Making Shampoo bars

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I made some 1 oz test bars to pass out for folks to test for me. I tried pressing one set with my tablet mold. It wasn't horrible, but semi sticky dough wasn't fun either lol.
 

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Love the colors! You can use plastic wrap/cling film to line the mold to get around the stickiness.
It's a plunger style multi mold. I can line the bottom plate but not the plunger part that goes thru the frame. I might dust slsa or baking powder to see if that helps
 
Do you haveany suggestions for ingredients that improve slip/combability in a bar? Sometimes I think they clean TOO well and it's difficult to comb or run fingers through.

I use hemisqualane (INCI: C13-15 Alkane) which is comparable to the silicones often found in hair products to improve manageability. The hemisqualane reduces frizz and static cling and supposedly improves combability. I still like to also use a light oil-free conditioner after shampooing -- I think a conditioner after shampooing does more to improve combability, IMO.

Another way to reduce the "too clean" feeling is to increase the % of fat in the shampoo bar formulation if your hair type is okay with that. I have fine hair and have found raising the amount of fat doesn't play well with my hair type.
 
I don't know what it is about shampoo bars, but they are so tactile and fun to make. It's kinda like playing with kids floam lol. Made 2 bars to test out. And, I made a shampoo paste. Some pop up ads piqued my interest. I'll prolly pass on one shampoo bar to my sister, along with a conditioner bar. Fingers crossed!
When I glanced at the photo, I thought they were oreo cookies! My first time, I was stressed out because I was low on the learning curve so look forward to when the fun starts. And Mrs. Zing and I intended to make more for holiday gifts but ran out of time (I think December 1 to 23 skipped past me). But I am highly motivated to make more because of how my scalp feels. Plus I'm trying to cut back on plastic. Looks like you are coming along, I like your colors.
 
I use hemisqualane (INCI: C13-15 Alkane) which is comparable to the silicones often found in hair products to improve manageability. The hemisqualane reduces frizz and static cling and supposedly improves combability. I still like to also use a light oil-free conditioner after shampooing -- I think a conditioner after shampooing does more to improve combability, IMO.

Another way to reduce the "too clean" feeling is to increase the % of fat in the shampoo bar formulation if your hair type is okay with that. I have fine hair and have found raising the amount of fat doesn't play well with my hair type.
Thank you forthe tips!.
I ordered some things from lotion crafterlast week but theywere out of hemi squalane. Do you know of another good source?
 
When I glanced at the photo, I thought they were oreo cookies! My first time, I was stressed out because I was low on the learning curve so look forward to when the fun starts. And Mrs. Zing and I intended to make more for holiday gifts but ran out of time (I think December 1 to 23 skipped past me). But I am highly motivated to make more because of how my scalp feels. Plus I'm trying to cut back on plastic. Looks like you are coming along, I like your colors.
Thanks. I wanted colors semi indicative of the scents so maybe I was successful. And, like you, I want less plastic and "stuff" inmy shower. Plus my hair loves themso far
 
@Nonnie, I have been dusting with arrowroot powder and it works well.
@DeeAnna, my hair is similar, very fine and my scalp is oily. I wash every second day and really could wash daily. I have found any oils, BTMS, Stearic Acid, etc leaves my hair way too oily.
Arrowroot is a great idea! Thank you. I'm lucky not to have to shampoo daily. I transitioned to a curly girl style with more co-wash style and could prolly go a week depending on whatI've beendoingthat week.
 
I'm lucky not to have to shampoo daily. I transitioned to a curly girl style with more co-wash style and could prolly go a week depending on whatI've beendoingthat week.
Same here. I really do better with a separate shampoo and conditioner. I don't even try to detangle my curls after shampooing, until I've run the conditioner bar over it with the water running. Then it detangles very easily. My hair is quite dry, so I need the conditioning anyway.

If I'm somewhere without a conditioner bar, an ACV rinse also works well for detangling my hair. The smell dissipates in minutes.
 
...an ACV rinse also works well for detangling my hair. The smell dissipates in minutes...

Or use a bit of citric acid powder if you have some on hand -- that works well too and doesn't have an odor.

@Nonnie -- I got my hemisqualane at Lotioncrafter, but it's been some years since I made that purchase. I'm not sure where to look if Lotioncrafter doesn't have it -- they have unusual stuff that can be hard to find elsewhere.
 
Or use a bit of citric acid powder if you have some on hand -- that works well too and doesn't have an odor.
That's actually the hair rinse that I regularly make for my daughter, who gags at the smell of vinegar (she didn't get that from me as I could drink the stuff straight). She loves her CA rinse!
 
Same here. I really do better with a separate shampoo and conditioner. I don't even try to detangle my curls after shampooing, until I've run the conditioner bar over it with the water running. Then it detangles very easily. My hair is quite dry, so I need the conditioning anyway.

If I'm somewhere without a conditioner bar, an ACV rinse also works well for detangling my hair. The smell dissipates in minutes.
I definitely have to use a separate conditioner when I shampoo. If not, I'm a frizzy, non combable mess lol. The coarse grey can give me fits.
(my granddaughter is currently "fixing" my hair as I type. I make it pitty nonnie)
 

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