Natural Shampoo Bars
There are many reason why a person should consider a Handmade Shampoo Bar.
Most bars are made with all Natural Ingredients that have been chosen for the benefits of the hair and then formulated into a recipe using the most beneficial amounts of each ingredient to make a beautiful natural nourishing shampoo bar.
Shampoo bars are becoming increasingly more popular, most likely due to their benefits to your hair as well as the low impact these bars have on our environment. Just think of how many plastic bottles would be eliminated in your home alone if you were to switch to a shampoo bar……..
Most handmade shampoo bars are free of chemicals, but read the label to be sure. Here is a list of some Harmful Chemicals
What should I look for when buying a shampoo bar
I guess that would depend on why your want in a shampoo bar.
There are many beautifully scented shampoo bars on the market, but they will not benefit your hair and scalp like a bar that is scented with essential oils.
Essential Oils can help to treat a wide range of hair and scalp problems naturally.
My favorite oils for making shampoo bars are:
- Coconut Oil can help repair damaged hair it will help to nourish the hair and scalp which will trigger re-growth. Coconut Oil is good for all hair types
- Olive oil here is a whole page dedicated to Olive Oil and your hair. It’s been used for thousands of years for skin and haircare
- Almond Oil like Coconut and Olive will help to strengthen and moisturize the hair
- Palm Oil is known to help strengthen the hair follicles creating stronger hair
- Neem Oil is one of the best oils for helping to relieve dandruff, it will also help to stop the frizzies and give your hair some shine.
- Castor Oil is known to be used to combat hair loss as well as many scalp conditions. Castor Oil also adds that nice thick lather to your shampoo bar.
Those are the Oils I use in my shampoo bars because I know they are beneficial to the hair and scalp. My recipes have been formulated with these oils producing a wonderful bar that is long-lasting and moisturizing to all hair types.
Scenting your Shampoo Bar
Soaps can be scented with fragrance oils or essential oils, but when it comes to the hair and scalp if you have problems Essential Oils can really help
Best Health Products
One of my favorite Oils to use for the hair is Rosemary because of its regeneration properties, that help to stimulate the hair follicles giving longer, stronger hair. It is also believed rosemary oil can slow down premature greying and hair loss. I like to mix Rosemary with Lavender. Below find other Essential Oils great for your hair and scalp:
- Cedarwood – balances the oil producing glands – can help for oily hair
- Clary Sage – help to strengthen hair
- Lavender– increases cell growth helping hair grow
- Lemongrass – helps to relieve dandruff – great for an anti dandruff shampoo bar
- Rosemary – helps to wake up the cells to grow strong healthy hair
- Tea tree– lots of cleansing power, anti bacterial and used in a shampoo bar to get rid of lice
- Thyme – helps to increase hair growth by stimulating the scalp
The oils I use most often are Lavender, Rosemary and Tea Tree. I don’t make shampoo bars with fragrance oils, because I made my first bar to help with skin problems, and I think adding fragrance just takes away from that. That is only my opinion as other scented bars will still be made with other wonderful hair oils.
Using a Shampoo Bar
It can take some getting used to when changing to a shampoo bar, sometimes it can take a couple weeks before your hair gets used to this change.
When using a shampoo bar it can be done one of two ways:
- Wet your hair as you normally would when shampooing
- Wet shampoo bar and rub with your hands
- take the lather in your hands and use it to wash your hair
- work the lather through your hair
- continue working lather while rinsing making sure to completely rinse
- After washing some people will use Apple cider vinegar as a rinse
Or
- Wet your hair as your normally would when shampooing
- Wet the shampoo bar
- Rub the shampoo bar on your scalp
- work the lather through your hair
- rinse completely
- After washing some people will use Apple cider vinegar as a rinse
Other Reasons for using a Shampoo Bar
- You can take it on a plane – don’t have to worry about having the wrong amount of liquid
- They are long-lasting
- Do not contain chemicals
- Soothe irritated scalp
- Eco friendly
- Great for all ages
- Multi-purpose –
- can be used as a body soap
- shaving soap (in a pinch)
- to wash clothes while camping
- wash the dog
- Compact – minimization
Shampoo Bars have a low impact on the environment as well as being beneficial to your scalp and hair. So why not when your out at the next craft fair and see a handmade soap maker pick up a Shampoo Bar to try out.
To make your own Bar check out this Shampoo Bar Recipe
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I find this article interesting.
I never tried to use a shampoo bar yet but I usually applied virgin coconut oil on my hair before I took a bath and it feels great to see my hair regrowth since I am now at the age of 40.
The next time I drop by at the grocery store, I will look to find a coconut oil shampoo bar and try out for myself.
Thanks! Please keep up the good work.
I have heard of shampoo bars before but never really contemplated using one. Do you find them to be more difficult to use when you have longer hair? I’m wondering why some people rinse with apple cider vinegar. What is the purpose of that? I love your point that using a shampoo bar is way less impactful on the environment. I can’t begin to think of how many shampoo bottles I’ve emptied throughout my lifetime. I love the idea of not leaving that kind of imprint on the earth. I’d love to hear back from you about the apple cider vinegar. Thanks so much for a great post and I think I’m going to go investigate shampoo bars 🙂
I think it’s fine for long hair as well. I use it, although I do sometimes add a conditioner afterword. We live in a very dry environment in the winters. People that use the Apple cider Vinegar rinse use it to help the pH balance, to de-tangles, and adds softness to your hair.
I’m so glad you posted this article. I never use regular shampoo for my hair. Don’t like the heavy feeling of most commercial brands and I think it’s a waste and not particularly good for you hair or scalp.
Shampoo bar soap is also what I often use to share as you noted. And here I thought I was just weird. Our culture gets hung up sometimes on having a specific product for everything and that’s just not necessary.
Thanks again for another practical article to help keep up grounded.
Thanks Tim, always great to hear from you.
What a wonderful idea. In this day and age when we are trying to reduce plastic waste it seems logical to start looking and reinventing products in this way. Great read, love your idea on using soap/shampoo bars. I think i would like to try them myself to see if the natural oils can revive my dull hair.
Shampoo bars are a natural way of treating your hair and I’m sure after a few uses you will be sure to see a difference in your hair.
Thanks for all the great information. I like the idea of using products that don’t put a lot of chemicals and plastic into the environment and you make a good case for using a shampoo bar on that basis alone. I have what I think to be pretty healthy hair and scalp just using commercial varieties of shampoo. I am getting older. What sort of ingredients are best to consider as one gets older?
Best regards,
Joe
There are a few things you can do to help your hair when getting older. Here are a couple links to articles you may be interested in reading
Natural Hair Growth
Can Gray Hair be Reversed?
How to treat Hair Loss Naturally
I have made my own liquid shampoo over the years. I did use castile soap (Dr. Bronnars). I put organic honey, and coconut oil (the can organic one).
But, I have used several combinations of shampoos. For example I have used a combination of:
Rosemary and Peppermint.Cedarwood and Vetiver.Lavender and Orange.Lemongrass and EucalyptusGrapefruit and Lemon.
However, I do have a question about keeping the bar solid. Do you use any kind of tray or anything to keep the bar from getting wet. I would guess if it gets wet it will melt away sooner. I have made this mistake many times before.
Like any other bar soap it is recommended to store them in a cool dry place when not using and also to use a tray when using so they are not sitting in water. Handmade soap storage and care
This is the first time I have heard of shampoo bars and they sound amazing. I haven’t even seen these in the shops, although maybe they haven’t come to South Africa yet.
Anything that has natural ingredients in it can only be better for you than all these chemical laden products we purchase and use.
Shampoo bars are, as you pointed out, also a great idea if you are flying and you aren’t allowed too many liquids on the plane.
Would one still need to condition I wonder or does the coconut oil do the job?
Hi Michel, some people still like to use conditions, but I find the shampoo bar seem to conditions the hair well enough that you really don’t need to.
I like to use natural soaps, but this is the first I ever heard of shampoo bars – very nice!
I want one with coconut oi, rosemary and thyme to help me regrow some slightly receding hairline.
My mom wants to make homemade soap, but I will have to mention these shampoo bars to her, also.
I also like your beer soap idea as it seems so manly. Would beer soap made with coconut oil, rosemary and thyme make a good shampoo bar?
Hi Alexander you could use the shampoo bar recipe and replace the water with beer. This would give you a beer shampoo bar. Here is the recipe for beer soapBenefits of Beer Soap – Beer Soap Recipe
Shampoo Bars are one of the latest rage products! I was pleased to see that you listed several different possibilities for scents and detailed how the soap bar should be used. Making shampoo bars requires a bit more finesse than making a regular soap bar. Castor oil makes great shampoo, as do softer oils like avocado, canola, almond, rice bran, soybean and jojoba. It is necessary to have a high concentration of coconut and castor oil to produce magnificent mounds of thinck bubble necessary to lift the hair shafts and that the final pH of the soap be close to 6.
Some people can use a regular body soap bar on their scalps and do just fine, others require a pH balanced soap shampoo bar, while others need to follow whatever shampoo bar with a rinse of Apple Cider Vinegar as a pH adjuster or with help in detangling hair (and yes, it does leave an after smell).
I’ve been using my own handmade shampoo bars for about 5 years. My hair length ranges from earlobe length to shoulder length, but I’ve used it on my granddaughters’ flowing 2 foot long locks as well. Hair has a natural sheen to it, flakes and dandruff are history, and a small soap bar will outlast many a bottle of shampoo!, While I am able to comb through my hair with a large toothed comb, quite often I have to use a ACV rinse on the granddaughters’ hair in order to detangle it…so I just put it on the ends of hair instead of next to their scalps.
Shampoo bars are wonderful and I fully concur they are terrific on flights, vacations, used as shaving soap in a pinch, take up lots less room that a bottle of shampoo in the bathroom and are all around healthier for your hair and scalp.
Kudos to you for bringing out all the benfeits of handmade har soap! Happy soaping!
Thanks Sharon to adding your comments and experiences. It’s great to hear from a fellow soapmaker.