This post is sponsored by NOW. All opinions are my own.
Looking to streamline your shower situation? Green your hair routine? Save money on bath and body products? It may sound too good to be true, but shampoo bars really do it all.
Not your typical bar of soap, shampoo bars are formulated with super nourishing ingredients that clean hair without stripping it or drying it out. And in many cases, they can act as conditioner, body wash, or even face wash to boot. But since Iโm not someone whoโs content buying my shampoo bars (weโre obsessed with DIYs around here), I teamed with our friends at NOW to make my own using clean ingredients and high-quality oils.
NOW has been a pioneer in the wellness community for generations, with a focus on high-quality supplements and sustainably sourced beauty products. NOWโs oils, moisturizers and body butters are formulated with the finest ingredients from the around the world. Theyโre made without harsh chemicals or synthetic ingredients. And theyโre tested for quality so you know exactly what youโre getting.
That means youโre left with seriously clean shampoo bars that can be customized for your own hair type.
The best shampoo bars are made from scratch with lye. But the process is a little complicated and may intimidate some inexperienced DIYers. So I included a recipe for melt-and-pour shampoo bars as well. Use whichever recipe you feel most comfortable with!
Shampoo Bar Benefits
It creates less waste
Unlike liquid shampoo, shampoo bars donโt require any packaging for travel or storage, so they create less waste.
While the ingredients do come with their own packaging, youโre free to choose ingredients with recyclable packaging, like glass or certain plastics, to cut down on the trash. (And in case youโre curious, all of the ingredients we used from NOW use recyclable packaging via the Terracycle program. Just one more reason I love them!)
It lasts longer
Once bar soap has cured completely, itโs rather hard and doesnโt dissolve easily. That means you use a lot less soap per wash than with liquid shampoo. The ingredients are also concentrated, so a little soap goes a long way. From my own experience, each shampoo bar should last 2-3 months if you let it dry out between uses.
Itโs perfect for travel
When traveling, I like to cut an unused shampoo bar down so it measures about 2 inches x 2 inches. Then I just toss it in my toiletry bag and Iโm on my way. I use it as shampoo, body soap, face wash, even laundry soap in a pinch, and when Iโm done, I toss it in the trash.
Itโs better for hair
Because homemade shampoo bars donโt use any harsh surfactants, chemicals or fake fragrances, theyโre much better for your hair โ and your health!
You can customize it for your hair type
Different oils create different shampoo bars. That means you can โ and should โ choose your oils based on your hair type. I used a bunch of NOW oils, like olive, coconut, and castor, that are good for fine, oily hair because theyโre light and wonโt weigh down your locks.
If youโd like to customize your oils for your hair type, leave the ratio of oils the same, but swap in oils that are good for your hair.
Oils for Different Hair Types
If you want to start customizing your shampoo recipes, choose oils from this list based on your own hair type.
Dry or Frizzy
- Avocado oil
- Castor oil
- Cocoa butter
- Jojoba oil
Oily
- Nettle oil
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Hazelnut oil
Fine or thinning
- Shea butter
- Coconut oil
- Cocoa butter
- Olive oil
Melt-and-Pour Shampoo Bar for Dry, Frizzy Hair
Not only does this contain moisturizing avocado and grapeseed oils, but it is also loaded with clary sage oil to help keep your strands long and strong.
Supplies
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Silicone soap mold
- 1 pound Castile melt and pour soap base
- 2 Tablespoons NOW Solutions Avocado Oil
- 1 Tablespoon NOW Solutions Grapeseed Oil
- 20 drops NOW Clary Sage Essential Oil
Instructions
Chop soap base into small chunks and microwave in 30-second intervals until melted. Add the oils and stir to combine. Then, pour into a soap mold to cool overnight.
Once cooled, remove from the mold and cut into bars.
Cold Process Shampoo Bar for Fine or Oily Hair
If you’re up from making your shampoo bars from scratch with lye instead, this cold process is the way to go! A trio of lightweight hydratorsโcoconut, olive, and castor oilsโmake this creamy bar a perfect choice for hydrating thin hair without weighing it down.
We’ve demystified the process in the step-by-step instructions below!
How to Use Shampoo Bars
1. Get your hair nice and wet. The wetter your hair, the more lather youโll get, so go ahead and get it really wet!
2. Wet the bar slightly. You donโt need to soak it or get it soft. Just a little water is enough to create a lather.
3. Lather up. Rub the bar between your hands and get a lather going. The amount of lather your shampoo bar creates depends on the oils you used. But even if it doesnโt lather much, itโll still clean your hair nicely!
4. Massage your hair and scalp. Just like you would with traditional shampoo, rub your hands through you hair, focusing on your roots. Then work your hands through your hair from root to tip to get rid of any lingering hair products.
5. Rinse well. Rinse hair thoroughly to remove soapy residue.
6. Follow up with conditioner. Make sure to condition like you normally would, especially if you have dry hair or split ends.
How to Store Your Shampoo Bar
You can store it as you would any other bar soap, so in the shower is fine. But to help increase the longevity, let it dry out between uses by placing it on a soap dish with ample drainage or in the linen closet.
Store unused shampoo bars on a shelf in the closet. While you might want to wrap them loosely in wax paper to keep the dust away, letting them air out will ensure they last longer.
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Cold Process Solid Shampoo Bars for Fine or Oily Hair
Equipment
- Immersion blender
- Crock pot for warming oils
- Digital Scale
- 1 quart mason jar for mixing lye and water
- Candy thermometer
- Silicone soap mold
- Wooden spoon
- Gloves and protective eyewear
- White Vinegar (in case of spills)
Materials
- 10 ounces tallow
- 13.7 ounces water
- 5.1 ounces lye
- 10 ounces NOW Foods Coconut Oil
- 10 ounces NOW Foods Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 6 ounces NOW Solutions Castor Oil
- 1 tablespoon NOW Solutions Neem Oil
- 50 drops NOW Rosemary Essential Oil
- ยฝ tablespoon NOW Jasmine Absolute Oil Blend
Instructions
- Weigh tallow, coconut oil, olive oil, and castor oil.
- Combine in a crockpot and melt on low.
- Note: I do the remaining steps outside because you have to work quickly and lye causes toxic fumes, so you need to be in a well-ventilated space Go outside and weigh lye in a dry glass or plastic container. Then weigh the water separately in your 1-quart mason jar.
- Once the oils are melted (stir with a wooden spoon to help the tallow melt faster), check the temperature. You want the oils to be 100 degrees F. Continue to heat or cool as necessary.
- Once oils reach 100 degrees F, put on your gloves and safety goggles (make sure you're outside for this part), then carefully and slowly pour the lye into the water. Stir gently until the lye water turns clears, then leave it to cool for 10 minutes.
- Carefully pour the lye water into the oil mixture.
- Note: If you don't have an outdoor power outlet or extension cord, you can do the remaining steps inside. I do them outside just to be safe.Using an immersion blender, blend the mixture until it starts to thicken and becomes a light pudding consistency (this is called "trace").
- Add the essential oils and blend again to incorporate.
- Pour the soap into your mold and use a wooden spoon to create texture. Then cover lightly with wax paper and wrap molds in towels, so it can cool slowly and evenly.
- After 24 hours, remove soap from mold and slice into bars. Space them out to allow good air flow and let them cure for 4 weeks.
I just wanted to share that we created a video using your recipe as a foundation for our shampoo bars. https://youtu.be/Gm4SxhxlX5g I couldn't find a contact us to get your email. Hope you like the video!