{"id":37,"date":"2026-03-16T18:52:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T17:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.7virides.com\/cs\/recepty\/samponove-kostky\/"},"modified":"2026-03-25T11:19:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T10:19:47","slug":"samponove-kostky","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/recepty\/samponove-kostky\/","title":{"rendered":"Shampoo cubes: recipe, production and how to handle the transition period"},"content":{"rendered":"<blockquote>\n<p><strong>TL;DR:<\/strong> Shampoo cube is a solid shampoo without preservatives, equivalent to 2-3 bottles of liquid shampoo. There are two types: surfactant (neutral pH, no transition period) and CP soap (alkaline, requires an acid rinse and a transition period of 2-4 weeks). pH is the key difference from body soap.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The shampoo cube is a solid shampoo - no plastic bottle, no preservatives, with a duration of use equivalent to 2-3 bottles of liquid shampoo. The zero-waste trend and interest in natural hair care have moved it from the niche category to mainstream interest.<\/p>\n<p>But there's one crucial thing that distinguishes a shampoo bar from a body wash: <strong>pH<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"proc-se-samponova-kostka-lisi-od-teloveho-mydla-a-proc-je-to-dulezite\">Why is a shampoo bar different from a body wash - and why is it important?<\/h2>\n<p>This is the most important thing to know: body soap has a pH of 9-10, while hair and scalp have a pH of 4.5-5.5. Washing your hair with alkaline soap causes coarseness, dullness and possibly breakage. A proper shampoo bar therefore uses different principles - either acidic surfactants or a special formulation with higher conditioning.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Opening of the hair scales (cuticle) - hair appears coarse and dull<\/li>\n<li>Potential breakage in chemically treated hair<\/li>\n<li>Formation of soap deposit in hard water - \"wax film&#8220;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Shampoo cubes therefore work on a different principle: they either use <strong>acidic or neutral surfactants<\/strong> (instead of soap salts from leaching), or formulated as a solid conditioning bar.<\/p>\n<p>There are two types:<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Surfactant shampoo cubes (recommended type):<\/strong> They contain solid surfactants (SCS, SLSA, Cocamidopropyl betaine) with a naturally acidic or neutral pH. Do not require a transition period, foams well.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. CP soap shampoo cube:<\/strong> Solid soap from leaching with high content of castor and coconut oil. pH is alkaline - requires acid rinse (vinegar) and transition period.<\/p>\n<p>This page covers both types.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jak-vyrobit-surfaktantovou-samponovou-kostku-metoda-bez-louhu\">How to make a surfactant shampoo bar \u2014 method without lye?<\/h2>\n<p>Surfactant shampoo cubes are easier to make, safer (no lye) and do not require a transition period. The pH remains naturally acidic (5.5-6.5), which is ideal for hair.<\/p>\n<h3>What are solid surfactants<\/h3>\n<p>Solid surfactants are cleaning agents in solid form that can be compressed into sticks:<\/p>\n<p><strong>SCS (Sodium Coco Sulfate):<\/strong> Related to SLS, but derived from coconut oil. Solid form. Good foaming. Softer on the scalp than SLS.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SLSA (Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate):<\/strong> Softer variant, large bubbles, popular with sensitive skin.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SCI (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate):<\/strong> Gentle, creamy, conditioning. The gentlest of the group. Good for dry and coloured hair.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB):<\/strong> Amphoteric surfactant - acts as a co-surfactant and conditioner in one. It helps to reduce the irritation of other surfactants.<\/p>\n<h3>Recipe: Basic shampoo bar for normal hair<\/h3>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th><strong>Yield<\/strong><\/th>\n<th>~150 g (2\u20133 bars)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>pH<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>~5.5\u20136.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Difficulty<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>\u2605\u2605\u2606\u2606\u2606<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>60 g SCI (sodium cocoyl isethionate) - 40 %<\/li>\n<li>45 g SLSA or SCS - 30 %<\/li>\n<li>15 g Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) - 10 %<\/li>\n<li>15 g conditioner (BTMS-50 or Incroquat BTMS-25) - 10%<\/li>\n<li>15 g panthenol or hydrolysed silk - 10%<\/li>\n<li>5-7 g essential oil (rosemary, bergamot, ylang ylang)<\/li>\n<li>Optional: 2 g citric acid for pH adjustment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Procedure:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>SCI and SLSA are powders - mix them in a bowl.<\/li>\n<li>CAPB is liquid - add it to the powder, mix.<\/li>\n<li>Melt BTMS-50 in a water bath (melting point ~70 \u00b0C), add to the powder.<\/li>\n<li>Stir until homogeneous - it will resemble dough.<\/li>\n<li>Press into moulds or shape with hands (with gloves - SCI irritates).<\/li>\n<li>Allow to cool and set at room temperature - 2-4 hours.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Modifications for different hair types:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dry hair: increase BTMS-50 to 15%, add 5 g of argan oil<\/li>\n<li>Oily hair: reduce BTMS-50 to 5%, add 10 g of corrective (kaolin clay)<\/li>\n<li>Coloured hair: use SCI as the only surfactant base, omit SCS\/SLSA<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"jak-vyrobit-cp-samponovou-kostku-metoda-s-louhem\">How to make a CP shampoo bar \u2014 method with lye?<\/h2>\n<p>CP shampoo cubes are all natural - no synthetic surfactants. For those who prefer a natural soap base, require higher conditioning (higher superfat) and transition management (acid rinse, hard water).<\/p>\n<h3>Key recipe properties<\/h3>\n<p>CP shampoo cube works like a body soap - by saponifying lye and oils. For hair, the formulation is different than for body soap:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Castor oil 20-25%:<\/strong> Creates a thick, conditioning lather<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coconut oil 30-40%:<\/strong> Cleaning power and hardness<\/li>\n<li><strong>Olive or jojoba 20-30%:<\/strong> Conditioning<\/li>\n<li><strong>Super fat higher 10-15%:<\/strong> More unsaponified oil conditions the hair fiber<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Recipe<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>175 g coconut oil (35%)<\/li>\n<li>125 g castor oil (25 %)<\/li>\n<li>125 g olive oil (25 %)<\/li>\n<li>75 g shea butter (15 %)<\/li>\n<li>66,2 g NaOH (SF 10 %)<\/li>\n<li>245 g of water<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u26a0\ufe0f <strong>A note on oils:<\/strong> Jojoba and olive oil <strong>cannot be substituted in this recipe<\/strong> - have significantly different SAP values (olive 0.134 vs. jojoba 0.069). The substitution would fundamentally change the amount of NaOH needed and could lead to a dangerously lye-heavy soap. If you want to use jojoba oil, recalculate the gram of NaOH in the calculator.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Additives:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>10 g panthenol (vitamin B5 - conditioning)<\/li>\n<li>5 g rosemary essential oil<\/li>\n<li>5 g tea tree essential oil (for shine and skin health)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"jak-preklenout-prechodove-obdobi-zvyknuti-si-vlasu-na-novou-kostku\">How to bridge the transition period \u2014 getting hair used to a new bar?<\/h2>\n<p>The CP shampoo cube requires adaptation - the hair has to get used to the alkaline wash and the different conditioning mechanism. The transition period typically lasts <strong>2\u20134 weeks<\/strong> and is manifested by slight greasiness, &#8222;waxiness&#8220; or possibly increased shedding - all normal and transient.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Oily or heavy hair in the first 1-2 weeks<\/li>\n<li>\"Waxy&#8220; feeling in hard water<\/li>\n<li>Possibly increased shedding (transient)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>How to bridge the transition period:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1. Acid rinse:<\/strong> After each wash with a shampoo cube (CP type), rinse the hair with a solution of apple cider vinegar - 1 tablespoon of 5% apple cider vinegar per 500 ml of water. The rinse closes the hair scales and neutralizes the alkaline film.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Soft water:<\/strong> Hard water reacts with the soap shampoo cube and forms deposits. Filter the water or add a pinch of citric acid to the water.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. Patience:<\/strong> After 3-4 weeks, the hair regulates its natural sebum production and stops being greasy.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"jake-jsou-vyhody-zero-waste-samponove-kostky\">What are the benefits of zero-waste shampoo cubes?<\/h2>\n<p>One 60-80 g shampoo cube is equivalent to approximately 2-3 bottles of liquid shampoo (250 ml). No plastic bottle, no preservatives (water independent), long shelf life (12-18 months) and suitable for travelling without liquid limit.<\/p>\n<p>The shampoo cube is ideal for travel - it does not count towards the liquid limit in your hand luggage.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"caste-otazky\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<p><strong>What type of shampoo cube is best for beginners?<\/strong> Surfactant cube (without lye) is safer and does not require a transition period. It is ideal for a first project. CP cube (with lye) is for advanced soapmakers who already have experience with the chemistry of lye.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How long will the transition period last - when will my hair normalize?<\/strong> CP shampoo cubes typically require 2-4 weeks. Greasiness and &#8222;waxiness&#8220; of the first 1-2 weeks are normal - the hair regulates its natural sebum production. An acid rinse (vinegar) speeds up the process.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Can I buy ready-made surfactants (SCI, SLSA) in the Czech Republic - where?<\/strong> Yes, available in soap and cosmetics e-stores. SCI and SLSA are common raw materials. Price: 200-500 CZK per 100-500 g, depending on quality and industry.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Will my CP shampoo cube smell like liquid shampoo?<\/strong> The essential oils in the cube last, but the scent is more discreet than in liquid shampoo. Higher doses of EOs (5-10g per 500g of oils) will enhance the scent but may irritate the scalp.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do CP and surfactant cube differ in how they feel on the hair?<\/strong> The CP cube has a more foaming and conditioning effect due to the high content of castor oil. Surfactant cube foams stronger, is more cleansing but less conditioning - ideal for oily hair.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is the difference between a shampoo bar and a conditioner bar?<\/strong> The shampoo cube cleanses (contains surfactants), the conditioner moisturizes. Often used together - shampoo on the roots, conditioner on the lengths. They can also be combined - e.g. surfactant cube + jojoba oil on the ends.<\/p>\n<p><strong>See also:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/soap-making-ingredients\/soap-additives\/\">Soap additives<\/a> - panthenol, silk and conditioners<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/soap-making-ingredients\/essential-oils-for-soap-making\/\">Essential Oils in Soap<\/a> - selection for hair care<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/selling-handmade-soap\/eu-regulations-soap-making\/\">EU regulations<\/a> - a shampoo bar is a cosmetic product, not a soap<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u26a0\ufe0f <strong>Recipe disclaimer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This recipe was created or revised with the help of artificial intelligence tools and has undergone NaOH gram recalculation. Nevertheless, we recommend verifying lye amounts in an independent calculator (e.g. <a href=\"http:\/\/soapcalc.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SoapCalc<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brambleberry.com\/calculator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brambleberry<\/a>). Working with sodium hydroxide requires protective equipment \u2014 see <a href=\"\/en\/soap\/lye-safety-soap-making\/\">Lye safety<\/a>. Information is for educational purposes; the manufacturer is not liable for damages resulting from their use.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TL;DR: \u0160amponov\u00e1 kostka je tuh\u00fd \u0161ampon bez konzervant\u016f, odpov\u00eddaj\u00edc\u00ed 2\u20133 lahv\u00edm tekut\u00e9ho \u0161amponu. Existuj\u00ed dva typy: surfaktantov\u00e9 (neutr\u00e1ln\u00ed pH, bez [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"parent":15,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-37","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":215,"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/37\/revisions\/215"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.7virides.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}