Goat Milk Stuff makes a solid shampoo bar as a natural alternative to most store bought shampoos. We do not add any harsh chemicals such as SLS to our shampoo bar because we believe that using fewer chemicals benefits your health and your hair.
My boys regularly get “buzz cuts” and have very little hair to wash. They use our regular goat milk soaps in their hair. Jim uses the tea tree, but the boys use whichever scent they currently have in the shower.
The shampoo bar differs from our regular soaps in two ways. First, we infuse nettle and rosemary into olive oil for the shampoo bar. Nettle and rosemary have properties that are beneficial to hair. Rosemary is often considered a stimulating herb that will promote healthy hair growth. Nettles are believed to strengthen hair and prevent hair loss because they are nutrient and mineral rich.
Second, the shampoo bar has extra oils (jojoba and castor) and butters (shea and cocoa) to help nourish and condition the hair, while still leaving it clean.
We have found that different people prefer to use the shampoo bar in different ways. We recommend that if you have shorter hair, you start with one or two swipes of the soap across your hair. Then lather and spread through your hair.
For longer hair, produce a lather in your hands and then rub onto your scalp and spread it through your hair. You can experiment to see which method you prefer.
No matter the length of your hair, you want to be sure to massage your scalp as you are using the shampoo bar. The scalp produces oils that protect the hair shaft and prevent breakage. So when you are washing your hair, it is just as important (if not more important) to clean the scalp and not just the hair.
In fact, it can take a few weeks for your scalp to adjust to the shampoo bar and stop producing excess oil. Conventional hair products continuously strip the natural oils, thereby causing your scalp to produce excess oil. Your scalp will adjust if you are patient.
When using the shampoo bar, it is important to not use too much. It takes very little shampoo bar lather to get the job done. Please remember that store bought shampoos lather so much because they typically have SLS, a foaming agent, added. This extra foam does little to actually clean your hair and is unnecessary, so don’t try to match it. Using too much of the shampoo bar can cause sticky and heavy feeling hair.
When using the shampoo bar, rinsing may need to be more thorough than with conventional shampoos. Every time you wash your hair, rinse very well with warm water then finish with cool water.
Your hair may also benefit from a weekly vinegar rinse. Simply bring some diluted apple cider vinegar into the shower and do a final rinse with it. The vinegar scent will disappear as your hair dries.
Many people find that once their scalp and hair have adjusted to the shampoo bar, they no longer need any conditioning. If you find that your hair still needs a conditioner, put a pea sized amount of coconut oil on your hands and rub it together. Smooth through your hair, particularly the ends. You can experiment with the amount used and whether you apply the coconut oil to wet or dry hair. Different people prefer different methods.
Please be aware that everyone’s hair is different. The best advice is always to experiment til you discover the method that works best with your individual hair.
And then please let me know what works for you so I can share it with others!
Can you also use it for color treated hair?
I’ve heard mixed reports on that. Most people say yes, but a couple of people have had some issues. My guess is that it depends on the quality of what you are using to color treat your hair. Testing is always the best way. 🙂 PJ
Have you heard any customer’s experiences with curly hair? I’m hoping that the shampoo bar alone will be fine for my curly hair, but I’m curious what others experiences have been, if you know.
Also, how much do you dilute your ACV for the rinse?
Becky – I don’t have an exact ratio, but maybe 1:4 ACV to water. It’s easiest to bring in the ACB and use hot water from your shower when it’s about time to rinse.
We just had somebody leave this fb comment: “My hair is very thin, fine, and curly to top it off. I only use your soaps for shampoo, and it has helped a lot. My scalp is so much better, along with my hair. Less frizz, silky, and all around healthy looking and feeling. I only use goat milk for my face and body as well, and it has not only helped my breakouts, but also helps my eczema! I couldn’t be more thrilled with your soaps, and I tend to let everyone know.”
Hope that helps!
PJ
Okay, so that’s maybe what I did wrong. I tried the shampoo bar a year or so ago. My hair ended up eventually getting so tacky that I had to switch back. I still have clothes that I didn’t treat that have an oily tacky feel to them from my hair.
Suggestion? Maybe make a video (since I know you guys make a bunch of them) on how to use it on different hair types and lengths. Also maybe put instructions in with the shampoo as it gets a little confusing. I know when I was struggling with it that there is soooo much conflicting information online it was hard to find the right solution.
I’m sorry, my previous response seems to not have posted! A video would be helpful, but the problem is that everybody’s hair is different. The reason there is so much conflicting information online is that it doesn’t work the same for everybody and you need to keep experimenting til you find out what works best for you.
And unfortunately, it can take quite a while for your hair to get accustomed.
I’ll see what I can do about a video. 🙂
PJ
My Granny used a beer rinse for her (and our) hair. It worked fine. I’ve also seen eggyolks used (as a treatment) but don’t know how well that works. Of course, that is a long time ago.
I imagine the beer rinse would work well too as would the eggs. They used to do a lot of natural stuff that worked well before we had access to all these chemicals. PJ
I have read many comments similar to RaD3321, regarding sticky results. Perhaps it is due to going straight from commercial products to shampoo soaps? I went from traditional commercial products filled with toxic ingredients and tons of chemicals to more organic, natural based ones. I used these for some time, and became a bit disappointed with the results. Tried no poo for a few days, didn’t like it so much: I then discovered shampoo bars. I love them!!!
Maybe those that have the sticky hair issues would try using some form of clarifier before going shampoo bar, they could avoid this: try eliminating the commercial stuff, using ONLY baking soda mixed with water and scrubbing the scalp like using a shampoo, and rinsing with organic raw apple cider vinegar mixed with water for a few days. Maybe more for really hard hair situations (like if you use lots of hair products) These ingredients will clarify (remove yucky stuff that has coated your hair for a long time) and bring your hair back to it’s normal ph condition.
Some people only use this as their hair cleaning regimen, and even eliminate this after awhile ( search the “No Poo” regime, I tried, but prefer to use the shampoo bars ‘cause I love them!!)
After several days, you should find that your hair is much better feeling, and also is in better condition. THEN try using a shampoo bar, sliding it through your hair once or twice, only maybe three times for longer hair (no need to overdo!) and continuing with the vinegar rinse for healthy hair.
The vinegar smell will go away after your hair dries.
Another suggestion: quit with all the toxic chemicals in most hair products. You can re-create most everything naturally by making your own products that don’t harm hair, and by absorption, entering your body through your scalp.
There are many sites out there that give great recipes for hair products.
Best of luck and success to you all!!
That’s some great advice there! One of the main tricks is deciding how committed you’re going to be with making the switch. It isn’t always easy. PJ
This is a really good suggestion! I read on naturally curly, before you switch to silicone and sulfate free hair products, to do one final shampoo with sulfates to clarify the silicone from your hair to move forward. I haven’t done that, and am noticing that my hair is a bit more weighed down. Perhaps I will do one final wash with my regular shampoo and my silicone-free conditioner before I continue with the shampoo bar. I’m hoping that I can eliminate all products with the exception of the shampoo bar, silicone free conditioner (Suave Naturals Coconut) and coconut oil or Hair Butter from another natural skin care website.
With curly hair, mine in particular, I think I could get defined curls if my hair was moisturized and dried appropriately (no terry cloth towels, no combing after hair is wet, etc) without additional products. Coconut oil works wonders on my hair when used as a deep conditioner, plus smells AMAZING, so I’m hoping to just use that for conditioning. I’ll try to remember to come back and post results!
Please do! I would love to hear how it works. 🙂
PJ
Very good advise. Just “go” with your natural hair! When it is naturally a little “oily/dirty” this is the best for updos that hold. A few loose strands here and there give a softer, romantic look. Do not “fight” with your hair, just let it do its’ thing. You will look beautiful!!!!
What does the vinegar rinse do for your hair?
It acts as a conditioner.
Thanks, Heather! PJ
Just ordered my shampoo bar and started using it about a week ago. So far I’m still waiting for my hair to stop feeling so oily, but it’s definitely made my hair routine in the shower simpler! Maybe I’ll try the vinegar rinse recommended here…
Everybody is different with the adjustment period. Hopefully you’re out of it by now! 🙂
PJ
How often do you and your family typically wash your hair?
LOL – that is a very dangerous question. How often are we SUPPOSED to wash our hair? Or how often do we ACTUALLY wash our hair. The boys are supposed to take daily showers. I’m happy if they do it every 2nd to 3rd day. Indigo washes her hair (long, thick, and curly) 1-2 times per week. Jade (finer hair) really needs to wash it every other day. I go anywhere from daily to every 2-3 days. Jim and Brett wash their hair daily. So the moral I guess is that everyone is different. 🙂 PJ
I’ve been using goat milk soap for shower and hair for about 2 weeks now and love it, however it makes my thin straight hair have static…..any suggestions on ridding this problem?
Thanks much,
Rhonda
I know people have tried apple cider vinegar for it. Maybe that might help? PJ
Hi, new shampoo bar user here. I’ve read every review regarding your shampoo bars hoping to find an answer to help me. I have long hair. I lather your bar in my hands and then use the lather on my hair, massaging it into my scalp and distributing it to the ends. I usually have to do this twice to get it through my hair. I rinse my hair as well as I can with warm water and then I rinse my hair with cool water before I get out of the shower. I find that my hair is drying somewhat sticky and my scalp area in particular looks very oily. Any idea what I’m doing wrong? The bars have definitely made my hair more shiny, incredibly less frizzy, and softer, I just can’t figure out how to make my hair “clean” and I avoid wearing my hair down now. I have resorted to using my old shampoo abut once a week to help combat the stickiness but I’d love to eliminate that completely. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Theresa,
I’m so sorry I didn’t answer this post previously. I had problems with the notification system of blog comments and I just saw this for the first time now. I’m hoping you’ve figured out the issue. But in case you haven’t, it sounds to me like you are using too much – especially if you’re having to do it twice. It really shouldn’t take that much (even with long hair). The “stickiness” definitely sounds like using too much.
Anyway – I hope you figured it out before this and again, I’m sorry for the delay in responding! PJ
I started off using your soap as shampoo about a month ago, then ordered actual shampoo bars. For about a week, I’ve been using the shampoo bars and I love what it’s done to my hair. I have very fine straight hair that is going silver. Your shampoo gives my hair more body and keeps the silver from looking dingy. I now wash my hair every 2 or 3 days instead of having to wash it daily. It doesn’t get flat and greasy looking…almost looks better on day 2 than on day 1! I’ve had no trouble with dry scalp or static-y hair. Love this stuff!!