[Henry]

If I had cationics…. with anionic surfactants….I should add those last?  Thank you again.

[Henry]

@chemicalmatt -thank you… I am still confused. is there a rule of thumb about order of addition for shampoos. and with  acrylate copolymer.  

[Henry]

@Graillotion 
that pH meter works for you in your experiments? what products have you used this with?

[Henry]

@chemicalmatt 
sometimes I am so scared that something will separate that I put more cetyl alcohol in to help with that.  should I reduce the dimethicone and quats?

[Henry]

this is a salt free formulation
it is opaque. 
AOS is a liquid.
using thickners..

[Henry]

@Abdullah

[Henry]

how much water is in your system?

[Henry]

would Glcamate DOE-120 or Cocamide MIPA be a good choice?

[Henry]

@MarkBroussard I think Tucker Carlson has amazing hair!!!  
So what can I use to increase the viscosity since salt is off the table????

[Henry]

@Paprik this has to be a salt free formulation.  Otherwise I know salt is my best friend.

[Henry]

I would like to thank the members that provided a detail explanation on what is happening with raw materials like the example here. I didn’t have any idea about the protonation of the molecule and such. (I hope I don’t sound to silly here). Now and days the focus on why something works gets lost in the middle of “make it work” or “add this to make the label claim.”  The act of finding something functional or making something functional gets lost too.  Often times I have asked co workers how or why something does or does not work and they don’t know.  Sometimes people are working with folks that don’t have a true experienced senior colleague to ask or provide assistance.

On my soap box…. This is what make us (Chemists) different from the DIY folks who are basically taking the “short cut” to creating good chemistry.

[Henry]

I am using a regular center scientific mixer.  I am doing this at 500 rpm.  So this might be air coming up?  the “foam” slides on the walls leaving “streaks.”  When the jar is lightly shaken it dissipates through out the mixture. I don’t need to add more solubilizer/emulsifier?

[Henry]

Will xanthan gum control stringy texture?  I don’t want the stringy texture. I am using a non sulfate free system.  Is there a way to control the stringy texture in a non sulfate free system?

[Henry]

in your formulation did you have any issues with stringy texture?

[Henry]

@Farrukh 
“HEC is anionic thickener it charges alkali”

 hello can you explain this further? I have the general understanding but literature does state this is non ionic.

[Henry]

@abdullah thank you so much!

[Henry]

@abdullah.  thank you! which brand do you use?

[Henry]

@MarkBroussard thank you for the tip.  So in general non ionic surfactants are hard to thicken?  Is pH a factor in this or is there another mechanism…

[Henry]

hello, for my clarification of what was just said….. HEC is has a % limit of compatibility with surfactants.  So if I had a “cleanser” with 20% of surfactant concentration and was using HEC as a thickener would have some issues achieving a higher viscosity.

 If this should happen what could you add or do to help it? 

[Henry]

just another question…  
to build viscosity in a sulfate free system is it also pH dependent?

[Henry]

Wow!  I thought color safe would have something to do with an ingredient to help color dye to stay in the hair.  So any “mild” detergency shampoo would do for this?