ग्वार गम (Guar gum)

Guar gum is a powder ground from the seed endosperm of the guar plant, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, the same plant whose pods are cooked as gwar phali. India, mainly Rajasthan, grows most of the world's guar. The gum is a galactomannan, a long-chain sugar polymer that swells in water and turns it thick.

• CAS number: 9000-30-0
• Appearance: off-white to cream, fine powder with little odour
• Behaviour: hydrates in cold water; a 1% solution is already a thick, slightly slimy liquid
• Food additive number: E412 (only relevant for food-grade material)

Because it is a polymer, not a single molecule, there's no single formula or melting point.

Azlok lists Guar Gum Powder in the cosmetic raw ingredients range, for shampoos, gels, lotions and handmade products. The name doesn't give a pack size, so check the weight on the product page.

Compare today's price per kg before you buy.

• Cosmetics: thickener and stabiliser in shampoos, body washes, hair gels and lotions. Cationic guar (a modified form, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride) is a separate ingredient used for conditioning.
• DIY and crafts: thick gels, slime and paste-type glues.
• Textile and paper: thickener for printing pastes and a strength additive in paper making.
• Industry: oil and gas drilling fluids, mining, explosives and construction products.
• Food (food grade only): thickener in ice cream, sauces and gluten-free baking.

Plain guar gum gives body but little conditioning. In shampoos it mainly adds thickness and a smoother pour, while the modified cationic form is the one chosen for softer, easier-to-comb hair. Guar gum also mixes well with xanthan gum; a blend of the two often gives a thicker, more stable gel than either one at the same total amount.

Guar gum forms lumps (fish-eyes) if you dump it straight into water. Either pre-mix it with something it won't swell in, or sprinkle it slowly into fast-stirring water.

1. Mix 1 part guar gum with 3–5 parts glycerin or an oil to make a smooth slurry.
2. Add the slurry to your water phase while stirring.
3. Keep stirring for a few minutes, then let it stand 15–30 minutes to reach full thickness.

In cosmetic formulas, guar gum is typically used at around 0.2–1% for a thin to medium gel and up to about 2% for a thick gel. Start low; it's easy to overshoot and end up with a stringy texture. Guar works across a wide pH range but it does feed microbes, so any water-based product needs a suitable preservative.

Guar gum is low-hazard to handle, but the fine dust irritates the nose and throat, so scoop gently and don't pour from a height. Spills turn very slippery when they get wet; sweep up dry first, then wipe.

• Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Damp powder forms hard lumps.
• Keep away from children; dry powder swells quickly if swallowed.
• Dispose of small amounts in household waste. Don't wash large amounts of gel down a drain, as it can clog.

Patch test any homemade product on a small area of the inner arm for 24–48 hours before wider use. If you plan to sell finished cosmetics in India, they need to meet BIS standards and CDSCO cosmetic rules, so check those before you launch.

For cosmetics and crafts, this listing is the right fit. Because you use it at 1% or less, even a small pack makes many batches; a small pack is the sensible start while you settle your recipe. Move to a larger pack once you're producing every week. If you need guar gum for food, look for a pack named food grade with FSSAI details. For textile, paper or other industrial volumes of 25 kg and more, use bulk inquiry.