In light of the "soap vs shower gel" revelation... solid shampoo!

[Catabogus]

Am I the only one who has recently discovered solid bars of shampoo?

For the first time in my life people have asked me what shampoo I use as it smells so good and looks so clean and shiny. My hair feels soft and lustrous and I am over the moon with it. No more plastic bottles so it’s an environmental win as well.

I’m using one of the round shampoo bars from Lush that has its own special tin to keep it in. OK, it meant braving The Lush Smell to go in the shop the first time, but I've ordered online since then

The Lush bars are lovely, but I’m open to other suggestions. Anyone found any other good solid shampoo?

[blackdoggotmytongue]

I’ve been meaning to check out my local natural soap co. for shampoo bars, so thank you! In my case it’s because we are a house full of extremely hairy individuals and I am alarmed at how many plastic bottles we get through (and sceptical about the recycling veracity...)
I like the idea of the tin. Can you buy the shampoo bars without the tin and reuse it? Or do they flog you a new tin every time? (packaging being my bugbear)
What about conditioning? As well as being hairy, we are curly to the point of frizzy, so conditioning is actually the most important...

[Mistoffelees]

I've not heard good things about the solid shampoo from Lush so glad to here that someone has got on with it, I don't know if I can brave the smell though!

[longtompot]

I really like their solid shampoos, but get stressed as they get covered with my hair when using them. They do last ages though.

[Lostmyemailaddress]

I use solid shampoo and conditioner on mine and dcs hair. I love the stuff it's less faff then bottles and lasts ages.

[Lostmyemailaddress]

And forgot yes you can reuse the tins I've been offered a couple of times and just say I already have and dd2 has curly hair and the solid green conditioner is fab for keeping her curls all nice as well as using a microfiber towel and scrunching hair instead of rubbing and patting.

[BluebellGal]

Going to give some a try. Are they better for your scalp? Any recommendations as I have irritable scalp - don’t have dandruff, but it does get itchy and can flare up with certain shampoos

[Lostmyemailaddress]

From lush my oldest uses a purple one which smells of parma violets he gets a sore scalp with others but he hasn't with that one and he uses American dream conditioner but that comes in a bottle but still lasts ages.

[Lostmyemailaddress]

I didn't see the soap vs shower gel thread but if the soap you use has natural oils in you don't actually need shaving gel if you shave I found that out so now save even more cause of it

[tampinfuminragin]

I used the blonde solid shampoo from lush about 15 years ago. I haven't used it recently but might look into it again.

[Catabogus]

I’m glad others have discovered these too!

Yes, you just buy the tin the first time and then reuse it. I found my bar was getting hairs stuck on it at first but then figured out I didn’t actually need to touch it to my head at all - just rub on my hands and then use hands to massage into hair, and that stopped the hairy soap effect.

I’ve had no problems with my scalp since using it - any occasional irritation I used to have has disappeared.

I haven’t tried the solid conditioner yet as I have plenty left in a bottle to use up, but I will be buying some next time. That smelt lovely too. I have come to the conclusion it’s just the "bath bombs" in Lush that smell terrifying (unfortunately they seem to perfume the whole shop, and indeed the whole shopping centre).

[blackdoggotmytongue]

It might be worth braving then - Lush gives me a terrible headache and I haven’t been in a store for at least ten years as a result, but maybe....

[Lostmyemailaddress]

You can order it online op as far as I know so that might be worth looking into or my friend who hates the smell of the bath bombs but loves everything else puts vapour rub around her nostrils before she goes in. I've no idea if it works but she swears it does.

[QuestionableMouse]

Which one are you using? They'd be easier for me than bottles.

[LadyOfTheCanyon]

Most of the lush solid bars still have SLS in them, so if that is an irritant for you I'd steer clear.
I've used them in the past, the smell is nice but they made no noticeable difference to my hair at all, and the sludge they descend into towards the end of their life was intolerable.

[NewtsSuitcase]

It's less about the bars being better for your hair than bottled shampoo and more about the fact that it saves a mountain of plastic.

[Animation86]

They strip the colour out my hair, and to be honest not a lot does. With that in mind they are pretty brutal on the hair but good for the occasional deep clean

[Howsthings1234]

We use the honey solid shampoo from lush it's amazing. I can't get over how well it lathers. I just rub it in my hands then lather into hair. I must get a tin next time.

Has anyone tried the naked shower gels (no packaging solid shower gel bar). I use their soaps instead of shower gel but am tempted to try the naked gel too.

I'm actually really obsessed with lush at the moment. I have the scrubee bar which is AMAZING one side is like a wax/butter and the other scrubs your skin (it's ground almonds and coconut shell bits) the wax stuff leave skin amazingly soft and smells beaut. Again no packaging.

[yumscrumfatbum]

I use them when I go swimming. So much less faff than taking bottles. They last for around 80 washes so takes me about a year to use up! I had a green one that smelt of patouchli that I have just replaced with the honey one

[Nyx1]

I've ordered Funky Soap solid shampoo and conditioner

I was worried about the smell of Lush, do the bars smell as bad as everything else?

[Howsthings1234]

It's such a shame that the Lush stores smell
So bad as it puts people off. The products themselves honestly do smell amazing. And leave a really good scent. I think as a PP said the smell comes from the bath bombs. I tend to order online to avoid having to go in!!

[Mistoffelees]

Animation I was just about to ask if they were good for coloured hair, looks like I'll be sticking to bottles for now unless someone knows an alternative?

[Nyx1]

Mist, I thought Animation was saying that particular one stripped colour from hair?

tbh I think anything with a decent amount of foaming agent is going to do that isn't it?

My Funky Soap shampoo and conditioner is arriving today so I will update when I've tried them. I'm someone who isn't buying bar stuff because of chemicals or SLS but to reduce plastic so I just looked at what I thought would smell nice and went for that.

[BarrowInFurnessBusDepot]

I use solid shampoo and both my hair and skin have improved. My skin is no longer irritated and dry off the shampoo. I use some white vinegar in a jug of warm water and rub it in then rinse out.

Mine comes from Wild Sage & Co.

[Nyx1]

Barrow, I always like to support a business like that so thanks for telling us about them, will try them next time.