Cleanse & Strengthen Shampoo Bar

Shampoo bars are a great way to reduce the waste we create within our personal care routines and are convenient and easy to travel with. A standard blend of coconut oil, palm oil, and castor oil creates a hard and long-lasting shampoo bar with a good lather. Rosemary, spearmint, and chamomile essential oils come together to help cleanse the scalp, balance oil production, and encourage strong, healthy hair. 

Ingredients

• 9 oz of Coconut Oil
• 9 oz of Palm Oil
• 8 oz of Castor Oil
• 10 oz of Distilled Water
• 5 oz of Sodium Hydroxide Lye
• 1 oz of Rosemary Essential Oil
• 10 ml of Distiller’s Edition Single Batch Spearmint Oil
• 10 ml of Chamomile Essential Oil

Instructions

Make sure to wear safety glasses or goggles, gloves, and long-sleeve clothing. Working with lye and high temperatures requires caution and safe practices. Always make soap in a well-ventilated area.

1. Measure and combine the essential oils and set them aside.
2. Weigh each oil and combine them into a large bowl. Place the bowl on top of a large pot that is about 1/3 full of water and bring the water to a boil. Heat the oils until fully melted and incorporated, stirring occasionally.
3. While the oils are melting, weigh out the lye and water in two separate bowls. Slowly add the lye to the water while gently stirring until the lye is fully dissolved and the liquid is clear.
4. Let the oils and lye mixture both cool to 130 degrees or below, ensuring that they are within 10 degrees of each other.
5. Place the immersion blender into the oils, tapping it on the bottom of the bowl to release any air bubbles. This is a safety precaution that prevents the bubbles from coming to the surface when you begin mixing in the lye.
6. Slowly and gently pour the lye water into the oil mixture. You can pour down the side of the bowl or down the shaft of the immersion blender to reduce the chance of splashing.
7. Pulse the blender a few times, watching as the oils and lye start to combine. Switch between short pulse and stirring with the blender until the mixture comes together to a very light trace. This will allow time to add fragrance without the soap becoming too thick to work with.
8. Working quickly, stir (do not blend) in the essential oil blend.
9. Once the soap reaches about a medium trace, pour it into the mold or molds, scraping the bowl to ensure no soap is left behind. Tap the molds on the table or counter to release any trapped air bubbles.
10. Allow the soap to sit in the molds for 48-72 hours at room temperature. Unmold the soap, cut it into bars if using a loaf mold, and allow to cure for 4-6 weeks.
11. Use and enjoy your handmade shampoo bar!