How to make slime without glue with shampoo

One of the easiest ways to make slime with shampoo is to combine it with salt, since you don't have to do any measuring. Choose a thick shampoo in a color and scent that you like and pour it into a bowl. To make it thicker, you can stir in an equal amount of body wash! Next, add a pinch of salt, then stir the slime. Keep adding salt and stirring until the mixture turns into a thick glob. Put the slime in an airtight container and freeze it for 15 minutes. Once the slime sets, it's ready to play with! If you want to learn how to make your slime using cornstarch instead, keep reading!

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Don’t have glue at home and wondering how to make slime without glue? You can if you have shampoo! This shampoo slime recipe is glue-free and is a fun alternative to traditional slime recipes. Check out all of our slime recipes. Slime making is a favorite pastime of ours.  There is no better way to make the kids smile at the end of the day than by telling them they will be making slime!

How to make slime without glue with shampoo

Glue-Free Shampoo Slime Recipe

Making slime is a favorite in our home. We are also always looking for ways to make slime clean up easier. By using plastic cups and sticks to mix you can literally make this slime and throw away all of those mixing cups! All that would be left to clean is just putting the shampoo and sugar away. Also check out how to make slime without borax.

We’ve done our fair share of fun science fair projects. We also adore our monthly science kits for kids. But theres just something special about creating slime!

Learn how to make slime with shampoo and sugar below:

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SLIME INGREDIENTS:

Find all of my favorite slime ingredients here.

  • Clear shampoo (or mostly clear)
  • Sugar
  • Plastic cup
  • Fork

How to make slime without glue with shampoo

How to make slime without glue

Note: This slime is super cold! If you hold it in your hand too long, your fingers start to tingle. If your kids hate cold fingers, we suggest trying another slime recipe. This is also a how to make slime without glue AND borax post! (Who would have thought that was actually possible?!)

Shampoo Slime Recipe

For the shampoo slime recipe – Pour about a half a cup of shampoo into a plastic cup. You can use more shampoo, but it will take longer to develop, and you might want the shampoo to clean your hair later. 🙂

How to make slime without glue with shampoo

Add a teaspoon of sugar and mix. The shampoo will thicken almost right away. Add a bit more sugar until the mixture clings to the spoon similar to wet slime.

How to make slime without glue with shampoo

To finish the slime without glue recipe, place the cup into the freezer for at least two hours.

The slime will thicken, but because of the shampoo’s ingredients, it won’t crystallize.

After a few hours, remove the slime from the freezer. Stretch and play with the slime as normal.

How to make slime without glue with shampoo

This slime will be stickier than traditional slime, but it’s a fun non-glue slime recipe alternative to glue-based slimes. And, it’s cold to the touch, which kids love!

As the slime warms, it will get liquidy again, but you can always pop it back in the freezer and play with it another day.

How to make slime without glue with shampoo

You can find all of our slime recipe’s here.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to make slime without glue or borax. It has a different consistency than what you may be used to, but that’s obvious when you make slime without glue!

Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.

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updated Nov 2, 2019

Shampoo, water, and cornstarch make for an easy slime that's fun to play with and doesn't leave a mess.

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How to make slime without glue with shampoo

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Food Stylist: Coral Lee/Kitchn

If you thought the slime craze of 2016 had passed, it’s still alive and well in the elementary school scene. It has been three whole years since I wrote about making slime without borax with my 5-year-old daughter, but she’s every bit as into it now as she was then. Every batch of slime is more elaborate than the next — there’s glitter slime, slime with beads, and even edible slime, and she’s gotten her preschool brother into her hobby, too. This is how we discovered the fun of this three-ingredient slime without glue or borax.

This slime is very similar to the oobleck that many of us probably grew up with. Made from shampoo, cornstarch, and water, this slime is thinner and a little more brittle than glue-based slime, but because there’s no glue it’s easier to clean up, and you can even take it to the bathtub where is dissolves into bubbly fun. Here’s how to make three-ingredient slime without glue.

How to make slime without glue with shampoo

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Food Stylist: Coral Lee/Kitchn

Why Am I Reading About Slime on Kitchn?

Good question! Consider slime an example of one of the many non-cooking projects that happen in the kitchen. Making slime, like making pasta, is one of the ways I play with my kids in the kitchen. It allows us to practice math and measuring and talk about science. Then they have slime to play with quietly and independently, which is, of course, the real reason to make slime in the first place.

How to make slime without glue with shampoo

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Food Stylist: Coral Lee/Kitchn

Why Make Slime Without Glue?

Slime made with glue is probably the most common variety because it’s easy and reliable. But it’s also incredibly sticky, and almost impossible to get off when it dries. It can literally ruin your bath towels if your kids try to wash their slime and then dry it (please don’t ask me how I know, I’m still not over it).

The other great thing about this glue-less slime is that you can probably make it right now without running out for new ingredients. We rarely have a whole bottle of glue on hand. But a half-cup of shampoo? We’ve always got that.

How to make slime without glue with shampoo

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Food Stylist: Coral Lee/Kitchn

Tips for Making Slime Without Glue

1. The thicker your shampoo, the thicker your slime. Now is a really good time to use a cheap shampoo — maybe something you grabbed for travel and haven’t touched since. Three-in-one shampoos (body wash, conditioner, shampoo all-in-one) work really well for making slime.

2. Color the shampoo before adding the cornstarch. Want pink or purple slime but don’t have pink or purple shampoo? A few drops of food coloring added to the shampoo will do the trick and make coloring easier than if you added it at the end.

3. Add just enough water. This recipe gives a range for the amount of water, because shampoo itself varies in water content. After adding the cornstarch to the shampoo, the mixture will be really crumbly, and you want to add the water just a tablespoon at a time until the slime is soft and stretchy but not liquid. Err on the side of less water.

Slime Play Time

Even though you don’t have to worry about this slime sticking, we still keep slime on a oil-cloth tablecloth or thin plastic cutting board — the cornstarch can leave some residue, which can be wiped away but isn’t great for wood. We have a designated bin of small figures, cookie cutters, and more just for getting creative with the slime.

This slime keeps well for about a week at room temperature. When the slime starts to separate or dry out, you know it’s time to make a new batch. And if you’re feeling really adventurous, you can play with this slime in a warm bath where it will dissolve into colorful, sudsy fun.

  • How to make slime without glue with shampoo
  • How to make slime without glue with shampoo
  • How to make slime without glue with shampoo
  • How to make slime without glue with shampoo
  • How to make slime without glue with shampoo
  • How to make slime without glue with shampoo
  • How to make slime without glue with shampoo
  • How to make slime without glue with shampoo

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Food Stylist: Coral Lee/Kitchn

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Here's how to make easy slime without glue.

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How to Make Slime Without Glue

How to make slime without glue with shampoo

Print Recipe

Shampoo, water, and cornstarch make for an easy slime that's fun to play with and doesn't leave a mess.

YieldMakes about 3 cups

Prep time 10 minutes

Show Nutrition

  • alcohol-free
  • kidney-friendly
  • peanut-free
  • low-potassium
  • pork-free
  • pescatarian
  • gluten-free
  • tree-nut-free
  • low-sodium
  • red-meat-free
  • low-fat
  • wheat-free
  • dairy-free
  • fish-free
  • vegetarian
  • shellfish-free
  • vegan
  • sugar-conscious
  • no-oil-added
  • low-sugar
  • soy-free
  • egg-free

Per serving, based on 4 servings. (% daily value)

  • Calories 305
  • Fat 0.0 g (0.1%)
  • Saturated 0.0 g (0.0%)
  • Carbs 73.0 g (24.3%)
  • Fiber 0.7 g (2.9%)
  • Sugars
  • Protein 0.2 g (0.4%)
  • Sodium 7.9 mg (0.3%)
How to make slime without glue with shampoo

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup

    thick gel shampoo, such as Suave or Johnson's 3-in-1 Kids

  • 2 to 3 drops

    food coloring (optional)

  • 2 1/2 cups

    cornstarch

  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup

    cool water

Equipment

  • Measuring cups and spoons

  • Medium mixing bowl

  • Rubber spatula

  • Airtight container for storage

  • Liquid measuring cup

Instructions

  1. Mix the shampoo with food coloring if using. Pour 1/2 cup shampoo into a medium bowl. Add 2 to 3 drops food coloring and stir to combine.

  2. Add the cornstarch and mix into a crumbly paste. Add 2 1/2 cups cornstarch and stir to combine. The mixture should be a thick, crumbly paste but homogenous.

  3. Slowly mix in the water. Mix in water 2 tablespoons at a time until the mixture changes from crumbly to smooth, and finally slimy. You may not need all of the water.

  4. Knead the slime until smooth and stretchy. When the mixture is fluid enough to handle, use your hands to knead and stretch the slime until smooth.

    How do you make slime just with shampoo?

    One of the easiest ways to make slime with shampoo is to combine it with salt, since you don't have to do any measuring. Choose a thick shampoo in a color and scent that you like and pour it into a bowl. To make it thicker, you can stir in an equal amount of body wash! Next, add a pinch of salt, then stir the slime.

    Can you make slime with shampoo and sugar?

    Shampoo Slime Recipe Add a teaspoon of sugar and mix. The shampoo will thicken almost right away. Add a bit more sugar until the mixture clings to the spoon similar to wet slime. To finish the slime without glue recipe, place the cup into the freezer for at least two hours.

    How do you make slime with shampoo without glue and no cornstarch?

    Steps:.
    Pour 2 Tbsp of shampoo of choice into a bowl (you can always add more shampoo later). ... .
    Add in 2 Tbsp of shaving cream (foam) to the shampoo and mix. ... .
    Add 1 tsp of salt, and mix everything together thoroughly. ... .
    Put mixture into the freezer for approximately 15 minutes. ... .
    Remove from the freezer and play!.

    How do you make slime fast without glue?

    Instructions.
    Mix the shampoo with food coloring if using. Pour 1/2 cup shampoo into a medium bowl. ... .
    Add the cornstarch and mix into a crumbly paste. Add 2 1/2 cups cornstarch and stir to combine. ... .
    Slowly mix in the water. ... .
    Knead the slime until smooth and stretchy..