Basic Violet 1
AKA: Crystal Violet, Gentian Violet, C.I. 42555
Synthetic
Safety Concern
Not Clean
Methyl violet (CI 42535)
Formula
C25H30ClN3
Mol. Weight
407.98
CAS #
8004-87-3
Form
Powder
Functions
Hair Dyeing
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
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory0 listings
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR