Question 1

How is this shampoo bar different from the other dermahaony pyrithione shampoo bar? Does it oily scalps better?

Accepted Answer

There are three broad categories of shampoo bars 1) soap-based bars; 2) hybrid bars; 3) non-soap based syndet bars. You'll find all three types of bars here on Amazon. The Grace of Me bars are high performance hybrid bars (hot processed).

We don't make soap based bars just yet.  That's because soap-based bars have big performance problems in hard-water where these type bars can leave a nasty soapy film in your hair.  The solution is to rinse with an apple cider vinegar dilution.  The Generation I Grace of Me bars were soap-based.  In March 2020 we pivoted the formulation to hybrid bars.  Soap-based is the most natural approach and we wanted these bars to work for folks.  They just didn't perform.  There are brands like J.R. Liggett's that make this type bar and cater to folks that want super natural - old school bars.  These are not what most folks want.  We'll likely return to making the Generation I soap-based bars at some point just so that we offer a product to folks that want the most natural approach.

The Grace of Me Generation II bars are hybrid.  We use a blend of Sodium Stearate (soap), Glycerin, and Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI).  SCI is considered a synthetic detergents.  SCI is made by reacting sodium isethionate with the fatty acid from coconut oil or other chlorides. The mixture is heated to remove water and distilled to remove excess fatty acid. Sodium isethionate is the organic salt isethionic acid (C2H6O4S), which is an organosulfur compound.  This is a man made - high engineered substance derived from plant matter.   It is known in the industry as 'baby foam'  due to its exceptional mildness.  By mixing soap and SCI which is a SYNDET we get a great bar that works in both hard and soft water.  Not very many manufacturers make bars this way.  Customers are in love with the Grace of Me bars.  And because of consumer demand we'll always make hot-processed hybrid bars.

The DermaHarmony branded shampoo bars are syndet bars. Syndet is a blended word made by combining the words “synthetic” and “detergent.” Technically it is a cleansing product made by the binding of different synthetic detergents.  These bars contain no natural soap or glycerin.  The ingredients are heavily engineered/man made -- but, they are still made from plants.  This type bar is the 'Rock Star' of shampoo bars.  It performs in all water types with all pH levels and suds like no other.  Many shampoo bar makers have a rice-grain appearance to their bars.  The rice-grain looking white substance is SCI.  That's because these manufacturers are melting and pouring or pressing bars that have not been fully mixed.  SCI is extremely sticky and difficult to work with.  To make the DermaHarmony bars we have to use Duplex Vacuum Soap Plodders/Extruders and stamp the bars under very high pressure.  The Grace of Me bars are poured.

I could go on for hours about the differences...  One last point.  SCI is an expensive ingredient - very expensive.  It drives up the cost of the DermaHarmony bar to above $10.

We've made all three type bars and there is a place in the market for all three.  The DermaHarmony bars perform best in rural settings where water is not conditioned to make it soft. It's interesting to not that Paris, France has very hard water.  So it's not entirely a rural vs urban thingy.  All of the zinc bars work on oily scalps about the same.  In June 2021 we launch a Sulfur & Salicylic Acid Shampoo bar (Dermaharmony SYNDET) that works the best for oily scalps.

Question 2

Are these syndet bars? I am looking for a syndet dandruff shampoo bar because we want to cut back on our plastic use but have very hard water.

Accepted Answer

This is a hybrid soap & syndet bar.  Your hard water will interact with the glycerin and sodium stearate in this bar.  The Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI), the most abundant ingredient, will overcome any performance issues.  Hard water reduces the cleaning capacity (less suds) of glycerin and sodium stearate (soap).  It causes a curdy precipitate called soap scum that won't come out of hair very well.  SCI is a plant-based high-performance surfactant which is equally effective in both hard and soft water. It fixes the issues.

Early-on we made bars without the SCI and ran into hard water issues.  The bars were reformulated in 2019.  Since the reformulation we've had few hard water complaints.

Over the next few months [December 2020 to April 2021] we have 3 new syndet bars coming online.  These bars have no soap.  They use highly engineered plant-based ingredients.  The new additions:

1.  2% Pyrithione Zinc Face & Body Bar (unscented) - no conditioning additives - OTC Drug
2.  2% Pyrithione Zinc Shampoo Bar w/3% Peppermint Oil - OTC Drug
3.  5% Sulfur & 2% Salicylic Acid Shampoo Bar w/3% Peppermint Oil - OTC Drug

Assuming that the new bars are liked by customers, the next scents will be Tea Tree and Vanilla & Cinnamon. It may be 2022 before we get the new scents online.  The new bars are under the DermaHarmony label.

Question 3

How many times a week do you wash your hair with this soap bar?

Accepted Answer

I was my hair three times a week using the Pyrithione Zinc shampoo bar and am very happy with the results.

Question 4

Do all grace shampoo bars have 2% pyrithicone zinc? i am not a peppermint or tea tree fan but i do need the zinc.

Accepted Answer

Right now, the Grace of Me line of shampoo bars are sold in three variations: regular bars, 2% pyrithione zinc bars, and 2% salicylic acid bars. As of September 2022 the regular bars are not sold on Amazon. The zinc bars are labeled as containing pyrithione zinc. The Grace of Me line has an unscented pyrithione zinc bar.  Grace of Me bars are hybrid type bars (part soap and part syndet)

If you're looking for a pure syndet (cleansing bar without soap) you should look at the DermaHarmony 2% Pyrithione Zinc Face & Body Cleansing Bar (4 oz).  This is an unscented "everything" bar that can be used on the face, body, and even hair.  The Amazon ASIN number is B0BFM9TSS8 (you can search the ASIN number).  UPC Code: 860004825821. NDC Code: 71819-008-04. Visually, you're looking for the white box with the red/dark blue wave.

Material Type Free	Alcohol Free
Unit Count	113.34 gram
Number of Items	1
Liquid Volume	4 Fluid Ounces
Special Features	Travel Size
Suitable Hair Color	All Hair Colors
Product Benefits	Anti-Dandruff
Hair Type	All
Scent Name	Vanilla, Cinnamon
Item Form	Bar

Dermaharmony2% Pyrithione Zinc Shampoo Bar with Shea Butter by Grace of Me (4 Oz) (Sweet Vanilla & Cinnamon)

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