How to create hair mask formulas in 5 simple steps

Amber Carli 05.2026

Looking to create your own hair mask formulas and achieve soft, silky hair, without the need for advanced formulation knowledge? Our Create Cosmetic Formulas guide simplifies the process! 

Follow our comprehensive 5-step guide to start crafting your own hair mask formulas today. Read on to learn how!

Start by logging into your Create Cosmetic Formulas subscription then…
 

How to create hair mask formulas in 5 simple steps

1. Select Skin and Hair Care, Conditioner – Leave In, as the type of formula you would like to create today, then click Create

Conditioner – Leave in: Our Create Cosmetic Formulas program uses water as the base ingredient in conditioner formulas so you don’t need to select anything here, the program will automatically adjust the water content as you select other materials. The first selection you need to make is if you want any water alternatives and your humectant. Water alternatives can help build your product story, and humectants add moisturising benefits to your formula. 

I’ve chosen coconut water for its nutrient benefits and glycerin as it is readily available. I’ve chosen the midpoint for both ingredients as my starting point.

 

2. Choose your gum/polymer and lipids.

The gum/polymer is going to help build some structure to the mask formula, while the lipids will condition the hair and add to your product story! 

For the gum/polymer, I have chosen guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride to build viscosity and boost conditioning benefits. For the lipid portion, I’m using mango butter and pomegranate seed oil to pair with the coconut water to give the hair mask a tropical product story. 

The Create Cosmetic Formulas program will give you a recommended input range for all materials. 

I have added the guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride at the midpoint to get started, and the mango butter and pomegranate seed oil to the maximum amount to produce maximum emollient benefits. 

Not sure which materials to select? That’s okay, read our go-to guide on cosmetic ingredients here for more information.
 

3. Choose the emulsifiers.

Cationic and non-ionic emulsifiers are used in hair masks to build a stable system, build viscosity and provide the conditioning benefits. 

I have chosen both of these ingredients as they are both readily available in the industry. I have inserted the input of the cetearyl alcohol, behentrimonium methosulfate blend as 1% to ensure its mild on the scalp, and cetearyl alcohol as a 5% input to help build viscosity and promote a smooth feeling product on wash off. 

 

4. Select Polyquaternium agent

Including a polyquaternium agent in your formula leaves a soft, silky effect on the hair after wash off and boosts the conditioning and detangling benefits to your hair mask formula.

For the polyquaternium agent I have chosen polyquaternium-11 due to it’s great conditioning and detangling qualities. I have also added this at an input of 2% to enhance the detangling effects of the formula.


5. Select antioxidant, preservative and extras.

Antioxidants and preservatives protect your product from microbial growth as well as stopping any undesirable smells, colours or viscosity changes from occurring, while your extra ingredients help shape your product story.

I have chosen a pink grapefruit essential oil as my fragrance too align with the tropical product story associated with my product. For the preservative I have selected a Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid blend at its maximum input for its broad-spectrum microbial protection. Mixed tocopherols are incorporated to provide antioxidant protection, helping to maintain formulation stability and reduce oxidative degradation.

 

Then… click generate method:
 

Then here is my formula, and here is the method!  

Happy formulating!

 

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