Solid shampoo bars PACK

Solid Shampoo Bars Pack

Make your own solid shampoo bars

Note: No mould and no physical instructions sheets are included in packs. Instructions are below.

Create your own solid shampoo bars at home with this easy-to-use DIY pack. Solid shampoo bars are a great way to reduce plastic waste in the shower, and when cared for properly, they last a surprisingly long time.

The bars in this kit are vegan and cruelty free, and the formula has been designed to produce a gentle, creamy lather while leaving hair feeling clean and conditioned.

What’s Included

• All ingredients needed to make one batch, pre-measured and separated into three simple steps

What You’ll Need at Home

• Heatproof pot
• Spatula
• Dust mask (recommended when handling powdered surfactants)
• Knife
• Stick blender (highly recommended)

Ingredients

Makes approximately 6 bars, around 50g–60g each

Step 1

• Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) surfactant
• Conditioner pellets (BTMS-25)
• Cetearyl alcohol
• Organic cocoa butter

Step 2

• Decyl glucoside
• Lactic acid

Step 3

• Hydrolysed quinoa
• Coco caprylate
• Chosen fragrance oil or essential oil
  (Please note: the Vanilla Fragrance will naturally turn the bars brown. If you prefer a lighter colour, we recommend adding colour.)
• Microcare DB (preservative)

Optional colour:
If adding colour, 1–2tsp is usually sufficient. Sprinkle in gradually while blending until you reach your desired shade.

Colours are not included in the kit and can be purchased separately.

Important Note on Cocoa Butter

Due to a current global cocoa butter shortage, this kit temporarily includes natural (non-deodorised) cocoa butter rather than deodorised cocoa butter.

While used at a relatively low percentage, the natural cocoa aroma may subtly influence or compete with added essential oils or fragrance oils. Many customers enjoy the soft chocolate note, but it’s worth considering when choosing your scent.

Method

1. Melt Step 1 and Step 2 ingredients
   Add all Step 1 and Step 2 ingredients to a heatproof pot and gently heat.

   Wear a dust mask while working with powdered surfactants. Open windows where possible and use an extractor fan if you have one. Avoid having children nearby, as fumes released while melting SCI can be irritating.

   SCI can take a little time to fully melt, so keep the heat gentle and stir continuously to prevent scorching. Towards the end, using a stick blender can help speed up melting and create a smoother, more uniform texture. Continue heating and stirring until the mixture comes together into a thick, paste-like consistency.

2. Incorporate Step 3 ingredients
   Remove the pot from the heat. Add the Step 3 ingredients and stir or blend until fully combined.

3. Mould the bars
   Spoon or pour the mixture into the mould cavities using a spatula. Smooth the tops as best you can with a knife or spatula. A perfectly smooth finish can be tricky, and a slightly rustic look is completely fine.

   The mixture sets quickly. If it becomes too firm while filling, simply return it to gentle heat to soften before continuing.

4. Set
   Place the filled moulds in the fridge and allow them to set completely before unmoulding.

Watch our helpful how-to video tutorial 

About the Ingredients

Some of these ingredients may be unfamiliar, so here is a quick overview of what they do in the formula.

Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI)
A coconut oil–derived surfactant that is exceptionally mild on skin, hair and eyes. SCI produces a creamy, luxurious lather and is widely used in solid shampoo bars and gentle cleansers.

Conditioner pellets (BTMS-25)
A conditioning emulsifier that provides excellent slip, detangling and softness. Commonly used in both leave-on and rinse-off hair products.

Cetearyl alcohol
A fatty alcohol used as a thickener and structure builder in hair and skincare formulations. It contributes to bar hardness and a smooth texture. Made from sustainably sourced RSPO mass balance certified palm oil.

Decyl glucoside
A mild, plant-derived surfactant from the alkyl polyglucoside (APG) family. Known for its gentle cleansing properties and strong environmental profile, it pairs well with SCI to balance cleansing and foam.

Lactic acid
Produced from fermented corn. In this formula, lactic acid helps improve bar hardness and longevity and supports overall product performance.

Hydrolysed quinoa
A plant-based protein rich in amino acids. It helps support hair strength, softness and shine and is commonly used in conditioning and protective hair formulations.

Coco caprylate
A natural emollient derived from coconut oil that provides slip, spreadability and a lightweight conditioning feel, helping the bars glide smoothly through the hair.

Microcare DB
An Ecocert-approved broad-spectrum preservative suitable for water-containing products.