Medika Organics Blogs
Is It Really a Shampoo Bar? Hereās How to Tell (and Why pH Matters More Than You Think)
Today, while I was at The Churn Room, I had a lovely conversation with a woman who stopped by the shop. She was excited to see that I make solid shampoo bars, and of course that sparked a chat about what sheās been using on her hair. As soon as she mentioned the brand, I knew ā from my own research and ingredients experience ā that the bar she was using wasnāt actually a shampoo bar at all. It was a soap bar being sold as shampoo. I explained the difference briefly, but as I was packing up afterward, I realised it was a conversation worth expanding on. So, here we are ā anĀ educational moment for anyone curious about the difference between a true solid shampoo bar and a soap bar in disguise. Why This Matters: Your Hair and Scalp Have Their Own Natural pH Your scalp sits around pH 5, and your hair shaft prefers somewhere between 3.5 and 5.5. This slightly acidic environment keeps the hair cuticle lying smooth and flat, which means: shinier hair less frizz fewer tangles happier, calmer scalp stronger, more resilient strands over time When something alkaline touches the hair (like traditional soap), that delicate cuticle lifts ā and suddenly your hair feels rougher, looks duller, and becomes harder to manage. Why Some āShampoo Barsā Are Actually Just Soap Soap has its place ā and I absolutely adore it for the body. But soap is always alkaline. It has to be ā thatās how soap chemistry works. Alkaline is fine for the body. But for the scalp and hair? Not so much. If you see this terminology in the ingredient list, it's a bar of soap (not a shampoo): Coconut oil, Olive oil, or other oils at the very top of the ingredient list; Sodium hydroxide / lye; āSaponified oils ofā¦ā; Ingredients like āsodium cocoateā, āsodium olivateā; Anything described as cold-process or traditionally saponified. Thereās nothing wrong with these ingredients ā I use them proudly in my soaps ā but they belong on the body, not the hair. Soap will always have a pH of around 8-10. This is why soap-based shampoo bars often leave the hair feeling waxy, coated, rough or tangled. Itās not user error ā itās simply pH. What a Real Shampoo Bar Looks Like The shampoo bars I make at Medika Organics are not soap. Theyāre formulated the same way a traditional salon shampoo is ā just without the plastic bottle. My shampoo bars use gentle, coconut-derived surfactants such as: Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate; and Cocamidopropyl Betaine. These are naturally derived, beautifully mild cleansers that allow me to formulate at a pH of around 5, which keeps the hair and scalp happy. This means: no "transition" phase no vinegar in the bar no waxy residue your hair cuticle stays flat and smooth your scalp feels balanced, clean, and calm It's everything your hair wants shampoo to be ā just in a solid form that's plastic-free and travel-friendly. A Simple Ingredient Checklist for You Hereās an easy way to tell if youāre buying a true shampoo bar: āĀ REAL shampoo bars contain: Words ending in: āisethionate ābetaine āglucoside ātaurate āsarcosinate āsulfoacetate These are the same gentle, naturally derived cleansers youād see in good-quality liquid shampoos. āĀ NOT shampoo bars (these are soap): Saponified oils Sodium hydroxide / lye Oils listed at the top Terms like ācold-processā or ātraditional soap barā Soap is wonderful on the body. But your scalp simply thrives in a different environment. Why I Make Shampoo Bars the Way I Do Medika Organics has always been about gentle, mindful, natural self-care. My soaps are made traditionally, with organic oils, clays, and botanicals ā perfect for sensitive skin. But when it comes to shampoo, I choose ingredients that truly support the biology of the scalp and hair. No shortcuts. No greenwashing. No mislabelled soap bars pretending to be shampoo. Just thoughtful, natural formulations that work beautifully ā and feel beautiful too. If you have questions about your hair type or which bar might suit you best, please feel free to message me or come say hello at the markets. I love chatting with you all. Thank you for being here, and for choosing mindful, natural beauty for yourself.
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