Cocoa Butter Solid Conditioner Bar

I've shared a recipe for a solid conditioner bar with mango butter in a previous post.

Mango butter is softer than cocoa butter and contains more fatty acids; Mango butter can be more nourishing to the hair.

I'm sharing a solid conditioner bar with cacao butter in this post. Cocoa butter can protect the hair from sun damage, and it helps create a harder bar.

I love to try new recipes for my conditioners. The bars last for a long time and can be easily travelled with. With a solid bar, there is no spill, no mess.

For the conditioning agent, we will need a cationic surfactant, I'm using BTMS50, but in the notes below, you can find alternatives.

BTMS could be hard to melt sometimes. You can grind it into powder before adding it to the beaker. As a powder, it will melt quickly and easily.

I've added a little mica powder to color my bars purple. This is optional. You can use any cosmetic grade mica to make your bars colourful.

Once you make your bar, you can use it as soon as it's solidified. If you want your bar to last longer, make sure to let it dry in between uses.

To use the conditioner bar, you will need to wet your hair and glide the bar onto the hair. You will see the white conditioning cream on your hair. Leave it on the hair for a couple of minutes, and then rinse it.

Method:

1. In a heat-resistant beaker, add the BTMS50.

2. Add the stearic acid.

3. Add the cetyl alcohol.

4. Add the cacao butter.

5. Add the berry wax.

6. Add the broccoli seed oil.

7. In a different heat resistance container, add phase B, and start with the glycerin.

8. Add the citric acid.

9. Mix to dissolve the citric acid in the glycerin.

10. Add phase B into phase A.

11. Place the beaker into a double boiler on medium heat.

12. When all is melted, remove from the heat.

13. When the temperature is cooled down a little, add the fragrance and the preservative.

14. Add the mica color and stir to combine.

15. Check the ph and adjust if necessary. To learn more about ph adjustment, please read this post. Between 4.5-and 5.5 is fine.

16. Pour into silicone molds and let the bars solidify for a couple of hours. You can place them in the fridge to speed up the process.

Notes:

• BTMS50 is an emulsifying and conditioning agent. It is plant-based. The INCI is Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetyl Alcohol (and) Butylene Glycol. You can replace it with Varisoft EQ 65 (INCI Name: Distearoylethyl Dimonium Chloride (and) Cetearyl Alcohol) or Emulsense HC (INCI Name: Brassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate (and) Brassica Alcohol) in case you choose Emulsense™ HC, you will probably need to raise the PH, and it is only compatible with arginine for adjusting the pH. Check this post on how to adjust PH.

• If you want to swap the berry wax, you can use Myrica fruit wax or add 5g of cetyl alcohol (20g of cetyl alcohol in total).

• You can swap the broccoli seed oil with argan oil, fractionated coconut oil or jojoba oil. You can also use an oil infusion. To learn more about infusing oils please check this post.

• If you use different preservatives, check the supplier instructions regarding how much to use and what PH level is recommended for the specific preservative.

• I use fragrance oil in this recipe, but you can use the essential oil of your choice. Please make sure you are using an essential oil safe for this product. Some essential oils can irritate the scalp, and some are not suitable when pregnant or breastfeeding.

• Mica powder is optional, you can use any color you like.

Related articles:

• Mango Butter Solid Conditioner Bar

• Hair Types and Needs

• Waxes in Cosmetics

• Amla Hair Mask

• How to Adjust the PH Level in Cosmetics

• Shampoo Bar for Beginners

• Clarifying Shampoo

• Marble Shikakai Shampoo Bar

• Infusing Oils (no heating)

• Body Wash and Shampoo for Kids