Simple Shampoo Bar Without Lye

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Shampoo bars are becoming more popular because they include simple ingredients, are easy to travel with, and are zero waste.  Making your own simple shampoo bar without lye is easy to do and can even save you money from buying bottles at the store.

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What is a shampoo bar?

Shampoo bars are similar to a bar of soap in that they are a solid bar of shampoo.  Shampoo bars are usually less harsh on your hair, while still cleansing your hair and scalp.

There are many different varieties when it comes to shampoo bars based on the ingredients used.  Regardless, they use cleansing oils to clean your hair and give it moisture without drying it out.  

Making your own DIY shampoo bar is a great way to tailor your hair needs while adding the oils and scents you prefer.

You’ll also save money & save the environment with this zero-waste shampoo option.

How do you make a shampoo bar for beginners?

The easiest way to make a shampoo bar is to use a melt & pour soap base.  This is a ready-to-use solid bar of soap base that has already gone through the saponification process (turned to soap) & ready to be melted and mixed to make skincare products.

If you’re a beginner, I don’t recommend using lye as it can be messy & needs to be used with caution.  The melt & pour soap bases are a great place to start. They also mix easily with other oils & fragrances.

What oils are good for shampoo bars?

This recipe calls for aloe vera soap base, castor oil, & shea butter as they are all super beneficial when it comes to your hair.

Aloe Vera Soap Base

Aloe vera is a luxurious and silky oil that soothes & moisturizes your scalp and hair.  The melt & pour soap base lathers really well while also offering many benefits for your hair. 

Aloe vera is good for all skin types, it has antibacterial & anti-inflammatory properties, while also nourishing your scalp.

Castor Oil

Castor oil offers a ton of health and beauty benefits.  It works wonders when it comes to your hair.  Castor oil protects your hair follicles & promotes hair growth.  It also works as a de-tangler to keep your tangles at bay while you wash your hair.

Other benefits of castor oil are nourishing dry scalp & strengthening your hair.  All of the benefits of castor oil make it a clear option when creating your own shampoo.

Shea Butter

A well known ingredient is shea butter when it comes to moisturizing and nourishing in skin care.  Shea butter is also great for your hair.  It contains vitamin A & E which helps to add moisture and shine to your hair. 

Just like aloe, shea butter has anti-inflammatory properties which helps to soothe the scalp & prevent dryness and itchiness.

Shea butter offers moisture while also treating and protecting your scalp.

Essential Oils For Hair Care

There are many options for the essential oils you can put in your shampoo for hair benefits.

• Lavender oil – promotes hair growth & improves scalp health
• Peppermint Oil – enhances blood circulation & hair growth
• Rosemary oil – good for hair growth
• Lemongrass oil – great for dandruff treatment
• Tea tree oil – cleansing properties & improves hair growth
• Ylang ylang oil – improves hair texture & reduce damage
• Lemon oil – controls oil buildup & cleanses scalp

How much essential oil should I put in my shampoo bar?

For one bar of shampoo, you can use 5-10 drops of essential oil total.  Mix the oils you want together to equal 5-10 drops total.

This recipe calls for 4 drops lemon oil & 2 drops peppermint oil.  It creates a very mild & fresh scent in the shampoo.

Which soap base is best?

There are many melt & pour soap base options to choose from when making your own beauty products.  One of the traits I look for in the soap base is how well it lathers when it comes to making a shampoo bar and how well it moisturizes.

The best lathering soap bases are

• Goat milk
• Aloe Vera
• Oatmeal
• Honey 
• Castile

The best moisturizing soap bases are

• Shea Butter 
• Aloe Vera
• Goat Milk
• Honey

If you want the best of both worlds, I would go with Goat milk, Aloe vera, or Honey soap base when making a shampoo bar.

Making Your Own Shampoo Bar

Making a shampoo bar is as easy as melting oils & pouring into a soap mold.  It is quick and easy when you use the melt & pour soap base.

Tools & Ingredients

Tools needed:

• Double boiler
• Soap molds

Ingredients:

• ¼ lb Organic Aloe Vera Melt & Pour Soap Base
• ¼ tsp Shea butter
• ½ tsp Castor oil
• Optional: 5-10 drops essential oil (I use 4 drops lemon, 2 drops peppermint)

Instructions

1. Use the double boiler to melt the aloe vera melt & pour soap base.
2. Add shea butter to double boiler and allow to melt
3. Next, remove from heat & mix in castor oil, & essential oils.
4. Lastly, pour into soap mold & let sit at room temperature for 2-3 hours.  Then, it is ready to use!

Tips For Making

• Spritz your soap mold with rubbing alcohol to help prevent air bubbles.
• If you don’t have a double boiler, you can use a ceramic bowl over a pot full of water.
• If you don’t have soap mold, use a muffin tin with a muffin liner.
• Keep shampoo bar off of wet surfaces to keep it fresh.  Use a soap dish for best storage option.
• You can use any other melt & pour base you choose such as goat’s milk & coconut oil.  They will lather slightly differently, but still work well.
• You can leave out the essential oils or choose other blends.

How To Use A Shampoo Bar

Shampoo bars are very similar to a bar of soap.  You’ll wet the bar down and then rub it a little bit to make it start to sud up.

To use on your hair, it is best to brush your hair first to prevent tangles.  Wet your hair like normal in the shower.  Start moving the shampoo bar in a circular motion all around your scalp until it is covered in suds.  If you have longer hair, make sure to lift it up and rub it underneath your hair as well.

After your scalp is nice and sudsy, use your fingers to massage your scalp and start dragging the suds down into the tips of your hair.  You can even pull the tips up on top of your head to massage them in the suds.

Rinse your hair like normal and then condition your hair.

How to Care For & Store

The best way to store it is somewhere dry and on a soap dish.  Your shampoo will last the longest if it is not constantly sitting in moisture.  

After you wash your hair, give your shampoo bar a rinse and then set it on the soap dish.  Letting your soap dry on a soap dish will keep it from molding & help it to last longer.

FAQ

Why does my hair feel greasy after using a shampoo bar?

Shampoo bars, when made with simple ingredients, don’t strip your hair like a store-bought shampoo does.  Your hair will need a few washes to get used to the natural oils from the shampoo bar.  

For best results, only rub the shampoo bar around your scalp and then use the excess suds from your scalp to massage down through your tips.  You don’t want to use too much of the shampoo bar as it will leave extra oil in your hair, which makes it feel greasy.

Do shampoo bars need conditioners?

For best results after a shampoo bar, you’ll want to condition your hair.  You can use your normal conditioner or for a natural conditioner, pour 1 part apple cider vinegar – 1 part water mixture in your hair and then rinse.

How much essential oil should I put in my shampoo bar?

For 1 bar of shampoo, use 5-10 drops of essential oil.

What oils are good for shampoo bars?

Some of the best & common oils to use in your shampoo are shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, & argan oil.

How long does a shampoo bar last?

You can store your bar for up to a year.  It is best to use it within 3-6 months after washing with it because exposure to water starts to weaken its preservation properties.

Your shampoo bar can last up to 60 washes when used properly and depending on your hair length.  This is a great way to save money!

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Posts on this blog are for informational or educational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with expert professionals. Always do your own research if pregnant, nursing, or dealing with young children.

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