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4 Hair Type Shampoo Bar Recipes

Posted by Kelly Natural Beauty 150 Comments
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I get a lot of questions asking which shampoo bar recipes are best for different hair types and which ingredients change the bar so that they effect different qualities of hair.

I’m going to try and answer a lot of those questions all in one spot by describing ingredients that effect various hair types and give you a shampoo bar recipe for each of those hair types.

4 Hair Type Shampoo Bar Recipes from Simple Life MomThis is information that I’ve learned by trial and error, as well as knowledge about specific ingredients over the years. People often tell me which shampoo bar from my shop that they prefer for their hair (Check them out by clicking here.). This has given me a great idea of what shampoo bar recipe works for people and why. So let’s dive right in to a discussion about ingredients!

Shampoo Bar Recipe: Ingredients and Superfatting

My bars are always 100% natural and healthy for your skin and hair. I never compromise for coloring and scent. You can always do without a particular fragrance oil or coloring in light of staying healthy, right? And there are so many great scent combinations out there to choose from that there’s really no room for complaint.

So what makes a good shampoo bar? The ingredients and superfat content.

Superfat or Lye Discount

Superfat or lye discount is the percentage of oils that are leftover after the saponification process. All lye is used up in the process, and a lot of the available oils are converted with the lye to something completely different: soap. Having leftover oils effects moisture content, conditioning, and hair type designation.

The superfat content is important. Some hair does better with a higher superfat content, while others do better with a lower leftover oil content.

It’s pretty simple. Dry, frizzy hair will benefit from a higher superfat content. Those leftover oils will help condition and moisturize hair. I don’t like to go above 15% because then it starts to drag the hair down after it adjusts.

Oily hair that usually feels too heavy can benefit from a slightly lower superfat content. I know someone that has fabulous hair at 2%

Average hair that is not too dry or oily does very well with 5% superfat content.

Shampoo Bar Recipe Ingredients

Ingredients are huge for the recipe! There has been debates over how much herbal, mineral, or vitamin benefits can be garnered from a short contact time on the hair and scalp with a lather and rinse, but the results speak for themselves.

It has also been shown that the vitamins and herbal additions (which survive much hotter conditions in teas, etc) survive the saponification and are still viable within cold and hot processed shampoos and soaps. After all, lye only reacts with certain types of molecules. This is why you can use plastic, glass, and stainless steele. Herbs don’t have enough triglycerides to be destroyed by lye.

So with this in mind, choosing oils high in certain vitamins and minerals becomes important.

Here is a chart to familiarize yourself with oils used in shampoo bars:

Oil Value Soap Properties
Tallow All around great ingredient for soap making. Makes a great, long lasting, cleaning and bubbly bar. Make sure to choose a free-range, natural source. Conditioning, Cleansing, Hardness, Stable Creamy Lather
Coconut Oil Coconut can be drying if it is over 45% of total oils in a soap IF you do not compensate by increasing the superfat content. it makes a wonderful cleansing, hard bar with great bubbles. Cleansing, Adds Hardness, High Lather with High Stable Bubbles
Avocado Oil High in vitamins A, B, D and E oleic and palmitoleic acids. Conditioning, Medium Creamy Lather
Babassu Oil High in vitamin E and antioxidants like phytosterols. Cleansing, Adds Hardness, High Bubbles
Castor oil 90% ricinoleic acid, which has traditionally been used to help heal skin conditions. Conditioning, Moisturizing, Creamy Lather with High Stable Bubbles.
Cocoa Butter High in vitamin E and other antioxidants. It doesn’t fully saponify, so it lends more of its properties to soap after curing. Conditioning, Moisturizing, Adds Hardness, Stable Rich Lather
Sweet Almond Oil Gentle on the skin, Has vitamin A and E and oleic and linoleic acid. Stable Medium Lather
Shea Butter Gives a silky feeling to bars. High in vitamins A and E, fatty acids and minerals. Conditioning, Adds Hardness, Stable Lather
Olive Oil Gentle oil with little cleansing properties, but high in antioxidants (Vitamin E and polyphenols). Makes a very soft soap and is best paired with a harder fat or oil. Very Conditioning, Low Cleansing
Apricot Kernel Oil High in vitamin A, C, E, linoleic and oleic acids. Too much can make soap too soft. Highly Conditioning, Moisturizing, Stable Creamy Lather
Argan Oil High in vitamin A and E and antioxidants. Conditioning, Moisturizing, Adds Hardness, Stable Rich Lather
Neem Oil Calming, gentle oil used in soaps as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial oil. Conditioning, Moisturizing, Adds Hardness, Stable Creamy Lather
Mango Butter High in Vitamin A and C and antioxidants. Conditioning, Moisturizing, Adds Hardness, Creamy Lather
Macadamia Nut Oil High in antioxidants, oleic acid, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Conditioning, Adds Hardness, Creamy Lather
Lard Makes a great, long lasting bar. Make sure to choose a free-range, natural source. Conditioning, Adds Hardness, Stable Creamy Lather
Jojoba Oil Like beeswax and cocoa butter, it doesn’t fully saponify, leaving more to hydropylic (water loving) qualities to help moisturize dry skin. Conditioning, Moisturizing, Strong Stable Lather
Hempseed Oil High in vitamins A and E, but can go bad in soap faster than other oils. Use as 5% or less of total oils for a longer lasting bar. Highly Conditioning, Low Lather
Hazelnut Oil All around great oil for soap because it cleanses, moisturizes, and creates nice bubbles. Moisturizing, Cleansing, Stable Medium Lather
Grapeseed Oil High in lioleic acid, omega 6 fatty acids, and antioxidants. Highly Conditioning, Creamy and Stable Lather

Dry or Frizzy Hair

Moisture is key! The best recipes for this type of hair have honey and milk. Both trap moisture and calm frizziness in hair.

Cocoa butter, honey, bees wax, pumpkin seed oil, and jojoba are also good for dry or frizzy hair because they do not fully saponify, leaving more of their moisturizing qualities within the shampoo bar.

Cedar and cypress essential oils increase blood flow in the scalp and help oil production. Also consider infusing horsetail for added zinc, vitamins, and omega 3s.

Superfat content 10-15%

Oily Hair

Nettle! Nettle regulates oils from the scalp so that oiliness is no longer an issue.

Tallow, Coconut, and Hazelnut oils cleanse really well and help wash excess oils from the hair.

Lower superfat content of 2-5%

Thinning Hair

Thinning hair can be dry and wispy. You don’t want to weigh it down.

Though a lot of people don’t like to hear it, palm oil is the best thing for thinning hair. I have had more people with thinning hair go nuts over my palm oil shampoo recipe than any other bar. You can research companies and learn if they are harvesting on their own field and replenishing instead of wiping out hillsides. There are a number of good companies out there now that awareness has been raised.

5% superfat seems to be the best.

Use shea butter, cocoa butter, neem oil with horsetail infused oils or water.

Try rosemary, cypress, clary sage, and lemon essential oils for revitalization and stimulation of the scalp.

All Purpose Shampoo bar

I recommend nettle again. Love my nettle shampoo bar!

Superfat around 5%

A great Tallow or Babassu bar that cleanses well with milk to help condition and moisturize.

Castor oil and avocado oil are great additions to an all hair types shampoo bar recipe.

Natural Shampoo Recipes for All Hair Types

So here you go! A recipe for all hair types. Feel free to adjust as you desire. Let me know if you have any questions, and share your experiences with shampoo bars and their ingredients below.

4 Hair Type Shampoo Bar Recipes by Simple Life Mom

Dry or Frizzy Hair Shampoo Bar Recipe

This recipe is formulated for dry or frizzy hair and makes 12 four ounce bars or 3lbs of soap.

Milk and honey bars can become overheated, so only cover lightly, if at all, if you make this during the summer. Watch for the soap to become too dark or begin to crack, both of which are signs that it is beginning to overheat (though soap always turns translucent and darker during gel phase of curing).

Superfat: 10%

Ingredients:

  • 10 ounces coconut oil
  • 10 ounces olive oil
  • 5 ounces cocoa butter
  • 5 ounces castor oil
  • 3 ounces jojoba
  • 2 ounces pumpkin seed oil
  • 7 ounces filtered water
  • 6 ounces goat milk or organic whole milk
  • 4.5 ounces lye
  • 1 Tablespoon raw honey
  • 1 ounce essential oil of choice (Try cypress and rosemary)

Directions:

    1. Combine coconut oil, olive oil, cocoa butter, castor oil, jojoba, and pumpkin seed oil in a stainless steel pot and melt over medium/low heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
    2. Weigh water and milk and place in the freezer until frozen of slushy.
    3. Outside, wearing proper safety gear including gloves and a mask, pour lye crystals into milk water and stir until dissolved. Allow to cool to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If oils or lye water are not cooling at the same rate, use a cold water bath in the sink.
    4. When both lye water and oils are at the correct temperature, pour lye water into oils and mix with a hand or stick mixer until medium trace.
    5. Add raw honey and essential oil and blend well.
    6. Pour into mold and insulate for 24 hours.
    7. Remove from mold and cut.
    8. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks in a cool, non-humid location.

Oily Hair Shampoo Bar Recipe

This recipe is for people with oily hair, hair that gets oils in sections or all over, or becomes oily quickly after washing. The nettle helps to regulate the scalp’s oil production.

Superfat: 5%

Ingredients:

  • 10 ounces tallow or lard
  • 7 ounces coconut oil
  • 7 ounces olive oil
  • 5 ounces castor oil
  • 3 ounces hazelnut oil
  • 1 tablespoon dried nettle powder or enough fresh nettle to fill water pot
  • 12 ounces filtered water
  • 4.5 ounces lye
  • 1 ounce essential oil of choice (Try rosemary, tea tree, and grapefruit)

Directions:

  1. Combine tallow, coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, and hazelnut oil in a stainless steel pot and melt over medium/low heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Outside, wearing proper safety gear including gloves and a mask, pour lye crystals into water and stir until dissolved. Add nettle powder to lye water and allow to cool to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If oils or lye water are not cooling at the same rate, use a cold water bath in the sink.
    • If you have fresh nettle, create a nettle “tea” before hand by heating the water in a saucepan and add enough nettle to fill pot. Heat over low heat for 15 minutes, remove nettle leaves, and allow to cool. Take outside and add lye carefully using protective safety gear.
  3. When both lye water and oils are at the correct temperature, pour lye water into oils and mix with a hand or stick mixer until medium trace.
  4. Add essential oil and blend well.
  5. Pour into mold and insulate for 24 hours.
  6. Remove from mold and cut.
  7. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks in a cool, non-humid location.

Thinning Hair Shampoo Bar Recipe

Superfat: 10%

Ingredients:

  • 9 ounces palm oil
  • 9 ounces coconut oil
  • 5 ounces castor oil
  • 5 ounces cocoa butter
  • 4 ounces olive oil
  • 1 ounces shea butter
  • 1 ounces neem oil
  • 12.9 ounces filtered water
  • 4.6 ounces lye
  • 1 ounce essential oil of choice (Try clary sage and lemon)

Directions:

  1. Combine palm oil, coconut oil, castor oil, cocoa butter, olive oil, shea butter, neem oil in a stainless steel pot and melt over medium/low heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Outside, wearing proper safety gear including gloves and a mask, pour lye crystals into water and stir until dissolved. Allow to cool to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If oils or lye water are not cooling at the same rate, use a cold water bath in the sink.
  3. When both lye water and oils are at the correct temperature, pour lye water into oils and mix with a hand or stick mixer until medium trace.
  4. Add essential oil and blend.
  5. Pour into mold and insulate for 24 hours.
  6. Remove from mold and cut.
  7. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks in a cool, non-humid location.

All Purpose Shampoo Bar Recipe

This is a great all purpose shampoo bar with great oils for all hair types.

Superfat: 10%

Ingredients:

  • 9 ounces coconut oil
  • 9 ounces olive oil
  • 6 ounces castor oil
  • 5 ounces cocoa butter
  • 4 ounces apricot kernel oil
  • 1 ounces shea butter
  • 1 ounces bees wax
  • 13 ounces filtered water
  • 4.6 ounces lye
  • 1 ounce essential oil of choice

Directions:

  1. Combine coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, cocoa butter, apricot kernel oil, shea butter, and bees wax in a stainless steel pot and melt over medium/low heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Outside, wearing proper safety gear including gloves and a mask, pour lye crystals into water and stir until dissolved. Allow to cool to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If oils or lye water are not cooling at the same rate, use a cold water bath in the sink. When you have absolutely no idea how to survive alone in the wilderness you need to be prepared. At timetoprepare.net , you will find helpful tips and tricks to survive without food in the nature. Don’t worry if you don’t know how this is possible because all of it has been thoughtfully explained!
  3. When both lye water and oils are at the correct temperature, pour lye water into oils and mix with a hand or stick mixer until medium trace.
  4. Add essential oil and blend well.
  5. Pour into mold and insulate for 24 hours.
  6. Remove from mold and cut.
  7. Allow to cure for 4-6 weeks in a cool, non-humid location.


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150 Comments

150 Comments

Leave your reply.
  • Bryan
    · Reply

    August 7, 2019 at 11:02 AM

    This all sounds great, but what you don’t mention what equipment can be used to cut the resulting product. It would help if you had step-by-step photos of the process.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      August 11, 2019 at 9:26 AM

      If you’re new to soap making check out my instruction videos and articles from the soap tab in the menu.

    • Christine Hollifield
      · Reply

      October 7, 2021 at 8:29 AM

      What shampoo bar would you suggest for someone with psoriasis of the scalp?
      Does the Lye water have to cool down before adding it to the oils if using the hot process in a crockpot?

      • Kelly
        · Reply

        Author
        October 7, 2021 at 4:19 PM

        I would use a shampoo with a higher superfat content- 15% perhaps. I would also add lavender and tea tree, but keep it light in case the skin is sensitive.
        Yes, let the lye water cool, even with hot process. It comes to trace without a lot of issues you may run into if you don’t.

  • AnnMarie Lewellyn
    · Reply

    September 11, 2019 at 10:51 AM

    What a detailed and helpful post! I’ve printed and shared this one! I’ve always wanted to use shampoo bars but never tried because I really didn’t understand the workings. This has answered all my questions and more! I would love if you would share this on the Farm Fresh Tuesday Blog Hop! So many people would benefit from it! Great post!

    • KJ
      · Reply

      September 25, 2019 at 8:53 AM

      This is super helpful!! I’m excited to try to make some! Any tips on scents? I love anything vanilla or fall smelling…does the scent last?

      • Kelly
        · Reply

        Author
        September 26, 2019 at 9:26 AM

        Vanilla combines really well with other scents like orange, cinnamon, clove if you want to make some Fall scents. Those last wonderfully in shampoo bars.

      • Linda Biddiscombe
        · Reply

        March 5, 2020 at 12:52 AM

        I am so excited to try one of these recipes tonight. I have attempted 3 basic bars so far but all leave my hair with what feels like a heavy film on my thin hair. Any suggestions would be welcomed
        thank you, Linda ????

        • Kelly
          · Reply

          Author
          March 5, 2020 at 6:58 PM

          Definitely use a pH balancer. You may have hard water. Try spraying with a diluted 50% water and apple cider vinegar as a conditioner after washing. Spray and rinse.

  • Matilde
    · Reply

    September 24, 2019 at 11:29 AM

    Hi! Very grateful for your blog post, it was exactly what I was looking for.
    I just have a question: is it possible to make all these recipes applying the hot process of soapmaking?
    Thank you so much 🙂

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      September 26, 2019 at 9:20 AM

      Yes, all cold process soap recipes can be made with hot process. The process is different and elements like layering and coloring can be effected, but that just means you have to do things a little differently. The recipe ingredients stay the same.

  • Cindy
    · Reply

    September 29, 2019 at 2:18 PM

    Hi! Fantastic post! I was wondering if you pH tested the final product around cure time; if so, what was the range? Thanks!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      September 30, 2019 at 5:30 PM

      Only if I’m in a rush. After a good 4 weeks they are always around 8. Slightly basic, which is why using a diluted acv spray as a conditioner is good for the hair.

      • Joyce
        · Reply

        October 1, 2020 at 5:22 PM

        I use hair color, would shampoo bars strip the color.

        • Kelly
          · Reply

          Author
          October 3, 2020 at 1:55 PM

          I haven’t had any problems and I’ve had a lot of people tell me the same thing; that shampoo bars don’t strip hair color.

  • Matilde Pacheco
    · Reply

    October 9, 2019 at 3:07 PM

    Hello again! Thanks for your answer.
    I’ve another question, did you test Ph levels on your shampoo bars after they cured?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      October 9, 2019 at 7:35 PM

      Nope. No need. If you wait 4 weeks then they will be very slightly basic naturally. That’s why I recommend a very diluted acid (acv) as a conditioner.

  • Pascale Bika
    · Reply

    October 14, 2019 at 2:50 PM

    Hi,
    Thank you for these amazing recipe’s, I do have a question regarding the water percent of oil weight ratio that you would use regarding these recipes.

    Thank you

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      October 14, 2019 at 9:43 PM

      I like to use 35-38% water

  • Kelly
    · Reply

    Author
    October 28, 2019 at 4:50 PM

    No, depending on the ingredients I like shampoo bars with a lower superfat due to weighing down the hair. The moisture will come from the other ingredients. Some of the recipes are made with 5% while others are 10%

  • Sheri
    · Reply

    December 26, 2019 at 1:01 AM

    Approximately how many bars does your dry/frizzy recipe make?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      December 30, 2019 at 9:39 AM

      They all make 12 four ounce bars.

  • Gail
    · Reply

    December 30, 2019 at 10:42 AM

    What a knowledgeable and thorough post . Very helpful. I take internet articles with a grain of salt usually, but I have grown to trust yours completely, also love your soap making book which has great instructions and explanations. Thank you

  • Charley
    · Reply

    January 2, 2020 at 12:47 PM

    Thank you for your very thorough post! I’m new to soap-making but not to making all sorts of other homemade products from scratch, such as deodorant, toothpaste, lotions, etc. So this is probably a pretty basic soap question. Can any of these shampoo bars be used as regular soap as well? Or would some of them be too rough on the skin? I’d like to eventually make an all-in-one soap bar for shampoo and body/face for my husband when he travels. He’s got oily hair but his skin is not at all sensitive so I was hoping that the Oily Bar you’ve listed might be safe for skin/face. Thank you in advance, and thanks again for your help in getting me into soap making!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 3, 2020 at 1:38 PM

      Yes, the body bars are wonderful on the skin. Very gentle and moisturizing.

  • Pat
    · Reply

    January 6, 2020 at 11:47 AM

    The nettle powder you list in the recipe , is it root or leaf powder ? I just want to make sure I order the correct one .

  • Gennifer Martin
    · Reply

    January 12, 2020 at 9:43 PM

    These are very helpful thank you. What would be the best ratio for oily thinning hair? My roots are oily and gets oily fast but the bottom part of my hair is dry and thinning. I love bar shampoos but i haven’t found that right one for my combination of haor types. Please help

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      January 13, 2020 at 10:26 AM

      A palm oil soap with no milk or honey would be best for you hair. Use diluted acv in the shower, then follow up with a homemade conditioner bar on the bottoms only.

      • Jacqui
        · Reply

        November 21, 2020 at 7:56 AM

        Hi Kelly, I’m super excited to make these for my family, thank you for your post!

        I’m the same as Gennifer (especially after years of dying my hair!), have you got a recipe for combination hair specifically?

        Also, I have a few newbie questions
        1. When you talk about adding essential oils, do you mean to fold it in or use the stick blender?
        2. When you say insulate, what do you mean exactly? How do you insulate it?
        3. Lastly, have you EO suggestions for your all purpose and oily bars?

        Thanks for everything, love your site!

        • Kelly
          · Reply

          Author
          November 21, 2020 at 7:53 PM

          I’d recommend using the nettle for combination hair. It’s great at balancing.
          Add essential oils and use the stick blender to make sure they’re fully incorporated.
          Insulate by placing a lid and towels under and over your soap mold. If your house is very warm then you can often just cover and it’ll be fine. You want an even heat from the saponification, but you don’t want it to overheat.
          Rosemary is always a great essential oil for hair. Use what appeals to you for all purpose. Tea tree and grapefruit are great for oily hair.

          • Jacquie

            November 28, 2020 at 4:15 AM

            Thanks Kelly! ?

  • Suzy
    · Reply

    February 6, 2020 at 4:48 AM

    HI Kelly,
    Yesterday I tried your recipe All Purpose Shampoo Bar and I did something wrong… but bars are not getting hard. There is an oil on the top of the bars and they are still pretty soft even day after.
    I added 1 tsp red clay and 1 tps goat milk powder during the pudding faze and 5 mls of lavender oil on top of your initial recipe.
    Was that wrong thing to do and can I do something to correct this mess now ?
    Will shampoo bars get hard at all or I destroyed it completely?
    Thank you for your advise in advance
    Best
    Suzy

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      February 7, 2020 at 2:56 PM

      Often oil pockets means either you didn’t stir it well enough (you have to seriously blend) and oil was not combined so you got a false trace, or it over heated. The milk solids can definitely make it overheat. It’s hard to tell without me being there to see it, but you can rebatch. Just make sure before you do that too much lye is not the issue. Usually the creates a chalky crumbly bar though. Place it all in a crock pot on low and cover with plastic wrap. Don’t let moisture out during the process. Uncover and stir briefly and recover. Let it melt slowly until it’s all bubbly and like mashed potatoes. Then uncover, mix very well, and remove to a prepared mold. You can use as soon as it is cooled and hardened.

  • Suzy
    · Reply

    February 9, 2020 at 4:37 AM

    so, no extra lye needed? just let it melt and cook until mashed potato?
    Will try. Thank you for your advice Kelly..
    All-Purpose Shampoo Bar Purpose Shampoo Bars I made on the 5. Feb that I told you about are still in the silicon mold and the situation is: oil is separated and harden on the top and the rest is kind of hard but still soft when touched. Nothing like a standard bar of soap suppose to be.
    I will let you know what happens
    Best
    Suzy

  • Shasta
    · Reply

    March 17, 2020 at 3:42 PM

    What can I substitute for pumpkin seed oil in the recipe for dry hair bar? I cannot find any at my local stores and prefer to shop local as much as possible. I can find every other oil you use in all the recipes on this page, just not pumpkin seed oil.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      March 17, 2020 at 8:59 PM

      In that recipe you can add more olive oil or add another oil like sweet almond, avocado, or organic canola.

  • Sara Philkill
    · Reply

    March 27, 2020 at 11:40 PM

    In the recipe for all hair types, what can I use to recipe
    The apricot kernel
    Oil? Or can I just use more of one of the other oils in the recipe? Thank you! I also have palm
    Oil.

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      March 29, 2020 at 6:50 PM

      You can use more of one of the other liquid oils without too much change to the recipe. I usually run any changes through a lye calculator to be sure.

  • Cailey Leu
    · Reply

    April 7, 2020 at 9:32 PM

    Thank you very much for sharing all this knowledge! Would you be able to recommend an alternative to tallow (I’d love to try the recipe for the oily hair shampoo bar)? Is there a non-animal derived alternative?
    Many thanks xx

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      April 11, 2020 at 1:49 PM

      There’s not a one to one vegan substitute. It’s more like reworking the recipe.

      Instead of the tallow, add 6 ounces of cocoa butter and change the amount of coconut oil to 9 ounces. Lye: 4.3 ounces, Water 11.2 ounces

  • Jane Pinter
    · Reply

    April 18, 2020 at 7:05 PM

    Thank you Kelly,
    I almost know how to soap but I know I can learn more and get more confident. You have been so generous with your recipes and explanations that I am going to buy your book tonight! Thank you again.
    Jane
    P.S. Do you have a book on Body bath products and maybe lotions?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      April 21, 2020 at 3:48 PM

      I have a bath and body book in my etsy shop: http://simplelifemom.etsy.com

  • Meredith
    · Reply

    April 20, 2020 at 2:35 PM

    Hi Kelly!

    I am wondering if I could a melt and pour goats milk base. I am new to this and don’t have the materials to handle lye yet. I would like to make one for curly/dry hair, so I am wondering what fat percentages I should use for a 1/2 lbs batch of goats milk base. Should I also add in citric acid?

  • rachael
    · Reply

    April 25, 2020 at 6:57 PM

    Question for shampoo. What would you suggest for a kid who has sensitive skin and dry scalp?

    THANK YOU

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      April 26, 2020 at 9:07 AM

      Definitely a homemade shampoo for starters. You are in control of the ingredients. I’d use a nettle shampoo (I have a recipe on here as well as sell it in my shop) to regulate scalp oils and calm the scalp. You can also use a milk and honey shampoo bar to add moisture.

  • Sara Philkill
    · Reply

    April 27, 2020 at 6:40 AM

    HI there,

    Last night I made the All Purpose Shampoo Bar, but I forgot to add the beeswax! Will it be ok?
    Should I melt it down and add the beeswax and if so do I need to blend it again?

    Thanks!
    Sara

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      April 27, 2020 at 8:51 AM

      I would see how it turns out first. It should still set nicely with a higher super fat content, slightly less hard and without the beeswax quality to the shampoo but you should still be fine.

  • Rebecca Bonnevie
    · Reply

    May 6, 2020 at 6:25 AM

    I dont have neem oil for the thinning hair recipe.can I substitute rose hip or jojoba oil?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      May 12, 2020 at 9:56 PM

      Yes you can. I would use jojoba.

  • Rebecca Bonnevie
    · Reply

    May 9, 2020 at 7:14 AM

    I only have neem essential oil. What do I do?

  • Claire irwin
    · Reply

    May 25, 2020 at 9:09 AM

    Hi, I’m new to soap making and would love to try your shampoo bars. Could you tell me if you ounces are us or uk please

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      May 30, 2020 at 8:04 PM

      They are US, but as long as you are consistent you can use UK

  • Alisha
    · Reply

    May 28, 2020 at 2:50 AM

    Hi Kelly I love your shampoo bars recipes. Is it possible to make these recipes using the hot process method?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      May 30, 2020 at 7:50 PM

      Yes! You can generally use any cold process recipe in a hot process.

  • Jen
    · Reply

    May 28, 2020 at 12:11 PM

    Hi! I want to try making your all hair types bar. However, I love my old almond shampoo. Can I substitute one of the oils with sweet almond oil? If so, which one would your recommend I switch? Also, is the all types bar okay for colored hair? Thanks!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      May 30, 2020 at 7:49 PM

      In these recipes you can replace it for hazelnut, jojoba, neem, and apricot kernel oil. All of those do different things for hair. I recommend them over the sweet almond oil, but if you really want to use it you’ll still get a great shampoo.

  • Terri
    · Reply

    June 3, 2020 at 6:02 PM

    I just discovered your site and love it! I tried the Nettle Shampoo Bar and three days later, it’s still sticky and a little gooey in the mold. Should I just keep waiting? Thanks!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      June 6, 2020 at 11:59 AM

      By now it should be hard. Did it overheat? It would have bubbled or cracked. Sometimes overheating causes softness for a much longer time.
      The only other things could be not enough lye or too cold temperatures.

  • Anita
    · Reply

    June 14, 2020 at 1:39 AM

    If you want your nettle soap bar to get a little more natural green. You can make a natural green colour with nettles called chlorofyl by collecting 250 grams of fresh nettle tops and adding 500 grams of water, use a blender and mix for several minutes. Poor the mushy mixture through a fine cloth and collect the liquid. Heat up the liquid. If it reaches 70°C particals will start floating together on the top of the liquid. Do not let it go over 80°C, turn the gas off if it reaches 80. Strain again, but this time collect the mushy bits and discard of the liquid (let it cool and give to your plants) the mushy bit is the chlorofyl and depending on the plants gives a beautiful green colour Tot your soap bar. I’ve used 22 grams of it on one loaf and ad it when you would add essential oils. Have fun with it. Greetings from Holland
    Anita

  • rachael
    · Reply

    June 16, 2020 at 9:15 AM

    Two questions: What do you suggest for shampoo&conditioner for someone’s hair- In constant heat, swims in pool with chlorine and has thinning hair..

    What do you suggest for shapoo&conditioner fo someone with oily hair but dry scalp??

    Thank you!!!!

  • Lídia
    · Reply

    July 13, 2020 at 3:59 PM

    Hi Kelly,

    I want to try your Oily Hair Shampoo Bar Recipe, but I don’t want to use tallow or lard. Can you please recommend a vegetable substitute? I would very much appreciate it. I am so frustrated with my oily hair and I have tried a few recipes, I am looking for hazelnut oil as well and hope to hear from you to complete the recipe if possible.

    Thx again Lídia

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      July 13, 2020 at 9:19 PM

      You can substitute Lard or tallow with Babassu oil. You can use jojoba instead of the hazelnut oil if you can’t find it.

  • Anna Dong
    · Reply

    July 25, 2020 at 11:23 PM

    How much soap does the recipe make? Great post!

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      July 27, 2020 at 9:42 AM

      They all make 3lbs of soap or 12 four ounce bars.

  • Victoria Magruder
    · Reply

    August 2, 2020 at 1:19 PM

    Hello! I have a couple of questions if you don’t mind. I’m making soap and some deo as a first and I came across info about whipped shea butter. If you whip it then will that mess up the measurements in the recipes? Also, I am wanting to either do the dry fluffy recipe or the all purpose that has the 10% superfast. Will either one work as a body bar as well?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      August 8, 2020 at 2:03 PM

      Measure before whipping. A cup of whipped shea butter will be a lot less than 1 cup of non whipped.
      Shampoo bars make great body bars. They’re very nourishing.

  • Manon
    · Reply

    August 3, 2020 at 10:28 AM

    Hi,
    These are so good and i can get a lot of information on soapmaking. I have tried making cold and hot process soap , but my problem is that it does not harden much and melts fast. I have read to use cetyl alcohol or sodium Lactate or even sea salt. Which can help?
    Thanks,
    Manon

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      August 8, 2020 at 2:01 PM

      Reduce the water content of your recipe for a faster cure. Use hard oils like lard, tallow, cocoa butter, and palm kernel oil, instead of all or a majority of liquid oils. Doing these two things will give you harder bars that last longer.

  • Peter D
    · Reply

    August 20, 2020 at 11:06 PM

    You’ve made me so happy, I’ve had psoriasis on my scalp from stress and a complete burnout after two loved ones passed and my mom told me to use neem oil, to remedy the situation going on, on my scalp, but it’s so hard to use, because neem oil is sticky and messy, but now I’ll be trying the shampoo bar recipe instead and hope it works just as well, THANK YOU ?

  • Shari
    · Reply

    September 14, 2020 at 5:27 PM

    Hello there! I’m a former soap maker, and it’s been awhile. I just found your site and want to try your shampoo bars. Would these work well with oven processing? Thanks for all the info and recipes; I will visit often!