Help with oil blend for homemade shampoo bar

[CailinNua]

Hi,

I'm going to have a go at making my own cold process soap/shampoo bar. Ideally I'd like to use it on my hair and it be ok for skin too but if the properties are too different then that's fine, I'll make 2 different kinds.

I'm comfortable with using sodium hydroxide and am familiar with the safety precautions needed.

What I need help with is what oils to use - I know different oils add various properties to the bar and I need to have a certain degree of hardness etc.

The oils I have at home are:

coconut oil
rapeseed oil
extra virgin olive oil (easy to buy ordinary stuff in supermarket but don't know where I'd get pomace)
a little castor oil (easy to buy more)
flaxseed oil
a little jojoba oil (don't have much though and am rationing it as I can't find it locally)
sunflower oil (not cold pressed or anything - just bog standard supermarket organic oil)

Ideally I'd prefer to use oils that I can get locally as shipping can be expensive when ordering online.

I'm wary of palm oil because it is often unethically sourced. I don't want to use any animal fats. If I remember rightly, it's usual to use one of these oils for hardness - is there any alternative?

I would love if someone could share a nice recipe that is gentle on hair and body - quite moisturising but won't leave me like a greaseball. Wow - that is quite a big ask! :)

Thanks in advance.

[Henna Sooq]

I don't like using palm oil myself or any animals fats. I avoid those. Some people dont even like beeswax but I have one bar that has it in it. It makes it look a little yellow :)

But coconut oil if used in high amounts can be drying. So just balance it out with the other oils. Castor i always good as it causes the lather to be fluffy.

Oils that get hard on their one are hard oils. Like coconut oil, babassu, neem etc...

I love using olive oil :) it's good.
You can also superfat as well if you'd like. Like let's say you are making a whole log (like 14-15 bars) you can add in the extra 1-2 oz of oil that would be the extra superfatting.

I think you're on a good path to making a good bar. Are you going to add essential oils too?

[Lark]

I've only been making soap/shampoo for the past 6 months, my first shampoo bar had
Coconut oil 14.4oz
Olive oil 12.6oz
Safflower oil 3.6oz
Castor oil 2.4oz
Grape seed oil 1.8oz
Almond oil 2oz

I supperfatted at 8% and am kicking my self now because I am starting to see some dreaded orange spots, grr, but still very usuable and one of my faves. I am now up to my 18th batch and quite addicted, lol.

[Henna Sooq]

Soap making is absolutely addicting, and fun. I love it. Making all these new creations. sigh. I can't wait for my next one.

Did you know you could freeze soaps/shampoo bars? Yup :) So if you are making them and just can't get to them quick enough. Freeze a few extras away and take out as needed. Enjoy!

[Lark]

Curious why they would need to be frozen? From what I understand if the soap is made right then it can last 10+ years with maybe only the scent being lost over time. Sometimes I do put them in the fridge to keep them from jelling, milk soaps and such. But I would never have the space for all my soaps in there, lol.

[Henna Sooq]

This would depend on how someone was making it. With a preservative or no preservative etc..

This would make the longevity of the bar last longer in case a single person gets a full log, and can't use it up that fast. So it makes it last longer. This would cause discolorations to stop as well, and not happen.

[brelj]

I love making soap!!!
I use a 100% coconut soap, 20% superfatted.
Another recipe:
* 30 ounces olive oil
* 2 tablespoons coconut oil
* 2 ounces beeswax
* 1 egg yolk
* 1 ounce lime essential oil
* 1 ounce lemon essential oil
* 2 tablespoons finely grated coconut
* 14 ounces water
* 4 1/2 ounces lye
A nice soap forum is http://www.thedishforum.com/forum/, you can find a lot of recipes in the search engine.

I wouldn't use a lot of sunflower oil or grapeseed oil, because they become faster rancid. This is a nice page about the oils http://www.zensoaps.com/singleoil.htm.

I always use http://www.soapcalc.net/calc/soapcalcwp.asp as soapcalculater, on the left side you see right away the soap quality of one oil, but also of your total oils/ future soap.
Another tip, look at shampoo bar ingredients of official shampoo bar makers, like Chagrin Valley and then try to duplicate :p


Good luck!

[Henna Sooq]

I love making soap!!!
I use a 100% coconut soap, 20% superfatted.
Another recipe:
* 30 ounces olive oil
* 2 tablespoons coconut oil
* 2 ounces beeswax
* 1 egg yolk
* 1 ounce lime essential oil
* 1 ounce lemon essential oil
* 2 tablespoons finely grated coconut
* 14 ounces water
* 4 1/2 ounces lye
A nice soap forum is http://www.thedishforum.com/forum/, you can find a lot of recipes in the search engine.

I wouldn't use a lot of sunflower oil or grapeseed oil, because they become faster rancid. This is a nice page about the oils http://www.zensoaps.com/singleoil.htm.

I always use http://www.soapcalc.net/calc/soapcalcwp.asp as soapcalculater, on the left side you see right away the soap quality of one oil, but also of your total oils/ future soap.
Another tip, look at shampoo bar ingredients of official shampoo bar makers, like Chagrin Valley and then try to duplicate :p


Good luck!

amazing, thanks for sharing. It's endless the things you learn :)

[Totte]

I love making soap!!!
I use a 100% coconut soap, 20% superfatted.
Another recipe:
* 30 ounces olive oil
* 2 tablespoons coconut oil
* 2 ounces beeswax
* 1 egg yolk
* 1 ounce lime essential oil
* 1 ounce lemon essential oil
* 2 tablespoons finely grated coconut
* 14 ounces water
* 4 1/2 ounces lye
A nice soap forum is http://www.thedishforum.com/forum/, you can find a lot of recipes in the search engine.

I wouldn't use a lot of sunflower oil or grapeseed oil, because they become faster rancid. This is a nice page about the oils http://www.zensoaps.com/singleoil.htm.

I always use http://www.soapcalc.net/calc/soapcalcwp.asp as soapcalculater, on the left side you see right away the soap quality of one oil, but also of your total oils/ future soap.
Another tip, look at shampoo bar ingredients of official shampoo bar makers, like Chagrin Valley and then try to duplicate :p


Good luck!
Ooooh, Thank you so much for this! This thread was so exciting so I was starting to wonder how to make my own :pinktongue:

Thanks!:)

[Henna Sooq]

There are also a few good videos on youtube that help. Once you get started you can't stop :) Has anyone ever tried the silicone moulds? I honestly did not like them at all. Too slippery for me, not like the wood moulds.

[brelj]

I like silicone moulds. I use the muffin tray for salt bars, also because the soaps go in the oven (CPOP). For all CPOP soaps silicone is the best (I don't want to take the chance to ruin my wooden mould in the oven), but just for CP and HP soaps wooden moulds make the soap more square. The silicone moulds set out (I hope you know what I mean...)

[Totte]

There are also a few good videos on youtube that help. Once you get started you can't stop :) Has anyone ever tried the silicone moulds? I honestly did not like them at all. Too slippery for me, not like the wood moulds.
Oh :) I will definitely check out youtube! Right now I am looking for the best end to start at, I've been wanting to do this for so long! :) This is going to be so fun.

[Henna Sooq]

Have fun Totte

Yes true about CPOP and silicone. I've heard that from another soaper. I am not going to keep my silicone moulds though. I don't think so as I only use the wood ones. I might put them up for trade/swap/sale on the forum here, if it's allowed.

[In2wishin]

Here is one from an old book I have. I ran it through SoapCalc and converted to grams for you.

Ingredients in Grams
Water 258
Lye - NaOH 93
1 Olive Oil 136
2 Castor Oil 102
3 Almond Oil, sweet 68
4 Jojoba 34
5 Kukui nut Oil 34
6 Coconut Oil 170
7 Palm Oil 136