A process is described for the preparation of cellulose derivatives containing amino groups that involves reacting, in the presents of water as a reaction medium, alkali cellulose or alkali cellulose derivatives with reagents represented by the following formula, X--(CH.sub.2).sub.n--NR.sub.1R.sub.2 in which: X is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine and a sulfonic acid radical R'SO.sub.3, in which R' is an aromatic radical or an aliphatic radical; n is at least 2; and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently of each other are selected from the group consisting of aliphatic substituents, branched alkyl substituents, cyclic alkyl substituents, aryl substituents, aryl substituents substituted by heteroatoms, H, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together form a ring with the nitrogen. In the process, the mole ratio of cellulose to water, of said reaction medium, is 1:5 to 1:40 mol water per mol of anhydroglucose unit (AGU). Amino functional cellulose derivatives prepared in accordance with the method of the present invention are useful in cosmetic formulations and aqueous paper treatment compositions.