A castile soap is an extremely versatile cleaner based on natural vegetable oils that do not contain any animal fats and other synthetic ingredients present in the manufacturing of commercially produced soaps. The soap is non-toxic and biodegradable, and thus environment-friendly. Castile soap is a vegetable soap that is derived from olive oil, water and lye.

It is a gentle soap made using olive oil, avocado, almond, coconut, palm, jojoba, kernel, castor, hemp oils, etc. that has attracted immense popularity as a replacement to chemical-based commercial shampoos. With remarkable cleansing, moisturizing, and lathering properties due to its ingredients, castile soap is strong enough to cleanse the scalp of excess product build-up, but is gentle enough to not strip your hair of moisture, thus making it a great alternative to your traditional shampoo.

So, before making that switch from chemical hair care to natural one, it’s better to get acquainted with the following things-

·   It is extremely potent

The castile soap in itself is extremely potent, so it’s advised to never use castile soap directly onto your hair as it is far too strong and will leave your hair feeling dry as a straw. So, a little quantity of soap goes a long way. You can make your diluted Castile shampoo by pouring one teaspoon of castile soap in an empty shampoo bottle and filling the rest of the bottle with water. The more the soap, the stronger your shampoo solution will be.

·   Avoid the urge to balancing pH

Since balancing the pH levels is quite important when using a bar of natural alkaline soap, and many people have the urge to balance out its pH with an acidic solution, it is not quite recommended while using a castile soap. Refrain from mixing acidic solutions to your castile soap as it would be more harmful than beneficial, and you may end with messy hair.

The best way is to rinse your hair afterward with an acidic conditioner such as apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.

·   Unfit for dyed hair

Do not use castile soap on dyed hair as it is not color friendly. Since the soap, in general, tend to be alkaline, meaning it has high pH, which can open your hair cuticle, thus stripping the colours far more quickly from your hair strands and resulting in faded hair dye.

·   Post-rinsing oiling

So you have decided to cut down on chemicals and no longer using conditioners, you must finish your hair cleansing process with light oil to retain the moisture in your hair. You can incorporate small quantities of natural oils like coconut, argan, avocado, jojoba, almond, etc. to add shine and bounce to your hair.

·   It is not for everyone

Since everyone has different hair that reacts differently to different products, some prefer castile soap over chemical shampoos while others may hate it. Therefore, Castile shampoo is not a universal product.

You can try experimenting with the soap in different ratios according to your hair type and needs, such as you can add one teaspoon and one cup water, or 1/2 teaspoon and 2 cups of water, etc. until the solution strength is just the right for your hair. You should also be open to experimenting with different ingredients and brands available in the market before making that permanent switch.

Which Soap Should You Use?

·   Bar castile soap

Bar soaps are often considered advantageous for washing hair over their liquid counterparts. Some oils in the bar remain as it is, instead of being turned into soap, which makes the Castile bar soaps slightly more moisturizing, making them the perfect choice for thicker or dryer hair types.

·   Liquid castile soap

Liquid Castile solutions are the best choice for the majority of people as they are the most readily available.

Conclusion

In today’s fast world, changing up your hair care routine can be one of the toughest to achieve. However, the mentioned tips and facts can assist you in shifting your hair care routine with ease.

So, what are you waiting for? Replace your toxic chemical shampoos with castile soap today to benefit from the natural ingredients.