not leave residues that weigh down my fine hair, this one is high volume. Others with thick dry hair might prefer a different one. I have not tried them with 1% Amodimethicone. Different people have different hair needs.

  • abdullah

    Member
    August 26, 2021 at 1:28 am

    @Syl me and majority of people here have fine hair too. So my target is people with fine hair.

    I have also noticed in my hair that BTMS makes my hair greasy and it feels better unconditioned than conditioned with BTMS. 

    About BTAC residue, does it increase in each use if used for long term and cause buildup or it replaces the previous residue with new in each use and doesn’t buildup in long term? 

  • Syl

    Member
    August 26, 2021 at 2:20 pm

    Build-up does not increase, it is just replaced, but that is without Amedimethicone.

  • abdullah

    Member
    August 26, 2021 at 2:28 pm

    @Syl that is a good thing. 
    I love Amodimethicone. I haven’t noticed another benefit of it but i love touching my hair when it is dry after washing with a Shampoo with Amodimethicone 😃😃😃.

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