Shampoo Formulation: Conditioning Agents and Thickener Usage

Based on your requirements and the previous discussion, here is a proposed revised formula for your kaffir lime detox shampoo, incorporating both conditioning agents for slip and softness, ingredients for dandruff and scalp health, and adjusting for thickness and foam.

Regarding your question about using both GuarCat and Poly-Conditioner, it is possible to use both together to potentially leverage the different benefits of each, as you noted from product descriptions. GuarCat can provide more "weight" or substance to the hair feel, while Poly-Conditioner can help smooth the hair cuticle for a sleeker feel.

For EasyThick, its usage is similar to SugarThick. You would typically add it to the water phase and heat while stirring until it dissolves and the mixture thickens. Manual stirring should be sufficient, but a mixer can help ensure even dispersion and thickening. Its texture is indeed similar to SugarThick when used in a formula.

Here is a proposed formula for your next trial:

Proposed Shampoo Formula

• Water: 51.35% (adjust based on final ingredient percentages)
• EDTA: 0.2% (ID: 184)
• Zinc PCA: 0.3% (ID: 252)
• GuarCat: 0.15% (ID: 186) - For anti-static and conditioning
• Zinc Pyrithione: 1% (ID: 613) - For anti-dandruff. Please confirm if you intend to use 0.5% or 1% as both were mentioned.
• Phenoxyethanol: 1% (ID: 155) - Preservative
• Sulfur: 1% (ID: 681) - For oil control and anti-dandruff/anti-itch
• Biotin: 0.5% (ID: 981) - For hair strength
• Coco Betaine: 15% (ID: 160) - Mild surfactant, foam booster
• Creamy Foamer: 25% (ID: 305) - Primary surfactant, increased for more foam
• Poly-Conditioner: 2% (ID: 1056) - For slip, softness, and contributes to thickening
• EasyThick: 1.5% (ID: 1042) - Thickener, adjust as needed for desired viscosity

Instructions:

1. Combine Water, EDTA, Zinc PCA, GuarCat, Zinc Pyrithione, Phenoxyethanol, Sulfur, Biotin, Poly-Conditioner, and EasyThick. Heat gently (e.g., 40-50°C) while stirring until EasyThick is fully dissolved and the mixture starts to thicken.
2. Add Coco Betaine and Creamy Foamer. Stir gently until homogeneous. Avoid vigorous mixing to minimize foam creation during preparation.
3. Check the viscosity. If it's too thick, you can add a little more water. If it's not thick enough, you may need to increase EasyThick slightly in your next batch (e.g., up to 2-3%).
4. Check the pH and adjust if necessary (typically shampoo pH is around 5.5-6.5).

Please note the discrepancy in the Zinc Pyrithione percentage (0.5% vs 1%) in your previous messages. This formula uses 1%, but please confirm your desired percentage.

We will submit this proposed formula for review.