• Hair

  Is Polysorbate 20 sufficient?

  Posted by TimMcG on January 31, 2019 at 1:14 am

  I’m currently making a pomade/gel with Ceteareth-25, PEG-7, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20 and fragrance oil. Another version includes PVP and PEG-8 beeswax for increased hold. 
  I want to add some conditioning oils like avocado, jojoba, or prickly pear. 
  Would increasing the Polysorbate 20 be sufficient for the addition of the oils, or do I need to include Polysorbate 80?

  asafvarlix replied 5 years, 11 months ago 4 Members · 4 Replies

  • emulsifier
  • formula help
  • hair
  • pomade
• 4 Replies

• 

  TimMcG

  Member

  January 31, 2019 at 1:16 am

  I forgot to include DMDM Hydantoin in the ingredients. My bad.

• 

  belassi

  Member

  January 31, 2019 at 5:38 am

  Calculate the HLB equivalence and use a blend of Polysorbate 20 and 80 accordingly. Or you could buy the special multigrade 20/80 Polysorbate. (No, I am just joking.)

• 

  Gunther

  Member

  January 31, 2019 at 4:09 pm

  Hold usually comes from PVP or PVP/VA polymers.
  Oils don’t provide much hold and leave hair, well, oily.

  You may wish to switch to an ready-made, all-included emulsifier, as too much PS20/80 will leave hair sticky.

  Is PEG-7 = PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate?
  That will leave an oily hair too. OTOH it’s water soluble so no emulsifier is needed for that.

  Why don’t you hadd silicones for smoothness, shine and some mild extra hold?

• 

  asafvarlix

  Member

  January 31, 2019 at 8:48 pm

  Gunther, aren’t silicones able to break the sticikness and promote less stickiness- like, anti-foamers, as an example?

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