SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Watch
  • 2024 Event
    • General Info
    • Presenters & Speakers
    • Tickets
    • Get in Touch
    • FAQ
  • Shop
  • TOPICS
        • CONCERNS

          • Frizz
          • Hair Growth
          • Hair Loss
          • Regimen
          • Scalp Care
        • CURL CARE

          • Braids & Protective Styles
          • Color
          • Haircuts
          • Hairstyles
          • Locs
          • Straightening
          • For Kids
          • For Men
        • LIFESTYLE

          • Business
          • Celebrities
          • Trends
  • PRODUCTS
    • Top Products
    • Cleansing
    • Ingredients
    • DIY Products
    • Hair Tools
    • Moisturizing
  • TEXTURE
        • FINE (1A-1C)
          Straight with minor waves.
        • WAVY (2A-2C)
          Forms a loose “S” very easily straightened
        • CURLY (3A-3C)
          Forms a definite “S” shaped like a corkscrew
        • COILY (4A-4C)
          Very tight curl when stretched creates an “S”
        • LOCS
          Hair intentionally matted to form "ropes"
        • QUIZ
          Take our quiz to learn your curl pattern
      • 1a
        1b
        1c
        2a
        2b
        2c
        3a
        3b
        3c
        4a
        4b
        4c
        Locs
        Discover your curl pattern, the best hairstyles and products just for you!
        Take the quiz now
  • TEXTURE TALES
  • TEXTURE ON THE RUNWAY
  • LEADERS IN CURL
  • BEST OF THE BEST 2024
  • ASK A CURL EXPERT
  • GET INVOLVED
Home • Curl Products

Why This DIY Shampoo Bar Is Better Than Your Shampoo

Share this Article
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
Why This DIY Shampoo Bar Is Better Than Your Shampoo
By Sabrina Perkins · Published October 28, 2014

I think it is safe to say that most naturals who have dabbled in DIY recipes for their own tresses feel comfortable working with natural oil blends, conditioners, and even gels. Shampoos or shampoo bars on the other hand may seem a tad taxing from the outset, as the main component of the task is to cleanse, and cleansing means working with surfactants.
Don’t Be Intimidated

A surfactant or detergent molecule is one that possesses the trait of having one distinct portion of the molecule that is polar and hydrophilic (water-loving”>, and one portion that is non-polar and hydrophobic (water-fearing”>. To many this sounds intimidating but it can be merely a challenge once you understand what you need is a cleansing product that will do what it is intended to do without drying out your tresses. No one needs or wants that type of headache, so before you start whipping up everything in your kitchen we need to understand what we are doing and why.

Shampoos can be drying, especially if they contain harsh surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS”>. This additive that makes your cleansing products foam has been linked to cancer, neurotoxicity, organ toxicity, skin irritation, and endocrine disruption according to Livestrong. It is an emulsifier and foaming agent but it is not necessary to clean your hair. If you are already squeamish about it then no worries because what is the point in creating a product and making it harmful to your hair? We are not in that type of business.

Why a Shampoo Bar Might Be Better than Your Shampoo

Creating a shampoo has its own benefits, but creating a shampoo bar has even more. They tend to be free of silicones and sulfates and chock-full with natural oils. Many using them love the effects they have on their tresses and they gently cleanse without drying out or harming the hair. Another benefit is there is no SLS, and although shampoo bars have negatively charged surfactants, Curl Chemist says “The difference is that the polar head group of the molecule is a carboxylate, rather than a sulfate (R-COO-Na+ vs. R-OSO3-Na+”>, which results in a milder surfactant.” Lye is used in the making of shampoo bars but calm your nerves. It is completely consumed in the chemical reaction and will not irritate or burn your hair or skin. Be very careful when working with lye and use a lye calculator as all the shampoo bar makers suggest, like Soap Cal.net! Now, are we ready for some amazing recipes?

Horsetail Shampoo Bar Recipe for Dry Hair

By Frugally Sustainable

So many curlies, naturals, and wavies have dry hair so it makes sense to find a recipe that is created to combat that popular issue and with winter coming we are more than ready for the task.

Ingredients

  • 8 oz coconut oil
  • 8 oz olive oil
  • 8 oz organic, sustainably-sourced palm oil
  • 4 oz shea butter
  • 2 oz cocoa butter
  • 3 oz castor oil
  • 10 oz handmade horsetail water infusion
  • 1 tbsp horsetail powder
  • 2 oz argan oil
  • 2 oz essential oil blend of ylang ylang, bay, clary sage, sweet orange, and cedarwood

Shea Butter & Citrus Shampoo Bar for Oily Hair

By Humblebee & Me

Article continues after video.

The Citrus in this shampoo bar is perfect for breaking up excess oils.

Ingredients

  • 5 oz olive oil
  • 3 oz castor oil
  • 2 oz shea butter
  • 4 oz coconut oil
  • 2 oz avocado oil
  • 2 oz lye
  • 6 oz water
  • 1/2 oz lemon essential oil

Therapeutic Homemade Shampoo Recipe for Normal Hair

APRILSKIN Pink Aloe Facial Polish Cleanser
Amazon
APRILSKIN Pink Aloe Facial Polish Cleanser
SHOP NOW
Top Product.
Briogeo Style + Treat™ Dry Shampoo Puff
Briogeo
Briogeo Style + Treat™ Dry Shampoo Puff
SHOP NOW
Holler & Glow 12 Days of Self Care 12 Piece Masking Set
Target
Holler & Glow 12 Days of Self Care 12 Piece Masking Set
SHOP NOW
Lanolips Day & Night Lip Minis
Lanolips
Lanolips Day & Night Lip Minis
SHOP NOW
Ruby Kisses Lip Oil Booster
Amazon
Ruby Kisses Lip Oil Booster
SHOP NOW
Melanie Mills Hollywood Gleam Body Radiance
Amazon
Melanie Mills Hollywood Gleam Body Radiance
SHOP NOW
Catrice Under Eye Brightener
Amazon
Catrice Under Eye Brightener
SHOP NOW
Curlsmith  Shake + Shine
Amazon
Curlsmith Shake + Shine
SHOP NOW

By Savvy Homemade

Ingredients

  • 9.5 oz (270ml”> mineral water
  • 2 chamomile teabags
  • 24.5 oz olive oil
  • 3.5 oz sweet almond oil
  • 2 oz beeswax
  • 2 oz creamed coconut
  • 4 oz lye (sodium hydroxide/caustic soda”>
  • 4 tsp bergamot essential oil
  • 2 tsp lavender essential oil
  • 1 tsp geranium essential oil
  • 1 tsp rosemary essential oil

Do you make shampoo bars? Do you want to?

Read More

How Donni Davy Built Half Magic By Following Her Intuition
Beauty
How Donni Davy Built Half Magic By Following Her Intuition
Our Favorite Beauty Looks From The 2025 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards
Beauty
Our Favorite Beauty Looks From The 2025 ESSENCE Black Women ...
Ask A Stylist: Color Combos To Try During Your Winter Arc
Curly
Ask A Stylist: Color Combos To Try During Your Winter Arc
How Growing Up as a Black Man Shaped My Relationship with My Curls
Curly
How Growing Up as a Black Man Shaped My Relationship with My...
Why Deep Conditioning is A Must This Winter
Shop
Why Deep Conditioning is A Must This Winter
Company Information
  • Customer Service
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Subscribe
  • Newsletters
FOLLOW US
  • Home
  • Watch
  • 2024 Event
    • General Info
    • Presenters & Speakers
    • Tickets
    • Get in Touch
    • FAQ
  • Shop