If you were really interested in educating then you'd be discussing what it is that makes shampoo bars bad for hair--its the pH vs the pH of what you consider real shampoo. You say, "They knew it was bad even way back then." Many ways of trying to cleanse hair were drying and I suspect that's why there were new ideas and other various things tried throughout the history of shampoo. It was not until the invent of detergents (during WWI) that a real solution for cleansing hair was concocted--solution in that there was now something that could lather and clean in a low pH environment, something soap/shampoo bars will never be able to do because saponification breaks in that low of a pH setting.
Not all the time, unfortunately, and not all of us... Too many of my relatives have been so thoroughly colonized that they've lost the knowledge of their Ancestors. But also, homemade plant-based washes take a lot of time and effort to make, while most of us are busting our butts just trying to make ends meet. So in the US, bottled shampoo is typically for regular use and traditional washes are for treats, special occasions, and sometimes for traditional spiritual rites.
Just a fun little fyi... No past tense is needed on this, and one need not reference history when it comes to Native Americans and washing hair with botanicals. We're still here, and we still do.
Now, I can't personally speak to what happens in South America, but considering how many areas don't have regular, reliable shipments of supplies, and how much plant life abounds in less developed areas, I think it's safe to say there are many indigenous people who still use traditional ways for many, many things.
And frankly, I struggle to find commercial shampoo & conditioner that can do all my hair needs. If I had access to yucca plants, I would absolutely try traditional yucca root washes and see if it worked better. My hair is just very different from European hair, and I'm only half Native.
Absolutely. I too tried to make that point (shredded soap in boiling water bla, bla, bla) to no avail. The response was, "they knew it was bad even way back then." Way back then they had not much else to use; detergents had not yet been invented. There were many things (as the history of shampoo demonstrates) used throughout time to cleans hair (including ash mixed with water then rubbed into hair), but all were found damaging; therefore, things were used to counter the pH issue--the use of citrus juice after cleansing and oiling the hair. This question was not asked in search of the true worth of CP or HP soap as shampoo, but instead to put an end to soap makers (in this forum) marketing 'soap' as shampoo. It was demanded that these products be called 'hair soap.' Funny that those of old didn't call it 'hair soap,' it was called shampoo.
I also have sat upon my hair and jerked my head when I moved because I didn't know I was sitting on it. I keep it up when driving to prevent this. While I've used my shampoo bars for only 2-3 years (can't remember which) I too saw improvement. I did months of research on hair, like the chemical make-up and the bonds within hair, its unique pH (3.67), etc. before deciding to make and use 'soap' on my hair.
My whole purpose in making and using shampoo bars was to get away from synthetic detergents. Using "real" soap had quite literally cured my fingers from drying out so severely that the skin would break open and bleed. From there the skin around the open cracks would dry and further splitting would occur--painful and unsightly. This happens usually right before we enter autumn and lasts until after spring; it can occur during spring/summer but just isn't an every-day thing. I've been like this all throughout life, until age 54 of when I began to make soap. Being that I must be predisposed to severe drying by detergents, I wanted something free of detergents for my hair. I understand the dangers of not lowering my hair's pH and that this will eventually cause real damage.
I have a whole house water softener unit, so my water is very pure. I have used limpness paper on it and it shows no visible chemical impurities. The soap is my own recipe, OO, CO, and AO, with tea tree and vit. E added in after trace. I think maybe having good water is the key for a shampoo bar. I would have to go back in my posts to a small FB group to get the actual date I started using my soap. My daughter has my very thick (younger self) hair as well. She has her hair layered so she can pull it into a pony tail without breaking the hair bands.
I'm glad I'm not the only one and I've not really wanted to state that I make and use them
) oil is not available so easily so can you suggest another?? Tallow maybe)
. I ALWAYS use tap water. 
.Thank you for your story.Ooooh thank you for your response. That is TOTALLY doable ☺
May you be rewarded by greater knowledge.
Zany, you might want to read a few of Holi's posts before apologizing to them...it's really hard to discern who started what or why the conversation even went where it did...but from my POV gentle education was met with a very combative attitude. Afterwards, there was a little back and forth where the tone was somewhat negative back...but they're not the victim they're making themselves out to be, especially after bringing up a hot-button issue like HP and cure.I'm so sorry to hear that!That happened to me too when I first joined in 2017. The forum was not the friendly place it is today. I was pilloried unmercifully up oneside and down the other. I almost quit but a compassionate member reached out to me privately and encouraged me to stay, saying, "It will get better in a few months".
I stayed but watched from behind the scenes as I witnessed one experienced soapmaker after another receive the same treatment. After trying, politely, to defend themselves, they quietly departed, never to be seen again. Sad. As a result, only Newbies stayed on, which now comprises the largest % of the active participants.
I thought we had gotten past that. I guess not.
Thank you, Megan.
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