Gentle Lavender Shampoo Bar (Hand Pressed)
Shampoo bars are so awesome! Not only they are a super-concentrated version of liquid shampoos they also reduce plastic usage, fit in every purse, and usually last way longer than traditional shampoos. I started making shampoo bars about three years ago. And let me tell you, figuring out the right amount of liquid/solid surfactants to create a perfectly lathering, foaming product that holds its shape and lasts long wasn't easy. It took a lot of time and many trials to get it right. I use it on myself and even my young kids as head-to-toe wash,,,, and they also love it!
Ingredients Overview
Sodium cocoyl isethionate - is a very highly active, finely divided, free-flowing powder (sodium cocoyl isethionate) used in syndet bars, combo bars, liquid soaps, facial cleansers, body washes, and shampoos. It has high foaming power, extreme mildness, and soft and silky skin feel.
Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate - a mild, anionic surfactant, Hostapon HTPC gives a high, dense and creamy foam
Sodium coco sulfate - is an anionic cosmos certified surfactant that produces a lot of foam and bubbles.
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate is a mild amphoteric surfactant of light color, low viscosity, low irritation, high foamability and high thickening ability. It’s widely used in mild shampoo, body wash, facial cleanser, hand soap, shaving products and so on, as primary or secondary surfactant (source)
Cetyl alcohol - Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol used as an emulsion stabilizer and opacifier, adding body and viscosity to creams and lotions, and improving texture and feel with its characteristic velvety texture. (source). In shampoo bars it acts as a hardeneer and emmoliant that adds slip to the final product.
Photo by Mikhail Nilov on
Broccoli Seed Oil is an amzing oil for skin and haircare. Its sheathing action comparable to silicones brings to the hair softness and shine without weighing them down or smothering them. Its smoothing effect helps control small curls and frizz, and is fabulous for formulating serums for damaged tips.
Photo by Alesia Kozik on
Wheatquat HT (Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein) - adds highlights to the hair and improves wet and dry combing.
💜Gentle Lavender Shampoo Bar 💜
A 56.00% SCI - Sodium cocoyl isethionate
A 22.00% Hostapon TPHC (Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate ) - you can sub it for SLSA.
A 9.00% Sodium coco sulfate - can be substituted for SLSA
A 4.00% Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate - you can use Cocamidopropyl Betaine
B 2.00% Cetyl alcohol
C 2.00% Broccoli Seed Oil
C 2.00% Wheatquat - you can sub it for Polyquartenium 7 or Honeyquat
C 1.00% Vitamin A, E, C, B5 Complex - you can use a different active that your hair loves
C 1.00% Euxyl PE 9010
C 1.00% LAVENDER MARTINI FRAGRANCE OIL (you can use a different fragrance or essential oil)
purple mica (optional)
Photo by Leah Kelley on
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Weigh and melt Cetyl Alcohol in a double boiler. (I use these KERN scales and I am super impressed with the quality of this product. Highly recommend it!)
2. Add surfactants.
3. Add the active phase ingredients and mix to combine.
4. Knead the shampoo bar dough until everything is well incorporated.
5. Press your bars using the hand-pressed method or use your favorite molds (silicone, 3D molds, etc.).
6. Place the bars in a freezer for 2-4 hours. Once frozen take them out let air dry for at least 48 hours before packaging.
If you have any questions about the recipe or the process, please let me know in the comment down below. I'll be happy to help.
I have a basic shampoo bar recipe on the blog, you could check it out and adjust as needed to make your very own customized version of the bubbly hair wash.
I also would like to remind you that I have a free spreadsheet to calculate your recipes and batch sizes here. If you are interested in having all in one system for tracking your supplies, expenses, products, product batches and formulations then feel free to check out my FREE Airtable base.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqVWVSre3pI
If you would like to support my blog you could become my patron on https://www.patreon.com/daisysbeautyjewels and get even more recipes, tips and tricks on making your won skincare products at home. Happy formulating!