How To Make A Shampoo Bar

Want to learn how to make your own syndet shampoo bar? In this post I am going to go way in depth about how to make and use your own shampoo bar. The thing that I love about the syndet shampoo bars are how long they last in the shower. Well, that and the ridiculous amount of bubbles! 

Prefer to How to Make A Shampoo Bar instead of reading it? 

Shampoo Bar without lye

You might be wondering, how you can make soap without lye. Here’s the thing, technically these are not a soap. They are made with surfactants. For more information on surfactants, check out my Surfactants Explained post. 

You might be wondering, ok so why don’t you just make a “soap” with lye for your hair. It’s just not going to work. And here is why, the Ph is going to be way too high on any soap you make with lye. Using an unbalanced Ph can actually damage your hair (I explain more a little later in this post). 

What are shampoo bars?

Remember, technically shampoo bars are not a soap. Rather they are often referred to as ‘Syndet’ bars. The name syndet actually comes from a combination of SYNthetic and DETergent. Which sounds scary, but really it’s not when you dig a little deeper. 

Most bars of soap that are in the store are not by definition ‘soap’. Think about when the companies call them ‘beauty bars’ or ‘soap free’. Which, is not necessarily a bad thing it’s just sort of confusing. In this recipe, I have selected super mild and non-irritating surfactants.  

Benefits of using a shampoo bar

• No plastic waste
• Easy to travel with
• Condensed bar lasts longer
• Hard Water

It’s weird how we automatically associate bubbles with cleaning. Like, this shampoo isn’t getting all bubbly so it must not be cleaning. Truth be told, hair does not require a lot of later to be cleaned. None the less, we have come to enjoy these bubbles.

The difference between hard and soft water, is that hard water has more minerals in it. The more minerals in the water, the harder it is. You might be wondering what this has to do with shampoo. EVERYTHING! If you have soft water, you can pretty much use any shampoo that you want. However, those with hard water know the struggle.

Hard water actually requires that you use more soap, shampoo, detergents, etc., because the minerals are decreasing the soaps ability to lather. Thus, I have chosen surfactants that perform well in hard water (explained more below).

Ph 

Just as a quick overview, the Ph scale range is from 0-14. With 7 being the neutral spot (water). Anything below 7 on the scale is going to be more acidic and the higher numbers are more alkaline. More in depth on Ph can be found in my How to make products with a balanced Ph post. 

Ok, so you are probably wondering why this matters

Hair is made up of tiny little cuticles, which look like scales. When you use products that are more alkaline, these cuticles open up and expose the inside of your hair shaft. Using more acidic products, these cuticles close. When the cuticles are closed, your hair is strong and shiny. 

So we need to be using a acidic product to keep our hair cuticles closed. The Ph range that we are going for with this bar is between 4 – 5.5.

Alkaline products can cause:

• Cuticle damage
• Frizz
• Irritation
• Hair breakage

Balanced Ph

I have made this formula with a balanced pH, but if you need to adjust the pH down you can do so with citric acid. Simply dissolve the citric acid in distilled water and add a very small amount to your bars at a time. Just a few drops will make a difference. I make a citric acid solution, which is 50% water and 50% citric acid.

Click here to learn how to make the 50% Citric Acid Solution

No Preservative

There is no need to add a preservative to your shampoo bar. Since there is not any water in our shampoo bar, it does not require a preservative. And, although it is going to get wet in the shower it is going to be dried out again. If you feel better adding a preservative you definitely can, I just feel that it is not necessary.

Surfactants

Oh how I love using surfactants! I find it so cool that surfactants grab ahold of dirt and oil, like they are little emulsifiers or something. They have a hydrophilic (water loving head) and a hydrophobic (water fearing) tail. This means that they surfactant grabs onto the water with their head and dirt/oil with its tail. Allowing the dirt and oil to be washed down the drain with the water. 

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate SCI 

SCI is a very gentle surfactant that is often used in baby products. SCI is a pretty mild surfactant that does not irritate our scalp. I am in love with the creamy dense bubbles that SCI makes. It is a great choice for a shampoo bar, because it does not dry out your hair. Also, it performs well in soft and hard water!!!

Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate SLSa

SLSa is a gentle surfactant that comes from coconut and palm oils.  It is sulfate-free and has good cleansing properties. SLSA is commonly used to replace SLS, as SLS can be more irritating on our skin. It is an anionic surfactant, that adds a thick lather to the shampoo bar and it works well in hard water. 

Cocamidopropyl Betaine CAPB

CAPB is derived from coconut oil. It is gentle enough to be used on our skin, hair and face. It is an amphoteric surfactant, when used in an acidic product it has a positive charge. Meaning that leaves a conditioned feeling even after being rinsed off. 

Harden / Thickeners

Sodium Lactate

Sodium lactate is basically a liquid salt that is used to help to harden our shampoo bars. It comes from the fermentation of corn and beet sugars. It is also a wonderful humectant. 

Cocoa Butter

When formulating our shampoo bar, we want to maximize bubbles and keep the bar in solid form. Anytime you add oil to a shampoo you are automatically cutting down on the bubbles. Keeping that in mind, we just use a tiny bit. Cocoa butter is a solid butter that has a low melting point that is right around skin temperature.

Ceytl Alcohol

Although cetyl alcohol has ‘alcohol’ in the name, it is not drying to the skin. We normally assume that all alcohols would have a drying effect. In contrast, cetyl alcohol is very hydrating to our skin. It is also a conditioning agent in this shampoo bar.

Specialties / Extras

VegeKeratin

Vegekeratin is a plant based keratin. Although it is not necessary in this formula, I wanted to add it because of all the benefits it brings to our shampoo bar. It is said to increase hair strength, reduce frizzing and makes the hair look shinier. If you don’t have vegekeratin, you can leave this out or swap for keratin.

Pro Vitamin B5

Pro Vitamin B5 is the super hero of this formula, because it helps to keep our hair hydrated. It binds to our hair and helps to really lock in moisture. The interesting thing is that it has been found to be able to penetrate the hair and hydrate the cortex of our hair. 

You might be thinking, if it’s the super star lets add more. We want to be careful not to use too much of the B5 as it can cause a buildup overtime. Some things are just best in small quantities.

Mica Powder

I cant help it! I have to color my bars in accordance with their scent.(Plus, orange is my favorite color!) Feel free to use whatever color you fancy or leave it out all together. I just think its more aesthetically pleasing with color.

Ingredients

How to Make A Shampoo Bar

Weigh out all of your ingredients. Have everything measured and ready before you begin. Keep your cool-down ingredients separate from the ingredients that will be heated.

Combine the SCI, SLSa, and CAPB in a double boiler. A double boiler is important because it allows you to heat the surfactants gently and evenly.

Heat the surfactants over low to medium heat. Stir regularly as they heat. This can take some time, so don’t rush the process by turning the heat up too high.

While the surfactants are heating, prepare your citric acid solution. Combine equal parts water and citric acid to make a 50% citric acid solution. I made 10 grams, but you will only need a small amount to adjust the pH, so you may have plenty left over.

In a separate heat-safe container, combine the cocoa butter and cetyl alcohol.

Place the cocoa butter and cetyl alcohol container into the double boiler and heat until both ingredients have melted.

Once the surfactant mixture has fully melted and the cocoa butter and cetyl alcohol are melted, remove both containers from the double boiler.

Transfer the melted surfactant mixture to a heat-safe mixing bowl.

Add the melted cocoa butter and cetyl alcohol to the surfactant mixture. Mix thoroughly until everything is well combined.

Add the sodium lactate and mix well.

Check the pH of the mixture. If the pH needs to be lowered, add a very small amount of your 50% citric acid solution, mix thoroughly, and test again. Continue gradually until you reach the desired pH.

How to Make a 10% pH Testing Solution

1. Weigh 1 g shampoo bar
2. Add 9 g distilled water
3. Allow to dissolve fully (use warm water)
4. Stir well
5. Test with:
   • Digital pH meter (most accurate)
   • High-quality pH strips

Add the fragrance oil and mica powder. Mix until they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

Add your remaining cool-down ingredients while keeping the bowl on the scale so you can accurately measure each ingredient.

Mix the shampoo bar mixture thoroughly. Make sure all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated before moving on to the mold.

Firmly press the mixture into your mold. Pay particular attention to the edges and corners of the mold. Press the mixture firmly against the sides and into the corners to help prevent gaps or air pockets.

Allow the shampoo bar to cool completely before removing it from the mold.

Allow the finished shampoo bar to dry for several days to a week before using it. Keeping the bar somewhere dry with good airflow will allow it to harden before it is exposed to water in the shower.

How to Use a Shampoo Bar

Using a shampoo bar is a little different from using liquid shampoo, but once you get the hang of it, it’s very simple.

Thoroughly Wet Your Hair

Start by completely wetting your hair with warm water. Make sure your hair and scalp are thoroughly saturated before applying the shampoo bar.

The more water your hair has, the easier it will be to create a good lather.

Apply the Shampoo Bar

There are two ways you can use a shampoo bar:

Apply it directly to your hair: Rub the wet shampoo bar gently over your hair and scalp to create lather.

Lather it in your hands: Rub the bar between wet hands until you create a good amount of lather, then massage the lather into your hair.

I prefer applying the bar directly to my hair because it makes it easy to get the shampoo where I need it, but either method works.

Focus on Your Scalp

Once you have some lather, gently massage the shampoo into your scalp using your fingertips.

You don’t need to aggressively scrub your hair. Focus on cleansing the scalp and roots and allow the shampoo to work through the lengths of your hair as you rinse.

Rinse Thoroughly

Rinse your hair completely with warm water, making sure you remove all of the shampoo.

Take your time with this step, especially if you have thick or long hair.

Do You Need to Shampoo Twice?

Not necessarily.

If your hair is particularly oily, has a lot of styling-product buildup, or doesn’t feel clean after the first wash, you may prefer to shampoo a second time.

For normal washing, one thorough wash may be all you need.

How Much Shampoo Bar Should You Use?

You don’t need to use a large amount of the bar to clean your hair. Start with a small amount of lather and add more if you need it.

The amount you’ll use will depend on your hair length, thickness, how often you wash your hair, and whether you use styling products.

Using more shampoo doesn’t necessarily mean your hair will be cleaner. Finding the smallest amount that works well for your hair can also help your shampoo bar last longer.

Why Isn’t My Shampoo Bar Lathering?

If you’re not getting much lather, don’t immediately assume something is wrong with the bar.

Make sure your hair is thoroughly wet and give the shampoo a little more water as you work it through your hair. Water quality can also make a difference. Hard water can affect how well some shampoo bars lather and rinse.

If you have hard water, you can learn more about how it affects shampoo bars in the Hard Water and Shampoo Bars section below.

How Often Should You Use a Shampoo Bar?

How often you wash your hair is personal and depends on your hair type, scalp, lifestyle, and styling routine.

Use your shampoo bar according to what works for your hair rather than feeling like you need to wash it every time you shower.

How Long Will a Shampoo Bar Last?

How long a shampoo bar lasts will depend on how often you use it, how much you use each time, the length and thickness of your hair, and how well you store the bar between uses.

Keeping the bar dry between uses can make a big difference. A shampoo bar that sits in water will soften and disappear much faster than one that is allowed to dry between uses.

Storage

You want to be sure that you aren’t leaving your bar in water in between uses. Store it somewhere dry with drainage for best results. I just pop mine on my draining soap rack.

TIPS

Mask Up!!!!

For real, before you start measuring out surfactants make sure you wear a mask. Some of the powder surfactants are lighter than air and poof right up and into your lungs.

Drying Time

After you make your shampoo bar, be sure to allow it some time to dry and harden up. Granted, you could use it right away, but I have found that allowing a few days to a week really extends the life of your shampoo bar.

Heating the surfactants

When you are heating your surfactants, it is going to test your patience. They take a really long time on a low steady heat to melt them. So, sit back and make a pot of coffee or cup of tea to enjoy while you wait.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

DIY Shampoo Bar

In this post I am going to go way in depth about how to make and use your own shampoo bar. The thing that I love about the syndet shampoo bars are how long they last in the shower. Well, that and the ridiculous amount of bubbles! 

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Keyword: Body and Skin Care, Hair

Servings: 100 grams

Cost: $5

Equipment

• Scale
• Heat sage containers
• Double boiler
• Ph meter
• Silicone mold

Ingredients

Heat Phase 1

• 48.5 grams | 48.5% SCI
• 31 grams | 31% SLSa
• 9 grams | 9% CAPB

Heat Phase 2

• 2 grams | 2% Cocoa butter
• 2 grams | 2% Cetyl alcohol

After Heat Phase

• 3.5 grams | 3.5% Sodium lactate
• Citric acid

Cool Down Phase

• 1 gram | 1% Pro Vitamin B5
• 1 gram | 1% Vegekeratin
• 2 grams | 2% Bergamot & Mandarin Fragrance Oil
• Orange mica powder

Instructions

• Weigh out your ingredients. Do not weigh vegekeratin, provitamin b5 or the mica powder.
• Place the SCI,SLSA, and CAPB in a double boiler. (It has to be a double boiler).
• Pop it on the stove. Stir regularly, but it will take a while to melt.
• While the surfactants are heating, make your citric acid mixture. Use 50% water and 50% citric acid. I made 10 grams, but you will not need that much. A little bit goes a long way.
• In a separate heat safe container, add your cocoa butter and cetyl alcohol.
• Pop it on the double boiler.
• When the surfactants have fully melted, pull both containers off the double boiler.
• Place the surfactant mix into a heat safe mixing bowl.
• Add the cocoa butter and cetyl alcohol to the surfactants and mix.
• Add the sodium lactate and mix. 
• Check and adjust the Ph level with citric acid mixture.
• Add fragrance oil and mica powder.
• Add the remaining cool down ingredients while on the scale.
• Give the shampoo bar a good mix.
• Firmly press the mixture into your mold. I press the mix to the sides of the mold to make sure there are no gaps.
• Allow to fully cool before removing from the mold. 
• Be sure to allow the shampoo bar to dry out for a few days to a week before using.