2-Methyl-5-Hydroxyethylaminophenol

Safety Information

Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety:

The safety of 2-methyl-5-hydroxyethylaminophenol has been assessed by the Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety. The Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that 2-methyl-5-hydroxyethylaminophenol was safe as a cosmetic ingredient in the present practices of use and concentration.

2-methyl-5-hydroxyethylaminophenol was neither a mutagen nor a developmental toxicant, and only a small amount of it was absorbed through the skin. Studies in this report indicated that oxidative hair dyes containing this ingredient may induce skin irritation and sensitization. Therefore, persons using hair dye products should minimize exposure to the skin.

More information about the safety of hair dyes.

The European Commission Committe, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) re-evaluated the safety of this hair dye ingredient in 2006. They concluded that this ingredient at a maximum concentration of 1.5% (when mixed with hydrogen peroxide) would not pose a risk to the health of the consumer.

Resources

2-Methyl-5-Hydroxyethylaminophenol

What Is It?

2-Methyl-5-Hydroxyethylaminophenol is used in the formulation of permanent hair dyes, colors and tints.

Why Is It Used?

2-Methyl-5-Hydroxyethylaminophenol imparts color to hair. The exact color obtained will depend on the other ingredients that are used in the preparation and the starting color of the hair.

Scientific Facts

2-Methyl-5-Hydroxyethylaminophenol is used in permanent hair coloring systems where color is produced inside the hair fiber. This is accomplished through careful formulation of the product so that the ingredients interact in a highly controlled process.

Hair dyeing formulations belong to three categories – temporary, semi-permanent and permanent coloring of hair. The permanent hair dyeing formulations are often referred to as oxidative hair dyes which are generally marketed as two-component products. One component contains the compounds (precursors) that become the colorants and the other component is a stabilized solution of hydrogen peroxide. The two components are mixed immediately prior to use. The precursors and peroxide diffuse into the hair shaft, where color formation takes place after the ingredients combine to produce the coloring mixture. The precursors are oxidized by the hydrogen peroxide to form the colorant molecules. These molecules are too large to escape from the hair structure. The hydrogen peroxide in the oxidative hair dye product also serves as bleaching agent for the natural pigment of the hair. The color that is formed depends on the precursors and direct dyes present in the dyeing solution, pH of the dyeing solution and the time of contact of the dyeing solution with the hair.