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basic shampoo from scratch

Sweet Orange Shampoo Recipe

Perhaps my favorite thing about this shampoo is how it makes my hair smell amazing for so long! The sweet, intoxicating orange aroma of the product transfers to my hair so easily.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: DIY Bath & Body
Cuisine: N/A
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Yield (adjustable): 200 grams
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Ingredients:

Equipment:

Instructions:

  • Place your Surfactants into your a heatproof container.
    30 g Coco Glucoside, 20 g Cocamidopropyl Betaine, 10 g Lamesoft PO65 Surfactant, 10 g Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate Powder
    Place your Surfactants into your a heatproof container.
  • The SCI powder needs to be melted. We can do this by placing the beaker with the surfactants into a pan of simmering water. We want the water to go just above the level of the surfactants. As the surfactants heat the powder will start to melt. It usually takes about 5 minutes to fully melt.
    SCI powder will need to be melted
  • Whilst the surfactants are melting, In a separate heatproof container, place the glycerin and Gum powder, and briskly stir them together until the gum has dissolved. A mini whisk is great for this.
    13 g Glycerine, 2 g Xanthan Gum
    place the glycerin and Gum powder, and briskly stir them together
  • Add the water to the gum slurry and give it another stir, you don't need to use a whisk here.
    104 g Distilled Water
    Add the water to the gum slurry
  • We find the surfactants and water combine better when they have both been heated, so place the beaker with the water/gum into the simmering water bath alongside the surfactants. We do not need to overheat the water/gum, just let it get nice and warm.
    place the beaker with the water/gum into the simmering water bath
  • Once our surfactants have melted and the water/gum has heated through, remove them from the heat. Pour the watery gum into the surfactants and gently stir to combine them, trying not to create too many bubbles as you stir. Then Leave the shampoo to cool stirring occasionally
    Pour the watery gum into the surfactants
  • After the shampoo has cooled to 40c (104f) we can stir in the D-pathanol. Once again stir gently so we don't create too many bubbles.
    4 g D-Panthenol Powder
    stir in the D-pathanol
  • Next, we can stir in the wheat protein, followed by the sweet orange and preservative.
    4 g Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, 1 g Orange Essential Oil, 2 g Geogard ECT
    stir in the wheat protein
  • Using a pH strip test the pH of the finished shampoo. We are looking for a pH of around 4 to 5. If it isn't (and it most likely will not be) you will need to adjust it. Bringing the pH down will also help to thicken the shampoo. See instructions on how to adjust the PH below.
    test the pH of the finished shampoo
  • You can make the shampoo more aesthetically pleasing by adding a drop of natural food coloring.
    1 drop Food Coloring
    adding a drop of natural food coloring
  • Now we can transfer the shampoo to a suitable container ready for use.
    1 8 oz PET Plastic Bottle
    transfer the shampoo to a suitable container
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