It does not make sense to create natural soap or shampoo bars with ingredients that are grown using toxic pesticides, that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs), or that use solvents or other toxic chemicals in their processing.
Also, like our soaps, each of our shampoo bar selections contains different blends of natural plant oils, essential oils, and herb-infused oils. No two recipes are the same.
The Short Answer
While the ingredient list on our natural shampoo bars may look quite similar to that of our natural soaps, I use a different formulation when designing our shampoo bars.
The proportions of the base oils and butters, the amount of extra oils or superfatting, and the way in which I use infused oils, botanicals, and essential oils in a shampoo bar recipe are different.
These changes allow me to formulate a great lathering, moisturizing shampoo bar that will not weigh hair down. Along with specialty ingredients specifically designed for hair, our shampoo bars are incredibly effective.
The Longer Answer
The balance of the type and amount of based oils and butters is the primary difference.
Natural shampoo bars usually have more castor oil. The only oil containing ricinoleic fatty acid, castor is a great cleansing and hair care oil, a fabulous humectant, and contributes to the fluffy, bubbly lather that people seem to like in shampoo bars.
I also like to use lots of babassu and coconut oils. These are great conditioning oils for hair and create a gentle and cleansing lather.
Jojoba oil is another wonderful oil for shampoo bars. Its composition is actually a liquid wax that chemically resembles the natural sebum produced by the scalp. Jojoba, a lubricant and emollient, may help repair damaged hair shafts and protect from environmental damage as well.
All of our natural soaps are superfatted at a pretty high level. What is superfatting? For every soap recipe, there is a precise amount fat (oils and butters) needed to ensure that all of the lye has been transformed into soap. Superfatting involves adding extra fat (oils and butter) beyond that which is needed to saponify all the lye in order to create soaps with superior moisturizing and emollient qualities.
When formulating a shampoo bar recipe the amount of extra oil in each type of bar can vary quite a bit depending on whether the shampoo is created for dry, normal, or oily hair.
For example, our Butter Bar Conditioner shampoo is superfatted at levels even higher than any of our soaps since it is meant to help condition very dry hair.
We also use lots of natural additives, like coconut milk, henna, and herbs like nettle, rosemary, and ayurvedic herbs, that are great for hair.
Can I Use A Natural Soap Bar On My Hair?
The answer is YES!
Some of our customers, especially those with dry hair, wash their hair with our natural soap bars because they add a bit more oil to dry hair ends.
Some customers with long hair wash their oilier scalp with the shampoo bars and their drier ends with the soap.
Some customers actually use a favorite moisturizing soap as a conditioner!
Men, and women with short hair, often have great success using our soaps as shampoo no matter what type of hair they have.
My hair loves coconut milk and has a few favorite soap bars like the Lavender Rosemary and the Sage Mist.
Can I Use A Natural Shampoo Bar On My Body?
Absolutely! Natural Shampoo Bars are an Awesome All Over Body Bar
Above I mentioned that when formulating a shampoo bar recipe the amount of superfatting can vary quite a bit depending on whether the shampoo is created for dry, normal, or oily hair. So, many of our shampoo bars have less extra fat than our soaps.
Some shampoo bars may feel less moisturizing if you have very dry skin.
We have many customers who use natural shampoo bars as an all-over body shampoo.
Our fluffy lathering shampoo bars can double as body soap and shaving soap, which makes them great for camping, traveling, business trips, and the gym.
No need to pack little bottles of soap, shampoo, and shaving cream. One shampoo bar can do it all. Just tuck the shampoo bar into a plastic zip bag or travel soap dish--no extra bottles to carry, leak, break, or pollute our environment!
Going on vacation--No problems with TSA! When I travel I take one soap or shampoo bar, cut it into smaller pieces, place it in a muslin bag and use it for everything. This is also a great reason to buy scrap sacks during our scrap sack sales!
How We Make Soap At Chagrin Valley
Is There Lye In Natural Soap? Won't It Harm My Skin?
Insider Tips: Places We Take Our Natural Soap
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