Converting Your Hair Treatment Formula to a Gel

To transform your hair treatment formula into a gel, you will need to incorporate a gelling agent or thickener into the water phase. Given that your formula contains cationic ingredients like CTAC and BTAC, it is crucial to select a gelling agent that is compatible with cationic systems and electrolytes to ensure stability and proper gel formation.

Based on the properties of gelling agents, suitable options for your formula include:

• ThixoGel™ (Polyurethane-62): This is a non-ionic gelling agent that offers excellent resistance to acids, alkalis, and electrolytes. It creates a thixotropic gel, which is thick when at rest but becomes more fluid when shaken or applied, making it easy to dispense.
• AnyGel™ (Dehydroxanthan Gum): This gelling agent is also highly resistant to acids, alkalis, and electrolytes and provides a pleasant, non-greasy gel texture that absorbs quickly.
• Sepimax Zen (Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6): Known for its high tolerance to salts and a wide pH range, Sepimax Zen is another good candidate for thickening formulas containing electrolytes and cationic ingredients.

Calculating Water Percentage

To determine the amount of water needed, first sum the percentages of all your other ingredients, including the chosen gelling agent. The remaining percentage will be water.

Your current ingredients total:

• CTAC: 2%
• BTAC: 2%
• Cetyl Alcohol: 5%
• Pure Keratin: 1%
• Hydrolyzed Silk Protein: 0.5%
• Thyme Care: 0.8%
• Semi color: 1%
• Fragrance: 0.7%

Total = 13%

If you decide to use a gelling agent at a concentration of, for example, 1.5% (a common starting point, adjust based on desired viscosity):

Total percentage of non-water ingredients = 13% (existing ingredients) + 1.5% (gelling agent) = 14.5%

The percentage of water needed would then be:

Water = 100% - 14.5% = 85.5%

So, you would use approximately 85.5% water in your formula. You can adjust the gelling agent percentage slightly to achieve your desired gel consistency, which will slightly change the water percentage.

General Mixing Guide

1. Prepare the Water Phase: Measure out the required amount of water. Disperse the chosen gelling agent in the water according to the supplier's instructions. Some gelling agents like ThixoGel™ may require heating (below 80°C) and continuous stirring to dissolve completely and form a gel. Others like AnyGel™ or Sepimax Zen can be dispersed and mixed at room temperature.
2. Incorporate Other Ingredients: Once the gel base is formed and has cooled (if heated), carefully add your other ingredients: CTAC, BTAC, Cetyl Alcohol (often melted and added to the water phase, check specific instructions), Pure Keratin, Hydrolyzed Silk Protein, Thyme Care, Semi color, and Fragrance. Mix thoroughly after adding each ingredient to ensure homogeneity.
3. Adjust pH (if necessary): Some gelling agents might require pH adjustment to fully activate or stabilize. Check the supplier's guidelines for your chosen gelling agent and adjust the pH if needed after all ingredients are combined, using a suitable acid or base.

Always refer to the specific usage instructions and compatibility information provided by the supplier for each ingredient, especially the gelling agent, to ensure the best results and formula stability.