Here’s my recipe for goat milk shampoo bars. By cleansing without overly stripping natural oils, this shampoo bar balances moisture, leaving hair silky, smooth, and frizz-free. These bars produce an impressive lather and work well for thick hair. They’re also good for shaving your legs with, in my opinion.

Ingredients:

The following links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small amount of commission from them.

3 oz fresh or frozen goat milk

2 oz water

1.7 oz lye (sodium hydroxide)

7 oz coconut oil

6 oz olive oil or sunflower oil

3 oz castor oil

Optional:

1 tbsp dried witch hazel leaf powder

20 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Instructions:

1. Prepare the goat milk & lye
   • Slowly add the water and lye to the goat milk while stirring. Do this in a well-ventilated area and use protective gloves and goggles. It works best to have the milk mostly, but not completely, frozen. I freeze the milk flat in a ziplock bag then break it up into pieces. The lye will scald the milk if the milk isn’t cold enough.
2. Melt the oils
   • In a separate container, gently melt the coconut oil, then mix in the olive (or sunflower) oil and castor oil. Heat the oils to approximately 100°F.
3. Combine & blend
   • Once both the lye mixture and oils reach around 100°F, slowly pour the lye mixture into the oils. Use a stick blender to mix until you reach trace (a pudding-like consistency).
4. Add botanicals & scent
   • Stir in the dried witch hazel leaf powder and eucalyptus essential oil. Blend well.
5. Pour & mold
   • Pour the mixture into a soap mold and let it set for 24–48 hours until firm.
6. Cure
   • Remove from the mold and cure in a well-ventilated space for 4 weeks to allow the soap to harden. I use a cooling rack for my soaps to cure on.

Before moving states, I used to sell these soaps and shampoo bars made with herbs I foraged. This shampoo bar creates a rich lather while nourishing your scalp and hair.

How Goat Milk Shampoo Benefits Hair & Scalp

• Goat Milk
  • Naturally rich in lactic acid, vitamins (A, D, B6, B12), and minerals that help exfoliate, soothe, and deeply hydrate the scalp. Its fatty acids support moisture retention, reducing dryness and irritation.
• Coconut Oil
  • Penetrates the hair shaft to strengthen and protect against breakage. Its antimicrobial properties also support a healthy scalp.
• Olive/Sunflower Oil
  • Packed with antioxidants and omega fatty acids, helping to smooth frizz, reduce dandruff, and add shine without weighing hair down.
• Castor Oil
  • A natural humectant that attracts moisture, promoting softer, healthier strands while supporting hair growth by improving scalp circulation.
• Witch Hazel Leaf Powder
  • A natural astringent that helps balance oil production, soothe itchiness, and refresh the scalp.
• Eucalyptus Essential Oil
  • Stimulates circulation, helps with dandruff control, and provides a fresh, invigorating scent.

How Goat Milk Shampoo Helps with Frizz Control

• Hydration from Goat Milk
  • The high-fat content and lactic acid in goat milk deeply moisturize hair, reducing dryness that often leads to frizz. It also smooths the cuticle, preventing hair from absorbing excess humidity.
• Coconut Oil for Reduced Porosity
  • Unlike some oils that sit on the surface, coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft, strengthening strands from within and reducing porosity—helping hair resist frizz caused by humidity.
• Castor Oil for Smoothness & Shine
  • Castor oil is a natural humectant, meaning it locks in moisture, keeping hair softer and less prone to frizz. It also forms a lightweight barrier that smooths the cuticle and enhances shine.
• Olive/Sunflower Oil for Flexibility
  • These oils are rich in oleic acid, which improves hair elasticity and prevents brittleness, making hair more manageable and less prone to frizzing from movement or dryness.
• Eucalyptus Oil for Scalp & Strand Health
  • Eucalyptus oil stimulates circulation, ensuring nutrients reach the hair follicles for stronger, healthier strands that resist frizz and breakage.

Enjoy your handcrafted, natural shampoo!