Database/Hair Dyeing/p-Methylaminophenol Sulfate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is p-Methylaminophenol Sulfate natural?

Mostly not. The methylaminophenol core is a petrochemical phenol derivative; the sulfate ion that forms the salt counts as natural-origin mineral mass.

INCI namep-Methylaminophenol Sulfate
CAS150-75-4
FormulaC14H20N2O6S · 344.39 Da
FunctionHair Dyeing
FeedstockMade by sulfating synthetic 4-(methylamino)phenol, a petrochemical aromatic…

How we scored it

Bis(4-methylaminophenol) C14H18N2O2 ~246Da petrochemical (phenol derivative) + H2SO4/SO4 ~96-98Da natural counter-ion. 96/344 ≈ 0.28.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Made by sulfating synthetic 4-(methylamino)phenol, a petrochemical aromatic amine, to form its bis-sulfate salt. The organic core has no natural-origin route; only the sulfate ion is mineral.

In plain English

A hair dye ingredient, also known as Metol, that helps develop colour during dyeing. It is made synthetically from petrochemical aminophenol, isolated as its sulfate salt.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Beta Vulgaris Root Powder 100% natural origin

A powder made by drying and grinding sugar beet root. Used as a natural colorant for hair dye…

 Bismuth Citrate 100% natural origin

A salt formed from bismuth metal and citric acid, a natural fermentation-derived fruit acid, used to buffer, chelate…

 Dihydroxyacetone 100% natural origin

The active self-tanning ingredient that reacts with skin's surface proteins to produce a temporary bronze colour; made by…

 Epicatechin 100% natural origin

An antioxidant compound naturally found in tea and cocoa, used in skin, hair and oral care. It's extracted…

 Lawsonia Inermis Extract 100% natural origin

A plant extract from the henna shrub, used to condition hair and skin and add a reddish tint.…

 Pyrogallol 100% natural origin

A hair-dye ingredient traditionally made by heating gallic acid, itself extracted from plant tannins in gallnuts, until it…

Structure

2D structure of p-Methylaminophenol Sulfate

bis(4-(methylamino)phenol);sulfuric acid

PubChem CID 5930 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2p-Methylaminophenol Sulfate. PubChem CID 5930. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3P-METHYLAMINOPHENOL SULFATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4P-METHYLAMINOPHENOL SULFATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=P-METHYLAMINOPHENOL%20SULFATE