Dr. Bronners Soap as a Shampoo?

[CaliforniaAnne]

So, I suddenly got really fed up with the shampoo and conditioner I have sworn by for so long the other day. The shampoo seems to have become difficult to find, and one I bought from the same brand makes my scalp itch. The conditioner dries out my hair like crazy since the brand changed the formula. Since then, not wanting to spend huge quantities on a different shampoo, I began using my Dr. Bronners' Almond Castile Soap that I used to use. I don't entirely recall why I stopped using it before. It seems so far like it's acting pretty mildly with my hair--it doesn't seem to take out much oil at all, but it enough to clean my bangs without multiple washes. I've heard people say things against using this stuff as a shampoo...does anyone have thoughts or ideas about this one? I don't want to find out in a week or two that I'm damaging my hair... Thanks! :)

[rocket_surgeon]

Diluted Dr. Bronner's can work just fine to clean hair; lots of no-pooers use it instead of detergent-based shampoos. It is, however, pretty alkaline, so it might make your hair tangle easier and irritate your scalp over time. For that reason, it's recommended to rinse it out thoroughly and then do a dilute ACV (or other mildly acidic) rinse. This restores the acid barrier in your scalp and gets rid of the tangle problem. If you're using a 'cone-free conditioner after the Dr. Bronners already, this'll do more or less the same thing.

[anthonyswife]

I did try using it a few times some years ago, but it left my hair feeling like it had waxy buildup. If it is giving you good results though that's great! I agree rocket surgeon that an acidic rinse afterward would be beneficial.

[Madame J]

First of all, there is at least one old thread on Dr. Bronner's liquid soap as shampoo. Second, you might look at the Shampoo Bar Thread. Dr. Bronner's is just soap, so the same techniques apply.

You'll probably need to use an acid rinse, especially if you have hard water, and you'll probably need a conditioner, or some sort of product to keep moisture in your hair. Personally, I alternate between baking soda and Dr. Bronner's soap for shampoo, then I use a dilute vinegar rinse, and I oil with grapeseed or sweet almond oil. Sometimes coconut in the summer. I'm planning to post a detailed explanation of my haircare routine in the next day or two on my personal blog, which is linked in my signature, if you're interested.

[CaliforniaAnne]

Thanks y'all! This makes me feel a lot more comfortable. I have in the past tried out the shampoo bars--those give me the waxies, but it seems like the liquid soap is fine so far...naturally, I need something to worry about! ;-D Cheers!

[ravenreed]

Even with an ACV rinse after, I got waxy buildup with liquid Dr. Bonners Peppermint soap. I occasionally do an extremely dilute solution on my scalp area just because I like the tingle and my scalp enjoys it, but it doesn't do much for my hair. I should say that I live in an area with extremely hard water so that does have an effect on those types of soaps. There is only one way to find out, and this just go for it. Worst case, you have to do a clarifying wash and switch to something else. I don't think it would hurt your hair even if you did get buildup.

[nucleardelusion]

I'm just going to chime in and say that my head/hair felt pretty waxy after using the peppermint soap bar. However, I then just used it as soap. Smelled good though. :)

[rocket_surgeon]

The waxy buildup could be a result of hard water reacting with the soap. It's actually soap scum in your hair, and it doesn't rinse out with water alone. Vinegar might take it out, but it may require a more concentrated acid than what you want to put on your hair. Ravensreed is right; clarifying or chelating is probably the best way to get soap scum buildup out of your hair.

[RocketDog]

I tried using Dr.Bronner's in both bar and liquid form and had horrible buildup and tangling. Hope you have better results than us!

[Annalouise]

I did not like putting the liquid Dr. Bronners full strength on my head. However, if you buy the solid bar soap, and then grate some shavings and add them to boiling water. Mix until it is fully disolved. And then let it cool and pour it into a glass jar. I find this works really nicely as a shampoo. It cools into a gel form and so it resembles shampoo in consistency and sinse it is diluted it won't dry out your hair or hands.
I much prefer this to shampoo.:)

[kwaniesiam]

Waxy buildup seems to be the main complaint with using Dr. B's for hair. Make sure you dilute it heavily if you want to keep trying.

[ademtce]

tried it once and felt like it wouldn't rinse out and left my hair very waxy.

[JellyBene]

I did not like putting the liquid Dr. Bronners full strength on my head. However, if you buy the solid bar soap, and then grate some shavings and add them to boiling water. Mix until it is fully disolved. And then let it cool and pour it into a glass jar. I find this works really nicely as a shampoo. It cools into a gel form and so it resembles shampoo in consistency and sinse it is diluted it won't dry out your hair or hands.
I much prefer this to shampoo.:)

How much shavings do you use and how much water?

[darklion]

I tried it a couple of times and thought that my hair was extremely tangled and dry feeling. I'm pretty happy now with my no-sulfate poo (from trader joe's!).

[ratgirldjh]

I have never had great results from the liquid Dr. Bronner's soap. The bars work much better for me even though they aren't perfect - but I've found I need a stronger ACV rinse than I usually use - and lime juice and water works even better. Citric acid would probably work well too - but I hate the way it smells.

Personally I have found no liquid soap to work well for me regardless of how I've used it. I've tried it mixed with oil, very diluted, straight on oiled hair and over and over through the years (lol i'm persistant) and never got passable results.

The bar soaps I've tried worked better and I think the citrus worked best even though it seemed a bit more drying to me that the lavender (which i love the smell of).

I think that the liquid soaps don't work as well for my water because of the KOH in them instead of the lye (caustic soda)... and I am no scientist but I do make soap occasionally - and it seems to me that more glycerine is retained when KOH is used instead of lye... ??? My hair HATES glycerine... so could this be why???

[sibiryachka]

DILUTE! DILUTE! OK!

Sorry, couldn't help myself... ;)