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Ingredient dictionary

m-Aminophenol

Also listed as: 3-Aminophenol

m-Aminophenol is an aromatic amine used mainly as a coupler in oxidative hair dyes, where it reacts with a developer to form color. It is on the label of 1 product in our library. Checked against our library November 6, 2026.

The catch: like many hair dye ingredients, it can cause skin irritation or allergy in some people, so a patch test before coloring is a sensible step.

What m-Aminophenol does

  • Works as a color coupler in hair dye
  • Helps build shades with a developer
  • Adds shade variety in hair color formulas

m-Aminophenol is made by chemical synthesis rather than taken from plants. Its structure has an amine group and a hydroxyl group on a benzene ring, placed at the meta position, which shapes how it reacts with other dye ingredients.

In hair color, formulators use it as a coupler. During mixing, couplers react with a developer and other dye partners inside the hair fiber to form larger color molecules, and different couplers give different shades. It sits in the dye base and is rinsed out after processing, so it is a hair color ingredient rather than a skin care active.

Good for

Most relevant to anyone reading a hair color label, where it helps build shades and tones.

Frequently asked questions

Is m-Aminophenol safe in hair dye?

It is used in hair color products, and many people color their hair without trouble. Some people do develop skin sensitivity to hair dye ingredients, though. Doing a patch test before coloring is a common way to check how your skin reacts.

Is m-Aminophenol in skincare?

It is mainly known as a hair color ingredient, not a skincare active. If you spot it on a skin product, read the full ingredient list to see what role it plays there.

Products with m-Aminophenol

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