#surfactants

Articles tagged "surfactants"

Surfactants in Shampoo: What Your Bottle's Label Hides and How It Works at the Molecular Level

Pick up any shampoo off the shelf — expensive, cheap, "natural," "sulfate-free" — and flip it over. Somewhere in the first five ingredients you'll find something ending in Sulfate, Betaine, or Glucoside. That's a surfactant — the class of ingredients without which shampoo would just be scented water

9 min11 Aug 2026

#surfactants #hair care #INCI and labels

Shaving Cream: The Chemistry, Formulation, and Everything Hidden in the Foam

Every morning, millions of people apply a product to their face that has to do three incompatible things at once: soften the hair, lubricate the skin, and stay out of the blade's way as it cuts exactly what it's supposed to. It sounds simple — until you start breaking down the formula. Shaving cream

8 min3 Aug 2026

#surfactants #rheology

DIY Shampoo: The chemistry of foam you won't find on the label

Do you know what the Soviet “Krapiva” shampoo, the Japanese furo ritual, and a modern sulphate-free bottle costing around £30 have in common? They all solve one problem: removing sebum, dirt, and styling residue without turning hair into straw. The only difference is how exactly this happens at a molecular level.

9 min30 Jun 2026

#surfactants #hair care #INCI and labels

Types of cosmetic formulas: from soap to aerosol — what is hidden behind every product on your shelf

There are probably between eight and fifteen products on your bathroom shelf right now. They all look different, feel different, and work differently — but few people stop to think that behind this variety lies a strict classification. Not a marketing one, but a chemical one. The form of the formula determines everything:

11 min18 Jun 2026

#surfactants #actives #emulsions

Surfactants in cosmetics: what lies behind the texture of your cream

Have you ever wondered why a cream for £30 and a cream for £300 can contain almost identical active ingredients, yet feel completely different on the skin? It’s not brand magic. It’s about the molecules that stand between oil and water. Literally. Surfactants.

9 min3 Jun 2026

#surfactants #emulsions

Natural shampoo recipe: chemistry, pH balance, and professional formulation

Creating a good shampoo is more difficult than it seems at first glance. Many beginner formulators, inspired by the idea of natural cosmetics, mix a mild surfactant with a couple of essential oils — and are surprised why the result is disappointing: the hair squeaks, the foam disappears, and the formula separates after a week. Pr

9 min12 May 2026

#surfactants #hair care #pH

White soaping effect in emulsions

White soaping effect in emulsions: why it occurs and how to prevent it. At Walker Formulation Academy, we are convinced that understanding the physicochemical nature of cosmetic phenomena is the foundation of competent formulation. Today, we are analysing one of the most persistent problems in creating emulsions — the white soaping effect during application. What is

12 min1 May 2026

#emulsions #surfactants

Handmade soap: chemistry, formulation, and everything you need to know before buying or making it

Everyone who has ever held a cold-process bar scented with lavender and layered with shea butter has wondered: what is actually happening inside this piece? You can buy handmade soap on every marketplace today, but understanding what distinguishes a high-quality product from a beautiful but chemi

9 min10 Apr 2026

#surfactants #oils and butters

Shampoo for dogs and cats: what every pet lover should know 🐶🐱

We break down why human shampoo isn't suitable for pets, which ingredients to look for, and how to make a gentle shampoo at home

10 min2 Mar 2026

#surfactants #hair care