Help with formulating my personal hair cream!

[Bernetta]

I need some additional help formulizing the finishing touches of my personal moisturizing hair cream. Why would I want to make this hair cream? Well one thing my toddler son and I are moving to Germany in Nov to be with my DH who is an active duty service member. Secondly I know I will not have access to a local health food store that sells Afro American hair products for natural kinky hair. German colder months are coming soon and I know my hair will not survive without products. The shipping will cost me an arm and a leg which is a negative for me. Now here is the question! How much water and plant oils should I use to make a thick cream? I would love your feedbacks. Thanks!!! Here are the ingredients that I came up with. Some of my ingredients are found at www.makingcosmetics.com Also any suggestion are accepted.

32 oz
Phase A
Distilled Water
Aloe 2 %
Glycerin or Honeyquat 1%
dl-panthenol .05 %

Phase B
Meadowfoam seed oil
Camellia Oil
Jojoba oil
Fractioned Coconut oil
Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) .05%
Botanical Complex LHC which is oil soluble 3%

Phase C
CreamMaker CAT (Behentrimonium methosulfate, cetearyl alcohol) as an emulsifier 6-8 %

Phase D
Preservative Germall plus 1%
Essential oil (lemongrass) .08 %

 

[Honey Bee]

I'd be curious to know how this turns out for you, and the process, if you don't mind. I make salves and ointments now (for skin), but one of my ingredients is also a dye , so I'd really like to make a cream (that will actually absorb into my skin, instead of sitting on top of it).

To your question, not sure if this is what you were looking for, but I found this on fromnaturewithlove.com (http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/library/lotionmaking.asp)

Creams Vs. Lotions
Creams are usually about 2/3 oil phase (oils, butters, waxes) and 1/3 water phase (all water soluble ingredients) while lotions are about 2/3 water phase and 1/3 oil phase. 5% beeswax is generally sufficient to give your emulsion body. These ratios can be adjusted according to your needs. The amount of emulsifier depends on what you are using but generally you will need about 5-10% if using an emulsifying wax or 15-20% if you are using polysorbate 20. Remember to add the preservatives to the correct phases before you combine phases. Water based preservatives should be stirred into the water phase and oil based preservatives should be stirred into the oil phase. The smaller phase should be added very slowly to the larger phase with constant mixing (mechanical mixing is recommended). The lotion/cream will change consistency somewhat as it cools so you may find that you need to adjust your recipe if it becomes thicker than you expected upon cooling.

Their measurements are in line with what I've read elsewhere, I just wanted to give you a source. Also, check around the library at fromnaturewithlove, lots of useful info. Like I said, I was thinking about making a cream too. IMO, about 1/2 water, 1/2 oil would make a thicker cream, but I haven's made it yet, so what do I know?

Btw, I didn't notice any butters in your recipe. Was that a purposeful choice?

 

[Bernetta]

Thanks for the information ! I will defiantly take a look at that site to help be further along. As for the butters- I probably will add a little shea butter to help thicken thing up a bit. But usually I only use them to make hair and body butters. Speaking of butters I came cross a hair pudding product that has some exotic butters in it. It has Shea butter, murumuru butter , cupuacu butter, hemp seed oil , meadow foam oil , camellia oil and Vit E . So yes I will be making this at home once I find all the butters. When this cream is done I will personally let everyone know how it came out. Wish me luck !!!

 

[Honey Bee]

As for the butters- I probably will add a little shea butter to help thicken thing up a bit.

I was thinking more along the lines of, Germany is mad cold, and your family's hair may need a little more protection than it does stateside. This site is a really good source of organic butters, oils, raw materials, etc: www.mountainroseherbs.com.

murumuru butter , cupuacu butter

Mmmmm, sounds yummy! I've never heard of those, so I'll have to look into them.

When this cream is done I will personally let everyone know how it came out. Wish me luck !!!

Please do, and good luck, sweetie!!