Homemade Shampoo bar with calendula recipe

This DIY shampoo bar gently washes your hair and restores scalp balance leaving your hair soft, healthy, and moisturized.

Enriched with calendula oil,  this homemade solid shampoo will turn your dry and irritating scalp into a healthy and moisturized one that will ultimately have a positive effect on hair growth and strength.

It is also a great way to get rid of toxic commercial shampoos and take care of your hair naturally. 

Don’t be mistaken this is not the same soap bar that our grandmothers used to wash their hair with. In the old days people used core soap instead of shampoo that often made their hair dry and brittle. They valued eggs and used egg-containing treatment to regenerate their damaged hair. 

Soap bar versus shampoo bar

Even a natural homemade soap bar cannot replace a shampoo or shampoo bar. There is a difference between skin and hair that is ultimately reflected in their care. 

Skin is alive and its cells are constantly changing. The largest organ in our body, skin helps to prevent water loss, can heal and our intention is to nourish it. Whereas hair is made of dead cells (the part we can see). They don’t have the same regenerating properties and can’t heal the same way as skin so preventing the damage of hair is more crucial.

The main purpose of shampoo is therefore to clean the hair and scalp from sebum and other dusty pollutants without being too harsh.  

So before you decide to use your homemade soap as a shampoo note that shampoo and body bars differ in terms of chosen oils, additives as well as superfat concentration.

This natural shampoo bar recipe gently washes away all dirt and oily sebum leaving your hair clean, soft and completely manageable. It is meant for people that want to get rid of toxic, commercial shampoos (but still want gorgeous hair!)  and take care of their hair naturally with ingredients they can choose and understand their benefits for hair.

In case you suffer from hair loss try this hair growth oil with calendula that increases hair production and thickness.

There is another aspect to consider

If you are new to natural skincare you might feel that your hair acts strangely. Most of the commercially sold products contain silicone that makes your hair look shiny and smooth however it causes it to dry out and become brittle over time.

When you are about to switch to a natural shampoo bar you need to strip your hair from polymers first to coat it and nourish it with natural oils. If you are using the right shampoo bar it won’t make them heavy and greasy it will in fact provide them with enough oil to make them soft and flexible. If you feel your hair acts a little bit strangely  it can happen as the silicon begins to peel off. 

How to use this shampoo in a bar?

The best way to elevate its effect, lather the shampoo bar in your hands and work from roots to tips thoroughly, covering each section of your hair. Depending on the length of your hair you might want to do it in small batches to make sure that every inch of hair as well as scalp was not left out.

Apply this DIY deep conditioner to nourish and moisturize your hair.

Apple cider vinegar hair rinse

One thing to know is that the hair needs more acidic ph for the hair cuticle to close down. So the final acidic rinse is essential to achieve healthy hair. The rinse in fact acts as a conditioner that smooths the hair and makes them shiny and at the same time restores pH.

Rinse your hair with this rosemary hair rinse that also promotes regrowth of your hair leaving your hair soft and shiny.you can mix it with apple cider vinegar and add a few drops of essential oil of your choice (optional). I like to use rosemary, chamomile or tea tree oil. This is more for the scalp than the hair. It is advisable to mix it first in a cup and let it saturate for a couple of minutes before using it as a rinse. That will make your hair cuticles close and make your hair shiny and healthy and prevent build up.

Similarly works this natural wash that will keep your hair smooth and hydrated.

Why to use calendula oil in your hair care

Calendula oil is an excellent moisturizer with anti-dandruff effect that can make your dry and irritating scalp healthier. This change will ultimately have an effect on hair that grows longer and stronger. As per a study published in the International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical science  regenerative and antioxidant properties of calendula oil help the hair follicles grow and protect hair against free radicals

Benefits of shampoo bar

Plastic-free and sustainable it is a biodegradable shampoo bar that is effective and eco friendly

Gentle to your hair – made of natural ingredients this shampoo bar is a way to make your hair healthy yet shiny and rich 

Great for traveling – packing just one shampoo bar instead of the whole bottle that can easily leak in your luggage makes this bar a very convenient way to travel.

Money-saving – buying a ready-made shampoo bar is not as money-saving as making your own. With affordable primary ingredients, you can make soap bars for the whole year with different flavors, sizes, etc.

Make a beautiful and thoughtful gift

All ingredients are natural and adjustable – depending on your hair typ you can adjust the ingredients to your liking.

Ingredients to make homemade shampoo bars

Oil Mixture – coconut oil, calendula oil, castor oil, apricot oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, beeswax

Lye Water – distilled water, lye (NaOH)

Additions: tea tree oil

Equipment for solid shampoo

It is good to know that you don’t need specific laboratory equipment to make a solid shampoo bar at home but rather an inexpensive kitchen equipment that you already might have at your disposal or you can buy easily online.

• Thermometer, such as an inexpensive glass lab thermometer.
• Digital scales (ideally that measure to 0.1g).
• Electric stick blender for creating emulsions (creams and lotions).
• Measuring beakers/jugs – heat-proof glass lab beakers are ideal.
• Hand whisk, spoons, spatulas.
• Protective clothing to protect both you and your products, eg gloves. 

How to Make Solid Shampoo from scratch

First step

Start with lye water. Put on your protective gear (gloves and goggles), weigh the water precisely on the digital scale into a stainless or heat resistant container.

Second step

Weigh the lye into a small cup

Third step

Pour the lye into the water, not the other way around. It is very important to remember LYE into WATER!!! Stir till all lye is dissolved, Some fumes will be produced so keep the window open and breath as little as you can during this phase. 

The jar with the mixture will become hot so you need to wait till the solution cools to 100 F (40 minutes) 

Fourth step

In the meantime combine coconut oil, castor oil, apricot oil, shea butter, cocoa butter and beeswax and let it melt over medium heat in the double boiler. 

Fifth step

Once melted. Remove it from the heat, let it cool until 100 F and add calendula infused oil. 

Sixth step

Pour lye solution into melted oils

Seventh step

Use a hand blender to mix the mixture well, till homogenous. 

Cold process of making solid shampoo

At this point, you can decide whether you want to go for the cold process option and wait an additional 4 weeks to have the shampoo bar ready. In that case you stir in the tea tree essential oil and pour the mixture into a mold. Cover with a towel and let it stay in the mold for another 2 days. Remove the bar stick from the mold, slice it into small bars and let it cure for an additional 4 weeks. 

Hot process of making shampoo bar

If you are in a hurry and want to speed up the process, you can go for a hot process option. In that case you will need to cook the mixture further in a slow cooker or crock pot for an additional 1 hour. Keep it covered and stir every 15 minutes. Once you reach one hour of cooking, let it cool down and add tea tree essential oil. Pour it into the mold and let it sit for an additional 24 hours before cutting it into thin slices. That easy shampoo bars can be used just after cutting or you can give them additional 2 weeks time to cure.