Why hair conditioners are stable without water phase thickener like xanthan gum?

AbdullahAbdullah Member
in Formulating
Why hair conditioners are stable without a water phase thickener Like xanthan gum but lotion and cream are not and creaming is happening? 
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  • PerryPerry Administrator, Professional Chemist
    There is less oil in a hair conditioner.  Plus the conditioning agents (like cetrimonium chloride) can help stabilize the emulsion.
    Learn to formulate cosmetics
  • AbdullahAbdullah Member
    @Perry thanks 
    Does type of emulsifier have effect on stability of emulsion without water phase thickener?

    I have seen many lotions with cationic emulsifier that doesn't have water phase thickener.
    For example this lotion from Aveno

    Active Ingredient:

    Dimethicone 1.2% (skin protectant)

    Inactive Ingredients: Water, glycerin, distearyldimonium chloride, petrolatum, isopropyl palmitate, cetyl alcohol, avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, benzyl alcohol, sodium chloride

  • PerryPerry Administrator, Professional Chemist
    Yes, of course. The emulsifier is a key component of what makes a stable emulsion. You don't necessarily need a thickener to have a stable emulsion.
    Learn to formulate cosmetics
  • AbdullahAbdullah Member
    @Perry
    1. is there any general rule that what types of surfactants need high amount whater phase thickener what what type need less or not at all?

    2. What factors influence the need for water phase thickener in emulsion?

    3. How to reduce the next for phaterphase thickener with non-ionic Polyglyceryl 6 distearate as emulsifier?
  • GraillotionGraillotion Member
    Abdullah said:
     
    Does type of emulsifier have effect on stability of emulsion without water phase thickener?

    I have seen many lotions with cationic emulsifier that doesn't have water phase thickener.
    For example this lotion from Aveno


    A cationic emulsifier (as I have recently discovered) eliminates a whole arsenal of tools from the bench....a lot of the gums and essentially all the polymerics.  You have seen me battle through this situation (with my questions)...and it seemed like HEC or HPC were the only options.  I found them disgusting.  

    However, some Swiss wizard did help me figure a way to slip some 305 into the formula, and keep it stable.  It is a blended formula of 165 and Varisoft EQ 65.
  • AbdullahAbdullah Member
    @Graillotion what cationic surfactant were you using? 
    Was it unstable without water phase thickener? Because cationic lotion i see in internet don't have water phase thickener. 
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