Cold-process shampoo bars are easy to make at a low cost and have amazing benefits for your hair. Made with nourishing ingredients and pure essential oils, these shampoo bars are the perfect all-natural solution.
It seems as if most people are switching to more natural hair care and skin care routines these days. Homemade shampoo, “no-poo,” and shampoo bars are all the rave these days.
It may take a little bit for your hair to adjust to natural products, but once it does, you will never go back. Making your own shampoo will save you a lot of money over time and is better for your health.
With a few simple ingredients, you will be able to whip up your own shampoo bar that lathers, cleanses and helps with hair growth.
DIY SHAMPOO BARS
If you are not much of a soap maker or DIYer, you can make a melt and pour shampoo bar. Though they work great, you can’t customize them as much as cold-process bars.
Plus, making soap from scratch is cheaper than using a melt and pour soap base. I actually started with melt and pour bases, frankly, because I was hesitant to mess with lye.
Lye is the ingredient needed to make all soap and can be dangerous if handled incorrectly.
HOW TO MAKE LYE SOAP SAFELY
When mixing the lye into the water, avoid breathing in the fumes. Always work in a well-ventilated room, or even better, outside.
Wear safety goggles, gloves, and long sleeves as lye can be very dangerous if it gets in the eyes or on the skin. Don’t worry, once the lye is mixed with the fats, it is not dangerous anymore. Remember, lye is in all soap, so it isn’t as scary as it sounds.
Before whipping up a batch of cold-process soap, be sure to have a spray bottle of vinegar nearby as vinegar can neutralize the lye.
WHY MAKE SOLID SHAMPOO BARS?
Solid shampoo is the way to go if you are a traveler. It makes it much easier to get through airport security and you don’t have to worry about spilling any liquid.
Solid shampoo bars are easy to customize, cost-effective, and take up very little space. They lather up well and are easy to use.
WHICH FATS ARE BEST FOR HOMEMADE SHAMPOO BARS?
When making any soap bar, you will need fat. Tallow, shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, olive oil, and castor oil are some of the most popular choices.
Tallow soap bars are amazing for the skin and coconut bars are very moisturizing; when choosing a fat for your homemade shampoo bar, you will want to choose according to your hair type.
Tallow
High in vitamins A, D, K, and E, moisturizing, and makes a long-lasting shampoo bar.
Best for dry, frizzy hair
Coconut Oil
Promotes hair growth, hydrates scalp and hair, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory.
Best for dry, thinning hair
Olive Oil
Contains antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, anti-bacterial properties
Best for dull hair
Castor Oil
Stimulates hair follicles, hydrates hair and scalp, and contains vitamin E and fatty acids
Best for thinning hair and split ends
Avocado Oil
High in oleic acid, contains vitamin E, rich in antioxidants
Best for damaged and dry hair
Mango Butter
Rich in vitamin A, E, and mangiferin, very hydrating
Best for dry hair and can help with dandruff
Cocoa Butter
Moisturizing and conditioning, provides shine, protects against split ends, and softens hair.
Best for dull hair with split ends
Shea Butter
High in vitamins A and E along with essential fatty acids
Best for frizzy hair
HOW TO MAKE COLD-PROCESS SHAMPOO BARS
I am using tallow, olive oil, shea butter, and castor oil for my shampoo bar. This blend works great for most hair types and will help to strengthen damaged hair and hydrate dry hair.
I used a soap calculator to get the exact measurements. If you want to change up the recipe at all, you will need to get new measurements to make sure your shampoo bar comes out right and use the correct lye-water mixture.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- Thick glass bowl or jar, make sure it is heat resistant
- Safety goggles
- Rubber gloves
- Immersion blender
- Digital Scale
- Soap molds
INGREDIENTS NEEDED:
- 10 ounces tallow
- 8 ounces olive oil
- 8 ounces shea butter
- 8 ounces castor oil
- 4.41 ounces lye
- 9.86 ounces distilled water
- 15-20 drops essential oils, optional
STEP BY STEP PROCESS:
- Using a digital scale, measure out your water and pour it into a heat-resistant glass bowl or jar.
- Measure out the lye and add it to the water. Stir the lye into the water slowly and stir until it dissolves. NEVER add water to the lye, only lye to water.
- Using the digital scale, measure out the tallow, olive oil, shea butter, and castor oil. Pour into a saucepan and melt over medium heat.
- Once the ingredients are melted, allow them to cool back down to 100 degrees.
- Once the fats cool to 100 degrees, it is time to mix the lye water with the oils. Slowly add the lye and water to the oils, mix with an immersion blender. This will take a couple of minutes. You will know it is the right consistency when the soap from the blender drips and pools up at the top of the soap in the saucepan. This is known as the trace.
- If using essential oils, add those in now. Stir well.
- Pour the soap into the soap molds. If using silicone soap molds, you don’t have to do any prep before pouring it in. Other molds may require parchment paper.
- Allow the soap to harden in the molds for at least 24 hours or up to 3 days.
- Remove the soap from the molds and allow it to cure for 3-4 weeks before using.
ESSENTIAL OIL SHAMPOO BAR
As mentioned above, you can add essential oils to your shampoo bar. The essential oils will customize your soap even more and give your bar a beautiful scent.
Some of the best essential oils for hair include rosemary, lavender, tea tree, peppermint, cedarwood, and sandalwood. As with the fats, choosing your essential oils will depend on hair type.
Essential Oil | Benefits | Hair Type |
Lavender | Produces hair follicles to help strengthen and lengthen hair, promotes calmness, gentle on the skin. | Thinning, sensitive |
Peppermint | Promotes hair growth and thickness, cooling and soothing effect | Damaged |
Rosemary | Helps with growth and thickness, is great for dry hair as well as overly oily hair, and can help prevent split ends. | Dry, oily |
Tea Tree | Cleansing and purifying, reduces itch and can help get rid of lice and dandruff. | Itchy, dirty |
Cedarwood | Stimulates hair follicles and increases circulation to the scalp making it a top oil for hair loss | Thinning |
HOW TO USE HOMEMADE SHAMPOO BARS
If you are used to liquid shampoo, you may be wondering how to use a shampoo bar. Similar to bar soap, once it gets a little wet, it will start to lather up.
Once sudsy, use your hands to massage it into the scalp and hair. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before washing it out with warm water.
After washing your hair with a shampoo bar, condition the hair with a natural conditioner and follow up with some hair styling cream.
HOW LONG WILL MY SHAMPOO BAR LAST?
Like any cold-process soap bars, your DIY shampoo bar will last for a very long time. Be sure to allow your bar to fully cure, 3-4 weeks.
Soap bars will stay good for a full year.
Cold-Process Shampoo Bars
Cold-process shampoo bars are easy to make, cost-effective, and have amazing benefits for your hair. Made with nourishing ingredients and pure essential oils, these shampoo bars are the perfect all-natural solution.
Materials
- 10 ounces tallow
- 8 ounces olive oil
- 8 ounces shea butter
- 8 ounces castor oil
- 4.41 ounces lye
- 9.86 ounces distilled water
- 15-20 drops essential oils, optional
Tools
- Thick glass bowl or jar, make sure it is heat resistance
- Safety goggles
- Rubber gloves
- Immersion blender
- Digital Scale
Instructions
- Using a digital scale, measure out your water and pour it into a heat-resistant glass bowl or jar.
- Measure out the lye and add it to the water. Stir the lye into the water slowly and stir until it dissolves. NEVER add water to the lye, only lye to water.
- Using the digital scale, measure out the tallow, olive oil, shea butter, and castor oil. Pour into a saucepan and melt over medium heat.
- Once the ingredients are melted, allow them to cool back down to 100 degrees.
- Once the fats cool to 100 degrees, slowly add the lye and water to the oils, mix with an immersion blender. This will take a couple of minutes. You will know it is the right consistency when the soap from the blender drips and pools up at the top of the soap in the saucepan. This is known as the trace.
- If using essential oils, add those in now. Stir well.
- Pour the soap into the soap molds. If using silicone soap molds, no prep is required before pouring it in. Other molds may require parchment paper.
- Allow the soap to harden and sit in the molds for at least 24 hours or up to 3 days.
Remove the soap from the molds and allow it to cure for 3-4 weeks before using.
Heather says
Hi,
Have you ever considered starting an on-line store for all the homemade products (soaps, cleaners, etc.) you blog about? I would definitely try/buy some!
Laura says
Thank you! At the time, I do not have any extra time to put towards that.
MaddieT says
That is 100% understandable but if you ever do I’ll certainly be a regular customer!!
McDonna says
Which oil is best for fine, thin, OILY hair? I live in Florida. Between the heat and humidity, the scalp stays sweaty and oily. Shampooing daily is a must, otherwise there’s itchy scalp, greasy hair that looks even thinner.
Currently a regimen of high quality commercial hair care include volumizing shampoo and conditioner. It’s been difficult to find anything that checks all the boxes.
It would be great to switch to natural hair care. My experience with natural products so far has been less than stellar. The hair and scalp are clean, but the hair is limp and just hangs.
Ideas? Suggestions?
Thank you for such an informative post!
Bertha loza says
Hi Laura
Thank you for sharing so many wonderful healthy everything. I made your recipe for homemade shampoo and I like it a lot. I’ve made it three times in the last 6 months but by now I would like it if my hair could smell a little more pleasant instead of just kinda greasy. Do you know what essential oils I can use other than the ones in the recipe to make smell more like perfume
Thank you so much
Laura says
I personally love floral and woodsy oil. You can add in more essential oils to make it smell stronger!
Bertha loza says
Thank you for your reply. I will definitely try it.
Cruz M says
Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe, I made it yesterday and it was so easy and fun to make!
Laura says
I am so glad!
Myrrhmeid Bars says
Any substitutes for the tallow? Hoping to use vegan products 🙂
Laura says
Yes! You can pick a different fat like coconut oil and just adjustment the measurements using the soap calculated I linked!
Yvonne says
One quick question: Can I use this bar for color treated hair? If not do you have a recipe for colored hair?
thank you
Love all your easy to do recipes!!Keep them coming!!
Yvonne
Laura says
I personally do not have colored hair but several readers say it works for them!
Yulia says
Hi and thank you for sharing. I have a question though. What is the superfat of your soap?
I once made shampoo bars, 8% superfat but for my long thick hair it did not work out. Even when washing it out with cider vinegar, my hair stayed so heavy and greasy…
So I’d like to give it one more try but with lesser superfat.
Shannel says
Hi there
Do you have a shampoo bar recipe that doesn’t contain lye in it? I don’t want to use a alkaline soap as the pH is too high for the hair. Thank you.
Laura says
I have a melt and pour shampoo bar!
Judy says
Can I use lard instead of tallow, as I have a large supplie. Can you email a print friendly copy as there is not a priny tab for recipe only. Thanks
judyr32059@ gmail.com.
Laura says
Yes, you can use the soap calculator that is linked to get the measurements correct if changing anything in the recipe.
Niki says
Just made my first batch of shampoo bars. Do I wrap my shampoo bars to insulate them like cold process soap,, or just cover with cardboard?
Laura says
Yes, they need to cure like cold process soap.
Maureen says
Hi, thabks for sharing you knowlegde with using! I am wondering if you have ever run into the problem of your drains getting clogged because of the CO? We have run into that with homemade toothpaste. Even if you haven’t (could be our drains, a problem specific to us) is there a substitute for CO we could use in this shampoo bar? Also, do you know how to find out the PH level of the bar or do you know the PH level of the bar. Thanks!
Laura says
I have not had any issues with the drains.
Geeta says
Thanks. I impressed. God bless you. Once again thanks.
son says
we live in a trpical climate and tallow is difficult to buy, is it possible to use coconut oil instead?
Laura says
I have several other soap and shampoo recipes on my blog that you can try.
Émilie Turpin says
Hey Laura !
What a super great idea ! What is the superfatting level you used for this recipe ?
Emily
Alicia Brewington says
Hi Laura!
First, congratulations on Jacob! Second, what is the shelf life of this shampoo bar?
Laura says
Thank you so much! It is good for several years, just like a regular soap bar. Once it gets wet and in the shower, it will last for about 6 months.
Krissy says
Wondering if I could use coconut oil instead of tallow. If so would the amount be the same for the swap? I’ve never worked with tallow in soap so I am not sure. TIA ✨
Laura says
Yes, the tallow can be replaced with coconut oil. However, You will need to recalculate the measurements using a soap calculator.
Let me know how it turns out with the coconut oil!
LuAnn says
Where is the best place to purchase all the ingredients ? I have been wanting to make my own soap for awhile but, I’m just a little nervous. You give wonderful directions and I’m going to give it a try.
Dalia says
Hello,
Which oil base would you recommend for fine hair? I often have trouble with Shea and coconut oil products because they stick to my hair and coat it with a weird opaque film. Also, I would rather not use Tallow. Thank you for this recipe, I’m looking forward to trying it.
Laura says
This is a cold-process bar, so you don’t need a soap base, you will make your own! If you prefer melt-and-pour, I have a recipe for that as well! At the top of my blog, I have a search bar, and you can type in anything you are looking for there, and it will pop right up.
Mary McCarty says
Hi,
I’m going back to soap for shampoo because I’m allergic to most shampoos. I’ve made soap for years, but I was looking for a recipe that would work best for hair and found your site. I think this would really work well for me, but want to make a 1/2 batch because it would be years before I got through a full batch and then I doubt it would still be good. I see you did a water discount and it looks like you lowered the lye a bit too. I would love it if you could tell me how much of both to use in a half batch. Thank you so much!
Laura says
I would recalculate the ingredients using the brambleberry soap calculator before making any changes.
Debbie Wallace says
Hey there! Can I substitute the tallow for coconut oil for shampoo????
Laura says
You can make substitutions but will need to recalculate the measurements using the soap calculater linked in the post.
Roshelle says
Hello! I’m new to the homemade hair care, I make soaps but use the hot process for soap making. Do you know if this would work for hot process?