Alcohol denat + Cyclotetrasiloxane Separation and Quick-Drying Hair Spray Formulation
Question
1.) How to prevent separation of [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%9A%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%8C/706-alcohol-%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%AE%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%8C.html:3bnzp0mg]Alcohol denat[/url:3bnzp0mg] and [url=http://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/silicone-oil-%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A2%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%94%E0%B9%89/6850-cyclotetrasiloxane-dc-344.html:3bnzp0mg]Cyclotetrasiloxane[/url:3bnzp0mg]? 2.) I want to make a hair spray to be sprayed on wet hair after washing to make the hair dry faster than usual. Are there any ingredients that help water evaporate faster or help absorb moisture from the hair that you can recommend?
Answer
Subject: Alcohol denat + Cyclotetrasiloxane - How to prevent separation and quick-drying hair spray ingredients
1. Preventing separation of Alcohol denat and Cyclotetrasiloxane:
Alcohol denat (ethanol) is a polar solvent, while Cyclotetrasiloxane (a silicone oil) is non-polar. These two types of liquids are generally immiscible, meaning they will separate into layers when mixed.
To create a stable, non-separating mixture, you will need to use a suitable emulsifier or solubilizer. The choice of emulsifier depends on the desired final product (e.g., a clear solution or an emulsion) and the ratio of alcohol to silicone.
- For a clear solution: You would typically need a solubilizer designed to bridge the gap between polar and non-polar ingredients. Finding a solubilizer that works effectively for both high concentrations of alcohol and silicone can be challenging and may require testing different options.
- For an emulsion: You would need an emulsifier (or a blend of emulsifiers) that can create a stable dispersion of one phase within the other. This would likely result in a cloudy or milky liquid, not a clear one.
Researching emulsifiers/solubilizers specifically designed for alcohol-silicone systems is recommended.
2. Ingredients for quick-drying hair spray:
To create a hair spray that helps hair dry faster after washing, you need ingredients that promote water evaporation from the hair surface.
- Alcohol: Alcohols like Ethanol or Isopropyl Alcohol are very effective at speeding up drying time because they evaporate quickly and help water evaporate with them. Alcohol denat is commonly used for this purpose.
- Volatile Silicones: Silicones such as Cyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) are volatile, meaning they evaporate relatively quickly. While they provide conditioning and slip, their volatility can also contribute to faster drying compared to non-volatile oils. Cyclotetrasiloxane is one such volatile silicone.
- Film-forming Polymers: Some polymers can form a thin film on the hair. Depending on the polymer, this film can trap water and slow drying, or in some cases, if the polymer is designed to be fast-drying or allows water vapor to escape, it might contribute positively. However, alcohol and volatile silicones are the primary ingredients for accelerating water evaporation.
Therefore, incorporating Alcohol denat and volatile silicones like Cyclotetrasiloxane into your hair spray formulation can help achieve faster drying. The specific ratios and the addition of other ingredients (like conditioning agents, fragrances, etc.) will depend on the desired performance and feel of the final product.
