Ingredient dictionary

Sclerotium Gum

Also listed as: Scleroglucan

Sclerotium Gum is a thickening polymer made by fermenting a fungus. It gives creams and gels body, and keeps their texture steady. It is on the label of 20 products in our library. Checked against our library November 6, 2026.

What Sclerotium Gum does

Thickens water-based formulas
Keeps particles evenly suspended
Stays stable in salty or varied-pH formulas

Sclerotium Gum comes from fermentation. A soil fungus, Sclerotium rolfsii, is grown in a controlled tank with a nutrient broth. It makes the gum as it grows, and the gum is then filtered and dried into a powder.

Formulators like it because it thickens water-based products well and holds that thickness across a range of pH levels and salt content. This makes it useful in hair color, where the mix must stay even and spreadable. It feels smooth and lightly slippery, and it gives body without a heavy or sticky finish.

Good for

Suits hair color creams and gels that need steady thickness and an even, smooth spread on hair.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sclerotium Gum safe for skin?

It is widely used and generally well tolerated. Any ingredient can cause a reaction in a sensitive person, so patch testing a new product on a small area first is a sensible step.

What does Sclerotium Gum do in hair color?

In hair color it thickens the mix so it stays put and spreads evenly on the hair. It also helps the formula stay steady in the tube. It does not add color on its own.