Hair Wax Formulation Advice

Regarding the hair wax formulation you provided, it's a typical water-based (O/W emulsion) product containing waxes for hold, emollients, emulsifiers, thickeners, preservatives, and fragrance.

Can you remove ingredients?

You are right that there are multiple emulsifiers. Formulators often use a blend of emulsifiers with different properties to create a stable emulsion, especially with high wax/oil content. Simply removing one or two emulsifiers without reformulating and testing would likely make the product unstable, leading to separation and potentially white residue on hair.

To maintain hold and avoid white residue, the balance of waxes, emulsifiers, emollients, and thickeners is crucial. Simplifying the emulsifier system is possible but requires careful selection of alternative emulsifiers (perhaps a single blend) and extensive stability testing.

Essential components for hold and stability include:

• Waxes (for structure and hold)
• Emulsifiers (to keep water and oil/wax mixed)
• Thickener/Rheology Modifier (for texture and stability)
• Preservatives (for safety)

Removing emollients or humectants might affect texture and feel but less likely the core hold or stability, though it depends on the specific formula.

Suggested Proportions:

Providing exact proportions without laboratory testing is not feasible, as formulations are complex and require precise balancing. However, typical ranges for ingredients in a hair wax emulsion might be (very general ranges):

• Water: 40-70%
• Waxes (Total): 10-25%
• Emollients/Oils: 5-15%
• Emulsifiers (Total): 3-10%
• Thickener/Rheology Modifier: 0.5-3%
• Humectants: 1-5%
• Preservatives: 0.5-1.5%
• pH Adjuster: As needed (e.g., 0.5-1.5% Triethanolamine)
• Fragrance: 0.1-0.5%

Developing a stable and effective hair wax requires experimentation and testing within these ranges.

Cream for Mosquito Bites

It's understandable you're concerned about your son's severe reaction (blisters, swelling) to mosquito bites. While cosmetic ingredients can help soothe, for such severe reactions, it is highly recommended to consult a doctor or dermatologist for appropriate medical advice.

Aloe Vera is excellent for soothing and reducing inflammation. Vitamin B12 can also have anti-inflammatory effects.

Additional soothing and skin-repairing ingredients you could consider adding to a cream base include:

• Allantoin: Soothing, helps reduce redness and irritation.
• Panthenol (Vitamin B5): Soothes skin, reduces itching, supports skin barrier.
• Bisabolol: Strong anti-inflammatory and soothing properties.
• Natural Extracts: Chamomile, Calendula, or Oat extract for calming irritated skin.

When formulating for sensitive skin, use gentle ingredients and test on a small area first. Combining Aloe, B12, and ingredients like Allantoin or Panthenol in a gentle cream could help soothe the skin after bites, but medical consultation is crucial for severe reactions.