Adding Surfactants to Homemade Kaffir Lime Shampoo & Usage Calculation
Question
Hello, I need advice on adding ingredients like Mild-Wash (Sodium Lauroamphoacetate) to my kaffir lime shampoo. Do I also need to buy other foaming agents like Flora Foam (Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide)? If I use Flora Foam, will it keep the scent of kaffir lime and other herbs the same, or should I use a different foaming agent that is suitable for the fresh herbs I've prepared? Also, regarding the usage percentage of 2-5%, does this mean how much to mix with the kaffir lime shampoo base in terms of quantity or milliliters? Please advise. Thank you very much.
Answer
Hello,
Regarding incorporating Mild-Wash (Sodium Lauroamphoacetate) into your kaffir lime shampoo base:
- Combining Mild-Wash and Kaffir Lime Shampoo: Yes, you can combine Mild-Wash with your kaffir lime shampoo base. Mild-Wash is a mild amphoteric surfactant that can help improve the foaming properties and mildness of your homemade shampoo.
- Adding Flora Foam: Adding Flora Foam (Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide) is optional. It is not a primary cleansing agent but acts as a foam booster and stabilizer. If you find that using Mild-Wash alone doesn't give you the desired level or quality of foam, you can add Flora Foam to enhance it.
- Effect of Flora Foam on Scent: Dimethyl Lauramide/Myristamide is generally considered to have little to no scent of its own. Adding it is unlikely to significantly alter the natural scent of your kaffir lime and other herbs, but any addition to a formulation can potentially have a minor impact. It's always best to test in a small batch.
- Usage Rate (2-5%): The percentage refers to the weight of the ingredient relative to the total weight of your final product.
- For example, if your kaffir lime shampoo base weighs 100 grams, using Mild-Wash at 2% means adding 2 grams (100g * 0.02 = 2g). Using it at 5% means adding 5 grams (100g * 0.05 = 5g).
- If your base is 500 grams, 2% would be 10 grams (500g * 0.02 = 10g), and 5% would be 25 grams (500g * 0.05 = 25g).
- You should measure both your shampoo base and the Mild-Wash (and Flora Foam, if used) by weight for accuracy.
- It's recommended to start with a lower percentage (like 2-3%) and test the performance before deciding if you need to use a higher amount within the recommended range.
Always make a small test batch first to ensure compatibility and desired results before making a large quantity.
Hope this helps! Thank you.
Related Products Mentioned
Mild-Wash L™ (Sodium Lauroamphoacetate)
