Shampoo bars

[FiddleFigs]

Does anyone use shampoo bars? I've very happily moved from shower gel to bar soap, and am pondering the next step to shampoo bars for my hair (which will also, hopefully, help me continue to reduce plastics this year). I'm especially interested in SLS and paraben free options.

Any recommendations?

[midnightmooch]

You can use the same soap for your hair that you do on your body - I like moisturising soap for dry skin extra glycerine helps.

[user187656748]

I switched recently and unfortunately I think I'm about to switch back [embarrassed]

I had a shampoo and conditioner bar both from Lush.

The conditioner bar is awful. it just doesn't lather. You can rub it in your hands over and over and nothing at all will come off that thing. My hair is long and I have balayage and so it needs a decent conditioner.

The shampoo lathers really well and doesn't seem any smaller than when I bought it even after about 15 washes. But it has completely dried out my hair so that I am now finding loads of split ends after using for a few weeks.

I'm afraid I've switched back to my intensive conditioning products in tubes and tubs . I might try out another brand but they're not cheap.

[makemepretty17]

I'm afraid I'm going to go against the grain and say I don't like them. I've tried two types. JR Ligget shampoo bar and Lush Honey I washed my hair.
Both times I've used them for over 4 weeks. Both times my hair goes lank and heavy, but also really static and dry, it's a horrible combination. I went back to using a liquid shampoo and conditioner today and my hair was great again.
I did all the things that were recommended. Lather in hand, lots of lather, apple cider vinegar rinse aftwerwards. I have really fine blonde hair, and it just didn't work.
I'm really disappointed as I'd love to cut down on plastic uses. If anyone has any tips I'd be really grateful.

[FlaviaAlbia]

I love the smell of one of the green lush ones, but it made my scalp really itchy so I went back to my usual plastic bottle..

[45DegreestoReality]

I love the solid lush shampoo bars, and they work wonderfully on my hair.

I must be odd though as I actually like sls in my shampoo. All of the non sls ones have left me with lank hair that needs washing the next day. We all have different hair though don't we!

All of the lush solid shampoos are high in sls (the idea being that they are liquid shampoo, with the water removed), but their argan oil one has the least sls in case anyone was wondering.

[gryffen]

I use the lush ones when in hospital and once a week I wash with vosene as a treat. Argan oil spray in conditioner is really good if you need a deep conditioner

[MrsBarrington]

I use shampoo bars from lush an alternate from seanik and godiva. The seanik shampoo is especially good for a deep clean after working up a sweat in the gym.

[Hellywelly10]

Had terrible reaction to the lush one. It dried my hair out terribly.

[madmomma]

If anyone finds a bar that doesn't strip colour please report. I'm cringeing every time I buy a plastic bottle, thinking of landfill and the seas. I've always loved soap so that's a bonus, but I can't have the colour stripping from my grey streak!

[PerfumeIsAMessage]

I started using the Lush brazil nut one and am v happy with it. I have coloured hair and haven't noticed any colour-stripping. I also have the lemongrass one to try, and the a lump of trichomania solid shampoo.

I bought the Daddy-O solid conditioner and agree that it might be ok if you have a short crop that tends towards greasy, but on my long, wavy and dry locks, it's useless.

I have tried other solid shampoos in the past, from "artiginal" small firms etc but they were all pretty rubbish tbh.

I will definitely continue with Lush ones though.

[user187656748]

I've just been to the hairdressers and had three inches chopped off my hair as a result of the drying and splitting caused by using the shampoo bar over the past few weeks. The hairdresser said it happens frequently when people switch to bars. I'm really disappointed.

[whiskyowl]

I have never had a problem with the Lush bars. You have to find the right one for your hair, they are all really different. But I have recently gone blonde (very light, almost white) and I am terrified of ruining the colour. If anyone knows of a solid bar product you can use on bleached hair I would be really grateful.

[Spink]

Another option is to get refills of liquid shampoo, if the bars are not for you. This website lists shops all over the UK where you refill containers (incl. shampoos) https://thezerowaster.com/zero-waste-near-you/
The choice is pretty limited but it may be worth checking out?

L'Occitane also do refills for their shampoo & conditioner https://uk.loccitane.com/repairing-shampoo-eco-refill,83,1,29803,1102430.htm?type=GenericPPC&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInvDPPOvV2AIVqrztCh1FHQr9EAQYASABEgI8YvDBwE

[Howsthings1234]

I have to agree the lush solid conditioner is quite annoying as it just doesn't lather up and my hair remains very knotted. I like the honey bar shampoo and really wanted to love the solid bars but think I will go back to liquid sadly as it's not quite as good at keeping the scent. The lush liquid shampoo juicy and big are so good I will switch back when the bar runs out.

[ilovecherries]

I'm a bit confused about the refill bottles. I asked in l'Oocitane if the bags were recycled because they also seemed to be plastic and the only answer the woman could come up with was that that bags took up less room in your bin, which seemed to defeat the purpose somewhat!

[KiaOraAura]

This is a really nice natural shampoo bar.

[PlaymobilPirate]

I'm definitely interested in trying a shampoo bar (and dh is so hairy he could probably do with one for all over!)

I have an itchy scalp though and the only thing that doesn't make me itchy and flakey is the black and orange l'oreal. Any suggestions gratefully accepted.

I quite fancy making the switch from shower gel to soap too...

[welshgirlwannabe]

For anyone looking to cut down on plastic suma sells 5l bottles of their own brand shampoo and conditioner on amazon or their wholesale website. I use their rose and geranium which is absolutely gorgeous. 5l lasts forever, and is less plastic than buying individual bottles all of the time.

[mrsdiddlydoo]

My dh has a sensitive scalp and has been using a hemp shampoo soap bar by a small company called simply soaps for several years. We buy it online and totally recommend it. We all use it now. Lasts ages. Recently they've made it palm oil free and it's in a compostable wrapper.

www.simplysoaps.com/hemp-hair-body-shampoo.html

[endthefarts]

The Lush ones produce more larger than liquid shampoo so that’s nothing to worry about. I do find them drying though and they’re too strong for sensitive scalps. However, Trichomania (their solid coconut shampoo that comes in cut up blocks like their soaps) is less drying and better for my scalp and hair than the bars.

[FiddleFigs]

Thanks for all these comments and recommendations. I talked to my hairdresser about this over the weekend - he didn't have any positive things to say about shampoo bars from his experience (esp as I do colour my hair). So I think I will see if I can find another way to reduce plastics, while I continue to research more eco-friendly haircare options!

[CatsRule]

I tried the blue shampoo bar from Lush which smelled amazing but made my hair full of static. The red one made my hair greasy but the honey one is lovely. Smells amazing and my hair feels soft.

I've tried a few sold conditioners but none so far have agreed with my hair.

I now use the American Cream conditioner with the honey shampoo bar. This combination works for me.

It may be a case of trying a few and also a few different combinations.

[Feawen]

It was a Lush bar that started me off looking for an SLS free shampoo, because it made my scalp so unbelievably dry and itchy. I finally realised I was reacting to something rather than assuming I just had rubbish skin and hair. Lush shampoo bars contain a higher proportion of SLS than liquid shampoo. All their shampoo contains SLS, plus a lot of their conditioners, including the supposed 'co-wash' bar.

If they work for you, that's great! But if your hair and skin react badly, I strongly recommend trying an SLS free shampoo. I spent years struggling with my frizzy hair, flaky scalp and dry, irritated, red skin, assuming I was just unlucky, and trying various anti-dandruff shampoos that made things worse not better. Now that I don't use products containing SLS or silicone, I have glossy hair and clear, bright skin.

I'm delighted to find that there are companies making SLS free shampoo and conditioner bars, and have my eye on a few products from the Funky Soap company. I'd prefer to cut down on plastic if I can.

I've nothing against Lush as such, and regularly buy some of their skincare products, but considering they are a brand that caters for sensitive skin in other products, I really wish they'd offer an SLS free shampoo and conditioner bar.

[FlaviaAlbia]

Ha, interesting Feawen I switched to soap and my skin is less sensitive and dry everywhere except around my shoulder area. I wonder if it's the shampoo that's doing it? Might be worth a try.

[Feawen]

I’m a soap user too @FlaviaAlbia. Might be worth a try, as you say. I like green people or body shop rainforest shampoo and conditioner, but I’ll try the Funky Soap bars next time I think.