What is a shampoo bar?  How does it differ from a regular bar of soap?   These are good questions. 

We make our shampoo bars from scratch using the cold process method of making soap.   It is used like a bar of soap only in your hair.  This makes it easy when traveling since you can use one bar for everything!  

Shampoo bars differ from regular soap in that there is a higher percentage of castor oil to provide a more slippery lather.  We do not put clay in our shampoo bars like we do in our regular soap bars.  We do, however, add a form of Vitamin B5 to condition hair.  In addition, we add citric acid to lower the ph level so as to be gentler on hair which has a lower ph than skin.  A homemade bar of soap typically has a ph-level around 9-10 (which is alkaline).  (Remember 7 is neutral.  Below 7 is acidic and above 7 is alkaline.) The ph -level of hair is closer to 5 (more acidic).  You cannot make a bar of soap that is in the ph-5 range -- it would not saponify (that is a chemistry lesson I am not educated enough to present).   But, citric acid can slightly lower the ph of the shampoo bar (because it is acidic, it counteracts the alkalinity of the lye used to convert the oils and shea butter into soap).  It is recommended to use an apple cider vinegar rinse (which is acidic) a couple times a week to counteract the higher (alkaline ) ph-level of the shampoo bar.     

Whew.  That is a lot of information.  Bottom line:  I started making the shampoo bars last fall and have used them ever since.  I use an apple cider vinegar rinse after each shampoo and I put a small dab of home-made conditioner on my ends.  Occasionally I use a store bought conditioner.  My hair is much healthier than it used to be. 

A word of caution to those who color their hair.  Because I do not have a good understanding of ph-levels and chemistry, I advise using a store bought color-protecting shampoo the day you color your hair and for 1-2 days after you color.  (I'm not sure how the higher ph level of a shampoo bar could affect the chemicals in hair color.)  After that, switch back to the shampoo bars.  I do this and have found the shampoo bars to be the equivalent of a non-color protecting shampoo.