Cationic Guar 17 (Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride)

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (Cationic Guar 17) is a positively charged conditioning polymer designed to improve hair and skin feel in rinse-off and leave-on formulations. Derived from a renewable guar source, it deposits onto the surface of hair and skin to deliver slip and softness, makes wet and dry combing on hair easier, and enhances overall hair condition. It is especially suited for shampoos and cleansing systems where a soft feel is desired.

Not all Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride performs the same. Each grade of cationic guar differs in:

• molecular weight
• level of conditioning performance
• clarity in formulas (hazy vs crystal clear)
• how well it thickens the water phase of formulas

Cationic Guar 17 refers to a specific conditioning grade used by formulators to predict performance in shampoos and cleansing systems. If the grade isn’t identified, formulators can’t accurately anticipate slip, conditioning strength, or formula appearance.

Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride is a gum-based polymer and can be difficult to disperse directly in water. To avoid irreversible clumping (“fish eyes”), Valerie recommends to pre-mix the powder into Organic Glycerin or Biobased Propanediol to create a slurry before adding to water with strong mixing.

Using an overhead mixer and want to skip the slurry? Ensure a strong vortex is formed and gently sprinkle the Cationic Guar 17 into the vortex.

Nearly all modified guar gums, like Cationic Guar 17, require neutralization with citric acid or lactic acid. Lowering the pH not only makes the guar positively charged, it reduces the yellow color and that famous stinky guar odor! Valerie’s tried-and-true Cationic Guar 17 to Citric Acid ratio is 3:1. This means for every 0.1% Cationic Guar 17, use 0.03% Citric Acid to neutralize it.

Not all Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride is sourced the same way. Our guar comes from suppliers participating in responsible sourcing programs, like the Sustainable Guar Initiative, that support farmer education, improve livelihoods, and promote better soil and water management. Choosing sustainably sourced guar supports traceable supply chains and more responsible plant-derived ingredient sourcing for your formulas. By choosing Cationic Guar 17, you’re not just making a better product, you're creating positive change for the Indian communities that grow it.

Guar beans are harvested from sustainably grown guar plants in India. The seed is removed from the bean by milling. The hull and germ are removed in a process called splitting, leaving the sugar-rich endosperm. The endosperm is further processed to various molecular weights and positive charges.