The ion aggregates formed between cationic triphenylmethane dyes and tetraphenylborate(TPB) or tetrakis(4-fluorophenyl) borate (TFB) anions have been investigated spectroscopically. The photometric sensitivities of the dyes are found to be increasing in the order pararosaniline < malachite green < methyl violet 2B < crystal violet < ethyl violet. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB) and Triton X-100(TX-100) destroy the ion aggregates. By comparing the concentration of surfactant beyond which dye-borate mixed solutions behave identically with the dye blank, the order of hydrophobicity appears to be parallel with that of photometric sensitivity.