Shampoo Formulation Advice

Thank you for providing your shampoo formulation. Here are some recommendations for adjusting the ingredients:

Analysis of Your Formula

Your formula includes several beneficial ingredients for hair and scalp care. However, the percentages of some components, particularly the cleansing bases and extracts, are quite high and may need adjustment for optimal performance and stability.

• Cleansing Bases (Sulfate Free No-Tear Shampoo Base and Cond-Foam): Using 30% of each base results in a very high total concentration of cleansing agents (surfactants). This can lead to a formula that is too thin and potentially drying to the hair and scalp, even with gentle surfactants. It's generally recommended to use a primary cleansing base at a certain percentage and add co-surfactants or conditioning agents separately.
• Witch Hazel: A concentration of 28% Witch Hazel is very high for a shampoo. While it has some scalp benefits, such a high amount might be drying or affect the overall formula stability. It is more commonly used at lower percentages.
• Fragrance (Eucalyptus & Spearmint): A 5% fragrance level is typically too high for a rinse-off product like shampoo. High fragrance concentrations can cause scalp irritation and may impact the formula's stability or viscosity. Standard usage rates are usually much lower.
• Gamma Oryzanol: If you are using the powder form (Pure-Oryzanol), it is oil-soluble and requires a solvent like LipidSoft Solve to properly incorporate into a water-based shampoo formula. The water-soluble version (Oryzanol-Active) would be easier to use in this type of formula.
• Total Percentage: The sum of your listed ingredients is 99.5%, which doesn't leave room for water, which is the main component of shampoo, or other necessary additives like thickeners and preservatives.

Recommended Adjustments

To create a balanced and effective shampoo, consider the following adjustments:

1. Reduce Cleansing Bases: Choose one primary sulfate-free shampoo base, such as Sulfate Free No-Tear Shampoo Base, and use it at its recommended concentration (typically 30-35%). If you wish to include Cond-Foam for its conditioning properties, add it as a co-surfactant at a lower percentage (e.g., 5-10%). This will provide effective cleansing without being overly harsh.
2. Reduce Witch Hazel: Lower the Witch Hazel concentration significantly, perhaps to 1-5%, or remove it if its primary astringent benefit isn't a key goal for the shampoo.
3. Reduce Fragrance: Reduce the Eucalyptus & Spearmint fragrance to a lower, safer level, typically between 0.5% and 1%.
4. Add Water: Include enough purified water to bring the total formula percentage to 100% after accounting for all other ingredients.
5. Add Thickener: You will likely need to add a thickener to achieve the desired shampoo viscosity. The Sulfate Free No-Tear Shampoo Base description mentions that salt can be used for thickening, or you can explore other thickeners like SugarThick, ClearClean, Xanthan Gum, or EasyThick.
6. Add Preservative: Ensure your final formula is adequately preserved to prevent microbial growth, especially with the inclusion of water and extracts. Check the preservatives already present in your bases and add additional preservative as needed according to supplier recommendations.
7. Adjust pH: Check the pH of your final formulation and adjust it to be within the typical range for shampoo (usually pH 5-6) to ensure optimal performance and scalp compatibility.
8. Consider Hydrolyzed Pea Protein: You could potentially increase the Hydrolyzed Pea Protein to the recommended 2% for enhanced hair benefits.
9. Gamma Oryzanol Form: Confirm you are using the water-soluble Oryzanol-Active or ensure proper incorporation of the oil-soluble Pure-Oryzanol if that is your chosen form.

Example Adjusted Structure (Illustrative)

• Sulfate Free No-Tear Shampoo Base: 30-35%
• Cond-Foam: 5-10% (Optional)
• Hydrolyzed Pea Protein: 1-2%
• Pure Keratin: 1%
• Natural Moisturizing Amino Acids: 0.5-1%
• Calendula Extract: 3%
• Gamma Oryzanol (Water Soluble): 0.5%
• Witch Hazel: 1-5% (Optional)
• Eucalyptus & Spearmint Fragrance: 0.5-1%
• Preservative: As needed
• Thickener: As needed
• Purified Water: Balance to 100%
• pH Adjuster: As needed

By adjusting these percentages and adding the necessary components like water, thickener, and preservative, you can create a more stable, effective, and pleasant-to-use shampoo formulation.