Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Hair wax (solid stick format) does not solidify completely in the bottom part

  • Hair wax (solid stick format) does not solidify completely in the bottom part

    Posted by jonathan02 on July 10, 2024 at 9:28 am

    Hello everyone. I am trying to make a hair wax packaged in a deodorant push up stick. so my goal to make a very solid formulation.

    this is my formulation

    CCT

    Beeswax

    Sunflower Oil

    Jojoba Oil

    Coconut Oil

    Polysorbate-80

    Cocoa Butter

    Cetyl Alcohol

    BTMS-50

    Candelilla Wax

    Vitamin E Oil

    But after using it, I observe the bottom part is relatively “liquidy” as compared to the top part. What causes this? It looks like liquids are settling at the bottom part? I am bothered that it is not as homogeneous as possible. Is it because the bottom part is not exposed with air?

    chemist-chef replied 5 months ago 3 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • chemist-chef

    Member
    July 10, 2024 at 11:24 pm

    Hello,

    I have experience in formulating anhydrous formula with polysorbate inside.

    I assume that liquid at the bottom of the stick is polysorbate-80.

    Based on my previous experience, polysorbate can’t completely miscible with oil phase and will precipitate since it has higher density than the oil.

    May i know why you add polysorbate in your hair wax formulation? I think you don’t need to add polysorbate. Usually i add polysorbate in anhydrous formulation such as cleansing balm or stick as a surfactant/cleanser. But in hair wax, you don’t need surfactant inside.

    • jonathan02

      Member
      July 12, 2024 at 12:16 am

      Thank you for the insight. I put polysorbate 80 to make it easily washable in the hair after. Is there anything i can put in place of polysorbate 80 to make it easy to wash off?

      • chemist-chef

        Member
        July 19, 2024 at 2:33 am

        Some cleansing oil/shower oil use MIPA-Laureth Sulfate, it is a surfactant that can be miscible in oil-based/waterfree cleansing formula. I don’t have any experience with this surfactant, but i guess it can miscible with your formulation. May be you can try use this surfactant in your hair wax.

  • ketchito

    Member
    July 11, 2024 at 10:06 am

    Chances are some oils and waxes are not compatible (different polarity can impact miscibility when mixed), so you better check that before. A non-ionic surfactant like the polysorbate you have is more useful when there’s water present, because it acts better in a protic media.

    • jonathan02

      Member
      July 12, 2024 at 12:18 am

      Ohhh. That’s something that i have never known before. Can you give me an example of this so I can understand it better? But thank you so much, will definitely be looking into this

  • ketchito

    Member
    July 12, 2024 at 7:51 am

    You can check this thread on the topic:

    https://chemistscorner.com/cosmeticsciencetalk/discussion/polar-value-of-oils-and-other-lipids/

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