Basic Violet 1
AKA “Crystal Violet, Gentian Violet, C.I. 42555”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Basic violet 1
AKA: Crystal Violet, Gentian Violet, C.I. 42555
Synthetic · Hair Dyeing · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Colorant
Safety Concern
Synthetic
Clean
A vibrant violet pigment that delivers rich, lasting color to hair. Creates deep, multidimensional tones while conditioning the hair shaft.
Formula
C25H30ClN3
Mol. Weight
407.98
CAS #
8004-87-3
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Hair Dyeing
Colorant
Gives the product its color. Purely aesthetic — makes the formula look good in the jar but does nothing for your skin.
Colors Hair
Traditional Use
A synthetic triphenylmethane dye developed in the late 19th century, historically used as a biological stain before being adopted for cosmetic colorization in the 20th century.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3 and Basic Violet 4
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final report on the safety assessment of Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3, and Basic Violet 4.
Diamante C, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final report on the safety assessment of Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3, and Basic Violet 4.
Diamante C, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final report on the safety assessment of Basic Violet 1, Basic Violet 3, and Basic Violet 4.
Diamante C, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Basic Violet 1
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Basic Violet 1
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Basic Violet 10
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR