HC RED NO 16 is graded F (Banned) by Expert·ING, based on COSING regulatory data. It is restricted under EU COSING — AnnexII.
HC RED NO 16
HC Red No. 16
Safety grade: F
HC Red No. 16 is a synthetic colorant specifically designed for coloring hair. It's a small molecular dye that penetrates the hair shaft to provide semi-permanent color that gradually fades with washing.
This ingredient is used in hair dyes to deposit red color onto hair strands, providing vibrant, semi-permanent hair color that lasts through multiple shampoos.
Graded using: COSING.
- EU COSING — Prohibited
Last verified: May 26, 2026
Safer alternatives to HC RED NO 16
- BASIC BROWN 17 — Grade A. Basic Brown 17 provides red-brown direct hair color similar to HC Red No. 16.
Other EU Prohibited (Annex II) ingredients
- BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL — Grade F**
- PETROLATUM — Grade F
- ZINC PYRITHIONE — Grade F**
- CYCLOMETHICONE — Grade F**
- HYDROXYISOHEXYL 3-CYCLOHEXENE CARBOXALDEHYDE — Grade F
- CI 73360 — Grade F
Other Hair Dyeing ingredients
- RESORCINOL — Grade E**
- THYMOL — Grade A
- M-AMINOPHENOL — Grade C**
- P-AMINOPHENOL — Grade C**
- 2-METHYLRESORCINOL — Grade C
- 4-AMINO-2-HYDROXYTOLUENE — Grade C
- P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE — Grade D**
- 2-METHYL-5-HYDROXYETHYLAMINOPHENOL — Grade C