Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Hair Mild Shampoo formula result in itchy scalp and greasy

  • Mild Shampoo formula result in itchy scalp and greasy

    Posted by Blanca on May 24, 2018 at 8:18 am

    Hello, Im new here. I stumbled across this amazing forum full of supportive and knowledgeable members while researching for formulation and ingredients. This gave me so much insight on shampoos! I’m currently working on a mild shampoo formula with turmeric extract and abyssinia crambe seed oil with active surfactant at 11% and PH 5.5. I’m trying to create a formula that soften and smoothen hair, mild and suits the tropical zone where its usually hot and humid. The shampoo was tested on a number of people and the reports were that it’s not clean enough and cause itchy scalp. This formula is base on existing, somewhat, green-washed natural shampoos.

    Here is my formula

    Water  55%

    Guar Gum (Esaflor ECA) 0.50%

    Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate(SCMT 35) 8%

    Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (Jordapon SC8) 4%

    Coco Glucoside (Lamesoft PO65 ) 3.5%

    DLS 16%

    COCAMIDE MIPA  6.5%

    CTAC 1%

    Phenoxyethanol 0.5%

    Glycerin 2%

    Fragrance 0.4%

    Hydrolyzed Soy Protein 0.1%

    Hydrolyzed Wheat 0.1%

    Crambe Abyssinica Seed oil phytosterol esters 0.5%

    Hydrogenated ethylhexyl olivate 0.5%

    Jojoba Oil 0.2%

    Turmeric Extract Liquid 0.4%

    Panthenol 0.5%

    Result: opaque yellow texture, not too thick.

    From trial on 20 people, 4 has reported itchy scalps immediately after rinse. And the majority felt that it was not clean enough. I suspect that it might be because of over excessive amount of oil ? Please guide me through the balance ratio of surfactant or introduce better alternative (considering to use CAPB and decyl glucoside).

    Pros:

    Not too aggressive. Hair felt soft, smooth and easy to comb

    Con:

    1. Itchy scalp are reported immediately after rinse

    2. Itchy scalp are reported second day

    3. The formula does not clean the hair thorough enough

    Ps. I’m not a chemist but I work directly with r&d department, they have previously made shampoos based on surfactant such as sls, DLS and coco betaine before.

    Appreciate all comments and criticism, thank you in advance!


    DAS replied 6 years, 8 months ago 5 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • DAS

    Member
    May 24, 2018 at 5:06 pm

    You are way over 11% AM. You should rethink your surfactants. MIPA is used between 0,5 and 1,5%. I guess that’s why the hair will feel greasy and the shampoo thin. 

    I suggest you first make a surfactant combo that works for you and then add the oils.

  • belassi

    Member
    May 24, 2018 at 5:30 pm

    The formula does not clean the hair thorough enough
    That’s what you would expect with DLS.
    Lamesoft PO65 at 3.5% is excessive. Use no more than 1%.
    MIPA seems very high at 6.5%, I would have thought that 1 to 2% is more normal.

  • Bill_Toge

    Member
    May 24, 2018 at 11:14 pm

    also CTAC is cationic, and is inherently incompatible with the anionics

  • Blanca

    Member
    May 25, 2018 at 4:56 am

    @DAS Thanks for pointing that out, currently I’m trying to achieve 12% active surfactant. I misread the chemical name, it is not Cocamide mipa but instead Cocamide dipa that I am using (I couldnt source Cocamide Dipa in my country). The new surfactant combo R&D lab suggest use is a combination of the following;

    DLS 10 x(30%)=3 as
    Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate 6 (30%) =1.8as
    CAPB 4 (30%) = 1.2 as
    SCI (65%) = 2.6 as
    Cocamide Dipa 2 (100%) = 2as
    Decyl Glucoside 2 (55%)  =1.1 as
    Lamesoft 1 (40%) = 0.4 as
    total=12.1 Active surfactant

    I am curious if this combo if it will be overkill with 7 surfactants?

    @Belassi  I agree DLS is not a very effective surfactant. Thank you for the comment on the percentage of Lamesoft PO65, I will reduce it to 1%. For Cocomide Mipa, my appology, it suppose to be Cocamide Dipa.

    @Bill_Toge  Thank you for pointing out the incompatibility of CTAC with anionics, I will find a substitute conditions hair. Do you have any suggestion for hair softening that is suitable for shampoo?

    Thanks everyone for the feedback once the new surfactant combo is ready I will update.

  • OldPerry

    Member
    May 25, 2018 at 1:23 pm

    Yes, 7 surfactants is overkill

  • DAS

    Member
    May 25, 2018 at 2:47 pm

    The more you add the more chances someone will be allergic. This is a very important thing to consider when formulating. 

    For conditioning you can use polyquaternarium 7.

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