A friend gave me an all natural handmade soap bar containing olive, coconut, and palm oils, water and alkali, essential or fragrance oil and mineral or plant color.

Any thoughts on what this would do to my hair?  I've got normal to oily, fine blonde hair that's about BSL length.

btw, they have a website, www.homecrafts.us if you're curious.

People do use gentle soaps in place of shampoo. Normally they are marketed as "Shampoo bars" (such as at Chagrin Valley) I think if it's a naturally-made homestyle bar, and it doesn't leave much friction nor have much fragrance, it should be safe for hair.

Hugs
Anais

Thanx Anais!

The difference between natural soap and shampoo bars is, that shampoo bars contain castor oil which is believed to be especially nice for hair.
  I sometimes use my Chagrin Valley soaps like conditioners- to my length. I've got good results from doing this, natural soap can be very conditioning. If your skin likes the soap and it's all natural, it should be quite safe to try.

:o
Am I really the only one who gets really fuzzy, hard to tame hair from using normal soap on it?

I've made fairly good experiences with Shampoo bars, though, but only used the short term. I find them dead useful on the road, because they don't take up much space (certainly much less than 1 bottle shampoo + 1 bottle conditioner::)) nor am I in danger of liquid leaking out and soiling the bag.

You might benefit from an ACV rinse, right after washing with a shampoo bar. The weird feeling could be residue.

Then again, shampoo bars aren't for everyone either... Many people experience what you did.

HTH :)
Anais