Traditionally, soap is made from oils/fats and lye. When these components are brought together, the fatty acids and lye create a chemical reaction and thus the process of saponification is born. Soap product recipes are formulated in such a way that no left-over lye remains in a ready-to-go soap. Therefore, soap is a perfectly safe and natural part of one’s skincare routine.
However, it is essential to clarify that not every solidified bar of cleaning product is truly soap itself. For instance, Lush has been selling not actual soap but a so-called soaping product which contains a synthetic detergent, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), commonly used in shower gels.
Let us not waste our time on shower gels and get back to soap. By playing with various combinations of oils, we enrich soap with a great range of properties. It could be made more or less foamy. We could change its cleansing properties by, say, boosting them for oily skin and decreasing their presence for dry skin.
Shampoo soap requires a unique set of properties. It has to be sufficiently foamy without over-drying one’s hair and scalp or leaving oily residue behind while thoroughly conditioning and allowing for the hair to be easily brushed.
How to use a shampoo bar?
Hair is to be thoroughly wet and well-lathered by the shampoo bar. Once your hair retains enough foam, place the shampoo bar aside, take the time to massage your scalp and to rinse your hair. If your hair is naturally oily, you may repeat the process. Once every step is taken care of, you may rinse your hair with oxidized water. To attain oxidization, you are free to use berry, fruit, rice-based or synthetic vinegar. Citric acid or freshly squeezed lemon juice are also a great choice. Any of the above-mentioned ingredients are to be diluted in water to such an extent that the taste of resulting solution should be noticeably sour. For instance, I tend to use two tablespoons of fruit vinegar in one cup of water. Oxidation is going to make your hair shinier, silkier, and more manageable. Your scalp is also going to feel healthier.
What’s the advantage of using shampoo bar over regular shampoo?
80-90% of shampoo consists of water. The remaining 10-15% typically consists of synthetic detergents, colorants, perfume, and preservatives. you end up paying for water, low-quality detergent, and a plastic container with the latter being either recycled (best-case scenario) or eternally trapped within a garbage dump or oceanic waters (worst-case scenario). Soap is a 100% robust, safe, and natural product which leaves behind nothing else but an biodegradable and modestly sized wrapper. It is a trouble-free travel accessory- especially so if one travels with a carry-on.
The contents of my soap include such precious oils as the oils of pracaxi, peach pits, sweet almonds, rapeseed, shea tree, unrefined coconut oils, and many more.Instead of water I use light or darker beer produced by the local breweries. vitamin E and extracts of rosemary and hops are the active ingredients.
What else should I treat my hair to?
No doubt, you should settle on the hair cream! This versatile product could be used as a hair conditioner, hair mask, or a leave-in cream. In the first case, apply the hair cream to your wet and cleansed hair, spread it evenly throughout your hair, wait for one minute, and rinse it. To benefit from a more intensive treatment, use the hair cream as a hair mask. Dry your hair with a towel, apply hair cream generously, cover your hair with a food wrap, envelop your hair with a towel, and wait for one hour or longer. Afterward, rinse the hair cream out of your hair with warm water.
My preference is using the hair cream as a leave-in cream. In order to do so, I apply a modest amount of cream onto my towel-dried hair, brush through it, and let it dry naturally. The hair cream nourishes my scalp, protects my hair from the effects of the environment, and makes it beautiful looking and pleasant to the touch.
