Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Pomade - what can make it peak up

  • Pomade - what can make it peak up

    Posted by donburgs on September 9, 2018 at 6:54 am
    Hi, I use pomade a lot until I found myself liking the oil based ones because it holds longer and I kind of like the feeling of re-combing or restyling my hair anytime in the day with it. However, these are quite expensive and I wanted my own preferred scent so I have been planning to make it myself. 

    I see ingredients on some products I use and I started making it with my own % below. 

                              %
    Petrolatum     39

    Microwax       26
    Beeswax        10
    Avocado oil   20
    Lanolin             4
    Essential oil     1

    The result:
    Not easy to scoop out.
    Not easy to melt on palms.
    Somehow okay to spread on hair but not as smooth.
    The hold was not as strong but it was firm enough.
    The major issue I have is that I just can’t get it to peak up or form a stalactite-like or stalagmite-like peak between thumb and finger. Sometimes I think the right word is make it tacky. I’ll put in a picture of what I want to achieve because if I can can get this I would get the right hold I want. 
    Also the lanolin has the strong scent so I think I should reduce that. At first I thought the lanolin was going to give that peaking but it just added that smell. 

    I am trying to achieve similar to 2 pomades I often use. Reuzel oil based and Goon Grease oil based.

    Appreciate your help. 

    Chemist77 replied 6 years, 2 months ago 4 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • donburgs

    Member
    September 9, 2018 at 6:56 am

    The peaking I was talking about.

  • Fekher

    Member
    September 12, 2018 at 5:29 am

    @donburgs appriciate your try, and i suggest to try hair wax you need just ceteareth 25  , water , presrvative , glycerine , fragrance.

  • BeardlyGentlemen

    Member
    September 12, 2018 at 2:43 pm

    What is a microwax?

  • donburgs

    Member
    September 15, 2018 at 12:28 am

    @Fekher Thanks. I was planning to make this oil based as I like it when I can comb it anytime. 

    @BeardlyGentlemen microcrystalline wax. 

    Thanks in advance!

  • Fekher

    Member
    September 15, 2018 at 4:31 am

    @donburgs you are welcome.

  • Chemist77

    Member
    September 15, 2018 at 5:42 am

    @donburgs if you’re are limited to those ingredients only, did you try to change the percentage of waxes to oils (except the EO). 

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