How to create shampoo formulas in 5 simple steps

 

The Create Cosmetic Formulas program makes it super easy for you to create a variety of shampoo formulas to suit all types of hair using herbal extracts, plant and essential oils. Here’s a quick how-to guide to show you how easy it is to create your own shampoo formulas in just 5 simple steps.

If you’re super new to formulating and not sure about how to start, enjoy our FREE Cosmetic Formulation Masterclass first, to get you used to formulating tips and terms. This masterclass will also help you gather essential equipment and get used to reading formulas and how to put products together.

Start by logging into your Create Cosmetic Formulas subscription then…


 

How to create shampoo formulas in 5 simple steps

1. Select Shampoo as the type of formula you would like to create today, then click Create.

At this early stage you could also choose:

  • Shampoo (all natural) – uses only all natural ingredients for all components of the shampoo, including the foaming and active agents. Preservatives are natural or nature identical.
  • Shampoo/body wash/face wash using pre-blended surfactants – this type of formula is even easier to create, as it uses surfactant blends from suppliers instead of needing you to choose individual surfactants. Since not all suppliers carry all types of blends, we will be showing you how to pick and choose various surfactants in this blog to make your shampoo formula.

Before you get started, you might also be interested to read our blog on how to create shampoo formulas for different hair types, click here.
 

2. Select your cleansing and foaming agents – these are also commonly called surfactants. You don’t need to know what type of surfactant falls into each category, just make sure you have your supplier page open as you read through the choices and their description in the program. 

For example:

  • Anionic surfactants – you can see these are described as primary. This means they contribute the most cleansing and foaming power to the formula. There are loads of different choices in the program for you to choose from so make sure you are cross-searching your suppliers website to see which materials they contain, and which you like the sound of.

In our example, we are going to choose sodium cocoyl glutamate because it is commonly available and is naturally derived. Its also very mild. I’m going to include this at 25% because the maximum recommended input is 33%w/w, and I want a reasonably strong but mild clean. We can see additional notes to make sure we pick a high foaming amphoteric material so we’ll look for that next.

  • Amphoteric surfactants boost foam and mildness, and you’ve probably heard of the most common one: cocamidopropyl betaine. This will pair nicely with our anionic choice, and is available from most suppliers, so we will include this one. I’m going to include this at 20%w/w, which is the middle of the recommended range.

  • Next I’m going to choose the superfatting agent. A superfatting agent adds a creamy and soft feeling to your product during and after it has been washed off. There are some great choices in the program, but remember to check with your suppliers website to see what they sell. I am going to include polysorbate 20 because it is available from most suppliers, but you can get way fancier than that if your supplier has any of the other materials listed! I’m going to add this at 3%w/w because it is the mid range, but you could add more if your budget allows.

You could also select a non-ionic surfactant – these get added to more premium formulas to enhance mildness and foam but are not essential with the other ingredients I have chosen.

2. Choose the oils, essential oils and antioxidant your want your shampoo to contain.
You don’t actually want to add too much oil to your formula, because it will decrease its ability to clean and foam; but a little is okay and the Create Cosmetic Formulas program won’t let you add too much! You can get creative here and choose oils and essential oils to suit your product story and hair type. In my formula, I am adding argan oil, some fragrance and mixed tocopherols (vitamin E).


 

3. Choose your gums and humectant.

These help build viscosity and structure to your shampoo. I am choosing glycerin, because the description lists that it boosts foam, and its also readily available from most suppliers. I am also adding guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, because it will provide a conditioning effect to the hair.

Remember, with the Create Cosmetic Formulas program, it provides descriptions of what your ingredients do, so you just need to open up each section and see what ingredients your supplier has, and cross check that with our program that guides you on what is great about each ingredient!


 

4. Pick the preservative and chelating agent.

Remember to check what we list, and what your supplier can provide. I am choosing a preservative blend and chelating agent that are commonly available for this example, but you can make other choices if your supplier has them.

Not sure what each ingredient does? That’s okay, read our go-to guide on cosmetic ingredients here.

5. Add additional ingredients to enhance the performance of your shampoo.

Polyquaternium agents help condition the hair, but I already have my gum to do that, so I am going to add a hydrolysed oat protein and vitamin B5 as my actives, and green coffee extract as my plant extract.

You can pick and choose different ingredients based on the type of hair you are creating your shampoo formula for, and materials you can get from your supplier.
 

Then… just click Generate Method

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

Now all you need to do is find your nearest cosmetic ingredient suppliers, order the materials, and get making your fantastic shampoo formulas!

Once you’ve made one formula, you’ll be keen to make more! With Create Cosmetic Formulas, you have almost limitless formulation creation, and just one low annual subscription.

It really is that simple.

Happy formulating!

 

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