What makes a shampoo bar solid?

Solid shampoo bars are similar to a shampoo concentrate – they contain a high amount of surfactants (the cleansing ingredient) and very little water. This makes the manufacturing cost of a solid shampoo much higher than a liquid shampoo. But on the other hand, they last longer than liquid shampoos.

Why is my shampoo bar soft?

1. Keep your shampoo bar away from water in between washes. It might sound obvious, but keeping your bar dry in between washes will mean it doesn't feel soft and mushy when you next wash your hair.

What makes a good shampoo bar?

Make sure your shampoo bar has got plenty of good oils, butters, botanical and hair loving ingredients! Make sure your shampoo bar contains lots of hair loving ingredients, or else it will just be a brick of surfactants. Look, for example, for coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, argan oil, avocado oil, and jojoba.

How do I keep my shampoo bar from melting?

Give your soap bars plenty of air in between washes. Leave your bars away from sunlight as the heat from the sun can melt your bars. If your bar ever gets waterlogged and slimy, simply set it on a draining soap dish for a few days and let it dry out thoroughly.

How do you harden shampoo bars?

If you can, get your bars into a room with a dehumidifier or air conditioner or into the fridge or freezer for a bit. The sodium lactate in the formula is not optional. This hardens the bars. You can go as high as 5% with this ingredient.

The truth about shampoo bars

How long do shampoo bars last?

The bars' lifespan depends on a few different factors, including your hair length, how often you use it, and how the products are stored. On average, we estimate that our shampoo and conditioner bars last approximately 50-75+ washes (~2-6+ months)*.

How do you store solid shampoo in the shower?

Draining rack for soap and shampoo bars

Another must-have for storing solid products in the shower is a draining rack or shelf. You can get them at most stores and you can put your soaps or shampoos either directly on the rack, or use a soap rest.

What do you do with shampoo bar pieces?

USE A SOAP SAVER BAG

To use up the last pieces of your shampoo and conditioner bars, check out our Sisal Soap Saver Bag! Simply apply water to the bag to work up a lather and massage onto your head as usual. The bag holds shampoo bar pieces inside so you don't have to worry about bars slipping out of your hand!

Why does my hair feel waxy after using shampoo bar?

When first using a shampoo bar, you may experience a "waxy" feel to the hair after washing. This is often referred to as "the purge" or "the waxies" in the shampoo bar community - and could be the result of one of two things: a bad reaction with hard water, OR an adjustment to balancing out your scalp's oil production.

Why does bar shampoo leave residue?

The reason that some bars leave your hair feeling waxy is that they are literally bars of soap. They are made from saponified oils, which is the technical name for mixing oils (like coconut or olive oil) with an alkali to make soap.

Can shampoo bars damage hair?

Shampoo bars are typically healthier for your hair than detergent-based liquid shampoos because they're made without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, silicone, and synthetic fragrances. This means less damaging and stripping your hair and its natural oils, which can happen with chemical-based products.

How can I make solid shampoo at home?

Why does my shampoo bar not lather?

Yes—shampoo bars lather. That said, they might not lather in the way you are accustomed to. While this can initially seem strange (like your shampoo bar isn't working properly), it's actually a good sign. Liquid shampoos commonly use harsh detergents like sodium laurel sulphate (SLS).

Do shampoo bars work with hard water?

Solid shampoo bars function better when used with soft water. If you have hard water, it's the minerals that cause the scales on the hair to stand up. The soap molecules will "grab" the minerals in the hard water and leave those deposits in your hair.

How long does homemade shampoo bar last?

We've made several homemade shampoo recipes over the years, but if you've not tried making shampoo with surfactants before, this super easy DIY shampoo bar recipe is a great place to start. It's a lovely bar that smells of chocolate orange and will last for around 8 washes.

How do you keep bar soap sanitary?

How do you store shampoo bars yourself?

Set the soap dish in the tub or on a shelf in the bathroom wherever you're staying. Make sure you use a dish that has slats or grooves so water can drain out and keep the shampoo bar raised above it. After using the shampoo bar, immediately put it on the soap dish to dry.

Do shampoo bars contain water?

Not only are shampoo bars more convenient and miles better for the environment, they're mostly made with natural ingredients so are much better for your hair. And, as most liquid shampoos are about 80% water, you'll find your shampoo bar lasts almost twice as long.

Is shampoo bar better than liquid?

It may also take some trial and error to find the best shampoo bar for you, plus if you have naturally curly or texture hair, rubbing a shampoo bar up and down your strands may cause tangles and knots, but overall—for both hair health and the planet—we say shampoo bars are better than traditional liquid soap.

How many bottles of shampoo does a shampoo bar replace?

Shampoo bars are megaconcentrated and generally last longer than bottled versions. On average, a shampoo bar will outlast two to three bottles of liquid shampoo, meaning you save money and extra trips to the store.

What oils are good for shampoo bars?

The best shampoo bar recipe will have no more than 50 percent soft oils, such as canola, rice bran, soybean or olive oil, and a high percentage of coconut and castor oils for rich bubbles.

Is lye good for your hair?

It's still used in numerous products as a pH-adjusting agent," he says. As far as hair relaxers, Schueller says, ones with lye are "the most effective relaxers, and they are only painful if they are left on the scalp too long. For that reason, they tend to be used in products for professional stylists."