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Coconut Oil Shampoo Bar Recipe (Video Tutorial)

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This DIY 3-ingredient coconut oil shampoo bar gently cleanses and moisturizes hair without leaving it heavy or greasy. This recipe includes adaptations for multiple hair types too!

Want to play “I never”?

Good, I’ll start. Since becoming a mom, I have never ever forgotten to eat dinner, then just finished my kids plates as I washed them.

I have never ever accidentally rubbed soft scrub in my armpits instead of my homemade deodorant.

And I most certainly have never ever run out of shampoo and washed my hair with regular bar soap.

Okay, I have actually done all those things. Now obviously I don’t recommend the first two, but hear me out on that last one.

It all started on a day when I needed to shower and get dressed in 10 minutes (are there any other types of days for moms??) and I realized I was completely out of shampoo. Rather than hop out of the shower and mix up a batch of clay hair wash, I grabbed my coconut oil soap and rubbed on my head. ( I figured Tropical Traditions sells a coconut oil-based shampoo bar, so why not?)

There was SO. MUCH. LATHER. We’re talking lather for days. And my hair was so soft afterwards I started to feel a little self conscious about how often I was stroking my own hair. Unfortunately it did leave my hair a little oily, but I loved overall effect so much I decided to play with the recipe and see if I could change that.

Turns out, reducing the amount of oil in the finished bar by about 8% did the trick. It gently cleaned and moisturized my hair without leaving it heavy or greasy. It only requires three ingredients, and today I’m sharing the recipe with you.

New To Shampoo Bars? Here’s What You Need To Know

As mentioned my post on detoxing your hair, commercial shampoos are usually made with surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate – which is a known skin irritant that is often contaminated with the probable human carcinogen 1,4 dioxane – instead of soap. (source 1, source 2)

They also often contain silicone that coats the hair and prevents it from absorbing moisture. While silicone can make hair look smooth and shiny in the short-term, over time it causes it to dry out and become more brittle over time.

When you make the switch to natural shampoo, you’re going from an approach that strips hair and then coats it with polymers to something that washes and nourishes the hair with a natural oil. If you’re using the right bar it won’t make your hair heavy or greasy – it will provide just enough oil to help hair maintain it’s softness and flexibility.

During the transition you may find that your hair feels a little “gummy” – this can happen as silicone and other polymers begin to peel off. Fortunately, you can speed up the process with the tutorial I linked to above.

Another reason hair can seem dry or dull is that it soap is alkaline and your hair prefers a more acidic environment. When washing with soap, you need to keep it happy by restoring hair pH with an acidic rinse after shampooing.

The rinse acts as a “conditioner” that restores pH, smooths the cuticle and makes your hair shiny. In most cases you won’t need an additional conditioner, because shampoo bars moisturize as the cleanse.

The easiest way to use your shampoo bar is to lather in your hands and then work from root to tip, then rinse very thoroughly and follow with the shine boosting rinse below.

  • 1/4– 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar and enough filtered water to bring vinegar mixture to 3/4 cup.*
  •  8 drops essential oil (optional) – rosemary and peppermint work well for most hair types.

To Use: Mix ingredients in a mason jar or wide-mouth cup. Pour enough over hair to saturate and allow to sit for 2-3 minutes, then rinse. Cool water is best because it helps the hair cuticle close, but warm is okay.

Video Tutorial: Making Coconut Oil Shampoo Bars

Before I started making soap, I asked a friend if I could stop by and watch her make a batch. She agreed, and that afternoon in her kitchen was what helped me become comfortable with the process. In the video below, I invite you into my kitchen to do the same. I’ll walk you through the method, and then you can scroll down this post for the exact recipe and written instructions to check as you go.

If you’re looking for the body bar and laundry soap recipes mentioned in the video, you can find them here. Also, here’s the link to my homemade laundry detergent. Now, back to the shampoo bar . . .

This DIY 3-ingredient coconut oil shampoo bar gently cleanses and moisturizes hair without leaving it heavy or greasy. This recipe includes adaptations for multiple hair types too!

Coconut Oil Shampoo Bar Recipe (12% superfat)

This bar delivers a rich lather that cleans and gently moisturizes without leaving hair heavy or greasy.

Ingredients

For Normal Hair (10% superfat)

For Dry Hair (12% superfat)

Equipment:

Note: According to Anne Watson, author of Smart Soapmaking, you can use your regular kitchen utensils as long as you follow these guidelines.

Photo Tutorial:

Step 1: Weigh all your ingredients.

shampoo-bar-recipe-step-1

Step 2: Add the coconut oil to the crockpot and set it to low. (It’s okay if it’s in solid state – it will melt quickly!)

shampoo-bar-recipe-step-2

Step 3: Add water to a medium-sized glass or ceramic bowl and take it outside along with the lye and long-handled spoon. (If you have a mask and excellent ventilation you can mix it up inside, but I recommend going outdoors. )

While wearing your protective gear and taking care not to breathe the vapors, slowly add the lye to the water while mixing gently. Order is important here, so make sure it is the lye you’re pouring into the water.
shampoo-bar-recipe-step-3

The mixture will get very hot so be careful! Let it transition from cloudy to clear, then bring it inside. Let cool for 5-10 minutes while you work on step 3. (Note: If you use a wooden spoon make sure it is dedicated to soapmaking – do not use it in your kitchen for preparing food. A stainless steel or plastic spoon can be washed and used for preparing food after making soap.)

Step 4: Add lye to crockpot (being careful not to splash) and stir a few times.

shampoo-bar-recipe-step-4

Step 5: Using the stick blender begin mixing toward “trace.” You’ll know trace is achieved when the mixture has the texture and thickness of a light pudding.

shampoo-bar-recipe-step-5

Step 6: Cover and cook on low for approximately 45 minutes – 1 hour. During this process the oils should rise up the sides like a wave and then fold back into the mixture. Mine usually takes 45 minutes, but the cooking time will vary depending on how hot your crock pot is. Check on it often.

shampoo-bar-recipe-step-6

Step 7: When the soap is ready it should look a little like semi-translucent vaseline with no oil puddles in the middle. There are two ways to test and see if it’s done. First, dip a PH test strip and wait several minutes for it to fully change color. It should be between 7-10. If it is higher than 10 it needs to cook some more. A more informal approach is to take a little of the soap and rub it between your fingers. It should feel a bit waxy. Then touch it to your tongue – if it ‘zaps’ you, it’s not done. Note: It is really important to make sure all the lye is converted – otherwise the finished soap can burn!

shampoo-bar-recipe-step-7

Step 8: If you’re adding essential oils, do that now. (I skipped this, so no photo!)

Step 9:  Spoon mixture into your mold and let cool.

shampoo-bar-recipe-step-8

Step 10: Unlike other bars which need to harden for 24 hours before being cut, coconut oil makes a very hard bar that will be difficult to cut if you let it dry too long. Cut as soon as it’s cool and firm.

Step 11: In an area with good air flow, place bars on a rack/tray with about an inch of space between them. Allow them to dry out and harden for another few days. Though you can try your first bar right away, it’s best to let them sit for 2-3 weeks to let the conditioning properties fully develop.

homemade coconut oil soap

Shelf Life

2+ years when stored in a cool, dry place.

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Reader Interactions

568 Comments

Read My Comment Policy

      • I’m a soapmaker and I live in Riyadh Saudi Arabia and I’ve never had any problems with soap melting. The only thing I’ve experienced was some of the soaps getting sticky when they’ve been sitting in direct sunlight for hours. Hope this helps!

        reply to this comment

      • Hi

        I make body soap with 100% coconut oil @20% superfat (to counteract the drying effects)
        Im very interested in making Shampoo bars as well. Is it 12% low? wouldn’t be to cleansing for your hair and scalp for that matter? thank you again for that amazing video.

        reply to this comment

        • This is not a good shampoo bar to use on your hair!!! Coconut oil is a cleansing oil and only moisturizing in small quantities. When used in large quantites, like in this bar, it becomes a laundry soap. The cleansing quality of the soap will strip the hair of its natural oils and with continuous use will dry out the hair and scalp. You must use other oils such as jojoba oil, argan oil, and avocado oil, to help balance out the soap with cleansing and moisturizing qualities.

          reply to this comment

          • I use this shampoo bar, swapping with another natural liquid shampoo that I buy commercially. The reason I do this is that, contrary to the view in the previous post, my normal-to-dry hair actually would look and feel too moist three days after shampooing with this bar. So when my scalp became no longer dry, (the natural sebum reestablished), I went back to alternating between this soap and my other. I am 65 years old and my hair looks and feels like it belongs to a healthy 20s-something.

      • I can’t find where to post a new comment on my phone so I’ll just do it here. I love making this soap, but it ALWAYS smells like baby barf. lol Not kidding. Last night we tried a tbsp of citrus essential oils. You can still smell it. Is that the normal smell of it?

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        • I can’t figure out how to ask a question either. I have two:
          1.) Can I use more water to make it work in a pump like traditional shampoo?
          2.) Are there certain essential oils you definitely should not use? My favorite is grapefruit essential oil. Is that ok?

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          • Extra water will not make liquid soap. Potassium hydroxide is used for liquid, instead of sodium hydroxide (lye). However don’t recommend doing a straight swap of the two.

          • 1. No. That’s not how soap works. If you want liquid soap, you need potassium hydroxide instead of sodium hydroxide (and adjust accordingly). If you add more water to a sodium hydroxide soap, you’ll just end up with bars that are softer for longer and shrink more as they age.

            2. Yes, there are certain ones you should not use. There are also certain ones that you should use with “anchors.” Citrus essential oils kind of fall into both. They cause photosensitivity, so you don’t want to use a lot, and as citrus, they’re “high” notes, which will fade quickly. You want to mix them with “base note” scents to make them last longer. This is why orange is often mixed with pine or mint, for example.

          • Just made my first batch of soap following this recipe. I didnt have 900ml of coconut so i proportioned the recipe to suit the 700ml i had. It didnt do the custard consistancy after adding the lye and water mixture and it curdled. It was blobby but also flaky when i put it into the mould. Tried a clump of flakes and it lathers nicely. Fingers crossed it does the job on my hair and saves me $25 AUD/2months on a commercial bar. Thanks

          • It’s dependent on how much lye water (sodium hydroxide mixed with water) you use, not how much coconut oil. When the lye and the oil mix together, they saponify (the both change chemically). When less lye is used, there is more fatty acids in the coconut oil, so it’s a more moisturizing bar (or superfat).

        • You could, but they will pretty much last indefinitely at room temperature. After a long while the coconut oil that hasn’t converted to soap could theoretically spoil, but coconut oil has a long shelf life at room temp too so I’d expect these to last for years.

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          • Hello, I am thinking of taking my first steps into soap making. Thank you for such detailed instructions. I have a few questions.
            1. Can I do this on my stove top instead of a crockpot?
            2. I was curious about this bar. Most people say coconut oil bars have a very ph and don’t fall into the reccomended levels between 5 and 7. Does making it a fatty bar help with that?
            2. Do you have to do an acidic rinse after or is it optional?

          • Hi Lalitha,

            1. Yes, but I’ve not used that method so I can’t provide instructions.
            2. There seems to be a word missing and I’m not sure what you’re asking.
            3. Some people with very short hair can get away with not using it, but for most people it is not optional.

      • Hi, I am sorry to reply to this comment but for some reason I don’t see where I can post an original comment… anyways I was wondering if a 6 quart crock pot would work? In the pictures it looks like the mixture would fit. Thanks!

        reply to this comment

    • Greetings,
      Is it possible to make this shampoo into a paste that can be contained in a sealed plastic jar instead of a bar soap? And if so, would it be more moisturizing? Would there be any difference at all from the bar soap other than texture?
      Thank you so much for this recipe. I have learned a lot from and enjoyed watching your video tutorial very much. -Angela

      reply to this comment

      • Well, I just made this shampoo bar on January 7. It is right up there with the best of shampoo I’ve ever used. Not sure I need a paste. It is hard as a rock and it seems like the bar will last a long long time.

        reply to this comment

    • Hello
      I am French and I love your blog.
      For this recipe is it possible to add white clay (to remove the dandelions) is it necessary to change the dose of LYE in this case ? And I have no potcock is it possible to do it in a normal pan?

      reply to this comment

      • Hello
        I am new to soap making and have just tried this recipe and love it! I think that if you add white clay you would need to change the other ingredients too. My friend has tried the bar I made and says that her dandruff has cleared up using it and the ACV rinse. I do not think that a normal pan would work as you won’t be able to keep a low enough, constant enough temperature. You could make it using the cold process, no crockpot, no ‘cooking’ but you would need to cool your lye and heat your oil to 38 degrees C before you mix them. All other steps would be the same but you then MUST leave your shampoo bars to cure for 6 weeks before you use them as the lye will till be active and it will burn your skin. Honestly though, I think you will find that this bar, made as the recipe, and a rinse of apple cider vinegar ( I put 2 drops of lavender oil in and that gets rid of the vinegar smell) will work wonders on your hair and scalp. It has in mind. I am a total convert!

        reply to this comment

          • Hi Sharon, here’s an excerpt from my post on soapmaking myths that you may find helpful:

            Myth: You Can Make Soap Without Lye

            “So here’s the skinny on fats and lye: Both are needed to cause a chemical reaction called saponification – aka making soap. As Marie of Humblebee & Me put it, making soap without lye ‘is like trying to make a baking soda and vinegar volcano without the vinegar. No vinegar and you’ve just got a pile of baking soda. No lye, and you’ve just got a bucket of fat.’

            Unlike modern chemicals, lye is a naturally occurring substance that has been used for thousands of years. (source) When our great-grandmothers made soap, they got their lye by burning hardwood ashes. Unfortunately each batch was a little different, so it was hard to know exactly how much to mix into a recipe. If too much lye is used, some would be left over in the final product, which could burn skin. If too little lye is used the “soap” would be mostly oil.

            These days soapmakers buy lye from the store, which is exactly the same each time. Using store bought lye ensures that recipes work out right.”

            Melt-and-pour soaps have already gone through this process. When you melt them you’re not actually making soap since saponification has already occurred, but you can add essential oils, herbs and clays to customize the soap.

    • Hi
      I was wondering if I can use a normal pot, if I don’t have a crockpot? I have seen shampoo bar videos where the mixture goes in the microwave, so I’m thinking a normal pot can do the trick?
      Thanks 😊

      reply to this comment

    • Hi,

      I made a mess of the recipe and it separated, over cooked it.

      I am more familiar with cold process, I may I know if I could use this recipe with cold process?

      Many thanks in advance

      reply to this comment

  2. Thank you so much! I have wanted to try making soap but the lye and having small children has stopped me. Now I can’t wait to try it! I do have one question…I’ve read that using coconut oil on it’s own can be drying, is there something about this process that keeps that from happening? I love your site and my little one and I enjoy watching your videos (especially the ones with your little ones involved)!

    reply to this comment

    • Most soap recipes superfat closer to 5%. The reasoning being if the soap contains too much extra oil that hasn’t been converted to soap by the lye, the soap may go rancid. Because coconut oil has a long shelf life and is pretty stable, a higher superfat (12% for mommypotamus’ recipe) is fine and will prevent the soap from being drying. Hope that helps.

      reply to this comment

      • Such a great question, Billie! You are right, coconut oil produces a very cleansing bar, which is why it’s perfect for making laundry detergent. It can be drying for skin, though, so I add extra oil – the equivalent of the “one-quarter moisturizing cream” sold commercially – to the recipe so that it conditions as it cleans.

        As Sara mentioned, this technique is called “superfatting” – or adding more fat than the lye can fully convert to soap. If you’re interested in learning more I wrote in detail about it here: https://mommypotamus.com/how-to-make-pure-coconut-oil-soap-for-cleansing-and-laundry/

        reply to this comment

        • I have extremely fine dry hair. NOTHING helps and I’m a licensed stylist so I have access to everything. I also have hypothyroidism which doesn’t help. Do you think this shampoo bar will be too heavy OR drying for my hair? I’m seriously running out of options at this point. Thanks Hun!

          reply to this comment

          • I too have dry hair, and this recipe just made it worse. I’ve tried several different options that had the same effect. Right now I’m using liquid formula that is working! 1T raw organic honey, 3T filtered water, and a drop each of carrot seed and lavender essential oils. It can’t be made in multiple batches, as it will mold. I love it! Good luck.

          • I love this shampoo bar and have been using it for about 3 weeks. I have gray hair, which can be fuzzy and dry. I made the superfatted bar and added peppermint essential oil. I don’t use the vinegar rinse. I use organic mango butter on my face and body after I shower so while I have a light coating of that on my hands I just run it through my hair. It works great! The bars lather wonderfully no matter how dirty my hair is and my hair is bouncy and healthy. Thanks so much for this recipe!

      • thank you for your great video.
        just one comment.. Soap does not have a ‘shelf life’.. a friend has made handmade soap for yrs & yrs and it never ‘goes bad’ , just becomes harder as it dries.
        ((just to clarify.. a chemical action takes place & so the oils will no longer go rancid ))

        I love doing the Cold Process Oven Process method for most of my soaps.. NO mess , comes to gel in the oven , IN the loaf pan , is ready to use right away, but let it go a couple weeks for drying time.

        can’t wait to try your shampoo bar.. thank you for offering two versions.

        reply to this comment

        • Most soaps will not go rancid because of how little fat remains after the chemical process has taken place. However, these recipes have an unusually high superfat level (to counteract the drying effects of an all coconut oil bar) and so these will go rancid over time (1-2 years).

          reply to this comment

    • I’m sorry, I haven’t been able to set up a new comment, only reply to one so I tried to find a recent one. I’m super excited to try this recipe but I am wondering if these measurements would work with other oils that are solid at room temperature such as Shea butter. Would the measurements be the same do you think?

      reply to this comment

  4. I was just wondering: can you use your crockpot for food after this or do you have to designate the crockpot for soap-making-only purposes? I know that they use lye to cure olives, but will the residue from this lye be harmful? Thanks for answering! 😀

    reply to this comment

    • That’s a great question, Fey. Most tools can be used for food after making soap if they are cleaned according to the instructions listed under #4 in this post on soap making myths: https://mommypotamus.com/making-soap-without-lye-and-other-myths/

      There may be one reason you’d want to use a dedicated crock pot, though, and that is that soapmaking may wear the enamel over time. I haven’t noticed any wear after making soap for years, but I have heard it can happen.

      reply to this comment

      • My crockpot is one of the pots made of actual pottery type pots. I have been using it for soap making for years, and also for cooking. I haven’t had any problems at all. I see these type slow cookers at Goodwill and other second hand stores often, usually for about $10. Mine is over 40 years old!

        reply to this comment

    • This one is mostly for hair, though it can be used for body. Generally conditioner is not needed, but you will want to restore your hair’s pH after washing. Check out the “New To Shampoo Bars?” section above for a more detailed explanation and a recipe for pH restoring rinse 🙂

      reply to this comment

      • Hi Heather, I’ve used the coconut oil shampoo bar for a week after doing suggested hair detox and using shine boost rinse afterwards but my hair is still feeling “gummy” and a little oily. Any suggestions on if I should be doing anything different or how long the gumminess should last?

        reply to this comment

        • I am having the same trouble, though I couldn’t find the link for the hair detox method. Could someone please tell me how to do that? But I have been using it for over a week and rinsing with apple cider vinegar which I leave in for a couple of minutes. Still kinda gummy and greasy looking.

          reply to this comment

          • Do you have hard or soft water? We have hard water. I use this shampoo on my 3 children and my husband uses it and it works fine for them. It does not work for me though. I have to boil water and use baking soda for my hair to get clean. The first time I used this shampoo bar our water softener was operational and it worked beautifully! It could just be the type of water you have. Hope this helps!

          • In my experience, this won’t work well if you have hard water! Found out the hard way when I traveled with it! Had to break down and use the hotel’s complimentary shampoo 🙁

        • I also have very hard water where I live and in my experience going from commercial to an all-natural liquid shampoo, it took 2-3 weeks before my hair started feeling normal again. I only wash it every other day, and find that sticking to that schedule helps a lot in the effectiveness of the shampoo. I have also found that letting my hair mostly air dry helps the hair at my crown not feel so oily still. If I wash too infrequently and don’t let it air dry, the hair at my crown will still feel heavy and dirty, even though it’s not. I hope that helps!

          reply to this comment

  10. Thank you so much for all the effort you put into this tutorial! You demystified the whole process so much, and I’m definitely going to be trying your recipe. I’m especially pleased to learn that I don’t need to buy all sorts of dedicated equipment, as long as I take the proper steps and am careful. I’ve made soap only once before (cold process method), but I like your way much better. Thanks again!

    reply to this comment

  11. Hi, I’m very keen on trying this soap recipe, but lye? If I’m not mistaken, it’s LEJÍA in Spanish (I live in Spain) which we call “bleach” and I think it´s a solution of Sodium Hypochlorite and it´s reputed to be very dangerous on the skin. Not sure we’re speaking about the same thing though… Can anyone clarify this for me? Thanks!

    reply to this comment

    • You can make this without a crockpot. I place mine in the mold immediately after it reaches trace. You can then do one of two things, depending on your patience level 🙂
      1. You can let it harden. Cut it into bars, and then let it sit for 2-9 months. If the soap turned semi-translucent when in the mold, you can use it in 2-3 months. If not, you need to wait 6-9 months for the chemical reaction to complete. Warmer temperatures speed things up, which is why the time period varies.
      OR (for those impatient souls like me)
      2. Place the mold on top of a heating pad for 6-8 hours. The soap should turn semi-translucent during this time period. Then, remove the mold from the low heat and let the soap harden enough to cut it into bars – 24 hours or so. Set the bars out for a week or two, and they are good to go. I usually use one right away; just know that fresh soap dissolves more quickly.

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      • Is this another myth? I have read from the beginning of my soap making that you need to ‘cure’ the soap. eg let it sit to ‘let the process complete’.
        I have always used my soap the next day with no problem. I use a stick blender to emulsify the mixture to thickness of pudding and then put into mold for next day use. even same day if I do this early in the day.

        reply to this comment

        • Hi Kevin!
          If you do cold process soap making (usually noted as CP), the chemical process is complete within approximately 24 hours. The curing process is actually letting the soap finish hardening. If the soap doesn’t cure, or doesn’t last when being used; instead it dissolves pretty quickly in the water.

          Hot Process (HP) as in the instructions above, speeds up the chemical process, which is why it’s popular with soapers who want to know their soap is superfatted (SF) with a specific oil. In CP, the lye reacts with all the oil available, but in HP, if you add oil toward the end of the process it’s the SF.

          I hope that helps answer your question(s)!

          reply to this comment

  14. Hi Heather!

    I really want to try my hand at soap making and the shampoo bar looks like a great starting point. I am 13 weeks pregnant … did you make soap during your pregnancies? I guess I could have my husband do the lye/water mixture outdoors and I could complete the rest of the process. Your lotion recipes are also next up on my homemade endeavors.

    Thank you so much for sharing with us!

    reply to this comment

    • Cara,
      From what I was told when I was pregnant, it’s best to avoid lye while pregnant, but going outside with a mask as well may be ok. Maybe you could take your crock pot out there as well until the lye is cooked down. Just some ideas. Of course if you can get your man to help you, all the better!

      reply to this comment

    • Take the water outside, add the lye to it, stir and then go inside for several minutes. The reaction takes several seconds to really get going, and the fumes aren’t strong during that time period.
      This has the added benefit of giving the lye solution some time to cool back down to the temperature of the warm oils, so that you don’t destroy any of their good properties.

      reply to this comment

  15. How many times a week do you recommend washing with this soap? I have blonde curly dry hair and only shampoo (store bought) once a week and condition (store bought) every day to stop the frizz. Is it the same with this soap?

    reply to this comment

  16. Two questions: Can I cut this recipe down? (There’s no way I could use this much shampoo before it goes bad…but if not I can give some away :), and secondly, do you think it would work with refined coconut oil? I’m sure it would lose some benefits, but I can’t afford to use that much unrefined oil at this time. P.S. your hair is GORGEOUS!!!

    reply to this comment

    • You can cut the recipe in half but you’d need to use a smaller crock pot and adjust the cooking time. These bars are shelf stable for a long time (probably at least a year) so you can probably use it all eventually.

      reply to this comment

    • I have used refined coconut oil to use up gifts of it that people gave me 🙂 It was fine. Also, I do much smaller batches on a heating pad. It won’t bubble inward like the crockpot recipes, but it will turn semi-translucent. When that happens, I turn off the heat (usually 6-8 hours, but could be 4-6 in the summer heat). Let it sit for a day or two and cut into bars.

      reply to this comment

    • I have a tiny potpourri crock pot, that I use to try out soap recipes. For this, I would make 1/10th of a batch. Just move the decimal point to the left one place to get the new amounts: for instance 33 ounces of coconut oil becomes 3.3 ounces in a 1/10 recipe.

      reply to this comment

  17. Can you please confirm that the water is 12.54 ounces BY WEIGHT? I make soap regularly and have never weighed the water for recipes and I am up to the trace portion and it isn’t reaching trace so I am wondering if this might be my issue (I did check the video though and I see you weighing it . . . ).

    Thank you

    reply to this comment

  19. Hi! Made this last week. Used tea tree, myrrh, lavender, lemon, and patchouli essential oils(for dry scalp). I used a bar the next day. BEST SHAMPOO EVER!!!! I had been using JR Liggets bars or Morrocco Method Shampoos… This Is waaaaayyyyy better!! You just saved me a Ton of $$$$ too!! Thanks so much!!!

    reply to this comment

    • I’m so glad you like it! Even my seven year-old, who usually doesn’t like to wash her hair, adores this shampoo because it makes her hair so soft. Your EO combination sounds fantastic – I think I’ll have to try it with a future batch 🙂

      reply to this comment

  22. Hi Heather! I just have a quick safety question: I’ve read that pregnant ladies should avoid rosemary essential oil. Would it be diluted enough to be safe for a pregnant lady to use rosemary EO in a shampoo bar? What would you do? Thanks!

    reply to this comment

  24. Have you tried to use the stove instead of the croc pot? Croc Pots are not commom here in Brazil… I love the simple recipe, can’t wait to try! Already ordered the coconut oil and lye.

    reply to this comment

    • If you have a heating pad, you can pour the soap into the mold after it reaches trace. Then cover it with a towel and let it sit until it becomes semi-translucent (4-8 hours, faster in warmer environments). Remove it from heat and let it harden for 24-48 hours. Then tip out of the mold and slice it into bars.

      reply to this comment

      • Crock pots are a recent invention. You can make it the age-old way, in a kettle over a low fire or on low heat on a kitchen stove. Alternatively, you can pour the soap into your mold after mixing it to trace, then put the mold into your oven on low heat, if you have one. Another method is to pour the soap into the mold after reaching trace, then leave the soap to cure at room temperature, but it takes several weeks. Heat just speeds up the process.

        reply to this comment

  25. Thank you for this recipe! I have been using your honey shampoo recipe, but it’s been over a month and I feel like my head is itchy all the time after a day. Like you, I dont wash every day 😉 I am determined to find a recipe that works with my curly hair.

    reply to this comment

    • Thanks for the recipe as well. I have been using this shampoo soap for a while and I too get an itchy scalp after one day of washing. I wonder if anybody is experiencing this as well due to the high PH of the soap, or if I am doing something wrong. Any suggestions appreciated (as I LOVE this soap).

      reply to this comment

  26. This recipe sounds amazing! I would love to try it and I knew first handedly that coconut oil is amazing for the hair and leaves you with soft, shiny, slowing locks. I cannot wait try it out!

    reply to this comment

  27. I tried the recipe a few days ago and I can’t believe how easy it was! In the end I didn’t even use my slow cooker, I used the “room temperature method”. And it was my very first time making soap!

    I read that you can only use the room temperature method with solid fats like coconut oil – you just pour the hot lye solution (once it’s cleared up) on the solid fats and the heat from the lye solution melts the fats. You stir gently with a whisk until the fats are completely dissolved, then you use the immersion blender until you reach trace.

    Then once you have taken the soap out of its mold and cut it up, you have to let it cure (unlike your crockpot method), but I don’t mind waiting. I can’t believe how easy it all was!!

    I tried a tiny sliver of the soap and it made a very nice lather! The soap is unscented, I didn’t use any essential oils to keep things simple on my first try, but it smells… like soap (who would have thought, right?!)

    Thanks for a super, failproof recipe! I would never have thought it was that easy to make soap myself. I really love soap (I prefer it to shower gels), so you can imagine how happy it makes me! Thanks again!

    reply to this comment

    • Hi Heather, thank you for your wonderful shampoo bar recipe, I don’t have a crock pot so my first question is can I use a stainless steel pot on the stove for cooking the soap (basically follow the hot process recipe) , and if I just do the same shampoo bar recipe the cold process way how long do I need to cure it before I can use the soap. Thanks…..

      reply to this comment

      • If you use a pot to cook it, it will be ready to use immediately, as long as you use a very low steady heat and cook it long enough. In cold process you don’t heat it at all and that’s why it’s COLD. That is where it takes several weeks to cure. Do some more reading and learn more before you attempt a batch. This is one area that more knowledge is critical.

        reply to this comment

        • Hi Heather,

          I have made coconut oil soap ever since I first came across your recipe a year back and now a lot of people beg me for it! It lathers up really well and is gentler on my hands than any commercial bathing bar, dishwash bar or laundry bar.

          I’m in India and it’s easy to make soap with coconut oil at room temperature because the oil is liquid. The lye solution is so hot that once I start mixing with the immersion blender it reaches trace (and beyond!) in just a few minutes, less than ten. The soap is usually ready to use by the next day, though I generally wait until the third day, and I’ve never had any issues.

          I really want to try out this shampoo bar! Thanks a lot!

          reply to this comment

  29. Hi GREAT VIDEO, GREAT RECIPE! Prior to viewing your video, i found a lot of material saying diy shampoo products should be at s 4.5-5.5 ph balance? May i ask your thoughts on this?

    reply to this comment

  31. I’m so excited to try this. I just made the soap and its cooling in the bread pan now! I’m curious if this soap is safe to use on kids. Anyone know? I did add essential oils to it. But I would love to have something for the whole family to keep things simple.

    reply to this comment

  32. Hi Heather, do you know if there is any different types of lye? I was told to check the purity of it and that there is a cosmetics type of lye that is recommendable for hair and body products? Is this right?

    reply to this comment

  33. Hi Heather. Is there anyway to make this not in bar form? I have been trying several different liquid shampoo recipes and they ALL leave a film on my hair and it seems extra oily. I have a lot of thin hair and I haven’t used commercial shampoo since January. I have tried the castille soap recipe and the aloe gel recipe and none of them work for me.
    Any suggestions?
    Mae Lynn

    reply to this comment

    • Yes, you can even use a wooden spoon if you want to. It will take SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER though. You don’t need the top-of-the-line immersion blender. If you can possibly afford it, buy the least expensive one you can find. You’ll likely find so many other uses for it that you’ll wonder how you lived without it.

      reply to this comment

    • No. Beaters put air into it, which actually keeps it from emulsifying correctly. You can do it with a spoon, but it’s very time consuming. I highly recommend getting a stick blender. You don’t need a fancy one. The cheap $10 one works just fine and will pay for itself pretty much the first day.

      reply to this comment

    • I would not make this recipe with a hand mixer due to the likelihood of splashing. You can use a regular stainless steel or plastic spoon to bring it to trace, but it will take a long time 🙂

      reply to this comment

  38. I love this bar! Although the detox is crazy! It’s pulling the dye off my hair- which is fine– but I’m wondering if it would pull a natural henna dye off?

    I’ve tried the detox recipes oh how I wish the detox would finish up!

    reply to this comment

  39. Hello. I have some questions about weight when it comes to soap making. I usually use grams and kilograms when I weigh anything, but I can not find many soap recipes in my language and I have a digital scale that measure in both gram / kg and oz, but there are two kinds oz, it says nothing about that in the recipe, Is it lb oz or fl oz I should use when I weigh oil, lye and water?

    I also have a question about the digital scale, I’ve been looking around everywhere but can not find one that can weigh more than one number after the comma, if I should weigh in grams there is no comma after the first number. For example 5.32 oz. lye , I get only 5.3 oz and 5 in grams, do you think it will work, or does it matter?

    Sorry for my bad english, hope you understand me and can help.

    reply to this comment

  40. Whoever is interested in smaller batch: I had smaller crockpot at home (5 quarts). I used half of the batch from this recipe, and reduced cooking time to 20 mins on low. Your recipe is so easy to follow, I LOVE it ! Thank you for sharing !

    reply to this comment

  42. HELP! I did everything just like the video said, but the soap is coming out of the crockpot. I am using a 8 quart. I had the temp on low, but turned it down to warm to get you help. What can i do to save this soap?

    reply to this comment

  43. Hi Heather,

    I made the recipe, twice. The first one made my hair very greasy and I realize It could be the purity of my lye. I am in Brazil so I couldn’t buy from the place you recommeded. So I checked the lye and it was 97% pure, which I read is the minimum for cosmetics use. The second time I increased a little the amount of lye and it worked. Now my boyfriend complains about the vinager smell in my hair, although it is ok for me… Does anyone have the same issue? Does you hair smell like vinager even after rinse off?

    reply to this comment

    • Dani, try using citric acid rinse. I usually put 1/4 teaspoon in 3 cups of distilled water. Use less citric acid if you have soft water. I like citric acid rinse over vinegar rinse because there is no smell.

      reply to this comment

    • Hi Dani, I made this bar and used it yesterday after two dYs of letting it sit. It made my hair the opposite, very straw- like. I could not brush through my hair. I did not use the rinse afterwards. I did however try to use a leave in conditioner when I realized how droit made my hair. I slep through the night. This morning I had to wash it. It felt waxy and looked like a birds nest. What are your thoughts. I had the opposite reaction of oily.

      reply to this comment

      • Hi Martha,
        I use the vinager rinse, and my hair ends still get very dry, so i am not using the shampoo bar everyday, but rotating with regular shampoo. Maybe it is because I still have hightlights half way down my hair, so it is not natural yet. But what happens is since the bar removes all residue from the hair, it gets really really soft when I wash with regular shampoo. I still want to find a solution to be able to use only the bar though.

        reply to this comment

  44. Heather, thank you for this recipe! I made it and loved it. Is it possible to over cook the soap? I think I might have, but it seems to have still turned out fine. Thank you also for the correct rinse ratios. I actually like to use Kombucha that has soured too much to drink. I used the same ratios you recommended for vinegar and it worked great.

    reply to this comment

  45. Hi there, I have just made the coconut oil shampoo and it came out really lye heavy, at first it was chalky and so solid, then I added more water and melted again and it’s still ph 12. I got pretty zapped. The actual bar looks ok and it would be such a shame to waste it. I was sure I had measured the ingredients properly but I could of made a mistake as I am used to working in grams. Is there anything I can do to bring the ph down?

    reply to this comment

    • Mine did the same thing Simone. I did everything just like the video and picture tutorial said. I did notice that the soap hardened up before I could even get to the 45 min. I don’t want to waste it and would like to figure out a way to bring it back down. I went ahead and spooned it in the mold..was wondering if you let it sit for a longer than a few days if the lye burn would go away?

      reply to this comment

      • Hi Linda, I’m sorry, I see your comment was from awhile ago but maybe you will see this? I had a similar issue with mine, got zapped pretty good, but seemed as though I was over cooking it….I spooned the soap into my mold anyway (my soap was hardening too) and wondered if perhaps I could let it sit and cure if that would deactivate the lye in the way that cold process soap would? I did tried a little soap on my hands and felt no sting, and decided to try it on my hair to experiment, it made my hair feel amazing, but definitely left my scalp a little itchy or tingly. Did you end up letting yours sit and did that cure time deactivate the lye?

        reply to this comment

  47. This looks fantastic, and I am so excited to try it! I have a few questions about the process though..
    With the lye, does it have to be reformed powder? I have never made soap, so can it be a liquid or not? I think the liquid form is the only one i can buy at my hardware store..
    Also, with the zap test, isn’t that dangerous? I thought lye was harmful if ingested, so I was just wondering what the health risks were with that please?

    Thanks so much!

    reply to this comment

  48. Hello, I was so excited when I saw this recipe. I made it a few days ago. It turned out simply beautiful. It was snowy white, hard and I was looking forward to using. I used it 2 days later. The lather was amazing, the most I’ve ever seen. I did not use the vinegar rinse. It was very hard combing out my hair. I let it air dry for awhile and then use a hair dryer. My hair actually looked and felt like straw. I then sprayed a leave in conditioner in my hair, did not help. It was very hard to brush through and felt waxy. I was so disappointed. I thought I had found a shampoo bar to replace my expensive shampoo I use. What do you think the problem was? I made the recipe for normal hair. Thank you, Martha

    reply to this comment

    • Hi Linda, it’s really hard to say for sure since I don’t have much information, but based on your description it sounds like too much lye was used. Is it possible that the measurements were off somehow?

      reply to this comment

      • It was measured out precisely..but I also noticed it cooked up within 20 minutes or so and i could hardly get it out…..it was on low, could it be possible that I overcooked it, or the crockpot was too hot? I had to press really hard to get it in the form.

        reply to this comment

        • Heather,
          Thanks for your reply….I have one more question. Since my soap turned out crumbly, is there any way that I can possible grate it and make liquid soap or even washing powdered soap?

          reply to this comment

  51. I am excited to try this, I love coconut oil for all kinds of uses. I just need a digital scale and I would like some pretty soap molds. What has your experience with molds been, and how many molds do I need or what volume is produced from one batch so I can figure out what size/number that I would need.

    reply to this comment

    • Because this recipe is hot process the final texture after cooking is more like mashed potatoes than smooth, pourable liquid. For that reason I prefer a bread pan to cute shapes, because I’ve found that the cute shapes have a lumpy backside where I spooned the soap in. With the bread pans it creates a pretty texture at the top that I quite like!

      reply to this comment

      • Heather, DEFINITELY open up an online shop! I sadly cannot make this soap because i’m on campus at a university soon. 🙁 I am trying to stop using shampoo in bottles because of all those hormone disruptors and potentially toxic ingredients.

        I want your bars!!!!!!!! 🙁

        reply to this comment

    • Hello! Well, the thing is that “chemical” is not the opposite of “natural”. Salt is a chemical (NaCl), water is a chemical (H2O)… and chili pepper is natural and you would want that rubbed in your face, right?

      You use protective gear because it might be irritant if in contact with the skin or the eyes. For example, vinegar could also be irritant… so you don’t have to be scared, it’s not a dangerous process, you just need to be careful.

      reply to this comment

          • So after the lye is converted, would lye still be listed as an ingredient if a friend asked what the ingredients where? They want to make sure it’s 100% natural. So would I just say the ingredients are just coconut oil and essential oil and water?

  56. Hi Heather,

    I just did the recipe for the soap bar. I was a little nervous since it was my first attempt to do all by myself a soap recipe with the crockpot method. I prepared myself carefully, listening to the tutorial and refering to the ebook with the picture while doing it and it turned out weirdly. In fact, the soap rise, just like you said, but never fall back in the middle. It just continued to rise and eventually fall onto my countertop. Do you have any idea what happened ???

    Thank you !

    reply to this comment

  57. I have attempted this as well, but mine is not raising as much and looks like a yellow vasiline. I have done the zap test at the 1 hr, 2 hr and 3 hr mark and I am still getting a delayed tingling. I am not sure what I have done wrong!!

    reply to this comment

      • Sorry, I see these comments are from awhile ago! But I made this soap yesterday and followed your video tutorial and blog tutorial very closely. I too got a delayed tingle on my tongue and when I used it on my hair (which my hair feels amazing by the way!) I got a tingly/ stingy sensation on my scalp. Is it possible that my lye is not fully deactivated? Should I let it sit and “cure” for awhile? I wanted to gift this to my mother in law and she suffers from scleroderma, I don’t want to chance harming her in any way. My soap bars look beautiful by the way! Thank you for the tutorial:)

        reply to this comment

  58. This looks so pretty and I’d love to try it but I’m concerned about the lye. I’m wanting a heathy, organic soap and shampoo and concerned after seeing your tutorial about the lye, any comments are appreciated

    reply to this comment

    • Hi Nancy, you may find this info from my post on soap making myths helpful:

      “Myth #2: You Can Make Soap Without Lye
      So here’s the skinny on fats and lye: Both are needed to cause a chemical reaction called saponification – aka making soap. As Marie of Humblebee & Me put it, making soap without lye “is like trying to make a baking soda and vinegar volcano without the vinegar. No vinegar and you’ve just got a pile of baking soda. No lye, and you’ve just got a bucket of fat.”

      Unlike modern chemicals, lye is a naturally occurring substance that has been used for thousands of years. (source) When our great-grandmothers made soap, they got their lye by burning hardwood ashes. Unfortunately each batch was a little different, so it was hard to know exactly how much to mix into a recipe. If too much lye is used, some would be left over in the final product, which could burn skin. If too little lye is used the “soap” would be mostly oil.

      These days soapmakers buy lye from the store, which is exactly the same each time. Using store bought lye ensures that recipes work out right.”

      reply to this comment

  60. Hello Heather! I just found your blog, and I’m really looking forward to try this recipe! I just wanted to know… how many bars did you get with this amount of ingredients? is it ok if I make a smaller batch or the measures should be exactly like this?

    Thank you! 🙂

    reply to this comment

  61. So this maybe a silly question, but is there something in the making of the soap that changes the coconut oil properties and cleansing process? Would a bit of coconut oil used as a shampoo not work just as well?

    reply to this comment

    • Coconut oil on its own cannot be used as a shampoo it will not clean the grease out of your hair, however it makes an excellent at home deep conditioning treatment which I do all the time, to do use raw organic coconut oil, mist of the time if it’s cool it will be solid but don’t worry just pick up a chunk of it in your fingers and your body heat will start melting it as you work it into your hair, be careful not to use to much it doesn’t hurt your hair to use too much but as it continues to melt into your hair with your body heat it will start running down your face and neck, I know this from my first try. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes I usually leave it on for longer then shampoo and condition as normal

      reply to this comment

  62. Hi Heather, tried your recipee twice but the results are not as expected. It rises on top but below the oil still there….what did i do wrong?? And same as Taniela, it still zaps after 2 hours. Do u have any idea what’s wrong?

    reply to this comment

    • Hi Jenny, unfortunately I’m not sure what to make of your experience. The description of oil still present suggests too little lye (or perhaps lye that has lost some of it’s potency due to moisture), while the fact that it still zaps after two hours suggest that perhaps too much was added. Are you measuring to the tenth of an ounce? Are you certain that the lye you are using is 100% lye?

      reply to this comment

  65. Hi Heather

    Just found you blog and love it!

    I am in the UK and can’t find a crock pot bigger than 8litres (7quarts) will this be big enough? Do I have to use a crock pot?

    Thanks

    Kamini

    reply to this comment

  66. Hello:) I have a couple of questions I was hoping you can answer:)
    Why is this not recommended for color treated hair? Is it also not recommended for chemically treated hair (like a relaxer)?
    In stead of 33 oz of coconut oil, can we add some Shea Butter or any liquid oils as well?
    Thank you!

    reply to this comment

    • Your (marilyn’s) liquid “soap” probably isn’t soap, but a product of other detergent surfactants. With actual soap, there should be no difference between solid and liquid in the formation of scum. With other detergents, also no difference between solid and liquid. It’s just that soap is sold more often as a solid, and other detergents more often as a liquid.

      reply to this comment

  74. I looked through the comments and have not really found an answer to my question: what temperature does it cook at in a crockpot. I live in Europe. I don’t own a crockpot but I do have a food processor/blender that cooks (Thermomix by Vorwerk). I make homemade detergent and other such things in it but I have not attempted soap-making. Do you think it would work in my machine? What temperature should I set? It stirs the entire time. I can adjust how fast. Is that a problem in soapmaking? Could you please, please respond to my e-mail address? Thank you!

    reply to this comment

    • The 32 oz. is by weight, not volume, so a 32 oz. jar is not necessarily one ounce less than what you need. I buy my coconut oil in 5 pound tubs so I’m not sure how close it is, but it needs to be weighed for accuracy.

      reply to this comment

      • Ratio and proportion rule apply to this since it is a fairly simple chemical reaction.
        My first batch was a half batch because of the crock pot I had available and turned out great! If you want to use a 32 oz jar reduce the other ingredients by the same proportion (32/33). Don’t be afraid to reduce the lye a little more and be sure to use the blender until you have good “pudding”.

        reply to this comment

  76. Hi
    I just tried to do this recipe cooked the recipe for 45 minutes and did the zap test and got a zap, cooked it 15 more minutes and still getting a zap now my soap has seized… I am a little mad I don’t know what I did wrong I was very carefull in the measuring.. Any ideas of what could have went wrong?

    reply to this comment

  77. I love all your coconut oil soaps, but where did you find a calculator to do the 12%, and 20% super fat? Also, every calc I find doesn’t calculate the amount of lye or water… I want to make a pine tar soap, using mainly coconut oil, b/c your soap is so great, but I can’t figure out how to use these calculators… Thanks for your help.

    reply to this comment

  78. This looks nice, definitely want to give it a try. But I can’t see on the tutorial where you use the thermometer. Also, this is a shampoo, correct? Just a little confused because you called it soap at the very end of the video.

    reply to this comment

  81. I’m curious, i have currently been “washing” my hair with an egg yoke once a week with good results for about six months but I’d like to try something else. Do you use the clay shampoo or the coconut shampoo bar? Or do you alternate?

    reply to this comment

  82. I’m a beginner at soap-making, but was taught that the lye and fat have to be very specific temperatures for the soap to successfully saponify. Since crockpots cook at different temperatures, could you please perhaps measure yours next time you do this and let us know? Thanks!

    reply to this comment

  83. Thank you for your quick response! I did some more research and learned that, too. A friend and I made your shampoo bar yesterday! Oh my goodness, it smells SO GOOD, and we didn’t even use any essential oils. I can’t wait to use it! I learned that you were serious when you said to use an 8 quart slow cooker, but part of my counter is now very clean . I need a bigger slow cooker anyway, and I’m planning to do this from now on, so shopping for an 8 quart cooker!

    Do you know if I can use recipes for cold process soap with the hot process method?

    reply to this comment

    • Barbara you can buy essential oils at amazon for a small price. If you think about the expense on the oils… think of it this way .. ONE drop is like having 100 flowers compressed into that drop … I like Plant Therapy .. Eden’s Garden and Plan Guru for the brands I buy off Amazon .. OHH and those who were looking for Lye .. you can buy it there too 🙂

      reply to this comment

  85. For the cider rinse, does it have to be rosemary or peppermint oil, or would another essential oil work as well? Like a citrus or flower oil?

    Also, will adding an essential oil to the shampoo bar cause issues or will it work as well as without?

    Thank you 🙂

    reply to this comment

  86. Love the entire blog you´ve got running and super excited to get home and try this soap recipe with my sister! One question though- you mention the need for a thermometer, but never mention using it in the steps? Is it neccessary?

    Thanks so much!

    reply to this comment

  88. hello this shampoo bar recipe contains only coconut oil i have very oily hairs but very dry scalp the coconut oil won’t dry out my scalp right and also would it leave greasy feel to my hair?

    reply to this comment

    • That’s what Im thinking.. I suffer from dry scalp as well.. I have made shampoo bars before using only about 20% coconut oil and high amount of Olive oil and it still dried out my scalp.. Im super nervous of trying this 100% coconut recipe 🙁

      reply to this comment

  89. Hi Heather,
    I love your blog and am super excited to try this. Quick question tho, in my past attempts at making body washes with oils I’ve had problems with the oils clogging my shower drain. Have you had any issues with this? Thanks!

    reply to this comment

  95. Hi, I really want to try this but I don’t have a crock pot. I love off grid and all my energy is solar powered I believe a crock pot would pull to much energy for me to use it. I’d there a way to make this without the crock pot?

    reply to this comment

    • Hi there I made this soap without crockpot as I am from Pakistan and we have no concept of crockpot here. I used double boiler. Though it’s been a lengthy process yet the soap turned out to be an excellent one. Thank to Mommypotamus ❤️

      reply to this comment

  97. Hi, thank you so much for this shampoo bar recipe I wanne try it, but I don’t own a crock pot. Is it possible to make au bain marie in a pan ? or do you have any other sugestions. thanks Greetings from the Netherlands Sandra

    reply to this comment

  99. I’ve read that adding a small amount (1oz) jojoba oil or castor oil at trace will add moisturizing properties for extra dry or processed hair. In your opinion would this be a viable additive to your current recepi?

    reply to this comment

  100. I’m trying to make this and something seems to be wrong. It’s been in the crockpot for 3 hours and every time I check it, it zaps me. It’s getting hard but it’s still not done! Can someone give me a suggestion on what to do??

    reply to this comment

  101. I tried your recipe and it came out great. My issue is that it left my hair stringy, tangly and dry as heck. The second time I washed and I did use the rinse you suggested both times it was so strange because my hair was crazy oily. What is happening in this process. The coating it leaves on your hair seems to make it less bouncy and feels more brittle than regular shampoos. Is there a reasoning for this?

    reply to this comment

  103. I’ve made this for my first time at attempting soap today. I made a half batch though, as I have a small crock pot. It seemed to get hard really quick, since I did a half batch should I have reduced the cook time? I was also very nervous about knowing the different between ‘shock’ and soapy taste. I think I got it right!

    reply to this comment

    • Also you mention the vinegar rinse is necessary, but is the hair better off with this shampoo bar than store bought shampoo, if you don’t use the vinegar solution in both cases?
      I’m asking because I travel a lot so I can’t always have the vinegar solution by hand. But I’m guessing the homemade soap bar is still a better option then?

      reply to this comment

        • Heather, I love your site!! Because of serious illnesses I became more interested in natural food and natural life choices. Trying to eliminate as many chemicals and toxins as I could. I not only lowered my cholesterol by close to 300 points, but my sugar is normal, and the diagnosis of fatty liver disease is gone. My cardiologist told me to keep doing what I’m doing because its working!
          My comment on the vinegar is this: I’m 58 and my hair is almost completely white. I changed to using white vinegar because my hair got a dirty dingy yellow from apple cider. So i suggest that anyone who has light colored hair use the white vinegar.

          reply to this comment

    • While that’s generally true, this recipe has been “superfatted” so that it retains moisturizing properties. I’ve been using it for a long time and my hair is soft and not dry at all. 🙂

      reply to this comment

      • Thanks so much for your fun videos and how to explanations. This may sound really dumb, but I have been making soap for about 5 weeks now, tried hot process once. When did you super fat? Is the essential oil your superfat? If so, please share some that you use? I was under impression your essentisl oils were for fragrance and that butters like shea, avacado, cocoa butter, etc. Were your super fats, or some xvirgin organic oils of olive or even coconut held back to end, even soft oils could be technically used to do this once the process has neared completion, i.e. when youve reached trace in cold process, and near the end of your HP proceedure. Im a grandmother, and I may have missed something along the way? Obviously. …. ? Thanks again!

        reply to this comment

  107. I just made this so last night and used it this morning. It was fantastic and my first time making a hot process soap. I love the creamy lather and my hair feels wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe and the process I really, really appreciate it.

    reply to this comment

  108. I am going to make this tonight. This is my first attempt at dong anything healthy for my hair, but I am very hopeful that this will be the beginning of a new hair journey for me.
    Thank you for sharing your recipe!

    reply to this comment

  110. I am a new ” soaper” and cannot wait to try this new recipe as it sounds awesome. On a side note…I have made the transition to using a shampoo bars about 7 months ago and will never go back to the liquid store bought brands. My short hair and scalp has never been healthier. The transition took about 1 week and will tell you I wanted to go back to using the bottled stuff that was still sitting on the shelf in my shower ecause my hair felt heavy and greasy. But am happy to now say that after that transition period, my hair came alive again and even found that I started using less hair products such as gels, mousse, and hair spray because my hair was behaving. I added my “plug” for shampoo bars so that other readers might hang in there if they are making the transition. Thanks!

    reply to this comment

    • I totally get what you are saying! I made a “natural” shampoo to try the difference. I used coconut milk.The first time I used it my hair felt softer and happier. My scalp seemed to like “natural” much more too! This will be my first time using a shampoo bar, but I like that it barely take up space

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  112. I’m worried. Everything seemed to go smoothly until it was time to determine if the mixture had cooked enough… I waited 30 minutes, then 40 minutes, until no puddle of liquid was left in the middle. I found the zap test difficult to determine. It didn’t really zap, but after a few seconds, my tongue seemed to tingle unpleasantly and sort of burn, so I waited another 10-15 minutes. There was no more liquid by then and the mixture seemed to be getting dry and hard. I didn’t know what overcooking would do, and it was still unpleasant on my tongue. I took the chance to put it in the mold. Now I’m waiting for it to harden and hope it doesn’t burn my scalp when I try it. Next time, I’ll buy the pH strips. 🙁

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  115. Hey Heather,

    Awesome recipe. I made it and have been gifting bars to friends and family. A number of them have asked me if the shampoo bar can double as soap. What are your thoughts on this?

    reply to this comment

    • I played with the recipe a bit and also used some jojoba oil (used the soal-calc.net to make sure I had the correct amount of water and lye). It really made my hair and skin feel wonderful and I have given it to friends and coworkers, who also loved it.

      reply to this comment

    • It IS soap. Soap is what it’s made of, shampoo is what it’s recommended to be used for.

      She has a recipe for laundry detergent made (partly) of soap too. Soap is what it’s made of, detergent is what it does. “Detergent” just means cleaner (or as an adjective, cleaning), doesn’t tell you what it’s made of. “Shampoo” just means hair cleaner.

      By the same token “soap” doesn’t necessarily tell you what it does. We’re mostly familiar with detergent (cleaning) soaps, but there are soaps with no detergency at all that are used as lubricants or for other purposes, or are useless byproducts.

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  117. I was wanting to make a half batch. I’ve seen other sites mention a lye calculator, however, if I just divide everything by two won’t the proportions be correct? And do I need to adjust the cooking time for a smaller batch? Thank you!

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  120. This is the best explained soap video I’ve seen! I have always wanted to make my own soaps, but I am nervous using lye. However, your explanation and demonstration of how to use it properly, and how to safely clean it up, is so helpful. I am hoping to make this shampoo bar. I was wondering what to do because I want more oil (the amount that made your hair “greasy”). Would I use less lye or more coconut oil? Thanks for the great video!

    reply to this comment

    • Heather said she tried using her regular soap recipe and it was too greasy for her hair (that’s why she adjusted it to come up with the shampoo bar). Maybe you want to try that original recipe instead? I believe that is listed above. If it’s too greasy you can just use it as regular body soap. 🙂

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    • If possible always use distilled water. Because of the various minerals and things in tap water, it could react with the lye in unexpected ways.

      Another option would be using something like rose water:
      Make some rosewater ice cubes and add the lye to that slowly. The heat from the reaction will melt the ice cubes. Then use that as the lye water added to the coconut oil.

      You will lose most of the rose scent, but keep the benefit of the rosewater for hair and skin.

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  123. Hiya Heather,

    Thanks for the video on the hot-process method. I have a mini-crock pot so I was going to try your recipe cut in half, but I had only 11 oz. left in my coconut oil jar, so I went to an online lye calculator and reformulated a mini-batch. Thinking that 10% superfat might be high for me, I went with 8% superfat. I then scooped the resulting soap into mini-muffin cups to make palm-sized shampoo balls (cutting not required!). Even with the reduced recipe, I still ended up with a whole bag full of shampoo balls. Each one lasts me two weeks and my hair feels great with the 8% superfat. So I have enough shampoo to last for a year, though it only cost me about $5! I added 20 drops of tea tree EO at trace to give it a minty, therapeutic quality, but I can still hardly smell it; I could have put in much more than I did. My next batch will include a mint EO so it’s tingly and cooling. The lather is so profuse that I have to be careful not to over-do the rubbing or I can hardly even feel my (short) hair among all the suds! This inspires me to try dropping one of my mini-muffin soaps into the bottom of my shaving mug to see how well it works with a shaving brush. I will let you know!

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  126. Hi

    I have also tried this and love this shampoo bar.
    First time, soap turned out snow white.
    Second time it become really greyish. I used a different coconut oil.
    What did I do wrong?
    Thank you

    reply to this comment

  127. Dear Heather,

    I just found out about your website and I love it!
    I tried to make this shampoo bar, but I can’t manage.
    Here in the Netherlands we dont’t work with oz. (ounces?).
    I tried to calculate to (kilo)grams and (mili)liters but that didn’t work out too well…
    Could you give me the recipe in grams and mililiters?
    Thanks!
    Marjan
    (Sorry for my poor English…)

    reply to this comment

    • Hi Marjan,

      I’m not Heather, but I am Canadian, and use the metric system too. Just finished my second batch using this converstion:

      For Normal Hair (10% superfat)
      935.5 g coconut oil
      355.5 g water
      154.2 g lye
      15 – 29 g essential oils (optional)

      reply to this comment

  128. Thanks very much Heather for this recipe! I have just completed my second batch (10% superfatted for Normal hair), and am loving the results.

    Even more excited that I will not have to buy expensive, environmentally-friendly, soap/shampoo this summer for our boating/camping. 😀 It’s a win/win!

    reply to this comment

  129. Hello, I really just do not have the time to make soap right now due to just having a baby, but want to start doing this! Can I use dr bronners bar soap and get the same result? I believe that is coconut based

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  130. I made your shampoo bars, body bars and laundry bars and I have to say, I love them! I have made soap but never made the hot processed and your recipes are so simple but oh the soap is so great! I just can’t believe it’s so wonderful. I will not be ordering any more $20 bottles of shampoo that’s for sure! I was already using a natural shampoo and at times baking soda water and apple cider vinegar so I didn’t have any problem changing to the shampoo bars.
    I am allergic to citric acid (some really nasty stuff if you don’t know already) so I am excited to use the laundry powder along with all the rest. I can’t use citric acid outside or inside my body so it keeps me on the hunt for healthy clean things.
    Thank you so much for sharing all you’ve learned!

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  131. My crockpot boils liquids on low but is barely lukewarm on ‘warm’. Which setting would be better? I made my first CP soap about a week ago (CAN’T WAIT for it to cure!!) and now I am wanting to make shampoo bars, as the commercial one I have been using for a few months has my hair feeling like steel wool! Thanks!

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  132. I left an earlier comment but I think it was under a different topic.
    long-short: I tried a zero percent all coconut bar and thought it too harsh but should be ok grated for laundry soap.

    Just did a 10% superfat for the shampoo bar.
    Tried it for hands and *** amazing ***
    sudsy beyond belief and smooth and creamy feeling.
    thank-you MommyPotamus for your efforts with this website.

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  133. Hi,

    I purchased your e-book and stated making and using some of the products. In your e-book you suggest 20% superfat for the soap bar if used on face and body, 12 % superfat for dry hair and 10% superfat for Normal Hair. How about oily hair? Can we conlude it as 8%?

    Thanks

    reply to this comment

  134. Thank you so much for the foolproof directions 🙂 I have an autoimmune skin condition that reacts very badly to all scents and colors – this is heavenly! My skin feels amazing and I have very few flare ups when I only use this 🙂

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  135. Hi Heather!
    This is my first time making my own and I just had a couple of questions:
    1. After using the crockpot, should I rinse it with vinegar as well before loading it into the dishwasher?
    And 2. Instead of using the break pan can I use smaller silicone mold like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00K737UZS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1461162854&sr=8-1&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=silicone+mold&dpPl=1&dpID=410bDsMVz5L&ref=plSrch
    And would I still need to line it with parchment? (Please note that if I do get the silicone mold I will only be using it for soap making.)
    Thank you so much for your help! I’m so excited to start making my own products!

    reply to this comment

  136. Hi Heather,
    I made this shampoo about a month ago and love it for my husband and kids, but my hair is still greasy after a wash and vinegar rinse. I’ve been telling myself that I’m still in the detox process, but I’m not so sure anymore. Could it be lasting this long, or did I do too much oil vs lye? I really want it to work due to simplicity and how soft it leaves my hair, but I really want to be able to wear my hair down. Help!

    Thank you!

    reply to this comment

    • Hi Maggie, yes it sounds like you need a lower superfat ratio. Which one did you use? In the meantime, while you’re using up the bars you have you might try dusting a little of this dry shampoo on before bed. I did that when I was testing the recipe and ended up with a batch that was too moisturizing – with that extra step I was able to wear my hair down.

      reply to this comment

      • Thank you so much for your response. I used the 10% superfat recipe. However, my scale doesn’t go down the the hundredth decimal place, so maybe my measurements were off. I think I’ll try the dry shampoo and maybe make a new batch of bars for myself. Thanks so much for all you do! Mama bloggers like you have helped completely alter my priorities as a homemaker…for the better! Keep up the good work!

        reply to this comment

      • Hi Heather, I made this shampoo bar for normal hair and I love it!!!! However I do get a bit of dandruff with it even after the vinigar rinse. My hair is so soft and shiny but my scalp dry. When I use coconut milk shampoo my hair is waxy greasy but scalp normal. Even after vinigar rinse. Help! What do I do? Should I make the coconut shampoo bar for dry hair? When ever I’ve used shop bought shampoos my hair is normal.

        reply to this comment

        • I have just read about caster oil in wellnessmama site. I will give this a go and rub on at night to stop dandruff and hair loss that I’ve noticed in the shower.

          reply to this comment

  137. Hi I have made the shampoo bar but by the 4th day I couldn’t stand the clumpy feel to my hair any longer and I have washed it with my normal shampoo. How long should my hair be feeling so yuck? My husband who has super short hair anyway has no problems.

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  139. Hi, I have been wanting to try soap making but have been a little wary of the lye. But this video convinced me to take the leap. The only problem is i do not have a scale that measures to the one-hundredths of an ounce and don’t want to invest in one when I am still experimenting. Could I use tenths of an ounce? If so what would the measurements for the lye and the water be?

    reply to this comment

  140. Thank you so much for posting this recipe. Would you be able to provide information on how I could cut this recipe in half? I only have a 5-6 qt crock pot.

    What would the new measurements and the cooking time be?

    I really appreciate it! Can’t wait to try this recipe!

    reply to this comment

  141. I have made soaps for quite a while now but never shampoo bars. I’ve read that if you have hard water (which i have) shampoo bar soap will leave your hair feeling like it is covered in wax. Do you know anything about that or have a solution for it?

    reply to this comment

  142. For almost a year I’ve been trying to figure out a way to shampoo my hair in a homemade, natural way, and I’ve suffered through many greasy hair days and more! But oh my gosh, I used this recipe and it is a miracle worker! I’m so glad I didn’t give up! Thank you! I think I’ve asked my boyfriend to feel my hair like 4 times in the last day!
    However, while making my soap, it toon about 2 hours so get to a ph of 8. Still then, it still zapped a bit, maybe it was just the taste? And I thought it needed to cook longer but the pH was fine, and it didn’t burn me while I was washing my hair.
    Do you think it is okay?

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  143. Heather I want to make this shampoo. I have oily hair that needs to be washed daily, so should I try an 8% superfat? If so, does the cooking time change? I came up with 5.56 oz. lye for 8%. Is this correct? I’m new to this and found your blog a few days ago and I love it! Made your body wash and it’s great!

    reply to this comment

  144. Just made my first batch of soap. Holy cow!!! Super easy and what an amazing lather. Thank you so much for the wonderful recipe. I’ve never made soap before but your instructions were easy to follow. I added the peppermint and rosemary essential oil and smells great. I can see this as my go to recipe.

    Thanks so much!

    reply to this comment

  145. Hi Heather,
    Do you know why when i tried coconut oil my face broke out more with acne? 🙁 please help i would love to use it again as a face moisturizer. Until i can start to make my own 🙂

    (coconut oils i tried: trader joes, skinny coconut oil, life of garden organic coconut oil)

    reply to this comment

  146. Hi Heather! I’m not sure where I went wrong 🙁

    I weighed my ingredients, brought coconut oil, water, & lye to trace & turned my crockpot on low. At about 45 min I went to stir my soap and the top layer of the soap had hardened. I tried to stir it & but my whole batch was extremely lumpy. Any idea what I could have done wrong? Did I overcook my soap?

    reply to this comment

  147. Heather,

    I just discovered your blog about a week ago and have been reading on my off time. Last summer I tried to start the whole no sulfite, paraben free, silicone free hair treatment (note: I am a lifeguard, swim coach and swim instructor during the summer so my hair is constantly gets sweat, sunscreen, dirt, and chlorine in it). After doing copious amounts of research, ( after I started the detox process… I know, probably not the best idea) I discovered that Hard water can make it more difficult to have clean hair when using the “natural poo” process of cleansing. My water comes from an underground well and is extremely hard. Do you have hard water or soft? Or do you have any solutions to having hard water besides doing a final rinse with baking soda and water, bottled water, or apple cider vinegar? I gave up on the “no poo” process at the end of last summer but would like to start it again.

    reply to this comment

    • Hi Nina! I live on a homestead and our water is spring fed and very hard. I’ve found that the vinegar rinse is essential, but I’ve had no problems using this recipe as long as I include the rinse!

      reply to this comment

  149. I made this shampoo bar last week and I love it! I’ve been using another natural commercial shampoo bar for a while. Once I got past the transition phase, it really seemed to work well. But over the last few weeks/months my hair has become more waxy/stringy. I always follow the shampoo with the acv rinse. So I think the issue is just build up from whatever is in the other shampoo bar.

    Do you think the hair detox recipe you have would remove previous product build up?

    reply to this comment

  150. We made 1/2 the weight of everything and cooked for same time 45 min. Should I have set for 20 min?
    The soap got set fine but insides look flaky than smooth from inside. We do want to make cute kids shapes. So don’t want lumpy crumbly look, any advice? May be replace 5-6 oz with olive oil or something? Please advice

    reply to this comment

  152. Hello Heather –
    Thanks for sharing this recipe – this is exactly what I’ve been looking for.

    I can’t find the exact measurements for the 12% superfat recipe, though. Also, after reading the questions and advice above, I’m a bit confused about whether I need a higher superfat content for oily hair or a lower one.

    Could you sort me out please???

    reply to this comment

    • Hi Stacy. I have just read this blog, which explains the late response. Yes you can use coconut milk, except the milk & lye will separate, so you will need to stick blend them before adding to the oil. Once combined it will separate again, but with patience & even more stick blending, it comes back together again. I tried this recipe with both coconut milk & cream. The cream turned the soap a slight grey colour but it was a really nice bar of soap. The milk was not as grey, but definitely not as white as when water is used.

      reply to this comment

  154. Hi! I was super excited to read all the recipes I found on your blog, you are so awesome! I already make a large number of things myself and I just made my first batch of coconut oil soap using your recipe. It was SO easy! Since one of the things I currently make is beard oil for my husband, I was wondering if you have any comments or suggestions for making a beard soap using hemp seed oil and sweet almond oil? I use these in his beard oil, and I think it would be great to use the same oils in a beard shampoo for him. Thank you so much!

    reply to this comment

  158. Hey what are the differences between making soaps and shampoo bars? I know that the porpotion of the materials are a bit different. Soap cintains 4.83 oz. of lye bur shampoo cantains 5.44 oz, why is that?

    reply to this comment

  159. Hello Heather. I too wish to thank you for this recipe & how simplistic the explanations are in the video. I have to say I found I do not like the taste of soap, so I purchased the litmus paper. One thing I did do, is I stirred the batter more frequently than advised, which probably prevented it from seizing in the crock pot as I find my cook time needs to be an hour or more (probably relates to my crock pot temperature). At pour time the soap sets very quickly. I have tried the recipe with both coconut cream and milk, and apart from separation issues requiring more stick blending and colour change (as in a slight grey), they both worked out fine and somewhat creamier. The defining difference makes me think I will keep to the water lye. I have not used shampoo since making your soap (recipe was found on Pinterest) and I have coloured hair. As yet I have not been able to relinquish conditioner and must have missed the part advising vinegar use, or perhaps am lucky with my hair type. Just a suggestion for some of your bloggers is the addition of a little water may release any seized or overcooked batches. I have also read it can take some a couple of weeks for the scalp and hair to adjust to the change in soap. To summarize, I love this as both a soap and shampoo and am very happy that Pinterest had your tutorial for me to find. Thank you

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  160. So excited to make these!
    Maybe this is a weird question but, have you ever tried using the Laundry bar as dish soap? I was watching an I Love Lucy episode and I noticed her using a bar of soap and a kind of hand mop to wash dishes, so I thought, hey maybe… And I am just fet-up with trying to find a natural dish soap that works and is cost effective. 😉
    Thanks so much for sharing your hard work and creativity here. I just started following your blog and I am loving it! Love the recipes and the photos, love how, open and heartwarming each post is. It’s like we are long-time friends you graciously invited over to partake in your homemade lifestyle. Thank you.

    reply to this comment

    • It’s not like bar soap ever stopped working to clean dishes. I do it all the time. It’s just not convenient if you have a lot of them to wash all at once and like soaking them in a sink of suds-water.

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  161. I was skeptical at first to try this recipe. I’ve been on the search for the perfect shampoo bar recipe, combining many different oils and additives. This is by far one of the best shampoo bars I’ve tried. The lather is amazing. The bars are hard and long lasting. My hair is silky and soft and stays clean a lot longer. I have long unruly thick hair and no conditioner is needed with this bar. Thank you much 🙂

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  162. Hello!
    I have a question: My mother and I made your recipe a couple weeks back and added Rosemary oil. As soon as I used it in my hair it left an almost waxy feeling residue in my hair. The first day wasn’t so bad, i had amazing volume and it maintained its style all day long although i couldn’t run my fingers through it from the waxiness. When i washed my hair again it got even worse to the point i had to wear my hair up all day because it just looked oily and felt waxy. It would literally move is one unit it was all so waxy together, i could crease it with my hands and it would hold the crease. Did we do something wrong? I noticed on my hands and nails have a white kinda chalky waxy residue after showering as well. I haven’t been able to use it as a shampoo since the first two times i tried it so I’ve just been using it as a body wash.

    reply to this comment

    • Hi Brittany, there are a few reasons this might be happening. Are you using a vinegar rinse to close the cuticle after you wash? If not, that can make the hair difficult to get your fingers through. Also, did you use the bar right away? Although it’s safe to use, it usually takes about a week for the bar to fully mature and be usable as shampoo. I find that if I use my bars too early they make my hair feel heavy and a bit oily. Another possibility is that if you were using a shampoo with silicone or another compound that coats the hair shaft prior to the shampoo bar, your hair might be shedding that coating and making it feel gummy or waxy.

      reply to this comment

      • Heather,
        Thank you so much for getting back to me. I did not use the vinegar, I will give it a shot! Also, I used the bar right away. I was too excited to wait. And as for the coating, that could be. I try to use the most natural products I can but there could still be something in it. Sounds like i just need to give it another shot! Thank you so much for your feedback! I was a bit discouraged but I will keep at it! 🙂

        reply to this comment

  163. Is it possible to add citric acid to the recipe to balance the pH? Maybe grate the bar to make liquid and add some citric acid then? Dying to make this but really want to balance the pH. Is it possible?

    reply to this comment

    • Hi Janeal, while you can adjust the pH of shampoo bars and soap using an acidic medium, you can’t balance it to the point that it matches the natural pH of hair. If someone were to try, what they’d find is that the soap wouldn’t lather at all. All soaps by definition are alkaline, so even if the pH is adjusted slightly it’s always best to follow washing with a pH balancing rinse.

      reply to this comment

  164. The Ozeri scale I bought only measures to the 0.05 ounce. How did you get 5.44 ounces measured? Will 5.45 ounces work? I am very frustrated since I had to collect all the stuff and then find I can’t get the precise measurement. I’m not sure where to go from here. Thanks.

    reply to this comment

  165. Hello Heather,

    Thank you for your wonderful post and recipe. I really want to make it, but I got rid of my crockpot and I am not planning to buy a new one. What is the best way to make your recipe using the hot process without crockpot?

    Thank you!

    reply to this comment

  167. I made this bar and I really love it. I use a citric acid rinse. I also use it as a body bar. It’s wonderful! My only question, I don’t have gummy issues but my hair does seem a little greasy. Is that normal and will it go away?

    reply to this comment

  169. Is it ok to substitute goats milk for the water? I know I need to freeze the goats milk so the lye doesn’t scorch the milk. I made the soap and it turned out great AND MY HUSBAND LOVED IT! He is so impressed. So now I want to make a batch of goats milk soap using the same method, but not sure about the exact amounts….

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  170. Hi All, I had a quick question about the effects of this shampoo bar on hair that has a permanent wave treatment done to it.

    I see repeatedly that the coconut soap and apple cider vinegar rinse is not for dyed hair, however I have seen no comments on whether it is safe for used on artificially curled hair. I have some pretty stubborn bone straight Native American Indian hair that doesn’t take a perm well at all {except for a Jerry curl right in the front that showed up after my hysterectomy} but I just love curls & want to have a perm done, but I’d rather not waste such hard earned money if this Coconut shampoo bar is going to strip the curls.

    Thanks in advance for anyone that might know the answer to this and also thank you to Mommypotamus for sharing so freely her knowledge.

    reply to this comment