Herbal Shampoo Viscosity Loss

Herbal Shampoo Viscosity Problem

Dear Inquirer,

I understand the issue you are facing regarding your homemade Sulfate-Free herbal shampoo losing viscosity shortly after production, despite trying thickeners like SugarThick™ and Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) along with Disodium EDTA.

This problem is commonly encountered when formulating cosmetics with natural ingredients, especially herbal extracts. Herbal extracts can contain various compounds such as minerals, tannins, or other substances that may interfere with the function of certain thickeners or affect the overall stability of the formulation, leading to a decrease in viscosity over time.

SugarThick™ and Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) are effective thickeners, but they can be affected by the complex composition of herbal extracts. Although HEC is described as being tolerant to electrolytes, other substances in herbs might still be a factor.

Alternative Thickeners That May Help

To address the issue of unstable viscosity in your herbal shampoo, consider these alternative thickeners, which may offer better compatibility and stability with your herbal extracts:

• ThickClean™ (Acrylates Copolymer): This is an Acrylates Copolymer, a synthetic polymer that generally offers high stability in surfactant systems and is often more resistant to various ingredients, including extracts, compared to some natural thickeners. It is likely a good option for maintaining long-term viscosity.
• EasyThick™ and ClearClean™: Both of these ingredients are recommended thickeners specifically for Sulfate-Free shampoo bases. Trying these in your formulation may yield more stable results.
• Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC): This is another cellulose ether, similar to HEC, but certain grades of HPMC may have better compatibility with specific ingredients. The description for HEC itself also recommends using HPMC in cleansing formulas to help with foam.

Additional Recommendations

1. Test with Your Specific Herbal Extracts: Each herbal extract has a significantly different composition. The best approach is to test each alternative thickener in your specific formula to see which one provides the most stable viscosity over time.
2. Check and Control pH: Although HEC has a wide working pH range, the appropriate pH for a shampoo formula (generally around 5.5-6.5) and the stability of the pH over the storage period are crucial for the stability of the thickener and the overall formula.
3. Preservative System: Ensure your preservative system is effective. While viscosity loss is not typically a sign of microbial contamination, stability issues can sometimes be related to overall formulation integrity.

Finding the most suitable thickener for your herbal shampoo formulation may require some experimentation. I wish you success in developing your formula.