Soap vs. Syndet Shampoo Bars

If you have been making soap for any length of time, you’ve most likely heard of shampoo bars. If you have not heard of them, they are hard bars of soap used to clean hair. They are an alternative to the more common liquid shampoos sold in stores in plastic bottles.

- By TINA MOENCK

 

If you have heard of soap shampoo bars, you likely possess strong opinions for or against. Here, I will go over the differences between soap shampoo bars and syndet (synthetic detergent) bars and some of the science to help you make a more informed decision on making and/or selling them.

To explore the topic properly, we must start by understanding the anatomy of hair. To make body soap, it is important to understand skin anatomy; similarly, it is just as vital to understand the hair to make shampoo.

The hair strand is comprised of several layers. Three outer layers called root sheaths are located at the base of hair shafts to protect the root and promote growth. Inside the root sheaths is the cuticle, then the cortex, and in the very middle of the hair shaft lies the medulla. The topic is more complex than my description but you can do more research if you want to learn more. This article explains the basics and how what we use affects hair, to help you create formulas.

To understand hair care, it is important to understand pH and how it affects the hair and scalp. Human hair, skin, and sebum have a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. This acidity preserves the health of the hair and scalp. An alkaline substance applied will cause the hair cuticle to open, and in the case of tinted hair, it will fade the color.