| What is it? | Cocamide DEA is a liquid non-ionic liquid surfactant made from coconuts. It helps boost foam, thicken surfactant blends, and condition the hair. |
| INCI | Cocamide DEA |
| Appearance | Pale yellow liquid |
| Usage rate | “The CIR Expert Panel concluded that Cocamide DEA was safe as used in rinse-off products and safe at concentrations of less than or equal to 10% in leave-on products.” (source) |
| Scent | Characteristically detergent-y |
| Active surfactant matter | Varies by product; mine is 85% |
| Approximate Melting Point | Liquid at room temperature |
| pH | 8.5–11 at 1% (varies by product) |
| Charge | Non-ionic |
| Solubility | Water |
| Why do we use it in formulations? | Cocamide DEA helps boost the foam in our formulations, thicken surfactant blends, and condition the hair. |
| Do you need it? | No. |
| Refined or unrefined? | Cocamide DEA only exists as a refined product. |
| Strengths | Good thickener and foam booster. |
| Weaknesses | Harder to find, depending on where you live. |
| Alternatives & Substitutions | I’d try a different non-ionic liquid surfactant, like one of the glucosides. This may result in a thinner product, depending on the formulation, so you may have to adjust the formulation to get the desired final viscosity. |
| How to Work with It | Include Cocamide DEA in the surfactant/water phase of your formulations. Cocamide DEA can be hot or cold processed. |
| Storage & Shelf Life | Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, |
| Tips, Tricks, and Quirks | Cocamide DEA and Cocamide MEA are not the same. |
| Recommended starter amount | 100mL (3.3fl oz) |
| Where to Buy it | Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon. Mine is from Mystic Moments. |
Want to compare different surfactants?
Check out my super-useful surfactants table!
