5 Reasons To Fall In Love With Shampoo Bars

If you’re planning on switching to an eco-friendlier lifestyle, then you’ve probably heard of shampoo bars.

They have been getting quite the attention for being a better alternative to liquid shampoo.

So what makes them sustainable? And what benefits can your hair get from using them?

In this article, we’ll delve into the world of shampoo bars so follow along to find out more.

What is a shampoo bar?

A shampoo bar is a solid concentrated version of shampoo.

They may look like your regular bar of soap, but shampoo bars are for cleaning your hair.

They come in different shapes and sizes. As well as in various scents and colors, so you can surely pick a favorite.

They have been around for a while, but are only recently gaining popularity due to their eco-friendly attributes.

So what makes shampoo bars different from liquid shampoos?

What’s in a shampoo bar?

Shampoo bars and liquid shampoos both aim to clean and nourish your hair.

The difference is, most shampoo bars contain organic ingredients. Unlike liquid shampoos, they don’t contain parabens, phthalates, silicones, or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). In short, chemicals that strip your hair of its natural oils.

So they’re usually made from natural plant oils that are nourishing and moisturizing for your hair. Some ingredients can include shea butter, cocoa butter, castor oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil.

They can also infuse herbs and plant extracts, depending on what hair type or texture the shampoo bar wants to target. Whether it’d be dry, oily, or color-treated. 

Since shampoo bars contain fewer chemicals than liquid shampoo, they’re more gentle on your hair. Which is always a plus for maintaining healthy hair.

5 reasons to fall in love with shampoo bars

If the natural ingredients of shampoo bars still don’t sway you into at least trying one, then maybe these could:

Uses less water

A single bottle of shampoo contains 80% water. Considering a company produces thousands of bottles a day, it can take up a lot of our resources.

Since shampoo bars are solid, they require less water to produce. Allowing us to save more water in the long run.

No plastic packaging

Plastic is one of the worst pollutants in the world. So wouldn’t you be glad to reduce the production of plastic shampoo bottles?

Since shampoo bars are typically packaged in paper boxes or wax papers. They create less waste compared to plastic shampoo bottles. Plus, paper is easy to recycle since they’re biodegradable. So you can mix them up in compost for fertilizing your garden.

Lasts longer

Shampoo bars last longer compared to liquid shampoos because they are more concentrated. 

Depending on your frequency of use, they can last between 50-75 washes. Which would already take you about 2-3 bottles of liquid shampoo.

Since you don’t have to stock up on shampoo bars frequently, the more money you will save.

Suitable for most hair types

You can also customize shampoo bars according to your hair’s needs. 

They’re available for normal, dry, or oily hair. You can even find shampoo bars that help calm down an itchy scalp or help promote hair growth. 

Ingredients like shea butter and argan oil are great for moisturizing your hair without making it greasy. While ingredients like thyme and rosemary can help your hair grow thicker.

Travel-friendly

Since shampoo bars are solid, you don’t have to worry about them spilling inside your luggage.

You also don’t have to look for a travel-size version since shampoo bars don’t take too much space. So you can easily slip them inside the pocket of your bag.

When traveling, you can also store them inside a pouch or tin can to avoid staining your clothes. But if you can’t find one, you can also wrap your shampoo bar in paper and you’re good to go.

How to use a shampoo bar?

Using a shampoo bar for your hair for the first time can feel bizarre. But it’s actually quite easy if you follow these tips:

1.  Start with wet hair as this allows your shampoo bar to foam up nicely.


2.  You can then use your hands to lather your shampoo or rub it directly onto your hair.


3. Once you have enough shampoo, gently massage your scalp to loosen up dirt and product build-up. Avoid applying shampoo onto the ends of your hair as this can be drying.


4. Lastly, rinse the shampoo out of your hair thoroughly. If you feel like your hair needs more moisture, you can follow up with a hydrating conditioner.

The first time you wash your hair with a shampoo bar, your hair will feel waxy.

It’s nothing to worry about, it’s just your hair transitioning from liquid shampoo. This is because of saponification. Your shampoo bar leaves a film of soap scum onto your hair.

But after a few washes, this waxy film goes away, signaling that your hair has acclimated to the new cleanser.

Do you need to use a conditioner with a shampoo bar?

Most shampoo bars already contain ingredients that moisturize your hair, so some choose to skip the conditioner.

But if you feel like your hair needs an extra hydration boost, you can also use one.

If you want to transition to an environmentally-friendly route, conditioner bars are also available.

Just like the shampoo bar, they're easy to use. Rub the conditioner bar on wet hair, focusing on your ends.

Let it sit for a couple of minutes, then rinse it out.

Your hair may feel waxy when it's still wet, but it will go away once it dries. So you're left with smooth and soft locks.

The final takeaway

Switching to shampoo bars may not be the direct answer to saving our planet. But they’re still definitely worth a try.

Beauty products that need less water to produce and don't come in plastic packaging are a plus for the eco-conscious.

Their lightweight and compact size make it easy for traveling go-getters. 

Lastly, their natural ingredients also make for softer and healthier hair. Which is great for maintaining gorgeous tresses.