What is solid shampoo?
A solid shampoo is a concentration of active substances that are presented in different forms that resemble a stone. They are always hard and dry.
Liquid shampoo: its effects on our scalp and on the environment
Liquid shampoo contains preservatives made from petrochemicals to remove germs from the water (liquid shampoo is composed of 90% water!), but also silicone, petroleum-based derivatives to facilitate styling, parabens, and sulphates for lather which are also known to attack the scalp. The ingredients prevent the hair from breathing, which is irritating to the scalp and to the body. In addition, derivatives of petroleum are not bio degradable, thus pollutive and harmful to the environment. (For example, silicone takes 500 years to degrade), not to mention the packaging of shampoos, very often made of plastic. (a bottle takes a century to deteriorate and is found very often in our oceans.
The alternative: the solid shampoo
The fact that it is solid uses much less water (less waste!) and therefore there is no need to use a chemical preservative (we only add vitamin E). We created our solid shampoo with surfactant SCI, (a derivative of fatty acids of coconut oil, deemed as the most gentle active ingredient and very foaming), ayurvedic powders, vegetable butters as well as essential oils. It is also ecological not requiring any special packaging, without a plastic bottle. It is economical if one takes into consideration that a solid shampoo allows for between 50 and 100 shampoos, which is the equivalent of 3 standard liquid shampoo bottles. It is practical, just let it dry place it in a small box. No more plastic bottles that sit on the edge of the bathtub and it is very practical when traveling!
Our solid shampoo recipes
Our solid shampoo uses SCI (fatty acids of coconut oil) as a base, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate (a sulfate-free surfactant derived from coconut), BTMS-50 (a plant-based emulsifying wax that is naturally derived from Colza or Rapeseed oil), Shea Butter (well known to moisturize, nourish, soften the hair and soothe the scalp), Cononut Oil (makes hair more dense and shiny), Vegetable Glycerin (moisturizing agent), silk protein (excellent active smoothing and softening), argan oil (nourishes and revitalizes the hair and scalp), jojoba oil (perfect for any type of hair, it helps a rebalance, soften and nourish). We then add Ayurvedic powders, clay powders or Maine seaweed powders and essential oils.
Instructions
The solid shampoo may surprise you at first, because of our habit of using liquid shampoo, and yet it couldn’t be simpler! Wet the scalp and hair and solid shampoo bar, then massage your head and hair (no need to press hard) until it lathers. Once you have a good lather, massage with your hands and rinse thoroughly. Store the solid shampoo bar in a dry place.
