Shampoo bars are all the rage lately. But have you seen the prices of them? YIKES! You can buy the ingredients to make at least a dozen DIY Melt and Pour Shampoo Bars for the price of 2 of those “spa” bars. And they are so simple to make. I don’t use shampoo bars daily but I like them for camping and traveling (no spills to worry about). My husband likes them because they are quick and easy (truth be told he washes body and hair with the same bar).
These simple DIY Melt and Pour Shampoo Bars would make great little stocking stuffers or gifts for friends and family too. So make a couple dozen with the holiday season quickly approaching!
DIY Melt and Pour Shampoo Bars
Ingredients – DIY Melt and Pour Shampoo Bars
1 lbs Organic Goat’s Milk Glycerin Melt & Pour Soap Base
1 tsp Mango Butter
2 tsp Castor Oil
20 – 25 drops of high quality lavender essential oil (I recommend this one)
Small Spray Bottle with Rubbing Alcohol (Like this)
A double boiler or something to act like one
Instructions – DIY Melt and Pour Shampoo Bars
- Cut your soap base and melt on low heat (you don’t want it to burn or boil)
- Once melted add in the Mango Butter and allow that to melt
- Remove from heat and mix in the Castor Oil
- Add in the optional Lavender Oil
- Making sure mold is on a firm, level, surface – pour the mixture into your mold nearly level
- Spay with the rubbing alcohol to prevent air bubbles
- Let cool for several hours
- Gently remove from the mold
- Store in an air-tight container, they should be good for up to a year.
How to Use Your DIY Melt and Pour Shampoo Bars
Just like shampooing with liquid, get your hair wet, then wet the bar as well. Take the bar and either create a lather in your hands or use it directly on your scalp and hair. Work the soap into a lather and then rinse.
Easy peasy folks.
Now if you’re feeling like you want to go the extra mile and not use melt and pour base then I recommend looking at these recipes for a full DIY shampoo bar.
Wellness Mama Shampoo Bar Recipe
Hobby Farms Homemade Shampoo Bar
Could I use coconut oil instead of mango butter. Or even something else. I am highly allergic to mangos.
I think shea butter would be a much better replacement for this recipe.
I’m with Tiffany on this one, surely coconut oil is adding oil to the mix but Shea butter would be better. I’m going to try these tomorrow, thank you Tiffany.
Yes, I did. Works great.
Shea butter would be a good replacment
Could henna powder be added to this?
You know I’ve never tried that; I’m not really sure.
Can i use glycerin and olivd oil for making shampoo soap?
There is glycerin in the milk soap base so that should work but you’ll need to work with the amounts of oil so it stays solid.
is there anything to use in place of castor oil? It’s known to cause yeast infections, so I’d prefer to leave that out or sub it.
I have never made it a different way so I can’t know for sure the results; but you could try olive oil or sweet almond oil.
Do you think avocado oil would work for this? I don’t have castor oil.
No, I don’t think that is a good swap.
I would try coconut oil if you can’t get castor oil. The castor oil helps the soap sud, while olive oil will inhibit suds. coconut oil won’t inhibit the suds as much. Although, castor oil is not hard to find. I usually get mine at Whole Foods. Castor oil has astringent properties that help with cleaning out pores. It is used for oil cleansing facial routines and is non-comedogenic. Olive oil and coconut oil are extremely comedogenic and may cause breakouts, especially if you’re prone to them. Shea butter is also relatively non-comedogenic as far as moisturizing products go. I’m not sure about mango butter, but shea butter is easier to come by. Sometimes I think that if I’m going through the trouble of making my own soaps in order to reduce plastic packaging (one of my primary goals in making my own) then it doesn’t make sense to have things shipped because then there is even more packaging to dispose of and the damage to the environment that goes along with shipping than if I can find my ingredients locally. Shea butter and castor oil are pretty easy to find local, so I suggest those. I’ve never heard of castor oil causing yeast infections. It is actually used medicinally for many purposes.
The castor oil helps it foam It probably wouldn’t be necessary Did you ever try it without it?
What do you mean by “Cut the base”? Do you mean chop it up?
Yes.
can you use muffin tins as molds with some sort of lube to help the bars come out? I think they would be a nice shape and use what I have. Hate to buy things as this is the best way to avoid waste.
I remember Lush making them years ago in the UK. They came as the huge soap wheels of bright colors and wonderful scents. Chunks were cut off and wrapped for you to purchase.
I have always wanted to recreate the ones I loved to use and this is so easy I should really try it! Thanks for sharing!
The mold you linked on Amazon does not look like they’d make the soap bar shape you have in the original photo. (The soap in the photo is rounded with a flat area on both sides of the curves, the one on Amazon looks nothing like that) Where can I get the mold used to make the soap in the photo?
Hmmm, I thought that was the one. I’ll try to look again.
I would love to know what mold these were as well!!
I haven’t been able to find it again.
This has nothing to do with the mold, however, can I use your goat milk DYI melt and pour shampoo bar recipe with Tea Tree and Mint oils?
I would think so!
I made these bars yesterday. I used Shea butter instead of mango and halved the recipe. I also added dried lemon and mandarin rind. Turned out beautifully. I got 4 good sized bars and they smell amazing. I also used sweet orange and ylang ylang oils. Thank you
That sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Did these bars lather nicely on the hair…also, did they leave any residue. I made the original recipe…didn’t seem to lather much (I have loads of hair), and left my hair feeling like straw….so I had to use some conditioner. Thoughts on what I can do ???? Thanks so much !!!
I would like to know the answer to this too, most bars I use make my hair feel so dry and then it ends up super frizzy
When I first switched to a shampoo bar it took a week or two for. My hair to adjust. It won’t lather as much… That’s just another ingredient in the commercial brand.. Lather isn’t a ruskly a sign of cleaning. Personally, I use a shampoo bar and trader Joe’s conditioner. The tea tree and mint really help my scalp psoriasis
How many bars does the 1 pound make?
It really depends on the mold you use.
I made this recipe, thank you so much for sharing it, i used a translucent m&p base, and used shea butter instead of mango, i added lemongrass, cedarwood and lavender essential oils for their beneficial properties on scalp and hair and added yellow soap colour, whole family loves them, and my friend tried it too, great lathering fantastic results, my daughter scalps not itchy or dry, my husband has psoriasis and found this recipe really helped his scalp. This is the best shampoo, no poo! recipe so ive made so far and my family love it. Thank you for the basic, recipe. Its a keeper!!
Wonderful! I love hearing this!!!
What quantities of essential oils did you use thanks
20 – 25 drops
I would like to recreate Lush coconut bar shampoo. I use it for my soap. Very moisturizing, and they add actual coconut that is a gentle scrub.
I have two questions please:
I have Organic Black Seed Oil that I’ve been using for scalp massage to increase hair growth, would I be able to use this in place of the castor oil for this recipe?
I used shea butter in place of mango butter, I didn’t get much suds, I really have to work at it, would mango butter add more suds?
Thank you.
Mary
Mary I’ve never used black seed oil so if you do try it, maybe a small batch. These bars won’t get suds like a commercial bar because it is all natural ingredients.
Thank you Tiffany, I tried a small batch using the black seed oil and it works beautifully and for some reason I get more suds.
Hi how much black seed oil did you use? Thanks
Interesting , does the black seed oil work for hair growth? I would like to use it in the soap too
Where can I find the ingredients?
I’ve included links to buying them on Amazon. Some might be available in your local craft store as well.
Has anyone used this on color treated hair?
I would like to know the answer to this as well
What could I add to make it a conditioning shampoo bar? Two in one
This should be conditioning with the current ingredients.
The picture on Pinterest says No Lye—this is wrong. The melt & pour soaps already have lye in them. Just a step you don’t have to do by using the melt & pour soap. All soaps have lye in them or you would just have oil.
I’ve explained this in the comments below – but it is very hard to put a title out that explains that the lye is already in the soap base. I’m sorry if you felt discouraged or lied to because it should say “don’t have to DEAL with lye”.
And not to sound like a meanie, all soap needs lye to be proper soap. She’s just letting you skip a step here
When it says no lye straight away us meltand poursoapers know what yoy are saying and our interest is lifted cause we know we can do it. thank you for this great recipe
I am so glad you like it! Thank you Rose Marie!
I’m glad someone else brought this up because there IS lye in there. It’s misleading. And i was all excited there for a minute 🙁
I’m sorry you felt misled. Once again it is hard to put the exact wording in a title. I am sorry if this did not meet your expectations. I do work hard to bring quality DIY projects to the site.
HI Tiffany,
I just came across your recipe, so I haven’t tried it …yet, but I will.
I just wanted to comment on the no lye upset. I read about melt and pour soap bases, because I’m afraid of using lye. The melt and pour soap bases state specifically the bases are made with lye, so you don’t have to mess with it. No upset here, as I know what you meant.
Thanks for a great recipe!
Ah, thank you Shelley!
After the sponification process (it’s the agent used to cause saponification) there isn’t any lye in the soap base. It changes its compounds when mixed with the oils.
Sponification Process — Lye + Water -> Glycerin + Soap . If there was Lye left over you are doing something very wrong. Imagine the process of making soap with the goggles and gloves. Now imagine using soap with Lye still in it.
Has the swap between Castor Oil to Sweet Almond Oil been successful? I saw the notes that it was possible but I am wondering how that changes the sus
Could you use cocoa butter instead of mango or shea? Thoughts?
Should work, maybe try a smaller batch to see if you like the results.
Can these bars be made from Honey Base Melt and Pour using the same ingredients as listed?
I have only made them as posted, so I’m not sure.
What can I add for someone that swims daily and has very curly hair.
What is the ph level for this shampoo bar?
Commercial brands that advertise as “pH balanced” are using a gimmick. Our skin is designed to maintain its pH therefore you need not worry about pH in homemade products.
Are silk peptides necessary to add
To this recipe?
Everything you need is listed.
Hi, my name is Tammy K. I just made your shampoo bar recipe. I used 10 drops of lavender & 10 drops of rose oil & added red rose petals. It smells wonderful!! I’ll let you know tomorrow how it works.
Thank you for your recipes.
Sincerely,
Tammy K.
So glad you’re enjoying them!
Hello,
Would love to try this recipe but could the castor oil be replaced by another oil ?
No, it really can’t.
Use apple cider vinegar as a conditioner after shampooing. Your hair will be nice and soft. Kombucha vinegar or water kefir vinegar work, too. The vinegar smell disipates after a short time. It doesn’t take much.
I see the 2 different bases that have been used, but was wondering if Shea butter melt and pour or even plain white melt and pour would work just as good. I would love to know everyone’s input on this. If so, how would the recipe go then?
Thank you
I forgot to ask about the soap colors, micas, or pigments. Could those be added to shampoo bars and not stain the hair?
I general don’t use those; I doubt it would stain you hair unless you’re a light blonde. But you certainly don’t need to add colors or pigments.
Hi must it be glycerine or can I use normal goats milk m&p
I have used both.
The soaps will alter the ph of your scalp and hair which can cause damage over time such as dry brittle hair and itchy dry scalp. I love shampoo bars for their convenience when traveling. As Paula mentioned, applying apple cider vinegar to the hair after using a shampoo soap is highly recommended. I mix 25% cider vinegar with 75% water and add a few drops of tea tree essential oil and keep the plastic spray bottle near the tub. I saturate the hair roots to ends and leave in. The smell dissipates as it dries. A great tip, make your bars with a looped cord so that you can hang on a hook in the shower. This keeps your bar dry between uses and will make it last longer.
Great tips! Thank you Mary!
thank you so much for all the information. I’m making baskets for my adult daughters ,with all DIY body face ect.and candles. so glad to make this to add. i allways give them something just from me.to them. all the rest are baught from there dad and i.
Debbie
What a great idea! Did you see my directions for Mason Jar Candles? https://www.imperfectlyhappy.com/diy-mason-jar-candles/
I couldn’t find the goat milk soap base but I did find donkey milk soap base. The ingredients says it has coconut oil, palm oil and sunflower oil in it but doesn’t give how much of each. Should I add the mango butter and castor oil that you list in the recipe or would that be too much oils?
I haven’t worked with that base but I would still add in the mango butter and castor oil. But maybe try a 1/2 batch to be sure it comes out.
The goat milk base also has those oils in it. Still add the castor and mango butter
Tiffany, I have some double butter m&p base with mango butter in it. Do you think it would work as my base & I wouldn’t have to add the xtra mango butter? It looks like a fun recipe! Thanks
Yeah, I’d skip the extra mango butter.
I made this recipe earlier this year except with Shea butter and it’s been great. Took awhile for my hair to get used to it because it’s natural but once that happened it was great. Lathers very nicely. I used hemp melt & pour base. I’m going to make more today. So mad at myself bc my hair dresser talked me into buying Redken shampoo “it has biotin which is great for your hair!” But it has sulfates! She had no idea why I would use castor oil in my hair. Oh well lol back to the drawing board. Thanks again!
Kati – thank you for letting me know how much you like it. I may need to try the hemp base too!!!
So you don’t need to buy a special melt and pour shampoo base? I have had many opinions and don’t know which way to go. I did order a shampoo base MP, but realized it has SLS in it and I don’t want that.
Did you see the one I recommend?
Just wondering if you think this will work well for fine/limp hair. I currently use Shea Moisture (before they changed their formula) and have been happy with it, but I’m looking for something cheaper and easy to take traveling. My hair “notices” too much oil and will be affected by build-up. Thoughts? Does it leave the hair filmy at all – because of all the oil/butter?
I have fine / thin hair and it works for me without build-up.
Thanks for sharing! What are the best essential oils to use?
I should’ve commented when I first made your shampoo bars, so I apologize for taking so long. I have been wanting to try my hand at shampoo bars, and I’m so happy I did. They came out wonderful. I shared a couple bars with my best friend, and she swears by it! I’ve made another batch because she is out of the bars I made previously, and says that she does not like how the sg I shared a couple bars with my best friend, and she swears by it! I’ve made another batch because she is out of the bars I made previously, and says that she does not like how the shampoo her hair feeling as compared to the shampoo bar. Thank you for sharing your recipe with us all, it is now a staple in my soap making. 😊💗💗
Oh Anna – you made my day! I love hearing this!!! I’m so excited to read that. <3
Is this shampoo bar good for head to toe?
My husband uses it in that way without any problem.
hi miss tiffany. can i use glycein soap base only instead of glycerin goats milk?
It should work but that’s the only base I have used. Maybe make a 1/2 batch and see how you like it.
Is this sulfate free?
It can be, depending on the base that you buy.
Sounds lush. Can I use Argan oil M&P soap base instead of the goats milk ?
I have not tested, so I can’t tell you for sure.
Hi, Thank you for such an informative post. I am so excited to try your recipe. When I have tried other shampoo bars I could not get much of a lather. Do you think I could add coco glucoside and coco betaine to this to create a lather? If so how much would you recommend? If not is there anything else I could add to get a sudsy lather?
I have only made it the way the recipe is written.
Hi.. Thanks for this recipe. Thinking of adding Kokum Butter instead of Mango. what is your advice. My Best, Sathya
I have not use that before. You might want to start with a smaller batch and see how you like the results.
I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Argan Butter in place of mango butter. It is very well known as being good for the hair and skin. It does not clog the pours, so it should be good if you have dandruff.
It should alsi be goid fir conditioning the hair.
Donna – I think I’m going to have to try that! Thanks for the idea.
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks for the recipe. Would like to know if this works good on curls. Has any one with curly hair tried this? Kindly reply so I can really make one as I love shampoo bars!! 😊
The mango butter is quite nourishing and moisturizing but my curly girl daughter hasn’t used it; but she would if we were camping. Honestly with curly hair we’ve found the Curly Girl Method most effective, which means only washing once a week.
Having inherited 20 bars of Pears glycerine soap I ‘m wondering if it is worth making a half-batch or will it leave my hair flat. Ditto for olive oil soap bars made in Greece — they make my face soft and clean.
I haven’t tried that, let me know!
I tried this recipe. It didn’t work. It left my hair feeling waxy and oily. I had to wash it twice afterwards to get rid of all the wax.
I don’t know what went wrong
Did you switch out any of the ingredients?
Not really. I used aloe vera pour and melt and that’s the only change which I wouldn’t think would make my hair waxy. Hmmm… what a shame. Never mind. I’m using it as body soap haha!
I used rosemary, geranium and tea tree and it smells gorgeous
What is the difference between shampoo and soap bars? Are they the same?
can i add raw honey to the recipe without risking it not setting?
I would start with a very small amount. I have not personally added raw honey and I am not sure you’d want that in a shampoo bar…kind of sticky.
good shout! what would happen if i add a tsp of coconut oil? or swap one of castor oil for conout oil?