Behentrimonium chloride

Behentrimonium chloride (BTMC) is derived from canola oil. Canola seeds are heated then pressed via screw presses or expellers. Solvents are usually added to the remaining “presscake” to extract the remaining oil. The solvent is later removed from the oil via a steam and heat process. Behentrimonium chloride is then made by quaternizing behenyl dimethylamine with methyl chloride in 30% dipropylene glycol.

Behentrimonium chloride is a conditioning agent, antistatic agent, and emulsifier found in personal care products like conditioners and hair masks, known for making hair soft, manageable, and frizz-free. As a cationic surfactant, it binds to the negatively charged hair shaft, providing conditioning, controlling static, and helping to stabilize product formulations by dispersing oil and water.  

Behentrimonium chloride has a longer alkyl carbon length and offers more lubricity and conditioning than Cetrimonium chloride. Behentrimonium chloride is a water-insoluble wax.

It reduces static electricity by neutralizing the electrical charge on hair, leaves hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and gives volume, lightness and shine and therefore used widely as a conditioning agent in various hair care formulations.