Encyclopedia · humectant
Propanediol
A plant-derived glycol used as a humectant and solvent; no hair-specific study was found.
Cosmetic ingredient
Cost $
What it is
1,3-Propanediol is often made by fermenting corn sugar and is marketed as a natural substitute for propylene glycol. It is a cosmetic ingredient. Do not confuse it with aminomethyl propanediol, a different pH adjuster.
How it works
It is presumed to act as a humectant like glycerin. We located no hair-fibre data.
What the studies show
- No hair-specific study was located.
Side effects and safety
Suppliers claim low irritation potential. We found no independent hair-specific data.
Bottom line
A neutral ingredient that you need not worry about on labels. There is no evidence it does anything distinctive for hair, and all claims rest on supplier data. We are very unsure of any benefit.
Studies 0
No studies are listed for this page yet.
Related
- GlycerinA cheap water-binding ingredient in nearly every conditioner; no peer-reviewed hair study tests it, and the popular humidity rules are untested.
- Humectants and humidityHair swells and softens with humidity, but the popular rules about glycerin and humidity have not been tested; panthenol is the humectant with the best fibre data.