DIY Shampoo Bar Recipe

Soap is a handmade product of the natural ingredients that we use every day. Soap makers combine lye (sodium hydroxide), water and different oils into their own recipes which then react together in what’s called the saponification process to create soap without any leftover components from these production materials left behind!

It takes patience when making soap; however once produced you can enjoy its cleaning properties with minimal maintenance time since this process doesn’t require adding fragrances or dyes like many modern store bought soaps do nowadays.

You can choose from a variety of natural oils when making your soap mixture. Think about the hair benefits when you decide which oil to use. In this recipe we are going to use coconut oil because it is a great base for shampoo bars, making them hard and keeping the moisture in.

Coconut Oil creates a good lather that helps repair damaged, dry hair. Olive oil has great moisturizing properties and will help split ends. Castor Oil acts as a stabilizer. All three oils will help with oily hair, hair loss, stimulate hair growth, can be used for curly hair and different hair types. For a natural conditioner, use apple cider vinegar.

If you are leaning towards a zero-waste lifestyle, this best shampoo bar recipe is a great place to start, getting rid of plastic bottles.

Prep Time 35 minutes

Resting and curing time 30 days

Makes 12 bars

Because you are working with lye, it is recommended that you use supplies designated only for soapmaking.

• Glass mixing bowl
• Non-reactive pot (Stainless steel, ceramic, glass, or metal cookware with enamel coating)
• Candy thermometer
• A soap mold (silicone molds yields the best results)
• Digital scale
• Stick blender
• Wooden spoon
• Gloves and protective eyewear
• White Vinegar

Wear protective gloves and safety goggles throughout the entire soap making process, including clean up. Wash all of your supplies in hot soapy water with vinegar.

• 12 oz distilled water
• 5 oz lye
• 10 oz coconut oil
• 10 oz tallow (or palm oil)
• 10 oz olive oil
• 6 oz castor oil
• 1.5 oz essential oils ( tea tree oil, rosemary, orange and peppermint are great oils to use)

In a glass jar add the distilled water.

Carefully add the lye solution to the water and stir.

NOTE: NEVER add water to the lye, this will cause a bad reaction.

Let the mixture sit, giving it time for the chemical process to take place and cool.

Combine the coconut, tallow, olive and castor oil in a non-reactive pot. Warm on low to between 100 and 120 degrees.

Slowly add the lye water to the melted oils.

Using a stick blender, mix the mixture until it becomes trace. This means your mixture is still a fluid, but a drop of the mixture will stay right on the surface before it falls back into the liquid.

Add a few drops of essential oils.

Pour the mixture into the soap molds.

Cover the tops of the mold with a piece of cardboard, followed by a dish towel to keep the shampoo bar warm for 24 hours.

After 24 hours, remove from the mold and slice it 1 inch thick into 12 bars.

In a well-ventilated area, stand the bars upright and let them cure for 4-6 weeks.

Store unused shampoo bars in an airtight container.

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