Polyquaternium-10
Polyquaternium-10 is a gentle, conditioning ingredient commonly used in UK shampoos, conditioners and leave-in hair treatments. It helps detangle hair, reduce static and leave strands feeling smooth and manageable without weighing them down. Shoppers often see it listed towards the middle of ingredient lists in both high-street and salon-quality haircare.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, Polyquaternium-10 is a cationic cellulose polymer that binds to the negatively charged surface of hair fibres. It forms a light, invisible film that smooths the cuticle, improves wet and dry combability and helps retain moisture within the hair shaft. Because it is substantive yet non-greasy, it is widely used in conditioning shampoos, detangling sprays, hair masks and some lightweight styling creams popular in the UK.
Key benefits
- Improves hair detangling and combability
- Reduces static and flyaways
- Enhances smoothness and softness of hair
- Helps hair retain moisture
- Adds light conditioning without build-up
- Protects hair from mechanical damage during styling
Best for
all hair types, dry hair, damaged hair, frizz-prone hair, colour-treated hair
Where it comes from
Polyquaternium-10 is derived from cellulose, a natural polymer obtained from plant fibres such as wood pulp or cotton. The cellulose is chemically modified with quaternary ammonium groups to give it its conditioning properties.
Products with Polyquaternium-10
Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Polyquaternium-10 than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.