I’ve had several requests to share my soap recipes, I can’t really claim them to be mine, as I’ve gathered my recipes from all over country and the internet. The ones I’ll share are just the ones my family likes the best.
Dandelion infused shampoo bars are the best shampoo bars, great for any type of hair. They will leave your hair soft, shiny, and very manageable.
Dandelion infused shampoo bars are the best shampoo bars, great for any type of hair. They will leave your hair soft, shiny, and very manageable.
I love making my own shampoo bars. I can easily customize them for our family’s needs, it’s less trash, and it saves me a lot of money versus buying shampoo at the store.
Dandelion-infused shampoo bars are great for any type of hair. They will leave your hair soft, shiny, and very manageable.
Dandelion Infused Shampoo Bars
Supplies Needed
(These are weights, not measures:)
- 6.08 ounces coconut oil
- 6.40 ounces dandelion infused olive oil
- 3.20 ounces Shea butter
- .32 ounces castor oil
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 6.08 ounces water
- 2.31 ounces lye (get it at a local hardware store; you want sodium hydroxide)
- 15 ml of your choice of essential oil or a combination of oils (for hair I like to use Rosemary, Lavender, Tea Tree or Peppermint) a 15 ml bottle has approximately 90-100 drops
Soapmaking Equipment:
- Eye protection
- Rubber gloves
- Plastic bowl (large enough to hold the lye water)
- Wooden spoon
- Stick blender
- Crockpot with Lid
- Oven safe bowl
- Kitchen scale
- Thermometer
Instructions
Begin by measuring all the liquid oils by weight, and add them to the crockpot.
Gently melt the shea butter and coconut oil together, then add to the crockpot.
Stir the oils carefully to combine. All the oils to cool to 80 degrees. Use your thermometer to keep track of the temps. If the oils are too hot, they may not come to trace.
In an open area with good ventilation, add the lye to the water.
Stir gently to combine. Allow the mixture to cool for 15 minutes before adding to the oils. You want the temperature of the lye to be less than 80 degrees.
A thermometer to check temps will be helpful. If necessary. allow your lye water to cool longer to reach that temperature.
When the lye water has cooled slightly, add to the oils and stir to combine.
Using a stick blender on low, blend the mixture until a thick pudding-like consistency has been reached. This is called “trace”.
Trace is the moment that the lye and oils are all mixed together. Cover the crockpot, turn on low, and allow the soap to cook for one hour.
When the soap has finished cooking, stir to combine all the glycerin that may have formed on the top. The glycerin is good and so beneficial for your skin!
Turn the crockpot off, and prepare your molds. This will also allow the soap to cool enough to handle. All the lye will be “used” up after the cooking time, but the soap will still be hot.
Add the honey and stir completely. Then, pour the soap into the molds.
Allow to cool for 24-48 hours in the mold, then remove. Cut into bars and store in an open area, allowing air to help cure the bar.
The shampoo bars will be good to use at this point. It is important to note that as they age and cure, they will harden.
How To Use a Shampoo Bar
Simply wet hair like you normally would. Rub the shampoo bar between your hands to start working up a lather and apply to hair. Rinse as usual. You can also rub the shampoo bar over your wet hair to get a creamy lather.
Resting Time For Hot Process Soaps
This is a hot process soap so the lye is safely used up at the end of cooking and your soap is ready to use once it has completely cooled. I let my hot process soaps rest for 48 hours before use. If you change this recipe to cold process soap I’m sure you know it must rest for 4-6 weeks before use.
