💚 Solid Shampoo & Conditioner Bar Formulation Guide
The Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Bar Formulation Guide is a 174-page training in surfactant-based, pH-balanced syndet bars.
⚠️ Read first: This is a formulation training, not a copy-paste recipe collection. You will learn the science to build your own bars, with 7 complete working formulas included as professional starting points. If you only want fixed recipes, this is not the right book for you.
✦ 7 Complete Professional Formulas
Every formula includes full INCI tables, phases, and percentages:
- Cold Process Shampoo Bar
- Hot Process Shampoo Bar for All Hair Types
- Hot Process Shampoo Bar for Very Dry and Damaged Hair
- Hot Process Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Bar for Flaky Scalps
- Conditioner Bar with BTMS-50
- Conditioner Bar with Varisoft EQ 65
- Conditioner Bar with AminoSensyl™ HC
No lye. No soap chemistry. Only properly balanced syndet shampoo and conditioner formulations.
Written by a chemical engineer with cosmetic R&D experience. Every chapter is supported by peer-reviewed sources including NCBI, CIR Safety Assessments, and journal-published research.
💡 What’s Inside?
- Hair and scalp science: structure, sebum, microbiome, porosity
- How surfactants actually work: SCI, SCS, CAPB, APGs (Coco and Decyl Glucoside)
- Foam quality and why we combine surfactants
- Conditioning agents: BTMS-50, Varisoft EQ 65, and AminoSensyl™ HC
- Active ingredients for specific concerns:
- Hair growth and scalp stimulation (caffeine, rosemary EO, peppermint, niacinamide)
- Moisture and hydration (coconut, argan, shea, cocoa butter)
- Strengthening and repairing actives
- Anti-dandruff and scalp health
- UV protection for hair
- Silicones in hair care plus plant-based alternatives for eco-conscious brands
- Essential oils with safety-aware blending
- Hardening agents: fatty alcohols, waxes, butters, starches, and clays
- Emulsifiers, pH adjusters, and preservation logic
- Cold process and hot process production workflows
- Mold ideas, color ideas, troubleshooting, and storage
Full Table of Contents
Section 1. Before You Start
A holistic approach to hair care
Hair structure and hair types
Scalp health, sebum, microbiome, porosity
Shampoo function and effectiveness tests
Why go solid? Sustainability benefits
Section 2. Understanding Your Ingredients
Surfactants: how they work, how to choose and combine
Clays
Nourishing oils, butters, and oil derivatives
Conditioning agents: BTMS, Varisoft, AminoSensyl
Silicones and plant-based alternatives
Essential oils with safety considerations
Active ingredients: growth, moisture, strengthening, anti-dandruff, UV protection
Preservatives
Hardening agents: fatty alcohols, waxes, butters, starches and clays
Emulsifiers
pH adjusters
Section 3. Solid Shampoo Bar Formulations
Cold process: step-by-step with 1 complete formula
Hot process: 3 targeted formulas (all hair types, dry and damaged, anti-dandruff)
Universal hot-process method
Customization tips, mold ideas, color ideas
Troubleshooting tips, usage and care
Section 4. Solid Conditioner Bar Formulation
3 complete formulas with BTMS-50, Varisoft EQ 65, and AminoSensyl™ HC
Usage instructions, troubleshooting, storage
References
Peer-reviewed academic sources including NCBI, CIR Safety Assessments, and journal-published research
Why SwonLab?
This guide was created by a chemical engineer with a background in cosmetic R&D, not by a blogger or hobbyist. It is crafted for real formulators who want to create meaningful, functional products that stand out for their quality.
Whether you are formulating for yourself or preparing to launch a product line, this guide gives you:
- ✔ A structured and visually organized approach
- ✔ Transparent, science-backed guidance
- ✔ Customizable recipes for a range of hair types
- ✔ Real formulation insights, not regurgitated info
- ✔ Confidence to formulate without second-guessing
Ready to start formulating?
Start creating solid shampoo and conditioner bars that actually perform, not just look good in the shower.
Download instantly after purchase and get lifetime access.
No subscriptions, no locked content, no overwhelm.
Emma –
Clear, practical, and well-structured guide!
frankly –
I have been loving reading this. I am wanting to figure out a shampoo bar and this has been excellent to understanding what it should have. This has given me a great foundation. It is also easy to find different sections if you are wanting to pounce around to understand something better.
melina –
Excellent and very detailed I cannot wait to try these simulations. The book is well written!
Annamarie –
If you are looking for a book with precise recipes for different shampoo and conditioner bars this is not it. This is more science for the crafter who wishes to formulate their own recipes. I have purchased several books which inform but not overwhelm the home soap maker.
Geraldine –
This is a useful book for understanding the chemical process behind making solid shampoo. I believe it is necessary to understand this aspect if one wishes to enter this field. However, the information is sometimes a bit repetitive. Overall, it is a useful compendium for reference.