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What's in, and not in, Anuko Hair Butter
By Anuko ·
The short answer
Anuko Nourishing Hair Butter is color-safe, sulfate-free, paraben-free and free of mineral oil. It does contain silicones, fragrance and hydrolyzed proteins. It is not gluten-free, and because it contains salt (Sodium Chloride) it does not suit keratin-treatment aftercare.
These answers apply to the 200 ml jar and to Anuko Travel Hair Butter, which share one formula. The ingredient answers are checked against the complete ingredient list from the US packaging.
Yes-or-no ingredient answers
| Question | Answer | What the formula shows |
|---|---|---|
| Color-safe? | Yes | It is a conditioning treatment with no cleansing agents, no sulfates and no denatured alcohol. Its conditioning agents and silicones coat the cuticle, which the ingredient review credits with helping color retention. |
| Sulfate-free? | Yes | No SLS, SLES, ALS or sodium coco-sulfate. Behentrimonium Methosulfate is a conditioner, not a cleansing sulfate; see why. |
| Paraben-free? | Yes | No parabens. It is preserved with 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Glyceryl Caprylate and Ethylhexylglycerin. |
| Mineral-oil-free? | Yes | No mineral oil, paraffin, petrolatum or microcrystalline wax. Its butter and oils are shea butter, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil and camellia seed oil. |
| Contains silicones? | Yes | Dimethicone, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer and Caprylyl Methicone. If you avoid silicones, this formula does not meet that preference. |
| Fragrance-free? | No | Contains Fragrance and Linalool. |
| Contains protein? | Yes | 10 hydrolyzed proteins, including wheat, oat and barley proteins. |
| Gluten-free? | No | Not gluten-free. It contains Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Barley Protein and Malt Extract, plus Hydrolyzed Oat Protein; see details. |
| Suitable after a keratin treatment? | No | It contains Sodium Chloride (salt). Keratin-treatment aftercare usually calls for sulfate-free and salt-free products; see details. |
| Cruelty-free? | Listed | PETA lists ANUKO (Anko Cosmetics) as cruelty-free. Cruelty-free and vegan describe different things; the PETA listing does not establish whether a product contains animal-derived ingredients. |
Why Behentrimonium Methosulfate is not a sulfate
Behentrimonium Methosulfate is on the ingredient list, so the word “sulfate” is easy to spot. It is not a cleansing sulfate surfactant. It is a conditioning quaternary ammonium compound, and “methosulfate” is its counter-ion, the paired ion that balances its charge, not a cleansing ingredient. It is a standard ingredient in sulfate-free products. The formula contains no sulfate cleansing agents such as SLS, SLES or ALS.
Does it contain alcohol?
It contains no denatured alcohol. Cetearyl Alcohol and Cetyl Alcohol on the list are fatty alcohols, waxy ingredients that give the cream its body and help it condition. They are a different kind of ingredient from the denatured alcohol some people avoid.
Why it is not gluten-free
Four ingredients come from gluten-containing grains or from oats:
- Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein: From wheat, a gluten grain.
- Hydrolyzed Barley Protein: From barley, a gluten grain.
- Malt Extract: Malt is made from barley.
- Hydrolyzed Oat Protein: Oats do not contain gluten themselves, but they are often cross-contacted with gluten grains, so oat protein is counted here as a gluten-source ingredient.
The proteins are hydrolyzed, meaning broken into smaller pieces, but they still come from those grains. Hair products can transfer to hands, face and pillowcases, so if you avoid gluten-source ingredients, this formula does not meet that need.
Can I use it after a keratin treatment?
Not as keratin aftercare. The formula contains Sodium Chloride. Salon keratin smoothing treatments usually come with advice to use sulfate-free and salt-free products, because salt is thought to shorten how long the treatment lasts. Hair Butter is sulfate-free but not salt-free, so we do not describe it as keratin-treatment safe. Follow your stylist's aftercare instructions.
What it does contain
The label lists 45 ingredients, including shea butter at 5% (50,000 ppm), Korean green tea water (Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, 1.078%), conditioning agents, silicones, 10 hydrolyzed proteins and fragrance. It is a rich rinse-out mask with a nutrient-rich texture that cares for damaged hair. Read the complete ingredient list or more ingredient answers.
To use it, shampoo, squeeze out excess water and work a coin-size amount through damp mid-lengths and ends. Avoid the scalp. Leave it on for 3 to 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. For lightened hair, see how to soften bleached hair.
See Nourishing Hair ButterSee Travel Hair ButterRead the full usage guide
Sources
- The manufacturer's ingredient claim review for Nourishing Hair Butter, dated August 28, 2026: the color-safe, sulfate, paraben and mineral-oil answers, the Behentrimonium Methosulfate explanation, and the gluten and keratin-treatment answers.
- The complete ingredient list from the US packaging artwork dated November 2025, checked September 15, 2026. Formulas can be updated, so check the list printed on the package you receive.
- PETA's cruelty-free company listing.