Teach Soap

Hi,

I'm thinking of making a scalp treatment.

Actually, I just made a treatment for myself, with just a carrier oil (grapeseed) and a few essential oils which are good for the scalp (cedarwood, juniper and clove) and massaged it in.

Anyway, I think probably there are other people who have itchy flakey scalps like me (not necessarily the same thing as dandruff), and would like a nice treatment/mask. It is to put on either before you go to wash your hair, or after shampooing. (I prefer to put it on before, and leave it on while I do something else. Then when I shampoo, it means I can get rid of any oily residue left, which might make my hair look greasy.) A hairdresser used a treatment on me ages ago, and I felt so soothed, and like I had a whole new head it was great! I think theirs had teatree and peppermint in (judging by smell).

Anyway. I would like to make this go a bit further. So I can make a bottle of it. But I don't want a bottle of just carrier oil and essential oils! I want it to be about the consistency of a light cream/gel. I am planning to add some coconut oil, and some aloe vera to the mix. I may yet add peppermint too, but that's besides the point.

What I want the help with, is a recipe/formula/ideas for turning my small pot with a simple massage formula, into a slightly bigger bottle full of stuff, that goes a lot further, is suitable for the results I'm after, and is lovely and soothing too!

If I add my coconut oil and aloe vera gel, and add water (via an emulsifier), how do I get it to the right consistency, I think is the question.

_________________
"The question is: does it work on stage? If it works on stage, does it fit the theory? If it works on stage, but doesn't fit the theory; throw out the theory." Bertolt Brecht

Would you be using aloe gel you get at the store or aloe juice? The less water you add, the thicker it might be. Along with an emulsifier, I would try cetyl alcohol to make it thicker. I presume you know that you would need a preservative also since it has aloe or water in it, right?

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Yes, was planning to use a preservative and emulsifier and humectant (I use D-Panthenol normally, so will work really well with a scalp/head/hair item)! I followed your link to swiftcraftymonkey, became quickly entranced, and have absorbed strangely vast amounts of information! (Big thanks for the link there).

I will try cetyl alcohol, think I have some of that already! I think a gel consistency will be nicest. Easy to spread, and cover the area, and get past the scalp to the roots with greater ease.

I think there is a big gap in the market here! Well, certainly in the UK. Lots of dandruff shampoos, but not so many for soothing an itchy flaky scalp (which can be something different to dandruff). A treatment like this every now and again sorts me out for at least a month. Just have to get the ingredients right. Any recommendations for other things that are good for the scalp to put in my concoction?

_________________
"The question is: does it work on stage? If it works on stage, does it fit the theory? If it works on stage, but doesn't fit the theory; throw out the theory." Bertolt Brecht

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.