{"id":38055,"date":"2021-01-12T08:42:46","date_gmt":"2021-01-12T08:42:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/formulabotanica.com\/?p=38055"},"modified":"2025-08-06T22:44:42","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T21:44:42","slug":"how-to-make-a-shampoo-bar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/formulabotanica.com\/how-to-make-a-shampoo-bar\/","title":{"rendered":"How to make a cocoa shampoo bar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shampoo bars are gaining ground against regular liquid shampoos and increasingly being sought out by conscious beauty consumers – as our post on natural haircare trends<\/a> predicted a couple of years back. Consumers are becoming more aware of and concerned about the sustainability of their personal care products and are actively looking for innovative, natural alternatives to regular products that minimise their carbon footprint in both their formulation and packaging.<\/p>\r\n

Over on our membership site The Lab at Formula Botanica<\/a>, we do a deep dive into sustainable packaging in our mini lab (January 2021). In it, we look also at the rise of zero waste<\/a> and solid formulations as ways to reduce packaging and mitigate a product\u2019s environmental impact. Certainly, solid beauty products have a role to play in greater sustainability in the beauty industry. They have other advantages too such as being more travel friendly as won\u2019t leak and are often less complex formulations with fewer ingredients.<\/p>\r\n

Here, we introduce you to a shampoo bar which is created from a few, key sustainable ingredients and the best part of all is that it doesn\u2019t require any packaging and is easy to carry around.<\/p>\r\n

The two types of Shampoo Bar<\/h2>\r\n

There are two types of shampoo bar: one which is a soap base; and the other a pH-balanced shampoo bar. Soap bar bases generally have a high pH of between pH9-12. In a solid shampoo bar, this highly alkaline pH can increase the negative charge of the hair which can result in drying out the hair and creating a \u201cstatic\u201d effect.<\/p>\r\n

A pH-balanced shampoo bar has a pH range of 4.5 \u2013 5.5. It is gentler on the hair follicles and scalp. In our formulation, we pair two surfactants<\/a> to create a mild cleansing effect that leaves the scalp clean.<\/p>\r\n

Key ingredients in our Shampoo Bar<\/h2>\r\n

Cocoa butter has long been used in shampoos as it creates a good viscosity at a low percentage usage. It is an excellent lipid for shampoos, contributing to the product\u2019s mildness on the hair and scalp. Cocoa as a whole is known for its antioxidant properties as well as for its high protein content that can strengthen hair follicles.<\/p>\r\n

In this formulation, we use Sodium cocoyl isethionate which is a mild, foaming surfactant derived from coconut oil. When paired with Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, another mild cleansing surfactant but one able to form a slightly richer lather, it creates a fantastic solid shampoo bar that leaves your hair and scalp feeling clean and fresh. Both are anionic surfactants which mean they are effective in removing sebum and dirt. This shampoo bar formulation can be used for two to three hair washes a week.<\/p>\r\n

We recommend following it up with a natural hair conditioner. See our formulas:<\/p>\r\n

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How to make a natural organic hair conditioner<\/a>
How to make a babassu deep natural hair conditioning mask<\/a> as well as our post rounding up
Green beauty blogger verdicts on natural hair care<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\nTry this @FormulaBotanica shampoo bar formulation to discover why solid beauty products are trending and sustainable. #shampoobar #naturalshampoo #organicformulator <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\r\n

\"How<\/p>\r\n

Our Formulation: Cocoa Shampoo Bar<\/h2>\r\n

Formula for 80g shampoo bar<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Phase<\/strong><\/td>\r\nIngredients<\/strong><\/td>\r\nWeight (grams)<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
A<\/td>\r\nSodium Cocoyl Isethionate noodle<\/td>\r\n38.00g<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
A<\/td>\r\nSodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate powder<\/td>\r\n24.00g<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
A<\/td>\r\nCocoa powder<\/td>\r\n0.40<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
B<\/td>\r\nUnrefined Cocoa butter<\/td>\r\n4.00g<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
B<\/td>\r\nKokum butter<\/td>\r\n2.40g<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
B<\/td>\r\nCetyl Alcohol<\/td>\r\n3.20g<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
C<\/td>\r\nCocamidopropyl betaine<\/td>\r\n6.40g<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
C<\/td>\r\nPro-vitamin B5<\/td>\r\n0.80g<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
C<\/td>\r\nHydrolyzed Quinoa<\/td>\r\n0.80g<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
\u00a0<\/td>\r\n\u00a0<\/td>\r\nTotal: 80.00<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

Method of Manufacture<\/h3>\r\n\r\n
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  1. Butters and fatty alcohol<\/strong>\r\n

    Gently melt all of phase B butters and the fatty alcohol in a bain Marie or water bath. Once melted, remove from bain marie and let it cool.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

  2. Measure out other phases<\/strong>\r\n

    Measure all of phase A ingredients in a beaker. Set aside.
    Measure the ingredients of phase C in another beaker. Set aside.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

  3. Blending phases<\/strong>\r\n

    Add phase C into Phase A. Mix well slowly.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

  4. Cooling down phase<\/strong>\r\n

    When phase B had cooled down to about 50 degrees C, add it to the mixed phase A and C.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

  5. Forming the solid bar<\/strong>\r\n

    Slowly mix it with a firm spatula. Once a dough-like consistency has started to form, take the mixture out. Continue to mix it till you can hold it in your gloved hands. You will notice that it doesn\u2019t stick to your glove and that is when it is ready to be placed in the shampoo bar mould of your choice.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

  6. Leave to dry <\/strong>\r\n

    Compress the dough sufficiently. Remove the bar from the mould and leave it to dry for a few days to allow it to harden.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

    Optional Ingredient: Preservatives<\/h4>\r\n

    This formula has a very low water content hence no preservative is required. A shampoo bar generally will be left to dry after each use. The shampoo bar can be placed on a shampoo bar saver made of coconut husk which will allow excess water from the shower to be drained.<\/p>\r\n

    You can add a natural preservative<\/a> if that will give you a peace of mind. The preservative should have water-soluble components.<\/p>\r\n

    Formulation Tips<\/h3>\r\n