Comments on: Homemade Solid Shampoo Bar Recipe

By: Jamie Larrison

Jamie Larrison — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 03:42:20 +0000

In reply to Deanna. Lard is much softer so it may not work the same in the recipe.

By: Trish

Trish — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 15:55:30 +0000

In reply to Faith. You can find out about different oils and calculate the amount of lye needed for them by using the free lye calculator at Brambleberry.com.

By: Tess

Tess — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 20:26:01 +0000

My shampoo bars turned a light brown on the outside and stayed cream coloured in the middle. I mixed them at ~110 F, then I covered them to keep them warm for 24 hrs. They are still setting after 9 weeks. Is this normal? I want to try again, as I really like the recipe – it lathers well and they clean my hair nicely. Thanks!

By: Deanna

Deanna — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 11:21:46 +0000

Would using pig tallow/lard be an okay substitute for the beef tallow?

By: Nicole

Nicole — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:26:17 +0000

Thank you for this recipe. As someone sensitive to coconut, can this be deleted and the other oils increased? If so, can you provide the ratios?

By: Rosa F

Rosa F — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 17:11:59 +0000

Hi Kattie, thanks for the recipe, do you think this can be made as a hot process? Thank you.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 15:40:18 +0000

Can you substitute ACV for some of the water? If so what would you recommend?

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 01:23:15 +0000

In reply to Gretchen. So, what is s shampoo bar?

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 12:45:20 +0000

I just want to point out, if it requires lye, it is soap. It does not matter what label you slap on it, lye and oils have a reaction called saponification. That is the chemical reaction that turns lye and oils into soap.
This is not shampoo, this is soap. No amount of argument will change that fact.
I sell homemade soaps for a living, I know what I am talking about.

By: Kel

Kel — Tue, 13 May 2025 22:10:50 +0000

Just a question! This is a cold process soap bar so how can it be good for hair? Wouldn’t any cold process soap work for hair then?

By: Lynne

Lynne — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:58:31 +0000

Hi Katie, years ago I was always loving to read your blog posts. When my phone was compromised I lost many contacts, and I had to go on without them. This blog brings back happy memories. I’ll let you know how the soap turns out.

By: Jamie Larrison

Jamie Larrison — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 20:28:27 +0000

In reply to Shahwar Khan. Tallow is solid at room temperature while apricot oil is a liquid so they wouldn't be a good substitute for each other. Shampoo bars are meant for use on the hair.

By: Jamie Larrison

Jamie Larrison — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 19:47:51 +0000

In reply to Lulu. Since it's a natural product it likely still has a higher pH. It's recommended to use an ACV rinse afterward to return the scalp back to an acidic pH. You could always test the liquid with a pH reader if you try the recipe.

By: Lulu

Lulu — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:41:13 +0000

I make soap using a very similar recipe and the pH of the soap is around 9 or 10 even after replacing some of the water with ACV. What is the pH of this recipe? I know shampoo bars need to be acidic.

By: Shahwar Khan

Shahwar Khan — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 15:14:15 +0000

this recipe equals any regular cold process recipe, would this work fine on the hair too?
also, can we use apricot oil in place of tallow?

By: Jamie Larrison

Jamie Larrison — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 06:24:39 +0000

In reply to Mac. Yes

By: Mac

Mac — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 18:59:01 +0000

Is waiting 4-6 weeks for curing before use normal for shampoo bars?

By: Joyce lin

Joyce lin — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 02:54:27 +0000

Can I add activated charcoal for coloring? Thank you ?

By: Jamie Larrison

Jamie Larrison — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 06:53:09 +0000

In reply to Katie.

No, but Katie does have a hair conditioner recipe! https://wellnessmama.com/beauty/homemade-conditioner/

By: Katie

Katie — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 13:24:40 +0000

Do you have a conditioner bar recipe as well?