Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating How much oil is too much for hair products?

  • How much oil is too much for hair products?

    Posted by komirra on October 14, 2016 at 10:00 pm

    I make a deep conditioner that I love for really dry curly hair that has 8% oils (4% shea butter and 4% coconut oil). I am wondering if I am using too much oil in my conditioner. is 8% too much for a rinse out product?
    If so, how much would you reccommend for someone with dry hair? 

    Microformulation replied 8 years, 1 month ago 4 Members · 7 Replies
  • 7 Replies
  • johnb

    Member
    October 15, 2016 at 9:04 am

    8%???????????????????

    Considering most of that will be washed down the sink without even touching a hair, then yes, far too much.

  • Anonymous

    Guest
    October 15, 2016 at 9:28 pm

    is not too much 

  • Microformulation

    Member
    October 15, 2016 at 10:30 pm

    That is way too much. You have to first look at who your client base is and then fall back on good old fashioned Anatomy. Many Cosmetic Chemistry Texts cover this.

    Caucasian hair has a lower oil content inherent to it’s anatomy. I am recalling the numbers but based upon this anatomy 3% oils would be the very upper limit. African American Hair has a slightly higher oil content naturaly, again based upon the anatomy. In that case 5% would be at the very highest levels.

    Remember, as @johnb rightfully pointed out, this is a rinse off product ultimately and even the above numbers are arguably high. Even with a prolonged leave on, the bulk of your oils will be rinsed off. It is naive to believe otherwise.

    In the end, you are achieving oily waste water for the most part and if the rinse off is inefficient an aesthetically displeasing product.

  • komirra

    Member
    October 16, 2016 at 4:05 am

    Thanks for your responses. this is really interesting to me, as I think that many homecrafters (and consumers) think that “special oils” are really doing the most benefit in hair care. it seems to me that this is largely untrue.  

  • belassi

    Member
    October 16, 2016 at 4:43 am

    It is not just the effect on the hair. You must also consider the health of the scalp.

  • komirra

    Member
    October 16, 2016 at 7:39 pm

    so do the oils in conditioner products have a benefit for the scalp?

  • Microformulation

    Member
    October 16, 2016 at 8:32 pm

    Again even in deference to the conditioning of the scalp, the contact time is finite and also if your product does not rinse off effectively, you will have negative aesthetic properties associated with your product. A little oil goes a long way. Also, there are other raw materials besides oils which can give you great effect. An effective product utilizing many discreet and complimentary actives, not just a whole lot of one.

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