Hairwax; Can I substitute ingredients in this formula (for healthier ones)

DrJekyllDrJekyll Member
in Formulating
Hi everyone,

My first post... yeah :). Greetings all!

The formula I am talking about is:
PEG-12, PEG-60, Lanolin, PEG-25 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Fragrance/Parfum, Hexyl Cinnamal, Tocopherol, Amyl Cinnamal, Linalool, CI 15510
Wella Indie wax

It's a formula for hairwax I use to buy for a long time and the ONLY one I have found so far that I am really happy with. It's holds my hair very well and continues to do so the whole day. It's holds when temperatures are lower (winter) or higher. I can remodel my hair with my hands any time and it stay's strong. I can wash it off my hands without soap. So it's worth a try to make it myself.

Can I lose or sustitute some of the less healthy ingredients for some healthier choices? Because that is what I like win with this project. What would be a good starting point and what are your thoughts about the role of the different ingredients in this hairwax formula? How to replicate and adapt this formula so it's healthier/less harmfull...

Very curious,
Thanks in advance!

Dr. Yekyll
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Comments

  • EVchemEVchem Member
    When you say "healthier/less harmful" what are you looking for? Has this product noticeably damaged your hair in any way?
  • DASDAS Member
    There's nothing harmful in that composition. Those are approved materials for cosmetics and considered safe. By definition a cosmetic will not interfere in your health in any way.

    You certainly can try to replicate the product and adapt the formula, but I doubt you will get the same result. Someone spent time and money to achieve that balance, if they could do the same with what's considered "natural" or "healthier" you would see it on a shelf. 
  • PerryPerry Administrator, Professional Chemist
    Cosmetic ingredients are not like food ingredients.  There are no "healthier" options as long as you are using ingredients at safe levels. Acceptably safe levels can be found at the CIR ingredient review site.
    Learn to formulate cosmetics
  • DrJekyllDrJekyll Member
    I see what you guy's are saying. In the end everything is toxic if you absorb/ingest/inhale too much of it. And in this formula there is nothing very alarming to you guy's? Well OK, that's good to hear. I have read some things about PEG's but googled these specific PEG's listed and I found no real concerning things about them. And you guy's clearly seem to confirm? Well that's the easieest outcome for me; then I will for sure keep on using the original one like I have been doing...

    Very helpfull link Perry thanks! Saves a lot of surfing :). Nice
  • Bill_TogeBill_Toge Member, Professional Chemist
    the listing looks incomplete to me: I suspect the first ingredient is in reality PEG-12 carnauba wax (not just PEG-12) and the second is PEG-60 lanolin, as none of the other ingredients are hard enough to form a wax
    UK based former cosmetic chemist with 13 years' experience at the bench. I've worked with pretty much everything apart from pressed powders, soap, solid lipstick and aerosols. Now working in the messy world of screen-printing inks.
  • DrJekyllDrJekyll Member
    Yeah, I think you are right indeed as it's pretty waxy stuff... Thanks :)
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