Adjusting Shampoo Viscosity and Softness

You're looking to reduce the viscosity of your shampoo formula while maintaining high softness. Your current formula uses Sulfate Free Shampoo Base, Zinc PCA, and Poly conditioner Pro at 3.5%, resulting in high viscosity. You propose reducing Poly conditioner Pro to 2% and adding SiliWater at 1.5%.

Here's an assessment of your proposed adjustment:

• Viscosity Reduction: Yes, reducing the concentration of Poly conditioner Pro, which contributes to thickening in your formula, and adding SiliWater, which is primarily a conditioning agent and not a thickener, should result in a decrease in viscosity compared to using 3.5% Poly conditioner Pro alone. The high viscosity in your original formula is likely a combined effect of the Sulfate Free Shampoo Base reacting with Zinc PCA and the thickening property of Poly conditioner Pro.
• Softness Performance: It is possible to achieve a similar level of softness, but it's not guaranteed to be exactly the same as using 3.5% Poly conditioner Pro alone. Both Poly conditioner Pro and SiliWater are effective conditioning agents, but they work differently. SiliWater provides softness and smoothness with a non-heavy feel, while Poly conditioner Pro is a polymer conditioner. The combined effect of 2% Poly conditioner Pro and 1.5% SiliWater should provide good conditioning.
• Other Considerations and Recommendations:
  • There are no anticipated negative side effects from combining Poly conditioner Pro and SiliWater in a shampoo base, as both are suitable for hair care formulations.
  • The best approach is to test your proposed formula (Poly conditioner Pro 2% + SiliWater 1.5%) to see if the viscosity and softness meet your desired level.
  • If you find the softness is not sufficient after testing, you can consider adding a small amount of another conditioning agent, as previously recommended.