What it is
In the register’s words: “Fatty acids, coco, 2-sulfoethyl esters, sodium salts.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- SODIUM COCOYL ISETHIONATE
- CAS number
- 61789-32-0 / 58969-27-0
- EC number
- 263-052-5
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate 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.
- Hair conditioning
-
The register’s hair role for ingredients that make hair feel softer, smoother or easier to comb. Most conditioners, masks and leave-ins list several.
Register definition: “Enhancing the appearance and feel of hair. Leaving the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and/or imparting volume, lightness, gloss, texture, etc.”
- 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.”
- 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 8 labels First five names: 6 of 8 Shampoos without it
- Clarifying shampoos 5 labels First five names: 3 of 5 Clarifying shampoos without it
Every label, product by product (13)
- OLAPLEX Nº.4CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Shampoo Shampoo 2nd of 62 names
- Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Shampoo Shampoo 3rd of 37 names
- Giovanni Curl Habit Curl Defining Shampoo Shampoo 3rd of 31 names
- Innersense Organic Beauty Hydrating Cream Hairbath Shampoo 6th of 35 names
- Rizos Curls Hydrating Shampoo Shampoo 4th of 22 names
- Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream Shampoo 3rd of 15 names
- tgin Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo Shampoo 5th of 24 names
- Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo Shampoo 13th of 24 names
- Bounce Curl Gentle Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 4th of 31 names
- Jessicurl Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 3rd of 19 names
- Cécred Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub Clarifying shampoo 5th of 31 names
- Curlsmith Curl Reset Detox Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 6th of 27 names
- Camille Rose Clean Rinse Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 21st of 34 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 hair conditioning ingredients on these labels
- Glycerin 131 labels
- Panthenol 72 labels
- Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil 69 labels
- Behentrimonium Methosulfate 38 labels
- Caprylyl Glycol 37 labels
- Behentrimonium Chloride 34 labels
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine 34 labels
- Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil 34 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.