Hair Serum Formula Feedback and Answers

Your formula includes a high concentration of herbal extracts (total 33%) in an Aloe Vera Gel base. The selection of extracts is promising for hair nourishment and growth.

Based on the ingredients you listed and the product information available:

• Centella Asiatica Extract: Products like Centella Asiatica Extract (Madecassoside 90%) and Pure-TECA™ Centella Asiatica Extract (TECA 95%, CICA) are relevant.
• Aloe Vera Gel (Lite) base: Aloe Vera Gel (Lite) is the relevant base.
• Mild Preserved Eco: Mild Preserved Eco™ (Preservative-Free) is the relevant preservative.
• Fragrance: While a specific fragrance wasn't searched, Flora Solve™ Clear (Fragrance Solubilizer) is relevant for incorporating fragrance into a gel base.

Unfortunately, specific product information for Guava Leaf Extract, Black Sesame Extract, and Indian Gooseberry Extract was not found in the search results. However, I can provide general formulation advice based on typical cosmetic ingredients.

Here are the answers to your questions:

1. Mixing without equipment, can use pre-made base?

Yes, using a pre-made gel base like Aloe Vera Gel (Lite) is suitable for mixing without specialized equipment. The base is designed to incorporate other liquid ingredients by simple stirring.

2. Limitation on extract percentage?

Yes, there are typically recommended usage rates for cosmetic ingredients, including herbal extracts. These recommendations are based on efficacy, stability, and safety. While some extracts can be used at higher percentages, a total extract concentration of 33% is quite high for a serum formula using a pre-made base. High concentrations of multiple extracts can sometimes affect the stability, clarity, or viscosity of the final product and may not provide additional benefits beyond a certain point. It's best to check the recommended usage rate for each specific extract you are using. A more typical total concentration for extracts in a serum might range from 5% to 15%.

3. Formula for oily scalp?

The Aloe Vera Gel (Lite) base is described as suitable for oily skin and having a light, non-sticky feel. This makes it a good choice for an oily scalp serum base. The herbal extracts you've chosen are generally water-based and should not contribute to oiliness. The formula appears suitable for an oily scalp in terms of feel and base type.

4. Suitable formula and mixing method?

• Suitable Formula: The concept of using these herbal extracts is good. However, consider reducing the total percentage of extracts to improve stability and potentially optimize efficacy. A revised formula with a lower total extract percentage (e.g., 10-15%) and a higher percentage of the Aloe Vera Gel base (e.g., 85-90%) might be more stable and pleasant to use. Ensure the total percentage adds up to 100%.
• Mixing Method:
  1. Measure the required amount of Aloe Vera Gel (Lite) base.
  2. Weigh or measure your herbal extracts. Add them to the gel base.
  3. Stir thoroughly using a clean spoon or spatula until the extracts are fully and evenly mixed into the base. Ensure there are no streaks or separated layers.
  4. Weigh or measure the Mild Preserved Eco and Fragrance.
  5. Add the Mild Preserved Eco to the mixture and stir until combined.
  6. Add the Fragrance. For best results and to ensure the fragrance fully disperses without making the serum cloudy, it is highly recommended to pre-mix the fragrance with a solubilizer (like Flora Solve™ Clear) at the recommended ratio (typically 2-5 parts solubilizer to 1 part fragrance) before adding this mixture to the gel base. If you don't use a solubilizer, the fragrance might not fully dissolve.
  7. Stir the final mixture again thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are uniformly distributed.

5. Can hair dyes like Henna/Indigo be made into a gel?

Yes, natural hair dye powders like Henna and Indigo can be mixed with water or other liquids and a gelling agent (like Xanthan Gum or other thickeners) to create a gel or paste consistency for easier application to the hair. However, creating a stable, ready-to-use gel product from these natural powders for long-term storage is challenging. Natural powders are prone to microbial contamination and degradation when mixed with water over time, even with preservatives. For this reason, Henna and Indigo are typically sold as powders and mixed with liquid just before use. While it's possible to formulate a more stable product, it requires specific knowledge of preservation and stabilization techniques for natural colorants, which is more complex than simple home mixing. It is generally recommended to mix Henna and Indigo powders fresh for each application.