Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating shampoo viscosity

  • shampoo viscosity

    Posted by Solo on January 9, 2024 at 3:20 pm

    I am currently working on a sulfate-free shampoo formula at pH = 4.9. However, the challenge is that viscosity decreases when I lower the pH.

    ketchito replied 3 months, 2 weeks ago 6 Members · 12 Replies
  • 12 Replies
  • Camel

    Member
    January 9, 2024 at 4:04 pm

    It will be hard to advise you without knowing the formula or list of ingredients at the least. Have you tried adding a polymer like hydroxypropyl methylcellulose?

    • Solo

      Member
      January 12, 2024 at 7:46 am

      The formulas is

      Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate 10%

      COCMIDOPROPYL BETAIN 8%

      Coco-Glucoside 7%

      Cocamidopropylamine Oxide 5%

      PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate 2%

      fragrance 1%

      Hydroxypropyl Guar (and) Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride 1%

      polyqautrnium 10 0.4%

      phenoxyethanol 1%

      POLYQUATERNIUM-7 1%

  • Perry44

    Administrator
    January 9, 2024 at 6:14 pm

    Yes if you want any helpful answers you’ll need to list your ingredients

  • LeonB

    Member
    January 10, 2024 at 2:08 am

    <div>Try using a Carbomer in your formula - please see:</div>

    https://cosmetics.specialchem.com/inci-ingredients/carbomer#:~:text=What%20is%20CARBOMER%20used%20for,lipsticks%2C%20nail%20polishes%2C%20etc.

  • Solo

    Member
    January 11, 2024 at 4:38 pm

    The formulas is

    Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate 10%

    COCMIDOPROPYL BETAIN 8%

    Coco-Glucoside 7%

    Cocamidopropylamine Oxide 5%

    PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate 2%

    fragrance 1%

    <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(-bb-body-text-color);”>Hydroxypropyl Guar (and) Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride 1%

    polyqautrnium 10 0.4%

    phenoxyethanol 1%

    <b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: var(-bb-body-text-color);”>POLYQUATERNIUM-7 1%

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    • Solo

      Member
      January 12, 2024 at 7:32 am

      The formulas is

      Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate 10%

      COCMIDOPROPYL BETAIN 8%

      Coco-Glucoside 7%

      Cocamidopropylamine Oxide 5%

      PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate 2%

      fragrance 1%

      Hydroxypropyl Guar (and) Hydroxypropyl Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride 1%

      polyqautrnium 10 0.4%

      phenoxyethanol 1%

      POLYQUATERNIUM-7 1%

  • ketchito

    Member
    January 11, 2024 at 10:20 pm

    Do you need to go that low in pH? Most shampoos have a pH between 5.5-6.0. CAPB has a better interaction with anionic surfactants at higher pH, so maybe that’s what’s causing your pH drop.

    • Solo

      Member
      January 12, 2024 at 12:42 am

      It’s a shampoo for damaged hair, so I think this pH is the best choice

  • ketchito

    Member
    January 12, 2024 at 12:36 pm

    Upon dilution, the final pH will eventually be same as water. Even at low dilution (like 1:1 water/shampoo) you’ll already have a pH above 5, and that increases very rapidly. Before adding any water, there’s little difusion of your actives to hair surface due to high viscosity of shampoos. What you need is to have a system that produces high coacervation, and enough detergency to remove most of it later.

    • Solo

      Member
      January 12, 2024 at 1:48 pm

      your proposals to fix the formulas ?

  • Mpho

    Member
    January 15, 2024 at 6:58 am

    Hi, I recently made a shampoo and the ingredients started separating which caused it to be runny, so I bought xanthan gum to thicken it, it has been more than 12 hours and the shampoo did thicken but is thin. I put 15ml in 5l shampoo, so I just wanted to how long it will take for the shampoo to thicken

  • ketchito

    Member
    January 15, 2024 at 7:32 am

    My proposal is to either have a not so low pH so that CAPB can properly interact with your anionic surfactant, or to add a rheology modifier that works at low pH.

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