AIBU to share my breakthrough with conditioner bars

[berringer]

I’ve been trying to de plasticise all my toiletries, and over the years have managed to stop the shampoo, shower gel habit and swap them for bars, which has worked. But conditioner has always been a bit of Achilles heel. Until now i’ve Always been disappointed in conditioner bars, finding they just didn’t condition my hair , just kind of dry, sticky and heavy and take ages to use.

Until the last week, when i’ve Finally worked them out! Maybe you all knew this already, but just incase...... if you keep them in a little tin/tub/dish with a bit of water in the bottom, then when you come to use them they are already soft and have a slick of conditioner ready that you can rub into your hands and use easily. Also the little bit of water the bar has been sitting in has also absorbed the conditioner too and can be used!

Hope this helps someone else!

Hi OP

I started using a shampoo bar 3 weeks ago (primal suds) but my hair looks a bit like a troll doll. It's usually shiny and completely flat, but since using a bar it's coarse and feels heavy but despite the heaviness ir weirdly has loads more body.

Just wondering of you or anyone else has experienced anything like this? I'm hoping it's just a transition period.

Cripes primal suds have definately got a thing going on haven’t they? Just had a look at their website and they defiately have a certain turn of phrase! :-) they talk about a transition period on it, so maybe that is what it is?

I’m no expert and can only speak for my hair obviously, but i’ve Always just assumed that when you stop using plastic bottles of shampoo then you aren’t going to be costing your hair with weird plasticy shite anymore and therefore it’s gonna feel abit different? That’s why I was chuffed about getting the conditioner bar to work properly. I’ve got coloured hAir so without conditioner it’s heavy, dull and like you describe. Conditioner has sorted it tho!

Ah, I've been meaning to post about conditioner bars. I started using one a couple of weeks ago (the Lush purple one, whatever it's called) but I've been struggling. I just can't get enough soap off the bar to actually do anything to my hair. I put it in the bottom of the shower when I get in, so that it gets properly wet and soft (a tip from the Lush lady), but all I can manage to get off it is a thin film. It does pretty much nothing to my hair! A bit disappointed tbh, I was looking forward to ditching my plastic bottles! I'll give the water soaking tip a try!

Yeah it’s the purple one i’m Using. Hope the water soaking thing works for you too!

They work lovely if you put them in a cup of warm water whilst washing so they’re warm and wet when you need them

Fnarr fnarr

Think I will give the Lush ones a try it might help tame the Primal Suds induced wildness.

I’ve managed to use the conditioner bar successfully all week! Even soaking it everyday it’s lasting really well. I’ve been turning it over everyday and so soaking a different side and maybe in about a half centimetre of water.

Following

Stil going! Now been using the same bar for over a month, conditioning hair every 1-2 days and there’s still about 1/3 left. It was £9. Hair’s in great condition, it really works.

I’ve reined my technique in that after every use I put it in a little tin, cover it about half way with warm water and put in lid. Then next time I use it I shake the tin, open it, pour out the liquid into my hair, the later the bar up in my hands till they are really slimy, then with my fingers work the conditioner into my hair.

I use shampoo bars from the good soap company. I don't use conditioner as the shampoo bars have castor oil in which conditions.

Since I started using shampoo bars I don't need conditioner anymore, despite the fact that it's coloured and is usually dry and quite frizzy. My DD has curly hair that also tends to frizz but it is in great condition since she switched to bars. We use coconutty soapnut bars. I highly recommend them.

I love shampoo bars and bar soap, but had never got on with conditioner bars for the same reasons as you OP. However I've noe discovered a local zero waste shop where you can refill shampoo and conditioner bottles (among a great many other things) - it's fab!

I just rub my lush conditioner bar vigorously all over my hair and it feels like nothing is happening until I rinse and it's al lovely and smooth. I'll try soaking it a bit first and see if it feels better. Thanks.

How do the bars work in hard water areas? Anyone any experience?

I have quite fine, poker straight, shoulder length hair and have been using the Lush combined shampoo and conditioner bar. Don't know the name but it's yellow. Works really really well with just one swipe over my hair and smells gorgeous. Current bar has lasted 3 months and I reckon I'll get another 2 weeks out of it. Bargain at £8.

&keep (online) do excellent conditioner bars.

I use a rinse spray from Conchus and haven't had to use a conditioner since I started.

^ I live in a hard water area and have thick straight(ish) hair.

Thanks!!I use bars instead of shower gel but my scalp is super sensitive => read postules, itching etc.
Gentle, oil free shampoos seem to be the solution. And I've never found a shampoo or conditioner bar with the right kinds of ingredients.... 🙁

That’s a great tip, thanks. I have ordered some Grumm shampoo bars for Christmas. They are a small company, all natural with minimal packaging.

Guys anyone got dry/highlighted/generally quite fucked hair recommendations?

Ditto here @ToPlanZ. I started using a water/apple cider vinegar rinse as a conditioner after a shampoo bar and it made all the difference.