There are various reasons why people have started preferring shampoo bars over normal shampoo bottles. The first and foremost reason that we completely agree with is to have a zero-waste haircare routine.
Apart from that, when it comes to DIY shampoo bars, there is also the benefit of adding ingredients that suits your hair type. For example, if you have curly hair for which you have to follow a proper guide, you can add specific ingredients that will help you in coming up with a moisturizing shampoo bar.
There are two major ways of making shampoo bars with variations according to your own ease. Hence, we will now go through both of them so that you can see which one works best for you!
Using Melt and Pour Soap Base
When the question of how to make your own shampoo bars arise, this is the easier version of answering it. There are different kinds of melt and pour soap base that you can use depending upon your hair type. For example, you can use glycerine melt and pour soap base or shea butter or even a coconut oil soap base if you think that it will be more suitable for your hair type.
Now, once you have a soap base (ideally around 1 pound, but it differs depending upon your need) you then need to cut it in smaller pieces so that you can melt it easily along with a couple of tablespoons of shea butter as it is really beneficial for your hair.
Once you have the melted version ready, you can add olive oil in it. After that, you need to add essential oils of your choice. We would recommend you use rosemary, lavender, and/or peppermint essential oils but if you have a knack for some other essential oil like sandalwood, you can go for that as well.
Mix all of this well, pour it in the mould of your choice, let it settle down. You can refrigerate it as well for 2-3hrs or just leave it out for 24hrs and you will be good to go! Yes, it is really that easy!
By Using Water/Lye Mixture
This another method that you probably have heard of but never tried is the one where you need to be a bit careful about the process. Lye which is basically sodium hydroxide is an ingredient that you need to use with extra precautions. Hence, do not forget to wear your protective gloves, mask, and goggles before dealing with it. Another thing to keep in mind while making the lye and water mixture is the fact that you always put lye in water slowly and never the other way around!
Once your lye/water mixture is ready, you can now focus on the oils that you will be using for this method. We would recommend a combination of coconut, olive, and castor oil but make sure not to use to much castor oil.
Once you have both the mixtures ready, make sure that the water/lye mixture is cooled down to a temperature closer to that of the oils and then slowly start pouring it in. After this step, you just have to add essential oils of your choice and pour them in a mould!
One last thing that you absolutely need to keep in mind while trying this method is to keep a check on the pH value, which will determine the amount of every ingredient that you are using. For this purpose, you can use a soap calculator which will make the process easier.
For more information on how Missouri College of Cosmetology can help you, contact us today.