Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride
Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride suppliers and sourcing guide
Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride is cationic guar: guar gum, the galactomannan from the seed endosperm of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, reacted under alkaline conditions with a quaternary ammonium epoxide to add positively charged groups. The product is washed, dried and milled to an off-white powder. Brands use it in shampoos, two-in-one products and body washes, where it forms complexes with anionic surfactants when the product is diluted during rinsing and is deposited on hair and skin.
- Also known as
- Cationic guar · Cationic guar gum · Guar gum, 2-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonio)propyl ether, chloride
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Standard grades
General-purpose cationic guar sold by viscosity and charge density.
High charge density grades
More substituted grades used where more deposition is wanted, often in two-in-one shampoos.
Clear or low-residue grades
Grades with less insoluble guar residue for transparent shampoos and body washes.
Delayed-hydration powders
Surface-treated grades that disperse in water and hydrate when the pH is adjusted, so they mix without lumps.
Hydroxypropyl guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride
A related grade with added hydroxypropyl groups; a separate ingredient with its own INCI name.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Nitrogen content
- Nitrogen by Kjeldahl or combustion, which measures cationic substitution.
- Viscosity
- Brookfield viscosity of a 1% solution at a stated temperature.
- pH
- pH of a 1% dispersion, which matters for delayed-hydration grades.
- Loss on drying
- Moisture content of the powder.
- Residual reagent
- Residual quaternizing reagent and its chlorohydrin by LC or ion chromatography, against the supplier's limit.
- Microbiology
- Total aerobic count, yeast and mold, and absence of specified organisms such as E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store cationic guar sealed in a cool, dry place; the powder absorbs moisture and lumps, and as a natural polymer it is prone to microbial growth once wet. Shelf life follows the supplier's retest date, with viscosity and microbiology repeated on older stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Viscosity, charge density and clarity vary by lot and by guar crop, so record nitrogen and viscosity for each lot. Check clarity in a test batch for clear formulas when a new lot arrives.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride under the proper name guar gum, 2-hydroxy-3(trimethylammonio)propyl ether, chloride, with non-medicinal purposes including antistatic agent, hair-conditioning agent and aqueous viscosity increasing agent, for topical use.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride can brands buy?
Common forms include standard grades, high charge density grades, clear or low-residue grades, delayed-hydration powders and hydroxypropyl guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride include?
Expect nitrogen content, viscosity, pH, loss on drying, residual reagent and microbiology, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride be stored?
Store cationic guar sealed in a cool, dry place; the powder absorbs moisture and lumps, and as a natural polymer it is prone to microbial growth once wet. Shelf life follows the supplier's retest date, with viscosity and microbiology repeated on older stock.
What is the regulatory status of guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride?
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride under the proper name guar gum, 2-hydroxy-3(trimethylammonio)propyl ether, chloride, with non-medicinal purposes including antistatic agent, hair-conditioning agent and aqueous viscosity increasing agent, for topical use.
More cosmetic bases, emollients and surfactants
- GlycerinGlycerol · Glycerine
- Propylene glycol1,2-Propanediol · Propane-1,2-diol
- Butylene glycol1,3-Butanediol · 1,3-Butylene glycol
- Propanediol1,3-Propanediol · Trimethylene glycol
- Pentylene glycol1,2-Pentanediol · Pentane-1,2-diol
- Cetearyl alcoholCetostearyl alcohol · Alcohols, C16-18
- Cetyl alcohol1-Hexadecanol · Palmityl alcohol
- Stearyl alcohol1-Octadecanol · Octadecyl alcohol
- Behenyl alcoholDocosanol · 1-Docosanol
- Caprylic/capric triglycerideMedium-chain triglycerides · MCT
- Isopropyl myristateIPM · Tetradecanoic acid, 1-methylethyl ester
- Isopropyl palmitateIPP · 1-Methylethyl hexadecanoate
Sell ingredients to brands?
Request a free listing for the ingredients you make or distribute. No paid placement.