Avocado and Tallow Shampoo Bars
Simple, wholesome, nourishing hair care doesn't need to drain your wallet. This avocado and tallow shampoo bar recipe is a great way to nourish your hair while still living on a budget. Plus, no waste! Win, win :)
Yield: 10 4-5oz bars
Cost: $25
Equipment
- Digital scale
- immersion blender
- infrared/candy thermometer
- 42oz loaf mold with silicone insert
- Rubber/nitrile gloves
- eye protection
Materials
Oils/Fats
- 255 g avocado oil
- 170 g castor oil
- 170 g coconut oil
- 255 g beef tallow grass fed
Lye solution
- 215 g distilled water
- 115 g lye NaOH
Fragrance
- 26 g essential oil choose only those which are safe for skin and hair
Instructions
- Ensure you can work distraction free for a couple of hours. No kids or pets around while you are making soap! Work in a well ventilated area. Wear your protective gear!
- Weigh out all ingredients in separate containers. Use only containers that are non reactive to lye. Ceramic, heat proof glass, stainless steel, and thick plastic are great. Absolutely no aluminum products.
Make lye solution
- Add lye to the water. "Snow falls on the lake"
- Stir with a stainless steel spoon until the lye has dissolved. Do not inhale the fumes produced during this process.
- Set aside in a safe place to cool.
Melt the fats
- Combine all the oils and fats into a stainless steel pot or bowl. Heat over low-medium heat until all solids have melted.
Check the temps
- You want the lye solution and fats to be within ten degrees of each other before combining. A good temperature range is between 110-140. If the lye solution is still too hot (over 140F) allow it to cool further.If the oils are significantly cooler than the lye when they are fully melted, keep it over low heat until the lye has cooled more.
Make your soap batter
- Once the lye solution and oils are under 140F and within ten degrees of each other, add the lye solution to the oils. Pour over the shaft of your immersion blender to reduce air bubbles.
- Burp your immersion blender to release any air bubbles trapped under the bell. Pulse for a few seconds, then stir. Repeat until the mixture has fully emulsified and reached light trace. Trace is when the batter begins to thicken.
- Add in any essential oils, if using. Whisk those in until fully incorporated.
Mold
- Pour the soap batter into the mold. Wiggle it around and bang on the counter or floor to release any air bubbles.
- Decorate the top as desired.
- Spritz with isopropyl alcohol, if desired, to reduce the chances of soda ash formation.
- Optional. Wrap the mold in a towel or blanket to encourage the soap to go through a gel phase.
- Set aside in a safe place for 24-48 hours.
Cut and cure
- Unmold your soap and cut into one inch wide bars.
- Set aside in a well ventilated area out of direct sunlight for 4-6 weeks before use.
Notes
How to use shampoo bars:
Work a lather in your hands and apply to your scalp. You can also apply the soap bar directly to your scalp to encourage lather.
Rinse thoroughly and follow with an acidic rinse. This will act as our conditioner.
Combine 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar with 1-2 cups of water.
Or, 1 tbsp citric acid with 1-2 cups water.
Rinse this out and you'll be rewarded with healthy shiny hair.
Note: If you've been using commercial shampoo's, especially those containing sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, your hair will need time to adjust to the shampoo bars. Give your hair about a month, using the routine above, to adapt to this natural hair care alternative.