Questions about the use of shampoo bars? Here you will find all the answers. Questions such as what is a shampoo bar? How long does it take for my hair to get used to hair soap?
1 Shampoo bar
1.1 What is a shampoo bar?
A shampoo bar is simply a shampoo soap or soap for your hair. It is soap according to special recipe so it is suitable to wash your hair with it.
1.2 Why use a shampoo bar?
Our shampoo bars are 100% natural.
Our shampoo bars contain only the ingredients that the hair needs.
In most liquid shampoos there are preservatives because these shampoos often consist of more than 95% water! In addition, liquid shampoo contains aggressive cleaning agents such as sls or (sodium laureth sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate). This damages the hair and streaks the hair of its natural protective layer. This makes the hair dry, fragile, lifeless and lackluster. If a "caring oil" is used, this is usually a mineral oil.
Our shampoo bars contains only pure vegetable oils, essential oil for a nice smell and other natural ingredients and no synthetic fragrances, dyes or preservatives.
Shampoo bars are durable.
Shampoo bars lasts longer than shampoo from a bottle. Our soaps are packaged in paper which is recyclable. Because there are only natural ingredients in the shampoo bars, this does not damage the environment. They are environmentally friendly. Our shampoo bars are biodegradable. Many of the synthetic chemicals that are found in commercial shampoo do not break naturally.
Soap is travel friendly.
Because soap and shampoo bars are not liquid, they are fantastic for traveling. They can not break and start to leak. And no problems with customs. All shampoo bars can also be used as body soap so very convenient for the gym, camping, long and short holidays.
1.3 What is the difference between a hair soap and a shampoo bar?
We recently started selling two different types of shampoo bars: the hair soap (the rectangular blocks) and the "real" shampoo bar (the round discs). The "real" shampoo bar is like the liquid shampoo, but in solid form. But without sulfates (sls), silicones and other junk such as microplastics that you often find in the ingredients of liquid shampoos in the store. Many people prefer these types of shampoo bars to hair soap because you do not have a habituation period. Hair soap is real soap, but the recipe has been adapted in such a way that it is suitable for washing your hair. You just have to get used to washing with hair soap. Both types are equally good for your hair. Once you get used to the rectangular blocks of hair soap, this is a fantastic shampoo.
Our hair soaps are made according to the cold process method. Cold process soap is made from vegetable oils and butters that are mixed with lye. This then starts the so-called saponification process. Where the soap is first liquid, the soap becomes hard after a few hours, the lye disappears from the soap and you have a block of soap!
Our shampoo bars are pressed. We make a paste by mixing dry ingredients such as the foaming agent (these are small granules and SLS free!), herbs and clay with liquid ingredients such as jojoba oil and essential oils such as lavender oil and rosemary oil. We press this paste into the round bars. Because of this production process, they look very different from the blocks of soap from our range.
1.4 What is the difference between ordinary soap and a hair soap?
The differences are:
Hair soaps contains a different ratio of oils and butters, for example, there is more castor oil in it.
The "extra fatting" percentage is higher than regular soap. In normal body soap the percentage is normally 5%. This means that, in addition to the cleansing effect of the soap, some oils and butters remain for the care of the skin. With hair soap the percentage is higher (that may sound strange, butter in your hair;)).
The type of oils and butters that is used in solid shampoo. Castor oil contributes to the cleansing of the hair while for example shea (shea butter) moisturizes the hair. Jojoba oil and hemp seed oil, for example, are also very good for your hair.
We also use natural additives in the hair soap such as herbs, beer, tea, wine, essential oil, clay, honey and milk such as coconut milk and goat milk which are all great for your hair.
1.5 How do I use a shampoo bar?
Wet the hair and cover the wet soap block a few times until it starts to foam. Massage well. Just let in and rinse well, about a minute.
1.6 How long does it take for my hair to get used to?
Depending on how often you wash your hair, it takes about 2 to 4 weeks, sometimes even longer, before you are used to the new way of washing. Give the hair some two to four weeks to get used to this new way of washing. You may not be immediately satisfied if you are going to wash your hair with hair soap. This is because your hair and scalp first have to get used to the fact that you no longer use chemical products and need the time to recover. After a few washes, the hair may feel a bit greasy. If you have been washing a bit longer with solid shampoo, you will start to notice that your hair will get more volume. And your hair is wonderfully soft.
1.7 Do I have to use a conditioner?
Our shampoo bars will not remove the natural oils from your hair, so many people do not even need to use a conditioner. It is of course possible if you like it.
1.8 How is it possible that residue remains in my hair?
Our solid shampoo is a mild cleanser, it does not clean your hair as aggressively as the liquid chemical shampoos. So it may be that in the beginning there is residue in your hair that looks like rose.
To remedy this you can rinse lather of the shampoo bar thoroughly, especially if your hair is long. Rinsing for a minute is certainly necessary.
You can also use an apple cider vinegar. This rinse will remove the accumulations in a mild way. You can also use a solid conditioner from HelemaalShea.
Hard water also ensures that the soap is harder to wash out of your hair. If you live in a region with hard water, it is best to give your hair a vinegar rinse. Try also to rinse your hair with rainwater.
Hard water also ensures that the soap is harder to wash out of your hair.
1.9 Water can really affect your hair.
Water can really affect your hair. When I am on vacation, I always bring a supply of our own soap and shampoo bars. I was amazed at how my shampoo experience differed from place to place. My hair felt and behaved differently and never as it felt at home. The only variable was the water.
If it seems that your hair can not get used to the hair soap, it may be due to your water.
The characteristics of the water can determine how well (or badly) your shampoo and conditioning routine works.
1.10 What does Hard Water have to do with my hair?
You need water to wash your hair and hard water makes it harder to make a good foam and rinse your hair.
Each hair shaft consists of small scales. Hard water tends to allow the scales to rise, leaving your hair feeling rough and confused. Because your hair is tangled and rough, it is more difficult to rinse out all the soap.
Soap is less effective in very hard water because it reacts with the excess minerals to form calcium or magnesium salts. These are not easily soluble in water and can result in a soap film. Washing hair in soft water has a different result because it leaves less insoluble deposits on the hair.
If your water is not too hard, just use your natural shampoo and a conditioner. The conditioner helps the scales to flatten your hair and let the last soap rinse out. Maybe you should experiment with different soaps and conditioners. View our conditioners here.
If you have hard water, try using rainwater or filtered water to rinse your hair! Or you can use a weak acid rinse, such as vinegar, a solution of citric acid and water or lemon juice. Because of the acid the scales go flat and the soap can be rinsed more easily.
You can also do a washing once a month with baking soda (for sale at the supermarket) in the case of construction.
Buying a shower head with water filter for hard water is also an option.
1.11 How often should I use my shampoo bar?
Actually what you like best.
1.12 My hair is colour treated, can I use shampoo bars?
Yes, you can. Our shampoo bars are very mild so suitable for colour treated hair.
1.13 My hair remains greasy, now what?
You may not be immediately satisfied if you are going to wash your hair with solid shampoo. This is because your hair and scalp first have to get used to the fact that you no longer use chemical products and need the time to recover. After a few washes, the hair may feel a bit greasy. It can take two to four weeks for your results to see and feel. If you have been washing a bit longer with solid shampoo, you will start to notice that your hair will get more volume. And your hair is wonderfully soft. It is really worth it!
If the hair soap really does not like the soap is also very good for your body to use.
1.14 What is the pH of a shampoo bar or soap.
Our shampoo bars are made according to the cold process method, so real soap. And real soap has a pH of about 8. To bring the pH value of the hair back to about 5, this is the pH value of hair, you can use a vinegar rinse. This also ensures that the scales close again and the hair feels smooth again. The difference in pH is not harmful to your hair.
2 Recipes
2.1 How do I make an apple cider vinegar or a citric acid rinse?
Apple cider vinegar rinse: Take an old bottle (for example an empty shampoo bottle) and fill it with water and vinegar in the ratio 80/20. So for example a bottle of 200 ml is filled with 160 ml water and 40 ml apple vinegar.
Dry hair needs less vinegar than fat hair. Try it out and you will automatically find the right ratio.
If your hair does not tolerate a vinegar rinse, you can use a citric acid rinse. A citric acid solution can be made by dissolving a tablespoon of citric acid (sold here) in 200 ml of hot (boiled) water.
A combination of the apple vinegar or citric acid rinse and the solid conditioner is also possible. After washing, first rinse with the apple vinegar. Apply some solid conditioner to the points, allow it to retract and then rinse out well. This method is very suitable if you suffer from dry ends after washing with soap.
3 Productionprocess
3.1 What is the cold process method?
Our natural soaps are handmade according to the cold process method. This way of making soap means that you mix vegetable oils and butters with lye. Lye is a mixture of water with NaOH (sodium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide). The oils, butters and lye start the saponification process. Nothing remains of the lye after the saponification process and the drying period of the soap (and is therefore not on the ingredient list). And natural glycerin is created through the saponification process. This naturally occurs in every piece of cold process soap.
The end result: a nice bar of soap, a fantastic cleaning product!
