How to thicken homemade shampoo?
Question
Hello,
I purchased ingredients to make my own shampoo.
However, after using it, the shampoo texture is not as viscous as typical shampoos and is not pleasant to use.
How can I adjust the formula to make it thicker and more viscous?
The ratio used is as follows:
- DI Water 60%
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine 20%
- Lauryl Glucoside 5%
- Mild-Wash™ (Sodium Lauroamphoacetate) 5%
- Coco Glucoside 5%
- Mild Preserved Eco™ (Preservative-Free) 1%
- Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate 1%
- Sweet Almond Oil 2%
- Citric Acid 1%
Thank you.
Answer
Hello, thank you for your question about adjusting the viscosity of your homemade shampoo.
It's common for homemade surfactant formulas to have lower viscosity than commercial products, as viscosity depends heavily on the specific types and ratios of surfactants used.
Based on your formula, the easiest way to increase the viscosity is by adding Sodium Chloride (common salt). Many surfactant systems, especially those containing amphoteric and anionic surfactants like Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate in your formula, can be thickened by adding salt.
Here's how to do it:
- Dissolve a small amount of salt in a little bit of water.
- Slowly add the salt solution to your shampoo mixture while stirring gently.
- Start with a small amount, for example, 0.5% to 1% of the total formula weight. Add more gradually, stirring after each addition, until you achieve the desired thickness.
- Be careful not to add too much salt, as exceeding the optimal concentration can cause the viscosity to decrease again or make the product cloudy.
Adding salt is the most common and simplest method for adjusting viscosity in this type of surfactant blend. If adding salt does not provide sufficient thickening, other types of thickeners might be considered, but try salt first.
Related Products Mentioned
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
