Carbomer

KAR-boh-mer

Thickener 8/10 Safety CG ApprovedClean Synthetic Vegan

What Is Carbomer?

A high molecular weight synthetic polymer used as a thickener and stabilizer. It creates gel-like textures in hair products and helps maintain product consistency.

Source: Synthetic acrylic acid polymer

Origin: Synthetic

Also known as: Carbopol, Carbomer 940, Carbomer 941

What Does Carbomer Do to Your Hair?

Thickens and stabilizes hair product formulations to create gel-like textures. Helps suspend other ingredients evenly throughout the product. Also provides a light film-forming effect on hair.

Best For

All hair types

Not Recommended For

None known

Concentration Matters

0.1-1% in products

Hair Type Compatibility

1A Straight Fine
1B Straight Medium
1C Straight Coarse
2A Wavy Fine
2B Wavy Medium
2C Wavy Coarse
3A Curly Loose
3B Curly Tight
3C Curly Corkscrew
4A Coily S-Shaped
4B Coily Z-Shaped
4C Coily Tight

Method Compatibility

Curly Girl (CG) Method: Approved
CG Approved

Safety & Regulation

8/10
AvoidCautionSafe

Very safe for cosmetic use. Does not penetrate the skin or hair shaft. Used extensively in pharmaceuticals and personal care. Non-toxic and non-irritating at standard concentrations.

FDA Status: Generally Recognized As Safe

FDA permits use in both cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Extensive safety record.

EWG Score: 1/10

HairAide Verdict

A purely functional thickening ingredient that does not affect hair directly. Safe and effective at creating the gel textures we associate with styling products. Nothing to worry about here.

Products That Contain Carbomer

Hair gels, styling creams, leave-in conditioners, serums

Alternatives to Carbomer

If you want to avoid Carbomer, look for products with these ingredients instead:

Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carbomer safe for hair?

Yes, Carbomer has a safety rating of 8/10 and is generally considered safe for use in hair products. Very safe for cosmetic use. Does not penetrate the skin or hair shaft. Used extensively in pharmaceuticals and personal care. Non-toxic and non-irritating at standard concentrations.

Is Carbomer bad for curly hair?

Carbomer is CG-method approved and is generally considered safe for curly hair.

Is Carbomer CG-method approved?

Yes, Carbomer is approved for the Curly Girl method.

What can I use instead of Carbomer?

Some alternatives to Carbomer include: Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

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