Maine Man has been asking me for some time to learn how to make shampoo. After a bit of googling I finally made it happen. I have made 2 batches so far and the kids and MM like it.
~I heated 16 oz. of distilled water (I would think tap water would suffice)
~Added 2 tea bags (cranberry pomegrate)
~Let it seep for 30 minutes and then removed tea bags
(In the second batch I added a dash of olive oil)
The consistency is watery but the smell and the cool clean feel of the pepermint make up for it.
Here is one of the
sites I referenced. Total costs approximately .75/16 oz bottle.
While researching I found many great sites about the multiple uses of castille soap.
Here is one I'd like to share. This site interests me most because of the recipe for the laundry detergent at the very bottom. It is similar to the one I use but instead of Fels Naptha it calls for castile soap and it has baking soda in it. What I've missed most of store bought detergent is the scent. I love yummy smelling stuff but it costs too much to add essential oils to a few gallons of detergent. Fortunately, castile soap comes in many scents and may be the answer I've been looking for. I will definetly experiment with this and report which I like best.
I also made soap for the VERY FIRST time and I am SO EXCITED!I followed the recipe that I saw at From My Homestead here is the link. What I liked MOST: It was SO EASY! I used lemon eucalyptus essential oil and it smells HEAVENLY!
ALL YOU NEED IS:
5 simple ingredients: water, olive oil, oatmeal, lye, and essentail oils me
If you to are a beginner soap maker THIS is great soap recipe to follow. I used a mixer to combine the ingredients because I did not have a blender. I have read that immersion blenders work great for mixing too.
I guess the scariest part for me was working with the lye. I took precautions, wearing gloves, protective eyewear, and I made it in the shed (away from the kiddos and with room to run in case of an explosion.)
Despite all my worries I pulled it off without incident.
Anyone have any soap recipes they'd like to share?
Maine Man has been asking me for some time to learn how to make shampoo. After a bit of googling I finally made it happen. I have made 2 batches so far and the kids and MM like it. 
I also made soap for the VERY FIRST time and I am SO EXCITED!
22 comments:
How fun, we used to make goat milk soap!
These are gorgeous!! What a wonderfully easy recipe for soap, and you can't believe how excited I am to find someone who makes their own shampoo they love! I've SO been wanting a good shampoo recipe. Does it leave your hair soft? I have a problem with my hair getting dry and snarled since it's long. Wow, congratulations on your wonderful soaps :)
What beautiful soaps! Aren't you somethin'? Making your own detergent and now shampoo. You amaze me.
I enjoy coming to your blog because I learn so much and get motivated to do more things at home. I'm going to make the soap, the detergent, maybe the shampoo, and for sure homemade vanilla.
I've been reading about goat's milk soap. Hmmm, I'm not sure I wanat to milk goats.
I have made soap for a few years now, and have to tell you, yours is beautiful! Well done. What molds did you use?
You truly inspire me.
Thanks for all the great tips and links. I don't have time now, but hopefully before summer I'm going to try out all the cool things you're doing!
Amy, I plan to make goat soap soon.
Robbyn, John and the kids don't have issues with it but I too have long hair and have to use conditioner after to soften up. I plan on trying to make that too in the future.
Amy, it was REALLY easy.
Don, thanks. I want to make that homemade vanilla too. I wished I'd made it way before Christmas.
CD, thanks. The molds did make it look nice.
Jodi thanks. Most of what I do I've read about on other blogs. It is a great circle of learning.
Those soaps look really great.
Shampoo, huh? Thats cool. And I have to agree with you on the expense of the essential oils....
Excellent looking soap! I have never tried making it...sounds like a good project! Thanks for posting!
pretty soaps too. I'd love to try 'em. good job.
Great job! Its so much fun isnt it!!!?? I have been having a ball since I began making and selling my own soaps. I'm getting ready to add shapoos, laudry detergent, and pet care products along with my goat milk soaps so I'm excited about it! Keep up the good work and keep experimenting! Remember handmade soaps dont lather as much as that store bought stuff, but still cleans better! LOL You'll have to check out my soap blog, its wilmothfarmshandmadesoaps.blogspot.com....dont forget to elt your soap cure for the proper amount of time! Its still caustic for a time! Have fun and enjoy! Here is a good site for getting soap making, and all kinds of other handmade stuff you can make...www.brambleberry.com...great molds! Dont go crazy though it can be expensive, and trust me most people want about the same kind of scents and molds, so I wasted a lot of money myself! LOL trial and error! If you have any questions let me know I'll help if I can!!!!! Soon I'll also be selling the soap base that can be used for melt and pour, I just cannot wait and so excited about it all, I could talk for ever about it! Enjoy your new hand made products, they are so much better and much more satisfying and your friends and family will love you all the more now when you give them as gifts! In fact, they'll drive you crazy for them! LOL
You're soaps are gorgeous. I just love the scent of lemon. I'm sure they smell great! Love the shampoo recipe. I'll have to try it. Congratulations!
They look so cool, Kim! Way to go!
Making shampoo is awesome and SO much better for your family! When you read the labels of some of that stuff that smells really good, it will about make you cringe!
I've been running my handmade soaps, lotions, balms, salves, etc. business for over 6 years now and I have tons of great recipes to share with you if you want to experiment sometime. I love to use the totally natural essential oils for fragrancing. Even though they are expensive, they give the benefits of aromatherapy as well as the herbal healing of each one. I have some great resources for herbs, oils and essentials if anyone is interested.
Next you need to make your own lotion! It's really easy too and SO much better for your skin! We have to remember that our skin absorbs what is rubbed on it. Lots of lotions and creams use Mineral Oil as a cheap filler. That seems ok until we learn that Mineral Oil is a PETROLEUM product derived from the refining of gasoline!!!! it is a KNOWN CARCINOGEN and really should not be allowed in cosmetic products at all! READ LABELS. Be sure of what you put on yourself and your family members.
If anyone wants to see how we make soap here at Rainier Soapworks, just click to see pics and descriptions -- http://www.rainiersoapworks.com/How_a_Bar_of_Soap_Is_Made.htm
Here's a couple more ideas for your shampoo:
Get Great, Shiny Hair
Vodka doesn't just make you think people look prettier. It actually can make people prettier. How?
Try this remedy for healthier, lush hair: Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo.
Not only is beer the remedy for a dull party, it's also the cure for dull hair. Dump a cup into a small saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Let it reduce until there's 1/4 cup left. This removes the alcohol, which can dry hair. Let the beer cool, then mix it with a cup of your favorite shampoo. Pour it into an empty shampoo bottle, then wash and rinse as usual. It'll give your hair more shine and luster.
And here's an old soap recipe:
Lye Soap
Ingredients:
6 lbs used and cleaned bacon grease
2 cans of Red Devil Lye
40 (oz) Of clean water
Directions:
In a big enough iron pot heat the grease.In a plastic pitcher fill with 40 oz of water.Add lye to the water and dissolve. When container which contains the lye water is warm, Pour lye water into heated bacon grease and boil for 2 hours.Stir with a old broom handle until mixture is thick.Pour soap into molds and let soap harden for 5 days before use.Soap is vvery white and has a clean smell.
Awsome soaps Kim! I have been making soaps to give as gifts this year but never used lye... I may have to give that a try though! I have some of the same molds you used. I also am definately going to try making the shampoo - with five girls in this house we go through a LOT of that! Also going to give the homemade laundry detg a try soon. I have had that recipe for about a year now but not used it yet. Do you know, does it work in HE washing machines?
thanks!
Janine
Oh my gosh, I am sooo jelous!! I have been wanting to make soap and have not gotten around to doing it. I am sooo happy to hear that you made it without incident, haha.
Your soaps are beautiful. Maybe you could sell some at next years road side stand.
You are going to town over there girl! Awesome stuff! Wanna sell some of your soap? It would make a fun stocking stuffer!
I made soap this weekend too, I couldn't believe it when I got to your blog and saw you had been too!
Great looking soap! :)
HOLLY, HOLLY....SOME GREAT RESPONSES FROM THIS POST. WHERE DO I START? WELL, THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR GREAT COMMENTS. KEEP THEM COMING! I AM ALYAYS EXCITED TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE HAS TO SAY AND I LEARN SOOOOO MUCH FROM YOU ALL!
KY, IT WAS REAL FUN NOW I WANT TO DO MORE AND MORE. I WILL CHECK OUT YOUR SOAP BLOG & BRAMBLEBERRY FOR SURE. THIS RECIPE SAID TO LET IT CURE FOR 3 WEEKS BUT I'VE READ ELSEWHERE IT SHOULD BE LONGER??
FOR ADDITIONAL MOLDS I AM GOING JUST FIX SOMETHING UP TO MAKE CUT PIECES RATHER THAN GET ALL FANCY. i COULD GO MENTAL BUYING ESSENTIAL OILS BUT BECAUSE OF THEIR COSTS I'M ALL GOOD.
FM, I HAD NO IDEA YOU WERE INTO IT TOO. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR GREAT INFO, I WILL CHECK OUT THE SITE. I HAVE LOTS TO LEARN.
GW, YOU ARE JUST A WEALTH OF KNOWLEGE. I AM REALLY INTO MAKING A BETTER SHAMPOO...ONE THAT I LIKE MORE SO THANKS FOR ALL THE IDEAS.
JANINE, TY. WORKING WITH LYE WAS NOT TOO BAD YOU JUST NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS.
I HAVE HEARD THAT LAUNDRY DETERGENT IS OK WITH FRONT LOADERS.
CG, NOT FOR SALE BUT I'D HELP YOU MAKE SOME.
THAT'S FUNNY NITA...IT WAS ANOTHER FIRST FOR ME.
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