Homemade Shampoo Bar: Making Natural DIY Shampoo Bars

My recipe for DIY shampoo bars is a popular one. This homemade shampoo bar is easy to make and will leave your hair shiny and soft.

People ask me to make different kinds of soap because I am a soap maker. Recently, I have been receiving requests for a good homemade shampoo bar. My recipe will make your hair soft, shiny, and silky.

Volume 0%

Why use a solid DIY shampoo bar?

Many people prefer a solid shampoo bar to liquid, or even this other liquid home-made shampoo.

You don’t need to worry about spilling your homemade shampoo bars into your bag when you travel. These bars are also a great way to save money, and they take up less room in the shower. For some people, a solid bar is easier to handle. Shampoo bottles can become slippery and heavy for those with weak hands. They are also great because I can customize them to include exactly what I need and exclude anything I don’t. They are gentle on your hair and completely customizable!

Basic Soap Making

You can familiarize yourself with this article if you’ve never made soap or haven’t read my basic soap-making article, Homemade Natural Soap. This recipe was converted from weights into measurements to simplify the process. We perfected and tested the sizes.

This method is very successful and can easily be doubled or even tripled. Oils are the main ingredients in a homemade bar of shampoo.

Choose Oils for Your Hair

These oils are great for adding softness to your hair. These oils can be used on all hair types, including colored hair.

• Sweet Almond Oil
• Avocado Oil
• Macadamia Nut Oil
• Castor Oil *
• See this article about sustainable Palm Oil.
• Wheat Germ Oil
• Grapeseed Oil
• Rice Bran Oil

Most of these oils can be found in your local supermarket or here.

Considerations when choosing oils

You can use other oils for your homemade shampoo bar. However, it would help if you tried to keep the SAP values as close as possible to those of the coconut and olive oils. Use a chart for the SAP value of the oils you choose to ensure they are within the same range.

*Castor Oil is great for hair but a little low on the scale. You’ll need to reduce the amount of lye to about one teaspoon if you choose to use this. It will balance the ratio, or you could end up with a crumbly bar because of too much lye.

PIN PRINT

Homemade DIY Shampoo Bar (Cold Process)

My recipe for DIY shampoo bars is a popular one. This homemade shampoo bar is easy to make and will leave your hair shiny and soft.

PREP TIME

20 MINUTES

ACTIVE TIME

1 HOUR

CURING TIME

28 Days of Fun

Total Time

28 DAYS ONE HOUR AND 20 MINUTES

SERVINGS

6 BARRES

ESTIMATED COUNT

$5

Equipment

• silicone soap molds

Ingredients

• 13 cups extra virgin olive oil
• Coconut oil 2/3 cup
• Cool distilled water, 3/4 cup
• Other Oil: 1/3 cup (see above list)
• 14 cup sodium hydroxide (lye)
• Essential oils 2 Tbsp

US CUSTOMARY – METRIC

Instructions

1. Before you begin, make sure that everything is ready and in order. Some of the steps will require you to work quickly.
2. Put on goggles and gloves, cover your work area, and then mix the coconut, olive, and “other” Oil in a large bowl made of glass or stainless steel. Melt any solid oils before measuring.
3. Water can be measured in a stainless steel or glass container. Use a heat-proof container to mix, as the exothermic reactions that occur when adding lye can produce temperatures of up to 200degF. Make sure to measure your lye exactly 1/4 cup. Prepare a spoon. Pour the lye slowly into the water while stirring. NEVER pour it the other way. Continue stirring the mixture until it becomes clear. Avoid fumes by standing back as you go. Let the combination of lye and water cool down to 125 degrees F.
4. Pour the lye slowly into the oils when the oil mixture reaches 75degF. The lye/water mix should be around 125degF. Stir by hand for the next five minutes. This will ensure that as many oil molecules as possible come into contact with the lye. Mix the mixture with a stick-blender ( similar to this ) after 5 minutes. Be careful not to add air. This is known as “trace”. Blend the mixture until it is thick, like vanilla pudding. Watch the video below to see how the trace looks.
5. Once you’ve reached trace, you can then add another tablespoon of “other oil.” It could be castor oil or grapeseed oil. This additional Oil will add moisture to your homemade bar of shampoo and will not be consumed by the lye. It will also add conditioning to your hair. At this stage, you can add optional essential Oil. Mix well.
6. Pour the soap into molds, and then cover them with plastic wrap. ( The silicone molds have the perfect shape. Turn it out on parchment paper or a baking rack after 24 hours. Turn the bar once or twice a week in a dry place. (Using a baking rack does not require this). After four weeks, you can use your homemade shampoo bars. The bars will become milder as they cure. The result is worth a month’s wait!

Recipe Video

Notes

Read this article to learn how to make soap. Wear goggles, gloves, and protective clothing. Cover all surfaces. When mixing lye with water, be careful, as fumes may cause a choking feeling in the throat. After a few minutes, the sensation will subside.

• Be very cautious when using lye. If not handled properly, it can cause serious burns. If you spill something, keep some white vinegar on hand.
• For this soap, I would not add dried herbs. These can become stuck in hair and are difficult to remove.
• You can also make this soap in a large mold. After the first 24 hours, cut it into bars when you remove the soap from the mold. If you wait too long, they will become too hard to miss.
• The conditioners above can help to restore your hair’s pH balance, increase shine, and prevent buildup.
• DIY Natural tested this line of hair products and loved it.

This recipe is easy to make.

Tag #diynatural or mention @diynatural!

Use Your Homemade Shampoo bar.

Wet your hair thoroughly. Rub the shampoo bar between your hands, rubbing it from scalp to end, covering every section of hair. Massage the shampoo through your hair while gently massaging your scalp. Follow with your usual conditioner or rinses, such as:

• Herbal Apple Cider Vinegar Conditioning Rinse
• Homemade Conditioner

Have you ever made a DIY homemade shampoo bar? Tell us about your experience.