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Solid shampoo pieces with sea buckthorn berries extract or homemade organic soap bars on wooden soap dish. Wooden bowl of sea buckthorn berries.
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Sea Buckthorn Shampoo Bar Recipe 🌿

Yields: 4 bars (approximately 50g each)
Shelf Life: 6–12 months
pH: 5–5.5 (mild and scalp-friendly)
Prep Time15 minutes
Active Time1 hour
Total Time2 days
Yield: 4 bars
Cost: 8.50 per bar

Equipment

  • 1 Double Boiler Setup: Heatproof Glass or Stainless Steel Bowl: To melt ingredients gently without direct heat.Saucepan: To hold water for the double boiler setup.
  • 1 Digital Kitchen Scale: For precise measurement of ingredients in grams
  • 1 Measuring Spoons: For essential oils and smaller quantities.
  • 1 Dropper: For accurately adding essential oils by the drop.
  • 1 Heatproof Spatula: For stirring and scraping down the sides of the bowl.
  • 1 Mini Whisk: To blend powders smoothly into the melted mixture.
  • 1 Silicone Mold: Preferably bar-shaped molds to make unmolding easier.
  • 1 Spoon or Mini Spatula: For packing the mixture into molds without air pockets.
  • 1 Dust Mask: Optional but recommended when working with SCI powder to prevent inhalation.
  • 1 Gloves: To protect hands from warm mixtures.
  • 1 Parchment Paper or Wax Paper: To wrap bars if storing or gifting.
  • 1 Optional Equipment:pH Strips: To test and ensure a mild pH of 5–5.5. Spray Bottle with Isopropyl Alcohol: To spritz the tops of bars to reduce bubbles (optional).

Materials

  • 100 g SCI (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate) powder
  • 60 g BTMS-50 (Behentrimonium Methosulfate)
  • 10 g Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil
  • 15 g Cocoa Butter
  • 10 g Coconut Oil
  • 10 g Panthenol (Provitamin B5)
  • 5 g Cetyl Alcohol
  • 5 g Aloe Vera Powder
  • 1 g Essential Oil Blend: 10 drops Rosemary (promotes growth) 10 drops Lavender (soothes scalp) 5 drops Tea Tree (clarifies)

Instructions

  • Melt: In a double boiler, melt the BTMS-50, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and cetyl alcohol until fully combined.
  • Add SCI: Gradually stir in the SCI powder to avoid dust, mixing thoroughly.
  • Incorporate Oils: Remove from heat and add sea buckthorn seed oil, panthenol, and aloe vera powder. Stir well.
  • Add Essential Oils: Once the mixture cools slightly but is still pourable, add essential oils and mix.
  • Mold: Pack the mixture firmly into silicone molds, pressing well to avoid air pockets.
  • Set: Allow bars to harden at room temperature for 24–48 hours before unmolding.

Notes

💵 The Real Cost of Going Natural

Let’s be honest—buying premium natural bars can get pricey, with some brands charging upwards of $25 per bar. Making your own does involve an upfront investment, especially with high-quality ingredients like sea buckthorn oil. But here’s the kicker: you get WAY more bang for your buck.

 

🛒 Cost Breakdown (Approximate):

  • SCI Powder (500g): $22.50
  • BTMS-50 (250g): $22.75
  • Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil (30ml): $56.50
  • Cocoa Butter (250g): $27.75
  • Jojoba Oil (120ml): $6.99
  • Coconut Oil (600g): $9.36
  • Essential Oils (average per 120ml): $20.00
  • Hydrolyzed Rice Protein (30ml): $4.75
  • DL-Panthenol (30g): $8.46
  • Cetyl Alcohol (250g): $5.00
  • Aloe Vera Powder (227g): $14.99
Total cost for ingredients: $199.05
Both recipes yield: 6 bars (4 shampoo and 2 conditioner)
Approximate median cost per bar: $8.93
While the cost to invest can seem high to start, the real value lies in the leftover ingredients, allowing you to craft multiple batches and reduce the cost significantly over time. Purchasing materials in bulk can substantially lower production cost per bar. 
 
 
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