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When I occasionally have to travel for work, I vastly prefer to pack my carry-on bag rather than check a bag. It saves me time, money, and makes it less likely that I’ll overpack (which, unfortunately, has been known to happen!)
The only real drawback to relying on my carry-on bag is complying with the 3-1-1 rule for liquids. (If you’re unfamiliar, this TSA regulation requires that all liquids or gels in your carry-on bag must be limited to 3.4 ounces or less, and that all of those liquid items must fit into one quart-sized bag.)
It’s a tall order, so I always have my eyes peeled for ways to reduce the number of liquids I need to fit into that bag. And I recently discovered a clever way to cross one more item off that list!
Related: This Is The Ultimate Oil For Your Skin And Hair (And More!)
Shampoo Bars: The Perfect Travel Companion
Instead of packing a travel-size bottle of shampoo, I now pack a homemade shampoo bar instead! Shampoo bars are quick and easy to make, and traveling with one means one less bottle to worry about exploding all over your luggage.
I typically use about half of one bar to properly wash my hair since it’s so long, but two washes is plenty for my short work trips. Those with shorter hair can expect to get a few more uses out of each bar!
What’s In Them?
Here’s a quick look at the ingredients that go into these homemade shampoo bars:
- Organic Goat’s Milk Melt & Pour Soap Base – You can use any melt and pour soap base, but I chose the goat’s milk variety because it’s creamier and more moisturizing than other types. It leaves my hair feeling clean, but not stripped or frizzy.
- Fractionated Coconut Oil – Coconut oil nourishes dry hair, and the amount is small enough to leave hair feeling moisturized, but not oily.
- Shea Butter – Like coconut oil, shea butter also nourishes and hydrates hair.
- Essential Oils – Geranium oil and lavender oil are both great for hair and scalp health, helping to regulate oil production and leave hair looking lustrous!
Now that you know what goes into them, I’ll show you how to make your own travel-friendly shampoo bars! :-)
How To Make Your Own DIY Shampoo Bar
Ingredients:
1 lb melt & pour soap base
2 tsp fractionated coconut oil
1 tsp shea butter
10 drops geranium essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
Equipment:
- Soap mold
- Double boiler
- Wooden skewer or spoon
Directions:
Break or cut your soap base into chunks, then place them in the top section of a double boiler. (No double boiler? A metal or glass bowl placed over a pot of simmering water works just as well!)
Allow the soap base to melt completely, adding more water to the pot as needed so it doesn’t dry out. Once melted, remove the soap base from heat and add the shea butter, coconut oil, and essential oils.
Use a wooden skewer or spoon to stir until everything is well incorporated. Next, pour the finished soap mixture into the cavities of your soap mold, then let it sit for several hours to solidify.
Once the bars have solidified completely, gently remove them from the mold.
How To Use It
Lather the shampoo bar in your hands, then use the lather to shampoo your hair as usual. Rinse clean, and follow up with conditioner.
What’s your best travel tip?
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