Handmade Shampoos & Shampoo Bars

Start with format. Solid shampoo bars (typically 2-3.5 oz, $8-$20) last 50-80 washes and skip the TSA liquid limit; liquid handmade shampoos in 8-12 oz bottles run $12-$30. Read the first five ingredients: makers often build bars on sodium cocoyl isethionate (a gentle SCI base) rather than SLS, and add shea butter, coconut or castor oil, and essential oils like rosemary, peppermint, or tea tree. Match the blend to the scalp, not the marketing: clarifying charcoal or apple cider vinegar for oily roots and buildup, calming oatmeal or chamomile for itchy or sensitive scalps, and protein-light formulas for color-treated or curly hair. Check whether the bar is cold-process or melt-and-pour, and confirm it is sulfate-free before you buy. Most makers ship in 3-7 business days; custom scent or unscented batches can take 1-2 weeks. A glycerin-soap bar can feel waxy in hard water, so look for a maker who notes pH and recommends an ACV rinse.

Use the filters for scalp type, format (bar vs. liquid), and key ingredient, then try the related searches to narrow to a scent or hair concern.