Help finding a good Shampoo & Conditioner bar recipe

[em_england17]

Hey everybody,

So I just started doing research to make shampoo and conditioner bars and it all seems so confusing to me with possibly requiring a hair mask, vinegar rinses, etc. you'd have to do as well. Does anybody have any recommendations, tips, or great recipes I can try?

I also just bought some tallow that I was hoping to use in a recipe.

I found this recipe and was wondering what anyone thought?

Water as percent of oil weight: 35%
Superfat: 6%

Avocado Oil: 30%
Castor Oil: 10%
Olive Oil: 40%
Shea Butter: 10%
Soybean Oil: 10%
- infused with chamomile in all the oils except shea butter.
- added 1 tbsp of sugar to water for added bubbles

 

[AliOop]

The majority of folks on SMF don’t use soap on their hair, as it can be disastrous.

However, some members have had very positive experiences and have shared recipes in other threads. You might try using the search bar (near your avatar at the top of the page) to search for “shampoo bar” or “hair soap.”

 

[Cindy D.]

I do use soap on my hair. Every time I try syndet bars I react. I'm actually allergic to some of the ingredients. I keep the cleansing numbers really low, mine is about 10 in soap calc. I see you're is 0 for cleansing, I'm curious how it will be. I did notice they are still cleansing at the lower numbers. I infused rosemary and several other herbs into castor oil, added silk, pantothenic acid pill crushed, colloidal oats and keep the super fat at 6%. I tried adding citric acid but once day I had a small cut on they finger and that shampoo bars with citric acid strung like crazy, I haven't used citric acid since then.
I rinse my hair with apple cider vinegar, but there is only one brand that I can use, Vermont Village. No one has ever said my hair smells of vinegar after it's dry. If my ends get dry or it's hard to comb, I put just a tiny bit of lotion on my hands, rub it in and then run my hands through my hair.

 

[Nakia]

Your recipe looks great but consider lowering superfat to 2-3%, increasing castor oil to 15-20% for more lather and replacing some olive oil with tallow for a harder bar!

 

[AliOop]

Your recipe looks great but consider lowering superfat to 2-3%, increasing castor oil to 15-20% for more lather and replacing some olive oil with tallow for a harder bar!

Castor oil doesn't create lather. It only stabilizes the lather produced by other fatty acids. Tallow does contain some cleansing/lathering FAs, so I agree with the recommendation to add some of that.

 

[JillGat]

On etsy there is a person selling her recipes for bar shampoo and conditioner and they are very good. The shampoo is pourable into the mold, unlike most shampoo bar recipes, which have to be pressed. There is plenty of data showing that cold processed soap recipes are inappropriate for hair, no matter how many good fats you use. The pH is way too high.

 

[KiwiMoose]

On etsy there is a person selling her recipes for bar shampoo and conditioner and they are very good. The shampoo is pourable into the mold, unlike most shampoo bar recipes, which have to be pressed. There is plenty of data showing that cold processed soap recipes are inappropriate for hair, no matter how many good fats you use. The pH is way too high.

My syndet shampoo bars are pourable - I hope she's not selling my recipe, lol! I have given it out freely to people and am happy to share it again if required.

 

[AliOop]

My syndet shampoo bars are pourable - I hope she's not selling my recipe, lol! I have given it out freely to people and am happy to share it again if required.

Not sure if this is the same recipe used by @JillGat, but the pourable shampoo bar recipe that I purchased from Etsy was created by Sandra Labossiere of the DIY Bath & Body Shop. I don't think she'd steal yours.

 

[KiwiMoose]

Not sure if this is the same recipe used by @JillGat, but the pourable shampoo bar recipe that I purchased from Etsy was created by Sandra Labossiere of the DIY Bath & Body Shop. I don't think she'd steal yours.

Phew!

 

[fluttertmm]

My syndet shampoo bars are pourable - I hope she's not selling my recipe, lol! I have given it out freely to people and am happy to share it again if required.

I'd love to try your recipe if you can direct me to it!!!

 

[Jackie H]

On etsy there is a person selling her recipes for bar shampoo and conditioner and they are very good. The shampoo is pourable into the mold, unlike most shampoo bar recipes, which have to be pressed. There is plenty of data showing that cold processed soap recipes are inappropriate for hair, no matter how many good fats you use. The pH is way too high.

I’m curious about this data I just used homemade soap on my hair last night for the first time and followed it with an ACV rinse and my hair looks and feels better than it has in my entire life. I was quite excited but now I want to know what I’m missing lol

 

[Tammyfarms]

I’m curious about this data I just used homemade soap on my hair last night for the first time and followed it with an ACV rinse and my hair looks and feels better than it has in my entire life. I was quite excited but now I want to know what I’m missing lol

In a nutshell, hair PH is 5.5 to 6.5, soap is 9.5 to 11.5. While soap on your hair *may* be fine for your hair it also may not. It may be fine for a while and then your hair is ruined. I do realize this is not “data”. There are plenty of posts on here about using CP or HP soap on hair. It’s a pretty controversial topic.

 

[KiwiMoose]

Remember perm solutions back in the 80s? Well they typically range from 8.5 - 9.6 pH. They use a strong alkaline to break down the disulfide bonds in the hair during the perming process. Having too many perms in succession could damage your hair (unless your hair is particularly hardy). Using soap on your hair pretty much does the same thing. Some hair will tolerate it, others won't.

 

[Tammyfarms]

Remember perm solutions back in the 80s? Well they typically range from 8.5 - 9.6 pH. They use a strong alkaline to break down the disulfide bonds in the hair during the perming process. Having too many perms in succession could damage your hair (unless your hair is particularly hardy). Using soap on your hair pretty much does the same thing. Some hair will tolerate it, others won't.

That’s a great analogy. One perm was fine, repeated perms killed my hair.

 

[Jackie H]

In a nutshell, hair PH is 5.5 to 6.5, soap is 9.5 to 11.5. While soap on your hair *may* be fine for your hair it also may not. It may be fine for a while and then your hair is ruined. I do realize this is not “data”. There are plenty of posts on here about using CP or HP soap on hair. It’s a pretty controversial topic.

I wish it was straightforward I assumed, in addition to resealing the hair shaft, the ACV rinse would help rebalance the scalp PH. I’m sure a lot depends on how often you wash your hair as well. I have curly hair that only needs to be washed once or twice a week so my scalp would have more time to rebalance vs someone who washes their hair everyday. I know 2 people who have been using their homemade soap for years with no issues, one does ACV rinse the other just conditions. They’ve had no issues, but the thought that it one day could go very very wrong scares me back to my Viori bars I think my dilemma stems from I’ve heard theories of how it could go wrong but have yet to hear a proper horror story. I’ve looked on this forum for people’s stories but haven’t found any detailed bad ones.

 

[Jackie H]

In a nutshell, hair PH is 5.5 to 6.5, soap is 9.5 to 11.5. While soap on your hair *may* be fine for your hair it also may not. It may be fine for a while and then your hair is ruined. I do realize this is not “data”. There are plenty of posts on here about using CP or HP soap on hair. It’s a pretty controversial topic.

And thank you for the response!

 

[Tammyfarms]

@Jackie H you are welcome. That’s the beauty and challenge, we are all different. There is not a single right answer.

 

[Humblegoat]

I would love to make a good shampoo bar, but I find I keep steering away from it. I don’t think I would ever be comfortable selling one, not with all the tons of different hair out there!

 

[DeeAnna]

... have yet to hear a proper horror story...

Well it isn't like anyone goes permanently bald, so I don't think I'd use "horror" to describe what happens when one's hair is damaged from soap.

The result is basically what people are saying here -- it's similar to the damage that can happen from perms and hair color. As for me, I had to get my long hair cut short after a year or so of using soap to wash my hair.

 

[Tammyfarms]

I would love to make a good shampoo bar, but I find I keep steering away from it. I don’t think I would ever be comfortable selling one, not with all the tons of different hair out there!

That’s understandable. I make stuff for myself and a few friends. I have made bars from recipes I found on Swift Crafty Monkey, Humblebee and Me, DIY Bath and Body. All very reputable people. My hair hated all of them. After a lot of research and experimenting I came up with something usable. I’m still experimenting.