A solid conditioner bar gives hair slip and softness without a bottle. This beginner-friendly formula combines BTMS-50 for conditioning, cetyl alcohol for structure and glide, and shea butter for a richer finish. Because the formula contains no water, it is compact, travel-friendly and simpler to make than a bottled conditioner.
Formula: 100 g batch
| Ingredient | % | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| BTMS-50 conditioning emulsifier | 50% | 50 g |
| Cetyl alcohol | 25% | 25 g |
| Shea butter | 20% | 20 g |
| Lightweight cosmetic oil of choice | 4% | 4 g |
| Vitamin E (antioxidant) | 0.5% | 0.5 g |
| Skin-safe fragrance, optional | 0.5% | 0.5 g |
| Total | 100% | 100 g |
Vitamin E helps slow oxidation but is not a preservative. Keep water out of the finished bar.
Equipment
- Digital scale accurate to 0.1 g
- Heat-safe beaker or bowl
- Water bath or double boiler
- Silicone spatula
- Silicone mold
- Gloves and clean work surface
Method
- Prepare the workspace. Clean and fully dry the tools and mold. Any water droplets can shorten the life of an anhydrous bar.
- Weigh the heated phase. Add BTMS-50, cetyl alcohol, shea butter and the lightweight oil to the heat-safe beaker.
- Melt gently. Place the beaker in a water bath and heat until everything is fully melted and uniform. Stir slowly; avoid whipping in air.
- Cool briefly. Remove from heat. When the mixture begins to cool but is still completely fluid, stir in vitamin E and optional fragrance.
- Pour and set. Pour immediately into the mold. Allow the bar to harden undisturbed for several hours, then unmold. For the firmest texture, wait 24 hours before use.
How to use
After shampooing, glide the bar lightly over wet hair from mid-lengths to ends, or rub it between wet hands and smooth the cream onto the hair. Leave on for one to three minutes, then rinse well. Start with a small amount—solid conditioner is concentrated.
Customize the feel
- Firmer bar: increase cetyl alcohol by 3–5% and reduce shea butter by the same amount.
- Richer bar: increase shea butter slightly and reduce the liquid oil.
- Lighter finish: use a light ester or lightweight cosmetic oil and apply mainly to the ends.
Do not make large substitutions to BTMS-50 without reformulating. BTMS-25 and BTMS-50 are not interchangeable gram-for-gram because their active conditioning content and supporting fatty alcohols differ.
Troubleshooting
The bar is too soft. It may have been unmolded too early, stored in a warm room or made with too much soft oil. Let it set for another day, then adjust the next batch with more cetyl alcohol.
The bar drags on hair. Warm it briefly under the shower stream and use it on very wet hair. A small increase in shea butter or liquid oil can improve glide.
Hair feels heavy. Use less product, rinse longer and keep application below the ears. Fine hair often needs only a few passes.
Storage and safety
Store the bar on a draining soap dish and let it dry between uses. Avoid getting product in the eyes. Patch test before regular use and discontinue if irritation occurs. This is a home-use prototype; products intended for sale require stability, packaging and safety testing.
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FSbbTaibanle BTMS-50 Conditioning Emulsifier
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