Hair Growth and Anti-Dandruff Serum Formulation Advice

Thank you for sharing your serum formula goals and current ingredient list. You're looking to create a non-greasy serum to reduce hair loss, promote new hair growth, eliminate dandruff, and nourish the scalp, specifically for a slightly oily scalp with dandruff and thinning hair.

Based on your desired ingredients and the need for both water-soluble and oil-soluble components (like Dimethicone 1Secs and Sandal Pentanol), achieving a completely clear serum like your example picture is not possible. However, we can formulate a stable, light, and non-greasy cloudy serum or gel-lotion that effectively addresses your concerns.

Your initial formula includes several good active ingredients. To maximize hair growth efficacy and address your other goals while maintaining a non-greasy feel, here is a suggested revised formula and explanation:

Proposed Serum Formula (Cloudy Serum/Light Lotion)

• Distilled Water: q.s. to 100%
• Zinc PCA (1%): Excellent for controlling oily scalp, reducing dandruff, and helping with hair loss related to excess oil. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Safe-B3™ (Vitamin B3, Niacinamide) (5%): Helps improve scalp circulation, which can support hair growth, and offers general scalp health benefits. Increasing the concentration from your initial 2% provides more significant benefits.
• ActiveRelease™ Biotin (5%): This encapsulated form of Biotin is highly effective for accelerating hair growth, reducing shedding, and strengthening hair roots. Using it at 5% provides a good concentration for efficacy.
• Minoxol Aqua™ (0.2%): A powerful active ingredient specifically designed to stimulate hair growth and reduce hair loss by working directly on the hair follicles and increasing blood flow to the scalp.
• Pep®-Brow (3%): A peptide that further enhances hair growth by stimulating hair follicles and strengthening the extracellular matrix around them, contributing to thicker, stronger hair.
• Encapsulated Caffeine (5%): Known for stimulating hair growth by counteracting DHT and promoting hair shaft elongation.
• Sandal Pentanol (1%): Included for its potential aroma benefits and a possible link to hair, though primarily a fragrance component. Reduced from 5% to minimize potential oiliness while retaining some benefit/scent.
• Dimethicone 1Secs (10%): Provides a very light, non-greasy, and fast-evaporating feel to the serum. This helps achieve the desired texture without leaving an oily residue. As staff mentioned, this volatile silicone does not clog pores.
• Light Lotion Maker (4%): Acts as an emulsifier to bind the water and oil-soluble ingredients together, creating a stable, light serum/gel-lotion texture.
• Mild Preserved Eco™ (1.5%): A gentle, preservative-free option to protect the formula from microbial growth, suitable for sensitive scalps.
• Fragrance (1%): For scent.

This formula combines multiple high-efficacy ingredients targeting hair growth, hair loss reduction, and dandruff control, while using ingredients like Dimethicone 1Secs and Light Lotion Maker to ensure a non-greasy feel suitable for your oily scalp.

Mixing Method (General Guide)

1. Combine all water-soluble ingredients (Distilled Water, Zinc PCA, Safe-B3™, ActiveRelease™ Biotin, Minoxol Aqua™, Pep®-Brow, Mild Preserved Eco™) and the powder Encapsulated Caffeine in a beaker. Stir or blend until all powders are fully dissolved or dispersed.
2. In a separate beaker, combine the oil-soluble ingredients (Sandal Pentanol, Dimethicone 1Secs, Fragrance) and Light Lotion Maker. Mix well.
3. Slowly add the oil phase mixture to the water phase while continuously stirring or homogenizing until a uniform, cloudy serum or gel-lotion is formed.

This revised formula provides a comprehensive approach to address your hair and scalp concerns with enhanced efficacy for hair growth.