Polyquaternium-11

Polyquaternium-11 has been a workhorse of hair styling for decades. Its flexible, clear film gives hold without crunch, and its positive charge helps it cling to hair. That combination is why it shows up in mousses, gels, sprays and conditioners from drugstore brands to salon lines.

Product data

Water-soluble cationic polymer. pH range 4.0 to 8.0. Typical applications: shampoos, conditioners, hair masks, leave-in products, hair sprays, mousses, styling gels and professional salon hair care. The supplied concentration and recommended level are confirmed on the supplier CoA for each lot.

Chemistry in brief

Polyquaternium-11 is a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone, the same building block found in PVP styling resins, and a quaternized amine monomer that carries a positive charge. The vinylpyrrolidone part forms a clear film; the cationic part improves adhesion to hair and adds conditioning.

Product formats

Volume mousse

A foam applied to damp roots before blow-drying.

Styling gel

A clear gel with flexible hold.

Hair spray

A finishing spray for hold and shine.

Leave-in conditioner

A light spray that detangles and adds body.

Shampoo

A cleanser that leaves hair feeling fuller.

Formulating guidance

Add the polymer to the water phase. In mousses, combine it with a mild foaming surfactant and propellant or a foam pump. In clear gels, choose a nonionic thickener such as hydroxyethylcellulose, since anionic carbomers can interact with cationic polymers. Pair it with D-Panthenol for moisture and hydrolyzed keratin for a care story. Ingredients that pair well with Polyquaternium-11 are collected under actives.

Claims

Use cosmetic wording such as flexible hold, volume, body and soft, manageable hair. Support with curl retention tests in humidity and panel assessments.

Who the products are for

Customers with fine, flat hair who want volume, those who style daily and salon professionals.

Mousse formulation

Mousses rely on a stable foam. A small amount of a nonionic surfactant and the polymer in water, dispensed through a foam pump, gives an aerosol-free mousse.

Flaking

Too much film-former can flake when hair is brushed. Test at several levels and brush tresses after drying.

Testing

Run stability at room temperature and 40 °C, checking clarity, viscosity and pH. Test hold on tresses in humid conditions.

Packaging

Foam pumps for mousses, jars or tubes for gels, pump sprays for leave-ins.

Batch quality

Keep the CoA for each lot and store retained samples.

Range planning

A mousse, a gel and a spray form a basic styling line.

Salon use

Salons use mousses and setting lotions daily. Larger professional sizes and refill bottles serve this channel.

Original recipe: aerosol-free volume mousse, 100 g

Purified water 88.60 g, Polyquaternium-11 4.00 g as an example level per CoA, decyl glucoside 2.00 g, glycerin 2.00 g, panthenol 1.00 g, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil 0.50 g, fragrance 0.20 g, preservative 1.00 g, citric acid solution 0.70 g. Premix fragrance with the solubilizer, then mix all ingredients into water until clear. Adjust pH to about 5.5 and fill into a foam pump.

Shampoo detail

In shampoos, the polymer adds body and a fuller feel. Add it after the surfactants and adjust viscosity with salt as usual. Some interaction with anionic surfactants is normal; check clarity and confirm that the shampoo rinses cleanly without leaving hair coated.

Curly hair

Curly hair benefits from soft definition. A light gel or curl cream with the polymer groups curls and keeps them in shape in humid weather.

Storage

Keep the container closed in a cool place.