Going to start making my own products

dresdendoll · 02-04-2013, 10:33 PM

I have purchased some equipment and ingredients online to make my own hair and skin/body products

I'm nervous, but hopeful.

Has anyone every done this before and may be able to offer some advice? If so, that would be wonderful! I'm a bit lost, haha, especially with getting precise measurements.

Also, I don't have much packaging, but I was wondering if maybe I could utilize plastic water or soda bottles that would otherwise be thrown into recyling or trash. I figured if I used sterilized water bottles as packaging, it would not break the bank AND it would be more sustainable for the environment. Win-win

Would that be unappealing? Some of my friends want to try what I make, but if I put it in old water bottles, do you think that would kind of be a...turn off?

Thanks!!

Houseofcurls · 02-04-2013, 10:52 PM

Water bottles are not sustainable and reusable. They contain bpa which can seep into stored/restored water so I don't know what affects that may have on your products. I'd reuse old product bottles and containers. Conditioner bottles, KCCC tubs, etc.

Jas76 · 02-05-2013, 07:42 AM

They sell bottle and jars for this purpose, probably from the same place you purchased your ingredients!

Meera · 02-06-2013, 02:05 PM

Just saying, I'd definetely try out yours products if you needed anyone else to try them lol. I find that products that arent sold in stores are usually better for my hair(:

dusalocks · 02-06-2013, 02:30 PM

If this works out you could put your stuff on etsy! I commend you on your initiative and DIY spirit.

morganrc · 02-07-2013, 12:06 AM

They have bpa free water bottles

dresdendoll · 02-07-2013, 04:11 PM

Thank you so much for the support and advice! I would definitely only use BPA free water/soda bottles (we try to avoid BPA in our household anyway,) and try to find a way to, if possible, convert it into a pump bottle

I was hoping if the products worked out, I could sell them on Etsy and donate 40% of the profits to charity

If anyone would like to test, that would be wonderful! Right now, I have formulas for a cleansing conditioner, rinse out (or leave-in,) curl gelly, skin cleanser, and skin lotion. Again, thank you so much for the feedback!

coilynapp · 02-07-2013, 05:59 PM

Please do not reuse bottles for cosmetics. AT ALL.

If you did your research, you would find that this is a NO NO.

If you are willing to invest in ingredients and equipment, you should also be willing to invest in packaging. Please do not reuse bottles (bpa free or not). It is not sanitary.

dresdendoll · 02-07-2013, 06:04 PM

Oh alright, thank you! I'm sorry...I'm so new to the DIY. I did buy some cosmetic bottles online with the ingredients, but only ten. I guess once I need more I'll find something on ground, maybe at a large craft/hobby store?

coilynapp · 02-07-2013, 07:50 PM

Yes. Cosmetic formulation is a serious business, and those who take it lightly spoil it for those who take it for the serious job it is. Please do your research, use clean (NEW) bottles and jars and make sure you use a preservative and use GMP.

dusalocks · 02-07-2013, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dresdendoll

Oh alright, thank you! I'm sorry...I'm so new to the DIY. I did buy some cosmetic bottles online with the ingredients, but only ten. I guess once I need more I'll find something on ground, maybe at a large craft/hobby store?

Actually yes. Try Michael's. Or maybe Ebay might have a distributor. I'd like to check your stuff because I'm also wary of synthetic ingredients. And it's nice that you're coarse like me! I looked into that spiral solutions line based on someone's suggestion and noticed how protein heavy it seemed. It turns out the creator's a fine-haired curly so we need someone from the other end of the spectrum to represent.

ltdeforrest · 02-17-2013, 02:52 PM

I know our properties are a little different, but I would love to try your products! It would give you another perspective since my hair is fine...

dresdendoll · 02-17-2013, 04:59 PM

Thank you, hair twin!! That would be amazing

dresdendoll · 02-26-2013, 10:27 PM

Update! I was really sad because my products just weren't working

The emulsions would not mix, and no matter what I tried, what with double boilers and such, I just could not make conditioner.

Tonight, though, I thought maybe it'd be easier if I combined the water phase with the emulsifiers in one Pyrex glass and microwaved it. It worked so much better!! I made a gentle foaming cleansing conditioner and have a rinse out/leave-in conditioner setting right now. I also made some gel/gelly product, but it turned into more of a thin serum, so I might try it again but use a thickener this time.

Curlygirl323 · 02-26-2013, 11:54 PM

Awesome news! Good luck :-)

coilynapp · 02-27-2013, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dresdendoll

Update! I was really sad because my products just weren't working

The emulsions would not mix, and no matter what I tried, what with double boilers and such, I just could not make conditioner.

Tonight, though, I thought maybe it'd be easier if I combined the water phase with the emulsifiers in one Pyrex glass and microwaved it. It worked so much better!! I made a gentle foaming cleansing conditioner and have a rinse out/leave-in conditioner setting right now. I also made some gel/gelly product, but it turned into more of a thin serum, so I might try it again but use a thickener this time.

You have to heat both phases to a certain temperature and then use sheer force to mix them. I don't know what you were doing, so I can't say what you were doing wrong.

Sent from my iPhone using CurlTalk

Meera · 02-27-2013, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dresdendoll

Update! I was really sad because my products just weren't working

The emulsions would not mix, and no matter what I tried, what with double boilers and such, I just could not make conditioner.

Tonight, though, I thought maybe it'd be easier if I combined the water phase with the emulsifiers in one Pyrex glass and microwaved it. It worked so much better!! I made a gentle foaming cleansing conditioner and have a rinse out/leave-in conditioner setting right now. I also made some gel/gelly product, but it turned into more of a thin serum, so I might try it again but use a thickener this time.

Hope everything works out!! Sounds like it's going really good!

dusalocks · 02-27-2013, 08:47 PM

I'm excited about the gelly!

kathymack · 02-28-2013, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dresdendoll

Update! I was really sad because my products just weren't working

The emulsions would not mix, and no matter what I tried, what with double boilers and such, I just could not make conditioner.

Tonight, though, I thought maybe it'd be easier if I combined the water phase with the emulsifiers in one Pyrex glass and microwaved it. It worked so much better!! I made a gentle foaming cleansing conditioner and have a rinse out/leave-in conditioner setting right now. I also made some gel/gelly product, but it turned into more of a thin serum, so I might try it again but use a thickener this time.

There's a new product on the market Sucragel: A Sweet Addition to Natural Hair Products that might help you.

dresdendoll · 03-02-2013, 11:16 PM

Thank you, everyone! So far, I think the microwave works a LOT better than heating the phases separately. I'm still tweaking the conditioner, but the co-wash is working surprisingly well! It's a little bit foamy but very thick and moisturizing without leaving build-up. I'll try the conditioner again tomorrow.