Let's talk about dandruff. Not the life‑ending kind, just the annoying, shoulder‑dusting kind.
Most anti‑dandruff actives - zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, selenium sulfide - are like bouncers at a nightclub. They stand at the door, physically attack the fungus (Malassezia), and cause collateral damage (irritation, dryness, weird smells). They work, but they're loud about it.
Piroctone Olamine is different. It's the quiet assassin. Chemically, piroctone olamine is a pyridinone derivative complexed with ethanolamine. It doesn't punch the fungus in the face. Instead, it does something much more elegant: it starves it.
The Mechanism of Starvation: Malassezia (the yeast responsible for dandruff) requires iron to survive, grow, and produce the oleic acid that causes flaking and itching. Piroctone olamine is a highly selective iron chelator. It enters the fungal cell membrane (effortlessly, because it's lipophilic) and grabs every iron ion in sight. Without iron, the fungus can't breathe. It doesn't die dramatically - it just stops multiplying. The scalp returns to balance.
Why This Matters for Your Scalp: Because piroctone olamine doesn't disrupt the fungal cell wall (like ketoconazole) and doesn't cause oxidative stress (like zinc pyrithione), it's remarkably gentle. It doesn't strip the scalp of its natural oils. It doesn't cause rebound flaking. It just… works. Quietly.
The Ethanolamine Connection: The "olamine" part is ethanolamine. This enhances water solubility and helps the molecule penetrate the stratum corneum to reach the fungus where it lives. It's the getaway driver for the assassin.
Specification: 99.0% – 101.0% (on dried basis)
Sample: Sample Available
Test method: HPLC / Titration
Synonyms: Piroctone olamine, Piroctone ethanolamine, 1-Hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)-2(1H)-pyridinone ethanolamine salt
MOQ: 1 KG | Package: 1kg/foil bag, 25kgs/drum
Certificate: HACCP, ISO 22000, HALAL, GMP, Kosher (available upon request)
Molecular Formula: C₁₄H₂₃NO₂ · C₂H₇NO | CAS: 68890-66-4
Product Characteristics
Mechanism of Action
Purity
Solubility
Gentle on Scalp
Particle Size
GMP Manufacturing
COA (Certificate of Analysis)
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Benefits of Piroctone Olamine Powder
01Iron Starvation - The Elegant Kill
Piroctone olamine chelates iron ions essential for Malassezia metabolism. Without iron, the fungus cannot proliferate. No violent cell wall destruction, no irritant release.
02No Resistance (Theoretically)
Because it targets a metabolic requirement (iron) rather than a specific enzyme, the risk of fungal resistance is extremely low. Fungi cannot easily evolve to stop needing iron.
03Gentle on Scalp & Hair
Does not disrupt the fungal cell wall (like azoles) and does not cause oxidative stress (like zinc pyrithione). No stinging, no burning, no rebound flaking. The scalp's natural sebum barrier remains intact.
04Cosmetic Elegance
Colorless and odorless at use levels (0.1–0.5%). Does not discolor formulations. Rinses cleanly - no build‑up on hair shafts.
05Broad Spectrum Activity
Active against Malassezia furfur, M. globosa, M. restricta, as well as some bacteria (C. acnes, S. epidermidis) and other yeasts (Candida albicans).
06Preservative Booster
At low levels (0.05–0.1%), piroctone olamine acts as a cosmetic preservative, particularly effective against Gram‑positive bacteria and yeasts. Often used to reduce paraben reliance.
Application Fields
Hair Care (Hero Application): Anti‑dandruff shampoos (0.2–0.5%), scalp tonics & serums (0.1–0.3%), conditioners & hair masks (0.1–0.3%), dry shampoo powders.
Skin Care: Anti‑acne cleansers & toners (0.1–0.2%), seborrheic dermatitis creams (0.2–0.5%).
Cosmetic Preservation: Preservative system component (0.05–0.1%) - boosts activity against yeasts and molds.
OEM Finished Products: Anti‑dandruff shampoos, scalp tonics, facial cleansers, dry scalp serums, preserved micellar water - full custom manufacturing available.
Production Process
Product Quality Advantage
≥99% Purity – High-quality synthetic active.
Iron Chelation Mechanism – Elegant, non‑irritating antifungal action.
Low p-Chloroaniline – <2 ppm, exceeds impurity specifications.
Low Heavy Metals – Pb <0.3 ppm, As <0.5 ppm.
Excellent Stability – 24 months shelf life.
cGMP Certified – Full traceability and documentation.
Annual Capacity: 1,500 Tons | 15+ years of specialty chemical synthesis
Professional ODM/OEM Services
We provide full OEM/ODM manufacturing for finished products using Piroctone Olamine as the active ingredient.
① Hair Care
Anti‑Dandruff Shampoos (0.2–0.5%), Scalp Tonics & Serums (0.1–0.3%), Conditioners & Hair Masks (0.1–0.3%), Dry Shampoos (powder or aerosol).
② Skin Care
Anti‑Acne Cleansers (0.1–0.2%), Seborrheic Dermatitis Creams (0.2–0.5%), Facial Cleansers, Body Washes.
③ Cosmetic Preservation
Preserved Micellar Water, preservative system design (piroctone olamine + phenoxyethanol).
④ Additional Services
Formulation development (surfactant compatibility, pH optimization, preservative efficacy testing), stability studies, third‑party certification (Kosher, HALAL, Ecocert), regulatory documentation (EU Cosmetic Regulation, US FDA tracking).
Export Certificates
Why choose us
XI'AN LANDNUTRA CO., LTD. – Your Trusted Manufacturer of Antioxidant & Functional Ingredients. Rooted in Quality, Driven by Expertise, Committed to Health and Excellence.
Strong Production Capability: Annual capacity 1,500 tons. 15+ years experience, own facility.
Leading Service: ONE-STOP OEM/ODM from pre-sales to after-sales.
Quality Assurance: CQC-certified enterprise, purity embedded in every process.
Broad Market: Botanical Extracts, Cosmetic Ingredients, Functional Ingredients.
15+ years of specialty chemical synthesis. cGMP‑certified facilities. Full in‑house OEM/ODM capabilities for hair care and skin care. Regulatory documentation for EU, Asia, Latin America, and other global markets. Batch‑specific COA including assay, ethanolamine content, p-chloroaniline, and heavy metals. Technical support for formulation (surfactant compatibility, pH optimization, preservative system design).
FAQ
| Test Item | Specification (Cosmetic Grade) | Test Result | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white crystalline powder | Conforms | Pass |
| Assay (HPLC) | 99.0% – 101.0% | 99.6% | Pass |
| Ethanolamine Content | 19.0% – 21.0% | 20.3% | Pass |
| Water Content (KF) | ≤1.0% | 0.4% | Pass |
| pH (1% solution) | 8.0 – 9.5 | 8.7 | Pass |
| Lead (Pb) | ≤1.0 ppm | <0.3 ppm | Pass |
| Arsenic (As) | ≤1.0 ppm | <0.5 ppm | Pass |
| p-Chloroaniline | ≤10 ppm | <2 ppm | Pass |
| Total Plate Count | ≤1,000 cfu/g | <100 cfu/g | Pass |
| E. Coli / Salmonella | Negative | Negative | Pass |
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