The Cationic Gap
I’ve watched a lot of shampoo bars hit the market with frizzy hair on the label and a cart full of butters on the bench. The problem? Frizz isn’t a moisture...
All essays
Shampoo bar manufacturing
Process notes, formulation choices, quality checks, and packaging thinking for solid hair-care products.
The Jojoba Wax Paradox
Ask ten shampoo bar formulators how they use jojoba oil, and nine will give you the same answer: toss it into the oil phase at 5-10%, run it through a lye...
The Soap Noodle Trap in Shampoo Bars
If you've spent any time sourcing raw materials for shampoo bars, you've probably come across something called a "shampoo bar noodle." It sounds harmless...
The Unscented Paradox: Why "No Fragrance" Is Your Hardest Formula Yet
Walk into most product development meetings and suggest an unscented shampoo bar, and you'll get the same reaction every time: easy win. Same base formula,...
What is a good pricing strategy for handmade shampoo bars?
A good pricing strategy for handmade shampoo bars balances three things: your true costs , the perceived value you offer, and what your target market...
How do I get my shampoo bars into retail stores?
Getting your shampoo bars into retail stores is less about luck and more about showing a buyer that your product is safe, legal, consistent, and likely to...
Nobody Tells You What Happens When You Shrink a Shampoo Bar
Ask anyone in the solid haircare world about mini shampoo bars and you'll get the same three talking points, every time: travel-friendly, TSA-approved, good...
Shampoo Bar Gel Phase, Reconsidered: The Heat Story Inside the Bar
Ask a room full of makers about gel phase in shampoo bars, and most of them will describe a familiar soapmaking scene: a loaf warms up, the center darkens,...
What type of insurance do I need for shampoo bar manufacturing?
If you make and sell shampoo bars, you are not just running a small craft business - you are manufacturing a cosmetic product that people apply to their...
Why Most Argan Oil Shampoo Bars Fail
Let me guess: you have seen argan oil shampoo bars everywhere, and they all promise the same silky, nourishing result. But if you actually make these bars,...