Making Shampoo bars

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I appreciate the suggestion. In the past I tried spacing out shampoos 3-4 days and I gave it about 6 months before giving up. Back then I was working from home so I could get away with hair that wasn’t great looking. I have tried shampoo that was milder and shampoo with a bit more cleansing power. More cleansing is definitely better. I can’t use anything with BTMS or oils. I do use a conditioner on the middle and ends as my hair is long. I am going to try an ACV rinse. Any additional suggestions are definitely appreciated.
Why dothings havetobe so difficult huh? Lol
 
Does anyone use a mooncake press for shampoo bars?
The first batch I made was with a moon cake press. Consensus I got was they look pretty but the side with the design can be kind of sharp the 1st few times. I'll have to try the cling wrap or arrowroot powder trick. Do you think cornstarch would work as well?

I now have a press that I got 3D printed by my sister. It will take a while before I can use it for shampoo bars for now I plan to test it with bath bombs/shower steamers. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2701038
 
Here is the 3 pc mold for full size bars and the tablet mold for the testers that i use
 

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Why dothings havetobe so difficult huh? Lol
So true! It could be much worse though.

The first batch I made was with a moon cake press. Consensus I got was they look pretty but the side with the design can be kind of sharp the 1st few times. I'll have to try the cling wrap or arrowroot powder trick. Do you think cornstarch would work as well?

I now have a press that I got 3D printed by my sister. It will take a while before I can use it for shampoo bars for now I plan to test it with bath bombs/shower steamers. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2701038
Cute! Love the heart.

Cornstarch might work, although I tried it before the arrowroot powder and it didn’t work as well for me.
 

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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!
I’m curious. Are these shampoo bars made with butter, oils, fats and lye or are they made of surfactants? What’s the ph for these? I currently making mine with butters, oils, fats and lye but would love to try making them with surfactants just not sure where to start!
 
Does anyone use a mooncake press for shampoo bars?

@DeeAnna, do you use a recipe that accessible and public for shampoo bars and conditioner? How do you use the hemisqualine in your hair care? I also have very fine hair that’s thinning more every year.
I use Costco's minoxidil (https://www.costco.com/kirkland-sig...lution,-2-fl-oz,-6-pack.product.11501138.html) for my fine thinning hair. You do have to use it every day but it works great! I use one dropper @ 10 mins before I go to bed and then wash my hair in the morning. It's only $18 and one box lasts me a year!. It takes about 3-4 months to start noticing the regrowth.

I have managed to make a great conditioner but have not been able to make a matching awesome shampoo bar (they always strip out too much and since I wash my hair every day (and I swim), I decided to put a pin in that project till this year and I focused on a cleansing conditioner/co-wash instead. I made the SwiftCraftyMonkey dupe for Hairstory New Wash, adjusted/changed the heck out of it and have fallen in love with this process instead. It never strips out too much from my fine damaged hair, leaves it soft and shiny and no need for two items in the shower. I also love that I can finally wash my hair w/o gloves (allergies) for the first time in 20 yrs!

I also used a messed up/fixed back up batch on my poodle (left the ph at 6) and was shocked that it cleaned her very dirty coat really well. Who knew!

Nonnie, I have the same white 3 piece mold as a shampoo press and I like it (I used seran wrap/cling film with it also).
It also looks like Lotioncrafter has the hemisqualane back in stock.
https://lotioncrafter.com/products/neossance-hemisqualane?variant=13079635689561
Making Cosmetics has C13-15 Alkane (same INCI) but it's more expensive.
I've also had success using NatraSil ( Lotioncrafter) and it's cheaper too! Some recipes, I did half natrasil/half hemisqualane.
https://lotioncrafter.com/products/natrasil?variant=13079635034201
 
I’m curious. Are these shampoo bars made with butter, oils, fats and lye or are they made of surfactants? What’s the ph for these? I currently making mine with butters, oils, fats and lye but would love to try making them with surfactants just not sure where to start!
Surfactant. Check out bodyhaven soapsfor her recipes. They are lovely
 
I’m curious. Are these shampoo bars made with butter, oils, fats and lye or are they made of surfactants? What’s the ph for these? I currently making mine with butters, oils, fats and lye but would love to try making them with surfactants just not sure where to start!
Also surfacant shampoo bars for me. My earlier bars had a PH of around 6, the last batch I adjusted down to 5.5. I posted my recipe here
Thread 'Shampoo Bar for Oily Hair'
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/shampoo-bar-for-oily-hair.94251/
My hair is very fine and my scalp is oily, if your hair is different you may want to check out Humblebee and Me. Marie has several recipes for different hair types.
 
Do you mind sharing how you make the CA rinse?
It's a LOT of work, with some complex calculations involved.

If you feel up for giving it a try, here is my recipe and process:

Dissolve about 1 T of CA in about 1 cup of warm water.

Pour over hair.

Rinse.


Like I said, sooooper complicated. Don't hesitate to reach out for help! ;)
 

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