Liquid Soap for Salon Use: Regulations, Ingredients, and Formulas

Here is information regarding your questions about making liquid soap for use in your hair salon:

Legal Regulations

Regarding the legal aspects of making liquid soap or shampoo for use within your own business, such as a hair salon, spa, or hotel: If you are making and using the product solely within your own premises and not selling it to customers, it is generally not required to obtain FDA (อย.) approval. This aligns with the information previously provided by C7.

However, if you plan to package and sell the product to customers to take home, even if it's a small amount, then it would be considered a cosmetic product for sale and would require proper registration and compliance with cosmetic regulations, including obtaining FDA approval.

Inquiry about COS NNL and PRIOLY B750D

You mentioned encountering ingredients called COS NNL and PRIOLY B750D from Kao in formulas found online and were unable to find their INCI names. It is not uncommon for raw material manufacturers, especially large ones like Kao, to use proprietary trade names for their blends or specific grades of ingredients. They may not publicly disclose the full INCI breakdown for competitive reasons, particularly if the blend is similar to ingredients used in their own consumer products, as C7 mentioned regarding COS NNL.

Without the full and accurate INCI names for COS NNL and PRIOLY B750D, it is very difficult to assess their exact composition, properties, suitability, and potential for irritation compared to standard cosmetic ingredients. While they are described as potassium soap and fatty acid soap mixtures, the specific fatty acids and any other components in the blend significantly impact the final product's characteristics, gentleness, and foaming ability. Unfortunately, I cannot provide specific information or an assessment of these particular trade names as they are not standard INCI names or products in our database.

Alternative Liquid Soap Formulas

You are looking for alternative liquid soap formulas that are more cost-effective for salon use compared to a previous gentle, high-foaming formula you tried. The cost of a formula is heavily influenced by the choice and concentration of surfactants (cleansing agents).

While gentle, high-foaming surfactants like those often used in premium or "mild" formulas can be expensive, there are other bases and surfactants that offer good cleaning performance at a potentially lower cost, suitable for general salon use like hand washing or basic hair washing.

Consider exploring different types of liquid soap bases or combining more economical surfactants. Some options available include:

• Sulfate-Free Bases: Bases like Sulfate Free Shampoo Base, Sulfate-Free Foaming Base, or Sulfate Free No-Tear Foaming Base offer sulfate-free cleansing. While some sulfate-free options can still be pricey depending on the specific surfactants used, they might offer a different cost profile than your previous formula. They are generally milder than traditional sulfate-based cleansers.
• Traditional Soap Bases: Ingredients like Potassium Laurate or Potassium Cocoate are traditional soap salts derived from fatty acids. They are effective cleansers and can be more cost-effective, though they typically have a higher pH than synthetic surfactants and might be less gentle depending on the concentration and formulation.
• Specialty Bases: Bases like Oil Soap™ or Oil Soap™ WW-CF are designed for oil-based liquid soaps, offering a different feel and potentially moisturizing properties, which might be suitable depending on the salon's needs. SweetWash™ Hand and SweetWash™ Hair are bases designed to help fragrance linger.

The key to finding a cost-effective formula for salon use is to balance the desired performance (cleaning power, foam, feel) with the cost of the raw materials. You may need to experiment with different bases or combinations of surfactants to find a balance that meets your needs and budget.

Preservative Selection and Usage

For preserving liquid soap that will be made in larger batches and filled into smaller bottles for use in the salon, using a preservative is essential to prevent microbial growth and ensure product safety and shelf life. As C7 advised, Phenoxyethanol is a suitable preservative for liquid formulations, especially when stored in clean, sealed containers.

Phenoxyethanol is effective against bacteria. However, it is not considered broad-spectrum on its own, meaning it may be less effective against fungi and mold. For broader protection, especially if the product might be exposed to air or contamination during use in a salon environment, you might consider a broad-spectrum preservative blend.

Phenoxyethanol SA (eq. Optiphen Plus) is a broad-spectrum preservative blend containing Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, and Sorbic Acid. It offers protection against bacteria, mold, and yeast. Note that Phenoxyethanol SA is typically effective in formulas with a pH between 2.0 and 6.0.

Regarding the usage rate, preservatives are typically added as a percentage of the total weight of the final formula, not just the water content. The recommended usage rate for Phenoxyethanol is generally 0.5-1.0% of the total formula. For Phenoxyethanol SA, the recommended rate is 0.5-1.25% of the total formula. Always follow the supplier's recommended usage rate and test the stability and efficacy of the preservative in your specific formula.

It is important to perform a challenge test on your final product formulation to confirm that the chosen preservative system is effective against a broad range of microorganisms under realistic storage and usage conditions.

In summary, for in-house salon use, FDA approval is not required. Information on proprietary ingredients like COS NNL and PRIOLY B750D is limited without the full INCI. You can explore various sulfate-free or traditional soap bases and surfactants for cost-effective alternatives. Phenoxyethanol or Phenoxyethanol SA are suitable preservatives, typically used at 1% of the total formula, but efficacy testing is recommended.