What it is
In the register’s words: “Sulfonic acids, C14-16-alkane hydroxy and C14-16-alkene, sodium salts.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- SODIUM C14-16 OLEFIN SULFONATE
- CAS number
- 68439-57-6
- EC number
- 270-407-8/931-534-0
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate 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.
- Cleansing
-
The register’s general role for ingredients that help clean, from washing ingredients to some plant extracts.
Register definition: “Helping to keep the body surface clean.”
- Foaming
-
Traps air in a liquid to make foam or lather.
Register definition: “Traping numerous small bubbles of air or other gas within a small volume of liquid by modifying the surface tension of the liquid.”
- Cleansing surfactant
-
The washing ingredients: they let water lift oil, product and dirt off hair and scalp. Shampoos list them near the top; some conditioners hold a little.
Register definition: “Wetting body surfaces, emulsifying or solubilizing oils, and suspending soil (generally, such ingredients contribute to the foaming and lathering properties of cleansing products).”
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.
- Shampoos 12 labels First five names: 12 of 12 Shampoos without it
- Clarifying shampoos 7 labels First five names: 7 of 7 Clarifying shampoos without it
Every label, product by product (19)
- PATTERN Hydration Shampoo Shampoo 2nd of 42 names
- Kristin Ess Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo Shampoo 2nd of 41 names
- Cantu Ultra Moisture Nourishing Shampoo Shampoo 2nd of 31 names
- Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo Shampoo 2nd of 31 names
- OLAPLEX Nº.4CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Shampoo Shampoo 4th of 62 names
- Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Moisturizing and Detangling Shampoo Shampoo 2nd of 27 names
- The Doux SUCKA FREE Moisturizing Shampoo Shampoo 2nd of 23 names
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Clean Slate Daily Shampoo Shampoo 2nd of 22 names
- Rizos Curls Hydrating Shampoo Shampoo 2nd of 22 names
- Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo Shampoo 3rd of 24 names
- tgin Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo Shampoo 4th of 24 names
- Camille Rose Curl Love Shampoo Shampoo 3rd of 16 names
- Cécred Detoxifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 2nd of 38 names
- PATTERN Cleansing Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 2nd of 34 names
- Cécred Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub Clarifying shampoo 2nd of 31 names
- Curlsmith Curl Reset Detox Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 2nd of 27 names
- Camille Rose Clean Rinse Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 3rd of 34 names
- Maui Moisture Scalp Care Clarifying Shampoo with Apple Cider Vinegar Clarifying shampoo 3rd of 34 names
- Malibu C Un-Do-Goo Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 2nd of 16 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 cleansing ingredients on these labels
- Decyl Glucoside 17 labels
- Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract 12 labels
- Coco-Glucoside 6 labels
- Ceteareth-20 5 labels
- Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate 5 labels
- Lauryl Glucoside 5 labels
- Stearic Acid 5 labels
- Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate 4 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.