Description

HC Yellow 5 is a direct (semi-permanent) cosmetic hair dye belonging to the HC dye family, known for its bright, warm yellow pigmentation and use in temporary or semi-permanent hair-color formulations. It works by depositing color onto the hair shaft without penetrating deeply, making it gentler than oxidative dyes and suitable for vibrant fashion shades, toners, or color mixtures. HC Yellow 5 is typically water-soluble, compatible with a wide range of conditioners and gels, and performs best on pre-lightened or naturally light hair to achieve vivid results. It’s valued for good color intensity, relatively low staining of skin compared to some other direct dyes, and stability in well-formulated products, though longevity varies with hair porosity and wash frequency.

Chemical Structure of HC Yellow 5

Appearance of HC Yellow 5

Uses

1. As a Primary Colorant for Yellow Fashion Shades

Packing

Export Worthy packing 5 Kg Drum, 25 Kg Drum, 50 Kg Drum.

Storage Conditions

Store in cool and dry place at room temperature, protect from direct sunlight.

Molecular Formula

CAS No.

IUPAC Name

Synonyms

Molecular Weight

Appearance

Solubility

Dye Content (Spectrophotometry)

C₈H₁₁N₃O₃

56932-44-6

5-amino-4-hydroxy-3-(phenylazo)-2-methoxybenzenesulfonic acid

Acid Yellow 23

197.20 g/mol

Semi-permanent yellow shades, toners, color-correcting blends, color-depositing conditioners/shampoos, festival or temporary colors, gradient/ombre effects

98%

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

• HC Yellow 5 is commonly used to create bright, vivid yellow shades in semi-permanent hair dyes.

• Because it deposits pigment on the surface of the hair without reacting with peroxide, it works especially well for:

  • Neon/yellow fantasy shades

  • High-visibility yellow streaks

  • Color-blocking styles

• It is typically most intense on pre-lightened ("bleached") Level 9–10 hair, where the hair has minimal underlying pigment.

2. As a Secondary Pigment in Mixed Colors

Manufacturers use HC Yellow 5 in very small amounts for tonal tuning, such as:

• Adding subtle warmth to ash toners so they don’t turn flat or greenish.

• Neutralizing excessive violet or blue undertones in certain blends.

• Bringing natural-looking warmth to “natural blonde” semi-permanent shades.

Even tiny quantities can shift the overall tone noticeably due to its high chromatic strength.

soluble in water, ethanol, and propylene glycol

3. As a Tonal Corrector in Pre-Mixed Shades

Aside from its mainstream uses in blonde and brown hair dyes, HC Yellow 4 is sometimes included in formulations intended for special effects and creative colorants. These are often used for unique looks like pastel or pastel-enhanced colors, where the yellow dye complements other pigment layers (such as pinks or blues) to create pastel versions of the original colors. The versatility of HC Yellow 4 allows it to be part of a complex blend of pigments that gives the hair a multi-dimensional appearance.

HC Yellow 5 is often not used alone but blended with other direct dyes to:

• Warm up greens to achieve:

  • Lime green

  • Chartreuse

  • Olive-gold tones

• Modify orange/copper shades by increasing brightness and warmth.

• Adjust golden blondes in semi-permanent systems.

• Prevent cool colors (e.g., teal, green, blue) from appearing too bluish or “muddy.”

Its strong warm undertone makes it a key balancing pigment across many formulas.

4. Used in Color-Depositing Conditioners & Masks

HC Yellow 5 is frequently incorporated into yellow-boosting shampoos designed to:

• Maintain fashion yellow shades

• Add golden tones to blonde hair

• Refresh brassy or warm shades (in a controlled way)

The dye's stability in mild surfactant systems makes it well-suited for shampoos.

5. Used in Color-Depositing Shampoos

Because yellow and violet are complementary colors, HC Yellow 5 is used to:

• Reduce over-toning from purple shampoos

• Counteract violet-leaning pastel dyes

• Rebalance overly cool formulations

This role is highly technical and frequently used in professional product lines.

6. Used to Counteract Unwanted Violet in Hair

Semi-permanent lines use HC Yellow 5 to help:

• Create sunlit or golden transitions in ombré styles

• Support split-dye combinations (e.g., pink/yellow, green/yellow)

• Form “fire hair” gradients with reds and oranges

• Add brightness to the roots for neon “glow” effects

Its high brightness contributes to multidimensional color play.

7. For Creative Multi-Tonal or Gradient Color Effects

Some temporary festival colors and kids’ hair products use HC Yellow 5 because:

• It rinses out easily

• It has low staining on skin

• It remains vibrant even without long processing times

• It works well in clear gels, sprays, and styling creams

Its solubility and low reactivity make it safe for these short-wear applications.

8. Used in Temporary Spray-On or Gel-Based Hair Colors

In manufacturing labs, HC Yellow 5 is often part of:

• Experimental blends to calibrate tone before adding other dyes

• Fine-tuning shade accuracy in color charts

• Standardizing color consistency across product batches

Its predictable color behavior makes it a formulator’s reference dye.

9. Used for Color Calibration During Formulation

CI No.

:

19140

10. Used in Non-Hair Cosmetic Color Systems (Indirect Hair Uses)

While its main application is hair color, HC Yellow 5 may also appear in:

• Temporary body paints

• Cosmetic crayons

• Washable color gels

These products sometimes double as hair-highlighting tools for special events.