SOFCARE 30 g

Environmentally Friendly Sofcare Hair Conditioning Ingredient

As a plant-based alternative to silicones, Sofcare's hair conditioning ingredient for Sofcare cosmetics under the trade name KAO SOFCARE GP-1 is a multifunctional, plant-based conditioning agent for personal care products that performs many times better than silicones (amodimethicone, dimethicone, etc.). Sofkaa has the ability to add volume, shine and manageability to hair, helping it retain its shape. It works well in combination with Softisan, which is a plant-based polyquaternary analog-10.

Ingredient characteristics and application specifics

INCI: PPG-3 Caprylyl Ether

Appearance: clear liquid

pH (5% solution): 5.0 - 7.0

Type: non-ionogenic

Dosage: 0.5 - 1.5%. We provide recommended input dosages, but the optimal dosage for your formulation should be chosen independently, depending on the full composition of the cosmetic product, as well as the presence of other silicones or conditioning additives in the formulation:

Shampoos up to 1%.
Hair conditioners and masks 1-1.5%.
Solubility: in oil

Application Specifics: see below for detailed description.

Storage: at room temperature, avoid direct sunlight, high temperature and humidity.

Cosmetic application of Sofcare

In today's market, silicones are indispensable components for various personal care products, especially for hair care. They provide an instantly noticeable effect, a feeling of shine and silky hair immediately after application. However, their main disadvantage - low biodegradability and synthetic nature - makes many cosmetic manufacturers look for a substitute for silicones, because consumer awareness causes consumers to want to buy products with plant ingredients.

Sofcare is a clear and colorless liquid product with 100% active ingredient, very easy to use, has low viscosity and is chemically stable.

KAO Group has developed a unique ingredient, a plant-based alternative to the usual silicones with much higher efficacy on hair. After the release of Sofcare component on the cosmetic market, the opinion about the exclusivity of silicones was completely destroyed, because Sofcare provides low cost of raw materials, economical input into formulations, similar properties, is environmentally friendly and biodegradable product, and also allows you to get transparent finished products.

Improving hair appearance and enhancing adsorption

Sofcare is a superior conditioning agent that improves hair appearance by increasing strength and reducing hair damage through uniform adsorption on the hair cuticle. The component can also be used in combination with silicones. As shown in the graph, the uniform adsorption of Sofcare on the hair cuticle improves silicone adsorption, reducing the amount of silicone required in the final formulation by about 25%.

Use in shampoos

The Sofcare ingredient is easily incorporated into formulations after the addition of basic surfactants at room temperature, resulting in a transparent formulation. Thus, compared to silicone-based products, there is no need to add a polymer to achieve good stability or a pearlescent pigment to mask the cloudy appearance of the finished product. The figures below show the results of adding 1% Sofcare conditioning agent to a model shampoo formulation containing sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine and polyquaternium-10. In addition, we obtain a higher viscosity than the same formulation with dimethicone. As can be seen in the comparative figures, foaming is also improved.

Sofcare in shampoos works similarly to silicones at half the concentration, making it more economical to use. In addition, a reduction in combing force is achieved by reducing the amount of silicone and adding a small amount of Sofcare. These results confirm the benefit of using a conditioning additive in formulations both as a silicone alternative and as a silicone booster.
 

Preservation of hair volume

Shampoos containing dimethicone in their formulation dramatically reduce hair volume (because they smooth the hair), whereas the use of Sofcare in formulations has virtually no effect on hair volume.
 

Hair restoration

Hair can be physically and chemically damaged, but adding Sofcare to shampoos ensures that it is evenly absorbed and coats the surface of the hair. As you can see in the pictures, the ingredient repairs the hair cuticle, making hair stronger and shinier.

Improved hair manageability and styling performance

As a result of the same superior uniform adsorption of Sofcare on the hair, you can improve manageability and control the shape of your hair from root to tip. Hair becomes smoother and styles last longer. As you can see in the comparison photos, adding Sofcare to shampoos makes it easier to create curls and hold the style once created.

Use of Sofcare in conditioners and emulsions

Sofcare can be easily added to hair rinses and conditioners after the emulsification stage at temperatures below 40°C. As a conditioning component, it can be incorporated into formulations at higher percentages without reducing the viscosity of the emulsion. On the other hand, increasing the percentage of silicones in the formulation can affect overall stability and reduce viscosity.

Adding Softcare to conditioning products prevents hair from losing its original volume. In addition, volume retention can be achieved by combining silicones and Sofcare in the formulation, for example, using 1% dimethicone and 0.2% Sofcare. This combination reduces volume loss by half compared to a 2% silicone conditioner alone.

Sofcare also adds shine to the hair and shows higher efficacy at low percentages compared to silicone. 

And as mentioned above about the properties of the component when added to shampoos, Sofcare also improves the "manageability" of the hair due to the uniformity of adsorption. As you can see in the picture below, not only does all hair become straighter, but it becomes possible to give the hair direction, which is clearly visible in the neat tips of the hair.

You can also see two hair conditioner recipes below, where the optimal percentage of the ingredient is 1%. 

Advantages that will convince you to include Sofcare in a formulation

You can find examples of frame formulations with Sofcare in the formulation on the manufacturer's website. Click here and study the recipes. In the meantime, we will list all the positive properties of this ingredient:

Improve hair shine
Repair damaged cuticle
Improve hair smoothness and reduce brittle ends
Improve the manageability of the hair, allowing for easier styling
Improved combability, especially when combined with other conditioning agents (polyquaternium-7, canionic emulsifiers).
Completely vegetable origin and compliance with the standards of natural herbal cosmetics
Allows to obtain transparent products.
 
Application of the component

Shampoos for all hair types, including solid shampoos
Washable and non-washable conditioners and rinses
Hair styling products
Active hair masks
Silicone-free body creams and lotions.