Review of Hair Growth Serum Formula

Hello,

Thank you for providing your hair growth serum formula. Let's review the ingredients and discuss how to mix them to achieve a serum consistency.

Your formula includes several ingredients known for their potential benefits for hair growth and scalp health, such as Sandal Pentanol (Sandalore), Biotin Express, and N-Acetyl Cysteine. It also includes Ethyl Alcohol as a solvent, Phenoxyethanol as a preservative, and fragrance.

You asked about dissolving Minoxidil powder directly in water. Standard Minoxidil powder is generally not highly soluble in water alone. It typically requires a solvent system, often including alcohol and propylene glycol, for proper dissolution. Your formula includes Ethyl Alcohol, which will help, but dissolving 2% Minoxidil powder might still be challenging without propylene glycol.

Regarding the desired serum consistency, your formula includes Milk Lotion Maker and Satin Cream Maker. These are emulsifiers designed to create lotion or cream textures. Using both at these percentages will likely result in a lotion or a light cream, not a thin serum.

Adjustments for a Serum:

To achieve a true serum consistency, you would typically need to modify the emulsifier system. Instead of using Milk Lotion Maker and Satin Cream Maker, you might consider using a solubilizer suitable for incorporating the oil-soluble ingredients (Sandal Pentanol, Fragrance, and potentially Minoxidil if it doesn't fully dissolve in the alcohol/water phase) into a water-based serum. Alternatively, you could use a very low percentage of a suitable gelling agent or thickener if the ingredients can remain stable in dispersion.

Mixing Guidance for Your Current Formula (Likely Resulting in Lotion/Light Cream):

If you wish to proceed with your current formula as written, here is a general mixing approach. Please note that achieving a perfectly stable and homogenous product, especially a serum, may be difficult with this combination and could result in a lotion or light cream texture, or even separation.

1. Water Phase: Combine Distilled Water, Biotin Express, Phenoxyethanol, and N-Acetyl Cysteine in a beaker. Stir gently until all powders are dissolved. Note that N-Acetyl Cysteine prefers a pH between 3-6.
2. Alcohol/Minoxidil Phase: In a separate container, add Ethyl Alcohol. Gradually add the Minoxidil powder while stirring or shaking vigorously to attempt dissolution. Observe if the Minoxidil fully dissolves.
3. Emulsifier/Oil Phase: In a third container, combine Milk Lotion Maker, Satin Cream Maker, and Fragrance. Important Note: Sandal Pentanol should ideally avoid heat above 40°C, while Milk Lotion Maker requires heating to 70°C. This is a conflict. To minimize heat exposure to Sandal Pentanol, you could potentially heat Milk Lotion Maker separately with a small amount of oil (if adding any other oils not listed), then cool it before combining with Sandal Pentanol and Fragrance. However, given the complexity, incorporating Sandal Pentanol and Fragrance might be best done at a later, cooler stage, potentially relying on the emulsifiers and alcohol for incorporation, though stability is not guaranteed. A simpler approach for this formula might be to combine Milk Lotion Maker, Satin Cream Maker, and Fragrance in a beaker.
4. Combining Phases:
   • Slowly add the Alcohol/Minoxidil phase (Step 2) to the Water Phase (Step 1) while stirring.
   • Gradually add the Emulsifier/Oil Phase (Step 3) to the combined water/alcohol phase while mixing continuously.
   • If using Milk Lotion Maker as per its typical instructions (heating oil phase to 70C), you would normally add the heated oil phase to the water phase while blending at high speed, then continue blending while cooling. However, this conflicts with Sandal Pentanol's heat sensitivity.
   • Given the heat-free nature of Satin Cream Maker and the heat requirement of Milk Lotion Maker, and the heat sensitivity of Sandal Pentanol, a revised approach is needed.
   • Revised Combining Steps:
     • Combine Distilled Water, Biotin Express, Phenoxyethanol, N-Acetyl Cysteine, and Satin Cream Maker. Mix well until Satin Cream Maker is dispersed and the mixture starts to thicken slightly. Do not mix at very high speed (> 2500 rpm).
     • In a separate container, combine Ethyl Alcohol and Minoxidil powder. Stir well.
     • In a third container, combine Milk Lotion Maker and Fragrance. Gently warm this mixture if necessary to incorporate Milk Lotion Maker, but avoid high heat. Let it cool if warmed. Add Sandal Pentanol to this mixture after any warming and cooling, as it is heat sensitive.
     • Slowly add the Alcohol/Minoxidil mixture to the water phase while stirring.
     • Slowly add the Milk Lotion Maker/Fragrance/Sandal Pentanol mixture to the main batch while mixing continuously until a uniform texture is achieved.
5. Final Adjustments: Check the pH of the final product. Adjust if necessary to be within a suitable range for scalp application and ingredient stability (ideally between 3-6 for N-Acetyl Cysteine). Continue mixing until the product is homogenous.

This formula is complex due to the different requirements of the ingredients and emulsifiers. For a simpler and more stable serum, adjusting the formula and emulsifier system is recommended.

I hope this helps!