I had a thought-provoking email from a Quintessence Soaps customer and would like to share my answers with you. Thanks for the prompt Angie.
Are your soaps and shampoos made in the traditional cold processed way?
The Shampoo Bars, the Angkorian Collection and the Pure and Natural Bath and Body Ranges are cold processed soaps.
To make soap we add an alkaline solution (lye) to oils then stir. It is a carefully measured balance between the two. The stirring allows the fats to interact with the lye which then attach to each other. This reaction is called saponification and that is what soap is – the union of alkaline salt solution and oils/fatty acids! Of course, we add natural colours and essential oils to make them lush and lovely.
Are they super-fatted?
Super-fatting is a term used to describe an excess of oil left in the soap once saponification is complete. We make our soaps with a bit more oil than is needed to make saponification complete. This excess oil makes our soaps feel deliciously moisturising. Our shampoo bars have less excess oils than our hand and body bars so you shouldn’t get a build-up in your hair. Make sure you rinse well.
Is the glycerine retained?
Good question! Yes, it is. Glycerin is produced naturally in the process of saponification. The glycerin in our bars is vegetable glycerin because we only used vegetable oils.
Do the Shampoo Bars leave any residue or oils on the hair?
Shampoo Soap is a rinse-off product and you will probably find there is no build up - or not much. Some people who have oily scalps may find their hair is oily initially when using hair soaps. This is not so much a build-up of oils but the overproduction of scalp oils.
However, if you wash your hair in hard water (regional water supplies or old plumbing) you may experience a build up as the soap interacts with the minerals in the water. We recommend washing and rinsing your hair thoroughly and use a homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse with warm water (10% ACV to 90% water). Then rinse that out thoroughly and condition and style as usual.
Do you disclose all ingredients?
We disclose all ingredients: the ingredients are listed on all packaged hair care products; all ingredients are listed at the point of sale for each variety of naked/unpackaged Pure and Natural Bath and Body soaps.
All ingredients for every product we make are listed on the website
www.quintessencesoaps.com.au
You can check for a stockist here
You can buy our Shampoo Soap Bars and Solid Conditioner Bars from our website here
Are the shampoo soap bars pH tested?
The pH of any real soap is high - pH 8-10 normally. You just can't control that. Synthetic detergent SYNDET solid shampoo bars can be pH balanced and some may argue that's better for your hair. I, Louise, am not a scientist nor hairdresser, but know a lot of people who have used shampoo soap for years, including myself. Our hair is lovely and healthy and we're not putting detergent chemicals down the drain. If you find the Shampoo Bars too cleansing, then you might have to swap back to detergents.
How do you make the Conditioner?
The Conditioner Bars are made with high end conditioning emulsifier and nutrient oils based on regular conditioner formulation you would find in a bottled conditioner. However, we use the highest quality conditioning ingredient BTMS with hair loving oils. There’s no water in the bar so we don’t have to add preservative which is nice and you’re not paying for water or a plastic bottle. You can shop here at one of our stockists (check stockists here) or my directly online here
Please feel free to email (contact page here) or direct message us at Quintessence Soaps on Instagram or Facebook with any questions about our products
Are your soaps and shampoos made in the traditional cold processed way?
The Shampoo Bars, the Angkorian Collection and the Pure and Natural Bath and Body Ranges are cold processed soaps.
To make soap we add an alkaline solution (lye) to oils then stir. It is a carefully measured balance between the two. The stirring allows the fats to interact with the lye which then attach to each other. This reaction is called saponification and that is what soap is – the union of alkaline salt solution and oils/fatty acids! Of course, we add natural colours and essential oils to make them lush and lovely.
Are they super-fatted?
Super-fatting is a term used to describe an excess of oil left in the soap once saponification is complete. We make our soaps with a bit more oil than is needed to make saponification complete. This excess oil makes our soaps feel deliciously moisturising. Our shampoo bars have less excess oils than our hand and body bars so you shouldn’t get a build-up in your hair. Make sure you rinse well.
Is the glycerine retained?
Good question! Yes, it is. Glycerin is produced naturally in the process of saponification. The glycerin in our bars is vegetable glycerin because we only used vegetable oils.
Do the Shampoo Bars leave any residue or oils on the hair?
Shampoo Soap is a rinse-off product and you will probably find there is no build up - or not much. Some people who have oily scalps may find their hair is oily initially when using hair soaps. This is not so much a build-up of oils but the overproduction of scalp oils.
However, if you wash your hair in hard water (regional water supplies or old plumbing) you may experience a build up as the soap interacts with the minerals in the water. We recommend washing and rinsing your hair thoroughly and use a homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse with warm water (10% ACV to 90% water). Then rinse that out thoroughly and condition and style as usual.
Do you disclose all ingredients?
We disclose all ingredients: the ingredients are listed on all packaged hair care products; all ingredients are listed at the point of sale for each variety of naked/unpackaged Pure and Natural Bath and Body soaps.
All ingredients for every product we make are listed on the website
www.quintessencesoaps.com.au
You can check for a stockist here
You can buy our Shampoo Soap Bars and Solid Conditioner Bars from our website here
Are the shampoo soap bars pH tested?
The pH of any real soap is high - pH 8-10 normally. You just can't control that. Synthetic detergent SYNDET solid shampoo bars can be pH balanced and some may argue that's better for your hair. I, Louise, am not a scientist nor hairdresser, but know a lot of people who have used shampoo soap for years, including myself. Our hair is lovely and healthy and we're not putting detergent chemicals down the drain. If you find the Shampoo Bars too cleansing, then you might have to swap back to detergents.
How do you make the Conditioner?
The Conditioner Bars are made with high end conditioning emulsifier and nutrient oils based on regular conditioner formulation you would find in a bottled conditioner. However, we use the highest quality conditioning ingredient BTMS with hair loving oils. There’s no water in the bar so we don’t have to add preservative which is nice and you’re not paying for water or a plastic bottle. You can shop here at one of our stockists (check stockists here) or my directly online here
Please feel free to email (contact page here) or direct message us at Quintessence Soaps on Instagram or Facebook with any questions about our products
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