Is quaternium 27 vegan?

Quaternium 27 is a quaternary ammonium compound used primarily as an antistatic, conditioning, and surfactant agent in personal care formulations and related products. It is synthesized by chemically reacting amine compounds with fatty acids derived from tallow. Tallow is rendered animal fat, traditionally collected from the fatty tissue of cattle or sheep. Manufacturers include quaternium 27 in formulations such as hair conditioners, styling products, cream rinses, and skin lotions to reduce static cling and soften textures.

This ingredient is classified as not vegan because its foundational chemical structure depends on tallow-derived fatty acids. Tallow is a direct byproduct of the meat processing industry, obtained from the rendered fat of slaughtered livestock. Because animal tissue is the source material required for the synthesis of quaternium 27, the ingredient does not meet vegan standards.