What it is
The register’s chemical name for it: “2-Amino-2-methylpropanol.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- AMINOMETHYL PROPANOL
- CAS number
- 124-68-5
- EC number
- 204-709-8
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Aminomethyl Propanol in any cosmetic, hair roles first. They say why a maker might add it, not what it does in one formula, and they aren’t a safety rating.
- Buffering
-
Keeps the product’s pH (how acidic it is) steady.
Register definition: “Stabilising the pH of an aqueous medium in a narrow range even if an acid or base is added. Altering and/or maintaining a cosmetic product's pH at the desired level.”
Where it sits on each label
US labels list ingredients from most to least, except that those at 1% or less may follow in any order. A name near the top is a large part of the formula. A label doesn’t mark where the 1% point falls, so further down, the order says little about how much is in it.
- Rinse-out conditioners 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Rinse-out conditioners without it
- Deep conditioners 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Deep conditioners without it
- Leave-in conditioners 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Leave-in conditioners without it
- Stylers 10 labels First five names: 1 of 10 Stylers without it
- Heat protectants 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Heat protectants without it
- Curl refreshers 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Curl refreshers without it
Every label, product by product (15)
- Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 18th of 22 names
- Mielle Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner Deep conditioner 22nd of 38 names
- PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner Leave-in conditioner 33rd of 43 names
- Aunt Jackie's Don't Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel Styler 4th of 20 names
- tgin Curl Bomb Moisturizing Styling Gel Styler 6th of 27 names
- DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel Styler 8th of 22 names
- Giovanni Curl Habit Curl Shaping Hair Gel Styler 8th of 21 names
- Curlsmith In-Shower Style Fixer Styler 18th of 30 names
- Bounce Curl Light Hold Creme Gel Styler 13th of 20 names
- Rizos Curls Light Hold Gel Styler 22nd of 29 names
- Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Strong Hold Gel Styler 12th of 15 names
- Kristin Ess Sea Salt Air Dry Mousse Styler 38th of 47 names
- The Doux BIG POPPA Defining Gel Styler 14th of 15 names
- Curlsmith Miracle Shield Heat protectant 23rd of 34 names
- PATTERN Hydrating Mist Curl refresher 27th of 52 names
Each line runs from the first name on a label to the last; a dot is where this ingredient sits. Makers change formulas now and then; if the list on your bottle differs, go by your bottle.
Your next step
Other buffering ingredients on these labels
- Citric Acid 93 labels
- Sodium Hydroxide 25 labels
- Lactic Acid 12 labels
- Acetic Acid 7 labels
- Sodium Acetate 7 labels
- Disodium Phosphate 6 labels
- Sodium Lactate 5 labels
- Sodium Phosphate 5 labels
Updated · The name, numbers and uses come from the European Commission’s CosIng entry (CC BY 4.0); we write the uses in US spelling and put the hair ones first. The labels are each maker’s own. The order rule is the FDA’s Cosmetics Labeling Guide. All our sources are on the Sources page.