The Silver Fox Shampoo Bar

Intention: Shampoo bar for graying hair

As my hair is not-so-slowly going silver, I have been thinking about how to control the courser gray hairs that are next to my finer brown hair. This shampoo bar has Rosemary, Sage, Shavegrass and Fo-Ti Root infused oil to nourish the scalp, strenghten hair, and thus soften the hair to reduce frizz. With use, the grays may become more of a silver shimmer, which is of course more fun. :)

These chunky bars are over 2.7 oz. If kept dry between washes, each bar could last for many months.

Ingredients: Rice Bran Oil, Water, Coconut Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Castor Oil, Babassu Oil, Cocoa Butter, Argan Oil, Fo-Ti Root, Rosemary, Shavegrass, Sage

Why We Chose These Ingredients:

• Rice Bran Oil - antioxidants, emollient, improves moisture
• Coconut Oil - cleansing, high in vitamin C, high in lauric acid and antimicrobial
• Castor Oil - high in ricinoleic acid; boosts bubbles
  
• Babassu Oil - moisturizes, protects hair from breakage
• Argan Oil - hydrating to hair, smoothes frizz
• Shavegrass - high silica content helps rebuild hair and scalp
  
• Sodium Hydroxide (Lye) - a caustic/alkaline reagent that, when mixed with fats and water,  will react (saponify) to create soap. Once cured, a properly made bar of soap will have no lye left in it when finished: it has been converted into soap.
• Rosemary - may speed hair growth by improving scalp health
  
• Fo-Ti Root (Polygonum multiflorum or He Shou Wu) - Used in TCM as a Yin tonic and is supportive to the kidneys and liver. Graying hair is believed to be caused by Jing (your life force or Essense) depletion. It can be used internally or externally.
• Sage - strengthens hair follicles, and may gradually darken gray hair.

Use: Wet hair and soap. Gently rub scalp with soap in one hand, and work up the lather with the other hand.  If you have a lot of product build-up, it may take a minute to work up a good lather. Put soap down and massage your scalp and work up lather. When done, rinse hair thoroughly. Remember not to twist hair to remove water.  Follow with an herbal rinse or conditioner.