Oleamide is the carboxylic acid amide of oleic acid. "Sultaines" denotes a group of organic compounds which are to be understood chemically as sulfobetaines (see betaines below ). Sulfobetaines are sulfur-containing substances and, due to their molecular structure, carry both a positive and a negative charge.
Oleamidopropyl hydroysultaines are used in cosmetic formulations. The substance acts as an antistatic agent (reduces static charges by neutralizing the electric charge on the surface, e.g. of hair), surfactant (washing-active substance) and hair conditioning agent (makes the hair easy to comb, smooth, soft and shiny and gives it volume).