Shampoo Bar - Thanks Lindy!!

[ocean_soul]

So, as soon as I get over my cold I think I'm going to have another crack at making a shampoo bar inspired by this thread. I tried a version of this awhile back and it was okay, not enough bubbles for my taste but I left out the sugar so that's why. So now I'm thinking of making my next batch with buttermilk and banana but I also want to add sodium lactate to make the bar harder since my current bars get goopy really easily.

Does anyone think that'll be a problem, ddding sodium lactate to buttermilk and banana lye mixture?

 

[Rachelmf]

I've tried my shampoo bar now. It's basically the same as the original recipe, but I used sunflower oil rather than soybean. This is my first experience with a shampoo bar, but I am pleased. I guess it took a couple of days to adjust, but my hair wasn't that bad during those days. I have fine hair that is probably pretty average in terms of oiliness and I don't have to wash my hair any more than usual with this shampoo bar. I also don't need conditioner or an ACV rinse. The lather is pretty good, would probably be better, but I have hard water.

 

[three_little_fishes]

I plugged everything in using the original recipe. It's my first time using soapcalc and it says cleansing is 0. Am I doing something wrong? I've only ever used recipes that were already calculated for me up until now. *blush*

I found my answer within the thread. Hard to sit and ready 26 pages while everyone is awake!

 

[Paintguru]

Well I tried this recipe yesterday. 40% Olive, 30% Avocado, 20% Castor, 10% Shea Butter. Did 1:1:1 Peppermint, Lavender, Eucalyptus EO. Added 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp ascorbic acid, and 1 tsp clay per pound oil. No color. Actually solidified pretty quickly, cut after 18 hours. We'll see how it turns out.

 

[babysoap]

Has anyone with oil hair tried this? What's it like?

 

[Lotus]

Has anyone with oil hair tried this? What's it like?

I wish I had oily hair, but alas, mine is VERY dry. I so wish I could be of help. : (

 

[Lotus]

Well I tried this recipe yesterday. 40% Olive, 30% Avocado, 20% Castor, 10% Shea Butter. Did 1:1:1 Peppermint, Lavender, Eucalyptus EO. Added 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp ascorbic acid, and 1 tsp clay per pound oil. No color. Actually solidified pretty quickly, cut after 18 hours. We'll see how it turns out.

Oooh! This made me think, that adding brown sugar would be fun.!! I'm going to look that up.

 

[DeeAnna]

Why are folks adding an acid (citric, ascorbic) to their CP soap recipes? From my point of view, all you are doing is increasing your superfat because the lye will preferentially react with the acid, leaving more fat unsaponified. If I'm off the mark, please enlighten me! :smile:

 

[dagmar88]

Why are folks adding an acid (citric, ascorbic) to their CP soap recipes? From my point of view, all you are doing is increasing your superfat because the lye will preferentially react with the acid, leaving more fat unsaponified. If I'm off the mark, please enlighten me! :smile:

You're absolutely right

 

[three_little_fishes]

I did this last night and it's so pretty and white! I didn't think to add sugar though. My husband will be using it after cure and doesn't have much hair anyway. Should I remelt and add sugar or just let it be? I take it as a personal preference sort of thing, but thought I would ask to make sure.

 

[dagmar88]

Sugar just enhances the bubbles a little bit, so no problem at all

 

[three_little_fishes]

Sugar just enhances the bubbles a little bit, so no problem at all

Thanks! Between the military haircut and balding, there isn't much for him to soap up anyway.

 

[dagmar88]

Awww! That does give you a good reason to start experimenting with (cream) shaving soap soon

 

[three_little_fishes]

Awww! That does give you a good reason to start experimenting with (cream) shaving soap soon

I'm trying a cinnamon shave soap very soon! We bought some at a market and loved it. I wonder how many batches I'll let seize up before I figure out how to do it. Lol!

 

[Lindy]

No you are on the mark as far as I can tell.... Of course I could be wrong, but from my understanding citric acid neutralizes the lye...

 

[dagmar88]

I'm trying a cinnamon shave soap very soon! We bought some at a market and loved it. I wonder how many batches I'll let seize up before I figure out how to do it. Lol!

:smile: You'll be fine! Just be careful with the cinnamon; it can really irritate your skin. Use a very small amount, 0.5% at most.
There are nice body safe cinnamon FOs, but I don't know of any straight ones to use at he normal %.
Pumpkin Apple Butter from NG is so good, I could drink that stuff :smile:

 

[leLuckyDuck]

No you are on the mark as far as I can tell.... Of course I could be wrong, but from my understanding citric acid neutralizes the lye...

That exactly what I was thinking but figured that it was working for others so I must be wrong. I am definitely going to retry now!

 

[three_little_fishes]

:smile: You'll be fine! Just be careful with the cinnamon; it can really irritate your skin. Use a very small amount, 0.5% at most.
There are nice body safe cinnamon FOs, but I don't know of any straight ones to use at he normal %.
Pumpkin Apple Butter from NG is so good, I could drink that stuff :smile:

I've used it with an EO before (what we've bought from another soap maker before). The reason we liked it so much was because of how the cinnamon makes your hair stand up before a shave. The formula that she gave us works out to 0.4% EO.

 

[dagmar88]

 

[lizflowers42]

No you are on the mark as far as I can tell.... Of course I could be wrong, but from my understanding citric acid neutralizes the lye...

I added it because people say it lowers the ph of the bar and helps in the same way that a vinegar rinse does...So I did it and the reformulation really works well for my curly hair. I don't want to mess with a good thing