If you use shampoo bars...

[hidinginthenightgarden]

Can you recommend me one please?
I’m looking to reduce plastic in our house so would appreciate your help.

I brave the overpowering smells of Lush and at the back of the shop is a plain cream coloured shampoo bar that’s actually really good and not full of glitter, dead leaves or rose petals. I think it’s called Honey I washed my hair or similar. Cream coloured. Sadly the conditioners aren’t as good. I buy several shampoo bars at once to avoid having to go in too often as the smell in the shop is so toxic; mainly my girls take them home with them though as they like them but never go in Lush.

I was looking at Rush but haven't bought one yet. I have a huge tresemme bottle to use up first!

I can't. I just posted on another thread that I have tried for a year with 4 different bars, and never had great results. Lamazuma has good reviews but was awful for me (left a greasy residue, knotty hair, dull, ) Lush (karma I think, green) was the best.

I hear Beauty Kubes are good, I might give them a try as a last attempt.

Yes, Honey I Washed My Hair from Lush is good. I've been using it for 6 months or so. Gives a nice lather, doesn't leave a residue and the smell isn't overpowering at all (my DH uses it too now and he's really not keen on strong-smelling toiletries).

Their conditioners are more hit-and-miss. I tried a couple I didn't like but now use a purple one that smells a bit of Parma violets, and it works really well - can't remember the name though.

The Parma-violets one is called Sugar Daddio I believe. I like that one too. I've also had Jungle and the white one whose name escapes me.
Favourite shampoo bar at the moment is Jason and the Argon Oil. I've also had the purple one, another name which escapes me!

I highly recommend them, they still contain the surfactants which actually wash your hair. I'm not ready to ditch them just yet as I've got a lot of hair and the "transition period" would take so long!

The blue or red ones from lush are good. The yellow one with conditioner in makes my hair greasy.

Does anyone have a recipe for bar type shampoo?

I use a living naturally shampoo bar - can’t remember which one but it’s NOT coconutty as that one doesn’t suit my hair.

Dc2 uses the Lush honey bar and I’ve trued the blue sea salt one in the past.

Try this one www.cosycottagesoap.co.uk/products/caring-shampoo-soap-bar, they've also just brought out a conditioning bar and a wrap so that you can take then away with you.

If you are in a hard water area you may need to rinse with an Apple cider vinegar rinse to get rid of any residue. This shampoo is nice as they don't use any sls or palm oil. Reasonably priced too.

I really like the Lush shampoo bars! I haven't tried Honey, I Washed My Hair, but will because I am a bit fed up of all the dead petals in my hair from the Godiva one (which I do love!).Dead petals aside, I love every shampoo bar I've tried from Lush.

I really, really, really dislike the conditioning bars though.
I no longer use any conditioner in the shower. I use the shampoo bars in the shower, then, after I get out, I wrap my hair in a t-shirt/towel, then when it's no longer dripping wet, I just rub in a nice dollop of this gorgeous stuff: Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen/Grow and Restore Leave-In Conditioner.

Can I ask, how do you all store your shampoo bars? Do you allow them to drain and dry or wrap them/store in a box wet?

Is Lush only high st shop that sells shampoo bars?
Are bars remotely good value for money compared to bottle shampoo?

I bulk buy and store in an old Tupperware in the stock cupboard but once open I leave to dry out on the soap rack in the wet rooms between showers.
I don’t usually take it away with me as I’m in hotels that supply shampoo for work. If it’s a weeks holiday and self catering or on our boat, I take a new bar.

My bars last ages. I think they might be better value.

I'm using one made by Friendly Soap, they're a small ethical online business local to me. It's wonderful, I'm a total convert - and it's very reasonably priced too, about £2.50. I will never go back to liquid shampoo! I've started getting other soaps from them too and they're all fab. I store mine in a chrome wall mounted soap dish near (but not under) the shower.

Lush blue bar here. Love it.

@lljkk the one I get works out better value than liquid shampoo as it lasts as long as 2-3 bottles. It gets a really nice lather up, too.

I've used loads and found lamazuma the best but also the most expensive. Lush is now my go to for best value.

A lot of the more independent ones seem to leave a manky residue which builds up. We're in a soft water area and I've tried apple cider rinses but nothing seems to work.

Never tried a shampoo bar before...

My daughter has super thick hair, she finds it very hard to wash excess shampoo /conditioner out. Regular shampoo often leaves a residue which makes her hair feel a bit ‘gloopy’ - I wonder if she uses too much. We’ve stopped using conditioner.
Would a shampoo bar work for her?

@SeraphinaDombegh I've just started using the Friendly Soap one and it's made my hair really waxy? Did you find that to start or is it just not the best one for my hair? Any tips? Desperate for it to work but starting to look a bit unwashed!

I also use Lush Honey. I started using it at the beginning of May and still have lots left. It's £7something so I rationalised that if it lasts 3 months then it's worth it cost wise.

@Tobermory I have very thick frizzy hair, and it works well for me. I do still use Tresemme conditioner as unfortunately I can't go without conditioner, but I have noticed my hair feels much cleaner and very soft. I was very dubious because not many products work with my hair but I'm really happy with this shampoo bar.

Lush New bar. Tis fab and smells of cloves (nicer than it sounds). It has even converted sceptical DP!

My daughter also has very think hair, I used to use as much as a third of a bottle per wash to get through the full thickness of her hair and now the bars we're using (lush) are lasting months!

@heartvshead I found that initially too. After a few days I felt a bit desperate so I did a bicarb wash to clear my hair out completely, which worked. Next time I went to wash my hair I made sure to rub enough soap on to get a decent lather, and since then I've had no problems - in fact, my hair's been shinier and softer than before.

I'm addicted to the pink Lush Fun. It serves as a body wash, bath soak and shampoo in one. The sweet, candy smell lingers fabulously. It might not be to everyone's taste but I love it.

Wild Olive also make some excellent soaps and bar shampoos which last for ages.