Analysis of Your Herbal Shampoo Formula and Recommendations for Hair Loss

Thank you for sharing your formula and the issue of increased hair loss. Based on your formula, several ingredients and their concentrations could potentially be contributing to this problem.

Potential Causes of Hair Loss

• HH SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate): SLS is a strong surfactant known for its cleaning and foaming ability, but it can also be irritating to the scalp, especially at high concentrations. Scalp irritation can lead to various issues, including hair loss.
• Emal28 CT (likely SLES) and HH SLS Combination: While SLES is milder than SLS, using both, especially with a high total surfactant load, can still cause irritation for some individuals.
• Sodium Chloride: Used as a thickener, 200 grams in your formula is quite a high concentration. Excessive salt can make the shampoo harsh and potentially dry out the scalp and hair, leading to breakage and increased shedding.
• Herbal Mixture (Lime water + Butterfly pea + Yanang leaves + Mee leaves + Ginger + Boraphet): Using 3 kg of this herbal liquid in a total formula of approximately 4.2 kg is a very high proportion (around 71%). While herbs have benefits, such high concentrations can lead to an unsuitable pH (too acidic or alkaline) or cause irritation. Stability and potential contamination are also concerns with such a large amount of natural, unprocessed liquid.
• Glydant (DMDM Hydantoin): This is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative. Preservatives in this class can cause irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, which could affect the scalp and hair.

Recommendations for Adjusting Your Formula

To address the potential causes of hair loss and create a milder shampoo, consider the following adjustments:

1. Replace or Reduce SLS: It is highly recommended to remove HH SLS entirely or significantly reduce its amount.
2. Use Milder Co-surfactants: Instead of relying heavily on SLS and SLES, incorporate milder co-surfactants to maintain cleaning and foaming performance with less irritation. Suitable options include:
   • Cocamidopropyl Betaine: A gentle amphoteric surfactant derived from coconut oil, known for being mild and helping to create a smooth, fine foam.
   • Decyl Glucoside: A gentle non-ionic surfactant derived from natural sources like coconut/palm oil and corn glucose. It is very mild and suitable for sensitive skin.
3. Reduce Sodium Chloride: Decrease the amount of Sodium Chloride significantly. Add it gradually to the formula while stirring until the desired viscosity is achieved. Avoid adding a fixed, large amount.
4. Adjust Herbal Ingredient Usage: Instead of a large volume of herbal liquid, consider using concentrated herbal extracts or essential oils at lower, recommended percentages (typically less than 5%). This provides the benefits of the herbs in a more controlled and stable form, making it easier to manage the overall formula's pH and stability.
5. Change Preservative: Switch from DMDM Hydantoin to a non-formaldehyde releasing preservative that is suitable for hair products. A common and effective alternative is Phenoxyethanol. This preservative is considered safer and less likely to cause irritation compared to formaldehyde releasers.
6. Check and Adjust pH: After mixing your adjusted formula, always measure the pH and adjust it to the optimal range for scalp and hair, which is typically between 4.5 and 5.5. Using Citric Acid or Lactic Acid can help lower the pH if needed. The high amount of lime water in your original formula might have made the pH too low (acidic), which can also cause irritation.

By making these changes, particularly by using milder surfactants, reducing salt and raw herbal liquid, and changing the preservative, you can create a shampoo that is much gentler on your scalp and less likely to cause hair loss.