What makes homemade shampoo bars better than store brands?
I've focused on the required ingredients. I used no synthetic additives.
No sulfates, ever. Sulfates can dry out your hair and irritate your scalp, and they show up in more ways than you'd think. Even “sulfate-free” products often contain lookalikes (check your labels for anything that starts with sulf-).
No filler ingredients or shortcuts. Commercial shampoo bars often use synthetic additives to speed up production or extend shelf life. I don’t. The only ‘extra’ I use is sodium lactate, a natural salt that helps the bar last longer in your shower and adds a touch of hydration.
Extra nourishing oils remain in the bar after saponification to condition your hair and scalp, especially great for dryness or sensitivity.
Unlike commercial soaps that strip glycerin, your cold process method retains this ultra-hydrating byproduct for soft, moisture-balanced hair.
✨ Panthenol (Provitamin B5): Strengthens and softens hair.
🌱 Neem Oil: Antibacterial, antifungal, ideal for scalp care.
🧂 Sodium Lactate: Helps the bar last longer and gently hydrates.
Every oil, butter, and additive was chosen with purpose - no mystery fillers, no coating agents, just real ingredients you recognize.
🖐️ Small Batch, Hand Poured
Made in small batches, poured by hand, and cured for 4–6 weeks for a longer-lasting, harder bar that performs beautifully.
Each scent profile isn’t just for smell, it’s designed to support mood, mental clarity, or emotional balance while offering topical benefits for your scalp and hair.
I’m a low-maintenance, honestly-obsessed woman with fine, curly hair, a sensitive scalp, and absolutely no patience for my hair.
I recently (2025) moved to Toronto, around the world and back again. I make these shampoo bars myself, by hand, in my apartment. No team (though my partner occasionally lends a hand with content), no lab coats (but yes, full safety gear when dealing with lye). Just me, a bunch of oils, and a deep respect for a good product.
This all started when I realized I obsessively read food labels… but didn’t think twice about what I was massaging into my scalp every few days. After months of travel, trying to translate shampoo labels in other languages, I decided to experiment. I added a few drops of tea tree oil to my shampoo, followed it with an apple cider vinegar rinse, and suddenly, it felt like the hair gods were finally looking down on me. My frizzy, oily, dull hair? Shiny. My itchy scalp? Calm.
So I kept going.
With my PhD training and a background in research, I put on my (highly critical) hat to examine what was actually in the market. I looked at the labels, the claims, the ingredients, and to be honest, it felt like a lot of smoke and mirrors.
So I got to work. Methodical, skeptical, curious. I studied cold process soap making and built a bar I actually wanted to use. Simple. Honest. Made with real ingredients that support your scalp, your hair, and your health, without synthetics.
Now, I’m slowly building a small but mighty line of personal and home care products that put transparency first.
No filler. No trends. Just what works.
(P.S. This was me before I started making shampoo…)
Shipping details will be confirmed via email upon completion
© Copyright 2025.
Erin Shellington Consulting Inc.