Castile Soap

alisons79

Okay, silly question but can castile soap be used as a CG friendly shampoo?

Eilonwy

Technically, yes. But, castile soap is notoriously drying. It will literally make your hair squeaky clean and rough. There are clarifying shampoos with sulfates that are gentler. I'd really have to advise against using castile soap on you hair.

Eilonwy

DP

medusahair

I used to use that soap to do my laundry. I tried it a few times on my hair, it left a film and made my hair really dry.

mariposa

Interesting to see this thread...... Is the drying castile dr. bonner's or all castiles?

Got a sample of this castile soap shampoo today - it's made by a small company

http://www.17thcenturysuds.com/index.html

has olive oil, jojoba, and sodium hydroxide (lye)

was wondering what people think of it for washing hair - curious if I should still dilute it..... since it doesn't have additives/is not dr bonner's

the woman who makes it was very nice but not so helpful w- hair routines..... she says you don't need conditioner w- this this soap b/c it's not drying and doesn't strip hair....... i don't think she takes into account that her hair is straight

any thoughts, suggestions?

snap cat

I tried a castile soap recently - it was just olive oil and mineral salt. Left my hair so dry it was silly! I could tell after just 2 swipes of the bar of soap over my head it was really squeaky and I knew I had done bad :oops: I'd say don't do it!

Eilonwy

Lye would be very bad to use on your hair. Castile soap is usually based on something that's moisturizing, usually olive oil. But, the saponifying process that the oil goes through makes it very drying. I guess you could find a castile soap that has a lot of non-saponified shea butter in it...But really, when there are so many non-sulfate shampoos out there, why take the risk? Honestly, I wouldn't use it on my skin.

RedCatWaves

Ick...no way in hell would I use soap to wash my hair. The PH is too high, and it's damaging and drying. I know "shampoo bars" are all the internet rage these days, because they're "natural". It's still SOAP, and just the nature of the soapmaking process makes it have a high PH. You have to use lye to make soap and lye is caustic. There's no way to bring down the PH without making all the other ingredients "fall out" of the suspension and ending up with a greasy soft mess. So, don't let anyone tell you that the PH has been neutralized. If the product is hard, it's a high PH soap.

I do like to use castille soap on my body though.

mariposa

RedCatWaves wrote:

There's no way to bring down the PH without making all the other ingredients "fall out" of the suspension and ending up with a greasy soft mess. So, don't let anyone tell you that the PH has been neutralized. If the product is hard, it's a high PH soap.

Hi

the one I was referring to is not a hard soap..... it's a liquid shampoo
does the pH rule still apply??

thanks!

RedCatWaves

the one I was referring to is not a hard soap..... it's a liquid shampoo
does the pH rule still apply??

Possibly. The process of turning oil into castille also creates a high PH. Some sort of acid must be added to bring down the PH. You'd have to test it, or ask the manufacturer what the PH is.

mariposa

just wanted to update that i have used this shampoo a few times now.... always very diluted..... and it is DEFINITELY a HG..... it's not drying..... it cleanses without being stripping

the only time it won't do well is with tons of heavy stuff but then maybe i should have used it full strength that time

i feel that using this, alog with my medicated shampoo (which i hardly use anymore) i don't need any other shampoo..... in august i was rotating several..... now i shampoo only every 2-3 weeks....

tashamedic

i have been using castile soap for a couple years now, i have low porosity, low density, 2b hair. I also have a super sensitive scalp. i found that after switching to Castile soap (i now use the bar) that my hair was curlier. i am still very new to the curly girl method. I dont blow dry or defuse my hair as it would take me over an hour. i do rince with a 1:1 vinager rinse, and i only was my hair 3x in 2 weeks