Back 23. 01. 2025

Nourishing solid hair shampoo without unnecessary packaging

Nowadays there is a growing interest in eco-friendly and natural alternatives in personal hygiene. One of them is the home production of a nourishing solid shampoo. This simple process not only eliminates plastic packaging, but also makes it possible to tailor the formula to individual hair needs. In this article, we'll look at the steps to make your own solid shampoo from just a few ingredients. See with us how you can create a shampoo that is both environmentally friendly and effective for your hair.

What does a conditioning solid shampoo consist of?


A nourishing solid shampoo will help you take care of not only your hair, but also your scalp, thanks to its inulin content, which acts as a natural prebiotic for the skin. In addition to inulin, the shampoo contains two mild tensides that gently remove grease without feeling overly dry or greasy.

Phase Raw material name Content in %
A Hamamel hydrolate 5,00
A Glycerine liquid colour, magenta as required
B SCI 52,75
B SCS 26,75
B Inulin 4,10
B Shea butter 8,50
C Pentylene glycol 3,00
C Essential oil, clove 0,90

Nourishing solid shampoo - procedure

1. Put on a protective mask and gloves on your face before starting work, as one of the ingredients used, SCI, is easily released into the air in powder form.
2. Dissolve the dye in the hydrolat, start with one drop, adding more if you want a stronger than pastel shade.
3. In a heat-resistant container, ideally made of boiling glass, mix SCI, SCS, hydrolate and inulin.
4. Place the mixture of powders and water on the water bath and begin heating, stirring constantly.
5. Continue stirring until the mixture becomes a stiff and malleable mass.
6. Remove the container from the water bath and add the pentylene glycol and essential oil when slightly cooled. Mix thoroughly.
7. Immediately fill the mould with the solid shampoo and leave to cool.
8. Once hardened, your shampoo is ready to use.

Osetrujuci tuhy sampon v tvar kruhu drží ženská ruka pred ružovým pozadím. Vytvorte si tuhý šampón podľa návodu od Handymade.

Nourishing solid shampoo and its variations

If you decide to customize your own solid shampoo to your color or fragrance preferences, or if you are looking for ways to simplify the formula or substitute certain ingredients, the following lines will provide you with the answers.

Nourishing solid shampoo - ingredients and their importance

Tensides used


In our recipe we combined two tensides. Sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI) is a cleansing and foaming agent with mild degreasing properties. However, it is important to take precautions when handling it as it is easily released in powder form.

Sodium coco sulphate (SCS) is another tenside providing cleaning and foaming action to the solid shampoo. It is a mild tenside made from coconut oil that works well with oils and butters.

Vegetable butters and oils


We used shea butter in our recipe, but you have plenty of other options to choose from. If you want to experiment, you can choose a different vegetable butter or oil. However, it is important to consider that changing the ratio of butter or oil can affect the properties of your shampoo. Your shampoo may degrease less or its consistency may be less solid if you choose a higher proportion of oil.

Hamamel hydrolate


Hamamel hydrolate has skin-nourishing and soothing properties, so it's great in a solid shampoo and will add a subtle scent too. However, if you have another favourite hydrolat, feel free to reach for it. An alternative is demineralised water, which is often used in cosmetics for its higher purity.

Glycerine liquid colour - magenta


Liquid colorants are a popular way to quickly and easily customize the color of your products. If you want a colorless shampoo, simply omit the dye, or you can use mica powders for coloring.

Essential oil - clove


Clove essential oil is known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it ideal for a conditioning solid shampoo. Its invigorating fragrance also helps to relax and stimulate the scalp. As an alternative, you can consider peppermint or rosemary essential oils, which have similar effects, or omit the fragrance ingredient altogether.

Pentylene glycol


Pentylene glycol is often used as a moisturizing agent in cosmetic products. Its ability to bind water helps maintain moisture in the skin and hair. If unavailable, you may consider glycerin as a substitute, but glycerin does not have the antibacterial properties that pentylene glycol imparts to products.

Silicone mould


We used a silicone mold to make the shampoo, but if you don't have one, you can also make shampoo balls by hand.

Please note


When working with cosmetic raw materials, it is important to know their properties and safe use. If you have sensitive skin or any allergies, we recommend consulting a doctor before using a new product. Any raw material has the potential to cause an allergic reaction, so it is important to be cautious.