Description

High End, Salon Quality Anti-Dandruff Solution

This salon quality gentle pine tar shampoo bar for dandruff, flakey, itchy scalp is uniquely gentle on hair. As effective as my traditionally made Pine Tar Shampoo is, it isn’t as gentle as this one is. Traditionally made shampoo bars are made from handmade soap using saponified oils which does give them a naturally high level of Ph. Traditional Shampoo Bars like this aren’t often the best choice for delicate, fine, long hair that has been dyed or damaged. That’s why I’ve made a more gentle Pine Tar Shampoo bar for dandruff and other scalp issues for you to try.

Gentle and Effective Cleansing

This shampoo bar is a hard, long lasting shampoo bar that cleans scalp without mineral build up using high-end, salon quality mix of synthetic detergents. Contrary to popular belief, when it comes to shampoos, simple ingredient lists does not equate to a gentler, better shampoo. In fact, shampoos that contain only one surfactant tend to be harsh on hair and scalp. By blending surfactants, I can make a shampoo that is actually gentler than they would be separately.

Sulfate Free Eco-Friendly Shampoo

This Pine Tar Shampoo uses sulfate-free and extremely gentle high-end synthetic detergents to provide ingredients that help many people with dandruff, itchy scalp and flakes without damaging hair. It includes moisturizing ingredients that further help protect hair and soothe scalp.

I love shampoo bars because they can contain all the good things a liquid shampoo can (and a bit more) but without the waste of packaging and shipping plain water.  I use a 3 inch wide strip of thin cellophane to hold the cardboard label in place without the need to use hot glue, tape or other plastic.

Anti-Dandruff Ingredients

• Pine Tar is not an FDA approved treatment for dandruff yet it and similar ingredients have been used for centuries to treat dandruff, eczema and other skin problems. This paper says it probably works by doing the following: inhibiting cell growth, softening the outer layer of skin, and acting as an anti inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, antibacterial and antifungal.   It, along with White Willow Bark, also is thought to promote the development of keratin.
• Neem Oil: According to this study, the main cause of dandruff is an overgrowth of Pityrosporum ovale (P. ovale). This is a yeast-like fungus found where there are a lot of sebaceous glands, like on the scalp. This fungus creates dandruff. This study looked at Neem leaf powder to treat dandruff and found that it acts as a strong antifungal. Also this other study shows promising data to indicate how well Neem Oil can fight fungus.
• White Willow Bark This is a natural source of Salicylic Acid, a common anti-dandruff ingredient found in shampoos like Neutrogena T/Sal shampoo
• Zinc Oxide and Zinc pyrithione are also commonly used in dandruff shampoos. While Zinc Pyrithione is more effective, Zinc Oxide is safer to handle and more easily obtained mineral.

Surfactant Ingredients

• Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI): This mild surfactant if an effective but extremely mild cleanser making up more than 50% of my shampoo bar. Studies found that “SCI is mild and less damaging to the skin barrier than soaps and surfactants such as sodium dodecyl sulfate”
• C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate Is not a sulfate despite sounding like one. It provides the fairly strong cleansing power that many people with dandruff need.  When mixed with other surfactants it is gentle enough to not irritate sensitive skin and scalp.
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine: This surfactant works extremely well with the other detergents to boost foam and cleanse hair while being gentler than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. I find it to be a necessary ingredients in a well made solid shampoo bar since it makes the other ingredients work more nicely together.
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA) is not a sulfate. SLSA molecule is too large to penetrate the skin, thus causing less irritation than sulfates. It is, like all the surfactants I use, gentler than SLS. I  use it at a fairly low amount to enjoy the cleansing, bubbly benefits it offers without irritation.

Conditioning Ingredients

• Behentrimonium Methosulfate: This ingredient is one of the best, most benign hair conditioners available. A derivative of rapeseed, it is an awesome conditioner but can only be included in a shampoo if it is a solid shampoo bar. It is just another reason to love shampoo bars.
• Cetyl Alcohol: this ingredient provides all important slip and detangling for our hair. It also softens hair and keeps the shampoo bar nice and hard.
• Stearic Acid this also acts as a hair protectant and conditioner while helping a bar keep its form.
• Sodium Lactate this adds moisture to hair.
• Glycerin is a humectant, helping moisturize the head and hair.

Other Ingredients

• Essential Oils of: Turmeric, Fir, Cedarwood, Tea Tree, Oregano, Rosemary, Spearmint and Wintergreen. This blend of essential oils contains many well know individually to help with dandruff.
• Activated Charcoal has wonderful ability to adsorb toxins and remove dirt.  This study (it has to be downloaded unfortunately to read) found that that usage of activated carbon in shampoos result in better outcomes in dandruff treatment and dirt dispersion
• Apple Cider Vinegar has some dandruff fighting capabilities and hair benefits. I use it in this formula to help adjust Ph.
• Neem Powder see my notes above on Neem Oil.
• Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate: This important preservative system requires miniscule amounts to protect the bar from mold and bacterial growth. Necessary for the wet environment of your shower. I also recommend, to keep the bar hard and clean, to allow it to dry between shampoos.
• Citric Acid – a ph adjuster.
• Vit. E. An antioxidant.

This shampoo bar is long lasting, low packaging, sulfate free, silicone free, lye free, vegan and Ph balanced.

Keep out of water when not in use.

Directions

Wet hair thoroughly. Rub bar directly on scalp and work up a lather. Or use hands to work up lather and rub hands through scalp. Leave in place for a couple minutes for strongest effect against scalp issues. Then work through ends of hair to cleanse.  Rinse. Follow with conditioner.

Note

I recommend you read Choosing the Right Shampoo Bar for You if you aren’t aware of the difference between a natural lye soap and shampoo and synthetic (syndet) soaps and shampoos. Knowing this makes it easier to figure out the best natural solution for your hair.