Distearyldimonium Chloride

Distearyldimonium chloride is a cationic quaternary ammonium conditioning agent used mainly in hair conditioners and some creams (typically around ~0.1–2%), where it can be mildly irritating due to its surfactant-like, positively charged nature. Patch test data and clinical experience suggest low but real irritation potential, especially on compromised or eczematous skin and with leave-on exposure, so I rate it as mild rather than gentle for highly reactive patients. Safety Notes: In consumer products, distearyldimonium chloride is most often encountered as a cationic conditioning/antistatic agent in hair conditioners, masks, and cream rinses, where it can appear at low supportive levels around 0.05–0.3% (often as part of a broader conditioning blend). In higher-performance OTC rinse-off conditioners and intensive masks—especially thick, lamellar, quaternary-ammonium–structured formulas—it is observed in the ~2–8% range to deliver strong wet-combing, deposition, and frizz control, with the upper end limited by viscosity/feel and irritation potential rather than a single harmonized global maximum. It is uncommon in facial leave-on skincare; when used there, it is typically at the low end due to sensory and tolerability constraints.