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An Educational post about how to use a shampoo bar, what ingredients we use and why

HOW TO USE A SHAMPOO BAR

Soapology shampoo bars are gently cleansing for all hair types.  We don't use any harsh surfactants, parabens or silicones in our bars.  All of our formulas are created with SLSa and SCI which are the two mildest naturally derived cleansing agents on the market.

 

Simply wet the bar and give it a rub in your hands & it instantly gives you a lovely thick, luxurious lather. Pop the bar on a rack and then massage in to your hair. If needed, circle the bar directly on your head for even more lather. Massage, and then fully rinse.

Solid shampoo is super concentrated (liquid shampoo is 80% water!) so you only need to use a tiny amount. Make sure it is fully rinsed out so no concentrated cleansing molecules are left in your hair. Each palm-sized long lasting shampoo bar weighs 70g and lasts for up to 60 washes, saving an amazing 2 (250ml) plastic bottles every time.

 

SIZE

Our Bars are 40% bigger than some other bars on the market.

OUR INGREDIENTS

We choose to only use two extremely mild and gentle naturally derived surfactants in our shampoo bars.  SLSa and SCI.  

SLSa (Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate)

A powder used to make shampoo bars as it creates a foaming lather.  SLSa is derived from coconut oil and creates a lather that gently removes surface oil, dirt and bacteria without stripping or drying sensitive skin.

SLSa is also hydrophilic, this means it is attracted to water, which enables it to dissolve more readily in water, thus providing superior rinse ability. It is becoming the standard foaming ingredient for those who are looking for natural products for body and haircare.

The cost of SLSa compared to SLS is 400 times more.  SLS is a common ingredient in liquid shampoos and is irritating to some people with sensitive scalps.

 

SCI  (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate)

Commonly called Baby Foam due to its exceptional mildness, obtained from Coconut Oil.   It gives a stable, rich and velvety lather that does not dehydrate the skin like SLS or SCS.  Equally effective in both hard and soft water.  This unscented and ultra conditioning cleansing agent is gentle enough for use on the delicate skin of babies.

 

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Cocamidopropyl betaine works as a cleanser and conditioner, though it’s primarily a surfactant. Surfactants are ingredients that attract dirt and oil so that you can rinse them off of your skin or hair. ‌ Cocamidopropyl betaine is made of fatty acids derived from coconut oil and blended with other elements during manufacturing. On its own, it's a viscous fluid. Product makers use it as an additive to increase the effectiveness of other ingredients. It serves several functions, including:

  • Lather. Cocamidopropyl betaine produces a thick lather when combined with water. The lathering action helps loosen the dirt and impurities that you are washing away, so they are easier to rinse off after cleaning.
  • Hydration.  Cocamidopropyl betaine contains coconut oil which is hydrating. It's less drying than other surfactants. Cocamidopropyl betaine reduces the drying effects of harsher detergents in skin and hair care products.
  • Thickening. Cocamidopropyl betaine makes products feel creamier. It's a thickening agent that adds viscosity to products. This makes them feel richer and makes them less likely to drip while you use them.

At Soapology, we use the liquid Cocamidopropyl Betaine as the binding agent to get our SLSa and SCI to stick together as a bar.  

Salt

We add salt to our formulas to boost volume in the hair.

Panthenol B5

Panthenol, also known as pro-vitamin B5, is the precursor of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid, which is a natural constituent of the hair). Its name comes from the Greek “pantothen” which means “everywhere”. Vitamin B5 is found throughout living organisms. In particular, it plays a role in the development and proper functioning of the central nervous system. It is found in certain foods such as meat, fish, egg yolk, almonds and nuts. Panthenol is a stable form of vitamin B5. It is known for its moisturising, soothing and repairing properties. 

It is also used for hair and scalp care and provides hydration, soothing and repairing properties.

  • Panthenol is capable of binding to the hair surface. A study1 shows that, in a shampoo and conditioner routine, it is deposited on the hair and thus protects the fiber.
     
  • It has also been shown to repair damaged hair and reduce the damage caused by excessive brushing. It also has a humectant (wetting) property.


1 E. Wagner, Parfumerie und Kosmetik, 1994, 75 (260-267)

 

Cetyl Alcohol

Cetyl alcohol helps to add hardness to shampoo bars making for a firm bar that will last a long time in your shower.  It also moisturises, smoothes and seals the hair cuticle.

There is often a misconception that because it has alcohol in its name that cetyl alcohol is drying to the skin. The reality is actually the opposite. Cetyl alcohol helps to protect the skin from allergens, bacteria and moisture loss and improves the texture of products.

 

Eco Preservative (Benzyl Alcohol,Salicylic Acid,Glycerin & Sorbic Acid)

As our shampoo bars come into contact with water, we include a natural preservative called Eco Preservative to protect the bars from bacterial growth.

Preservative eco is both COSMOS and Ecocert compliant and is a water-soluble, low odor and low colour preservative that offers broad spectrum protection in a variety of Cosmetic and Toiletry products.  Preservative Eco is a broad spectrum Natural preservative which has no Parabens, no Phenoxyethanol, no isothiazolones and no Formaldehyde. It is virtually fragrance free so it is perfect even for fragrance free products. 

 

ESSENTIAL OILS

We choose to use only pure essential oils for scent and therapeutic properties, no synthetic fragrance oils here. 

Sweet Dreams - Lavender & May Chang.

Good for Normal Hair,  helps with healing, scalp health, stimulates hair growth, soothes itching, helps dandruff, improves circulation.  Balances and Restores.

Serendipity - Patchouli, Lime & Grapefruit.
Good for Oily hair.  Helps dandruff. and promotes hair growth.  Enhances your natural shine
Pink Lemonade - Lemon, Lemongrass & May Chang.
Good for adding shine to hair, balancing oil production so great for oily or hair that gets greasy quickly. 
Mojito - Peppermint, Lime & May Chang.
Good for Dry / Normal hair.  Soothes the scalp.  Stimulates growth , relieves inflammation, strengthens and balances.
COLOURS
Colours added for fun and to differentiate between our four signature scents.
Colours are listed on labels by their CI number (Colour Index) to be legally compliant.
Here are ours : 
Sweet Dreams - CI77891, CI77861, CI77007
Serendipity - CI77891, CI77288
Pink Lemonade - CI77891, CI77491, CI77742
Mojito - CI77891, CI77861, CI77288

 

HOW TO STORE A SHAMPOO BAR

Storing your bar correctly from the beginning is going to help the bars to last as long as possible and be super economical - the more uses you get, the more cost effective the bar becomes right.  We all want good value for money and shampoo and conditioner bars definitely give us that in addition to their green credentials.  

You need somewhere to store the bars between uses where they can drain excess water freely.  A bar in a puddle of water is an unhappy bar that will become soft and not last as long as a nice hard dry bar.  We have our own wooden shampoo and conditioner bar dishes or you can use one you already have.  The only point to make really is that often the ones that come pre-attached to showers are quite often in the splash range of the shower and so if your bar is being rained upon then it will shorten its lifespan.  Try and find a place our of the water spray area to store your bars :-)  

 

HOW TO TRAVEL WITH SHAMPOO BARS?

Soapology Shampoo and Conditioner Bars are perfect for travelling.   

1 - They are small so will easily fit inside your bag taking up as little space as possible.  You will have plenty of room to pack that extra bikini or pair of sunglasses :-)

2 - No leaking to worry about, as the bars are solid you can have 100% piece of mind that your clothes won't be covered in any leaked sticky liquids when you get to your destination.  Winner!

3 - No confusing liquid allowance rules to adhere to if you pop them in your hand luggage.  Solid Shampoo and Conditioner bars are allowed.  Yay!

4 - For holidays or going to the gym or pool we recommend our Travel Tin which fits all of our bars.  Remember to keep the tin open when you pop a wet bar inside to help it to dry out between uses which will extend the life of the bar.

ZERO WASTE! HOW TO USE UP THE LAST SLIVER....

When you bar had had a lot of use and just a thin disc remains the best way to use this up is to apply it directly to a brand new bar when they are both wet.  Let them dry and they will stick together.  Use it a few times and the original bar will become part of the new bar.  This genius tip ensures that there is absolutely no wasted product at all.  Marvelous!

 

Our Bars are Award Winning!


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