Stearalkonium chloride

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Stearalkonium chloride is a chemical frequently used in personal hair care products such as hair conditioner. It makes hair shinier and cuts tangles, easing combing^[1]. It is a quaternary ammonium compound. The substance generally considered to be toxic and unsafe for use. However, it continues to be used in even "natural" hair care products, as the stearic acid used to make it can come from natural fats or oils. The substance is believed to damage hair in the long term. Stearalkonium chloride is classified as a cationic surfactant^[2].