Teach Soap

What is the benefit of using a surfactant based shampoo versus a soap based shampoo?

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Surfactant has a lower pH, so it could be milder. I can't use real soap on my hair.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Would adjusting the pH make soap based shampoo milder?

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Oh, good point! That could have been an oops!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

A;right, so I will try this both ways I guess. I;m ordering some surfactants! I use Swifty's blog for my research for the most part, she is very good at explanations! She says to use cocamidopropyl betaine as the main surfactant and lists several others to use as co-surfactants. I chose disodium laureth sulfosuccinate and decyl polyglucoside. I actually had to google them all to make sure I was still sulfate free. That is my main goal, a mild shampoo that cleans well and is sulfate free!

How'd I do chemists?

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

I use cocamidopropyl betaine & decyl glucoside. I haven't tried disodium laureth sulfosuccinate.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

She recommends the sulfosuccinate for oily hair, figured it'd be good for my Dad.

First you get me to try preservatives, then conditioning agents, now surfactants.... what is the world coming to?!

Irena, you enabler you!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I love a good surfactant based shampoo bar. Like Irena, regular soap on my hair makes it feel yucky.

Too many people hear the word surfactant and automatically think sulfates.

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Genny

This is true, even I assumed all surfactants were sulfate laden until I started reading posts here! I will make my parents each a bottle with surfactant based shampoo, and one with soap based shampoo and let them choose which they prefer. Gives me twice as much fun stuff to learn!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

Guess I have to put "learn how to make shampoo" on my every growing list of things to try before I die...

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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Carrie
Wife to my Best Friend and Homeschool mom to 7 beautiful gifts

I've been using my own olive and castor shampoo for months, and I love it. I haven't had a build up problem, either, but I do have dry, curly/wavy hair. It works well on my daughter's curly hair, too. So barque, it isnt always an issue! And we don't have a water softener.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
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