Polyquaternium-94 is a synthetic polymeric quaternary ammonium salt used as a multifunctional cosmetic ingredient, particularly in hair-care and personal-care formulations. It belongs to the polyquaternium family of cationic polymers, which are widely used in cosmetic formulations because of their ability to provide conditioning, film-forming, antistatic and hair-styling benefits.
The current cosmetic ingredient records identify Polyquaternium-94 with four principal functions: antistatic, film forming, hair conditioning and hair fixing. It is associated with hair-care and nail-care products and belongs to the broader groups of film-forming agents, hair-setting polymers and hair-care/conditioning ingredients.
Polyquaternium-94 is particularly relevant for formulations designed to improve hair manageability, reduce static, support styling performance and provide a smooth film on the hair surface.
Polyquaternium-94 is a synthetic cationic polymeric cosmetic ingredient.
The CosIng-derived chemical description identifies Polyquaternium-94 as a polymeric quaternary ammonium salt consisting of three principal monomer components:
These components form a polymeric structure containing quaternary ammonium functionality.
The cationic nature of polyquaternium polymers can promote interaction with negatively charged surfaces such as hair fibres. This characteristic makes them useful in conditioning and styling formulations.
Polyquaternium-94 should not be confused with Quaternium-94. They are separate INCI ingredients with different chemical identities.
Polyquaternium-94 provides multiple cosmetic functions, making it useful for multifunctional hair-care systems.
Hair can develop electrostatic charges during washing, drying, brushing and styling.
Polyquaternium-94 is identified as an antistatic ingredient and can help reduce electrostatic charge on hair.
This property can be useful in products designed for:
The actual antistatic performance depends on the grade, concentration and complete formulation.
Polyquaternium-94 is also identified as a film-forming ingredient.
Film-forming polymers can produce a continuous polymeric layer on hair and other cosmetic substrates. In hair-care formulations, this property can contribute to surface feel, styling behaviour and overall product performance.
Film formation can be relevant to:
The characteristics of the resulting film depend on polymer properties and formulation conditions.
Hair conditioning is one of the documented functions of Polyquaternium-94.
A conditioning polymer can help improve the sensory properties of hair, including:
Polyquaternium-94 can therefore be evaluated in conditioning shampoos, conditioners and treatment products.
Current COSMILE Europe identifies Polyquaternium-94 as a hair-fixing ingredient, meaning it can contribute to durable shaping of hairstyles.
This makes the ingredient particularly relevant to styling formulations where conditioning and styling performance are required together.
Potential applications include:
Polyquaternium-94 can be evaluated in conditioning shampoo formulations.
The polymer may provide conditioning and antistatic benefits while contributing to improved post-wash hair feel.
Formulators should evaluate compatibility with the complete surfactant system, particularly when anionic surfactants are present.
Polyquaternium-94 can be considered for rinse-off conditioners where conditioning, smoothness and manageability are important.
The final performance should be evaluated through wet-combing, dry-combing and sensory testing.
Leave-in formulations provide an opportunity to evaluate longer-lasting conditioning and film-forming effects.
Potential products include:
The documented hair-fixing and film-forming functions make Polyquaternium-94 relevant to styling formulations.
It can be evaluated in products requiring a combination of:
Polyquaternium-94 is a polymeric material and incorporation characteristics may vary depending on commercial grade and supplied form.
The supplier's technical documentation should be followed for the appropriate addition method.
Controlled addition and adequate mixing are important for achieving uniform distribution.
The polymer should be incorporated according to the supplier's recommended processing procedure to minimize incomplete dispersion.
The final formulation pH should be selected according to the requirements of the complete cosmetic system.
A universal optimum pH should not be assigned to Polyquaternium-94 without grade-specific technical evidence.
Compatibility with surfactants is particularly important for shampoo and cleansing systems.
Formulators should evaluate Polyquaternium-94 with the complete surfactant combination to assess:
Polyquaternium-94 may be combined with other conditioning polymers, rheology modifiers, film formers and functional ingredients.
However, polymer-polymer interactions can affect viscosity, clarity, deposition and sensory characteristics.
Laboratory compatibility testing is recommended.
A universal recommended concentration should not be assigned without commercial-grade technical documentation.
The appropriate use level should be determined according to:
Polyquaternium-94 can be evaluated for:
Polyquaternium-94 is particularly attractive when a formulation requires a combination of conditioning, film formation, antistatic performance and hair-fixing properties.
Polyquaternium-94 can be considered for cosmetic formulations requiring multifunctional polymer performance in hair care and personal care.
Swapnroop supports cosmetic raw-material sourcing with a focus on ingredient identification, technical information and formulation-oriented supply requirements.
Polyquaternium-94 is a synthetic polymeric quaternary ammonium salt used in cosmetic formulations, particularly for antistatic, film-forming, hair-conditioning and hair-fixing functions.
It can be used in hair-care and styling formulations where conditioning, film formation, antistatic performance and hair fixing are required.
Yes. Hair conditioning is one of its documented cosmetic functions.
Yes. Current COSMILE Europe identifies it as a hair-fixing ingredient.
It can be evaluated in conditioning shampoo formulations, subject to compatibility with the surfactant system and the selected commercial grade.
Yes. Its documented hair-fixing and film-forming functions make it relevant to styling formulations such as gels, mousses, creams and other styling systems.
It is identified as an antistatic cosmetic ingredient and is intended to reduce electrostatic charge.
The current CosIng-derived record does not assign a CAS number to Polyquaternium-94.
The CosIng reference is 85410.
No. Polyquaternium-94 and Quaternium-94 are different cosmetic ingredient identities and should not share technical or CAS information.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white powder |