How to suspend contained by fluid soap? I don't know the correct terminology, but, I made a shampoo for...
I don't know the correct terminology, but, I made a shampoo for my dog that I absolutely love. It's essentially gooey Dawn (for it's flea killing properties), essential oils, and a lotion underpinning (goats milk) and some coconut oil with ground oatmeal. Anyhow, the problem I am have is that everything keeps separating. What do I need to add on to make everything stay mixed and 'suspend' the oatmeal in the shampoo (kind of similar to exfoliants in body soaps and stuff)? The only conclusion I could come to be to mix in some melt/pour bases (glycerine?) and that would thicken it up. I considered necessary to ask everyone's opinion before trying this.
Thanks!!
Answers: You have need of an emulsifier to keep the water-based and oil-based chemicals in suspension. Lecithin might work, but it might also not be great for the dog if he have allergies (most lecithin is soy-based, and soy is one of the more common dog - and people - allergens).
The oatmeal is a different story. Most oatmeal soft soaps are made with pulverized oatmeal, not with flakes. Oatmeal flakes are purely too heavy to keep contained by solution.
Try finding information on how to make homemade soaps and lotions. At one time, I wanted to swot how to make goats milk soap and found websites with directions.
Good Luck!!