are shampoo bars difficult?

[Zing]

Hey people. So a coupla years ago I got all the supplies and good advice from @Misschief to make shampoo bars. I haven't even opened the delivery boxes and they sit on my shelf glaring at me! I was talking about de-stashing them to a good home. But Mrs. Zing said hold on a minute, Bub. She read the instructions and said there's no lye (which freaks her out), it's just melting and pouring (glopping). So is there a learning curve? Or is it easy to do out of the box? Can you compare it to making soap or lotion bars? She wants to make it a couple project for our Christmas presents this year.

I'm kinda past the experimenting stage in my soaping evolution, no more tweaking, my recipes are finalized. For awhile now I have just focused on soap, lotion bars, and lip balm. I'd appreciate your opinion, thanks!

 

[AliOop]

@Zing I find it very easy - easier than making soap or lotion.

It sounds like you purchased individual ingredients, and not the premade base from Stephensons; is that correct?

For individual ingredients, just measure, stir, and melt until homogenized. I melt mine in the microwave, starting with two minutes for a 1000g batch. Stop and gently stir every 30 seconds after that. Typically mine's ready after 3:30 of microwaving.

Now, quickly stir in the preservative, additives, and fragrance, and pour/glop into molds. If the mixture hardens as you pour, you can scrape it out and mash it into the mold with your hands (or remelt for 10 seconds or so).

Put the molds into the freezer for a few hours to help the bars dry out. I also like to let them air dry for a few days to become harder. But honestly, you can use it as soon as it is hard enough to unmold.

The one caution I give is to wear a mask and eye gear when measuring the fine powders. They won't harm you per se, but you will regret getting any of it in your lungs, eyes, or nose. Think of how it would feel to inhale soapy water. Yeah, that stinging-coughing-get-this-out-of-my-body feeling, that's the one.

EDIT: I've recently started using various EOs blends containing rosemary EO, which is supposed to be good for hair and scalp. Testers are loving it and swear they are seeing results.

 

[DeeAnna]

Are you making a shampoo based on true soap? Or are you making a shampoo based on synthetic detergents? Not sure which you're doing given you're posting in the bath 'n body forum.

I do syndet shampoo bars and yes, the process is basically melting/dissolving the ingredients and glopping the mixture into molds.

I use a type of "sous vide" method where ingredients are added to a heavy, heat-safe bag, the bag is set into a hot water bath, and the mixture is dissolved/heated right in the bag. Then cut a corner off the bag and pipe the mixture into molds. Reduces the mess to a bare minimum.

 

[Zing]

Thanks to the pros for weighing in, I appreciate it!! And @DeeAnna , I purchased synthetic ingredients. Long-time member here, I thought that there was general consensus that lye is for soap and not for hair. I know every substance is made of chemicals but these ingredients sound really chemical-ly. My main motivation is to avoid plastic bottles.

 

[Misschief]

Thanks to the pros for weighing in, I appreciate it!! And @DeeAnna , I purchased synthetic ingredients. Long-time member here, I thought that there was general consensus that lye is for soap and not for hair. I know every substance is made of chemicals but these ingredients sound really chemical-ly. My main motivation is to avoid plastic bottles.

Chiming in but only to say that I have nothing to add. @AliOop and @DeeAnna have explained the process beautifully.

 

[DeeAnna]

...general consensus that lye is for soap and not for hair....

I agree and I think a fair number of other SMF folks agree, but some people are adamant that it's perfectly fine to use soap to wash their hair. So I try real hard to never assume anything about this particular topic.

Not sure if you're using SCI, but if you are, here's a discussion about that particular syndet that you might find helpful: https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/melting-sci-temp.86862

 

[Mobjack Bay]

@DeeAnna do you scent your shampoo bars? If so, do you add the scent to the mix up front/before sealing the bag and heating? ETA: When do you add the preservative?

 

[DeeAnna]

@DeeAnna do you scent your shampoo bars? If so, do you add the scent to the mix up front/before sealing the bag and heating? ETA: When do you add the preservative?

The times I've added fragrance when doing this sous vide method for syndet bars, I added it to the bag after dissolving the SCI in my liquid surfactants. In other words, I added it along with the rest of my ingredients.

With a closed bag, fragrance doesn't evaporate so that works fine. If I was doing this in an open container, I would add it at the end right before putting the material in molds. I'd do this not only to minimize loss from the syndet mix, but also because I don't want to smell concentrated fragrance any longer than absolutely necessary.

I use phenonip as a preservative for my syndet bars nowadays, specifically because this preservative is heat tolerant.

I used to use liquid germall plus, but LGP is heat sensitive so it needs to be added when the mixture is cool. That meant I had to knead the LGP into the cooled dough like I was kneading bread dough. If you let the mixture cool enough, it gets a lot less sticky so less miserable to work with. So it can be done, but even so, I thought it was still a pain to do.

 

[Blue Star]

I agree and I think a fair number of other SMF folks agree, but some people are adamant that it's perfectly fine to use soap to wash their hair. So I try real hard to never assume anything about this particular topic.

Not sure if you're using SCI, but if you are, here's a discussion about that particular syndet that you might find helpful: https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/melting-sci-temp.86862

Sorry this has nothing to do with the previous discussion about a shampoo & maybe it’s just me but I’ve been meaning to say that I have a hard time figuring out all the abbreviations that are made on this site

 

[Relle]

Sorry this has nothing to do with the previous discussion about a shampoo & maybe it’s just me but I’ve been meaning to say that I have a hard time figuring out all the abbreviations that are made on this site

It is at the top of the beginners forum as a Sticky - Acronym and Abbreviations.

 

[Mobjack Bay]

@DeeAnna - thank you! I’m hoping to try the sous vide method this week.

 

[Zing]

Today I made shampoo bars, details in https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/what-bath-body-thing-have-you-done-today.87378/post-1021507 . Thanks all!

 

[Blue Star]

It is at the top of the beginners forum as a Sticky - Acronym and Abbreviations.

Thank you, good to know

 

[DeeAnna]

...I have a hard time figuring out all the abbreviations...

Yes, soap making has its own lingo. I try to define the acronyms I use as I write, but sometimes I miss the mark.

SCI is a synthetic detergent (syndet). Its full name is Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate. That's quite a mouthful to remember and to type which is why most of us abbreviate it.

Two other syndets used often in shampoo bars are SLSa, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, and CAPB, cocoamidopropyl betaine. The last syndet that's often mentioned here is C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, which is sometimes called by a brand name Bioterge.

There are other syndets too, but these four are pretty common in syndet shampoo bars.