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Original poster

Shampoo bars

108 replies

FiddleFigs · 12/01/2018 10:35

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?

OP posts:
marko2002 · 26/09/2018 13:11

If you have split ends or dry hair Martha, I'd recommend the Argan Oil one I get from Amica Soap, it's been a life saver for my fine hair , been using it for months with great success :)

MarthaArthur · 26/09/2018 13:42

Thanks Marko i will check them out. I hate having to use plastic bottles.

ChishandFips33 · 26/09/2018 23:44

How are you storing your multiple soap bars? It seems counterintuitive to buy plastic boxes but I have terrible memories from childhood of soggy, hairy Camay soap!!

I'd like something to pop them in after use before they go in the cupboard tidy freak but only in the bathroom!

Squiz81 · 02/10/2018 13:03

*How are you storing your multiple soap bars? It seems counterintuitive to buy plastic boxes but I have terrible memories from childhood of soggy, hairy Camay soap!!

I'd like something to pop them in after use before they go in the cupboard tidy freak but only in the bathroom!*

I use a little tin for my shampoo bar. I leave the lid off until it's dried out. It's just an old peppermints tin.

I have heard of someone else hanging it up in a little washing net until it's dry.

ChishandFips33 · 02/10/2018 22:21

Thanks Squiz...I may have a tin the right size

I'm struggling with the transition atm

First wash was lovely - hair still soft and like 'my hair'

Every wash since has just got stickier/greasier

I can brush my hair to one side and it stays there!

It's been 5 washes - how long before I'll see it return to my lovely swishy hair do you think?

Squiz81 · 03/10/2018 07:59

I hate to tell you but it took me a month and I wash my hair every other day. A big thing that helped was rinsing with some bicarb. I just put some in a jug then filled that with water whilst in the shower then use it to rinse my hair. That is recommended for hard water areas.

I nearly quit because of the greasy hair issue but so glad I stuck with it. Weirdly my hair felt oily but never really looked greasy (I didn't think anyway)

Squiz81 · 03/10/2018 08:03

I use a shampoo bar on my boys hair and they are fine with it - it's never left an oily residue. Odd!

ThinkOfAWittyNameLater · 03/10/2018 08:18

I had this to begin with but put it down to the spray-in conditioner I was using. Once I switched to apple cider vinegar spray in conditioner my hair is lovely again.

I have washed hair every other day for years. This week is the first time I woke up and couldn't work out if it was a shower day or not just by touching my hair.

Bicarbonate trick sounds good - we're in a very hard water area

WhyDontYouListen · 03/10/2018 08:27

I tried the lush ones, but they didn't suit my hair at all, (made it lank, greasy and sort of matted feeling). I went through another couple of makes before settling on the (sls free) br bronners castille bar (the baby one as the oils are added at a different stage of the making process, which makes them better for hair). I rinse with diluted apple cider vinegar and my fine, straight, lank hair has changed into thicker feeling, less lank and flyaway hair, that can miss a day or two of washing. I am really happy with it. If you try soap bars, you may have to experiment before finding one that suits you, i think a lot depends on your hair type.

ChishandFips33 · 03/10/2018 19:41

Thanks everyone - I wondered if it was because I wasn't applying enough - it felt as if it wasn't being washed at all

This morning I lathered and lathered and lathered and lathered and it has felt better Smile

Squiz81 · 03/10/2018 21:56

I felt like that too @ChishandFips33 and I think that was half the problem. I added too much soap as I didn't think there was enough on there. I was rubbing straight on to my hair, I subsequently read that you should rub it on your hands. I think it's because there is no SLS and I was accustomed to lots of lather that just isn't there with shampoo bars.

RooKangaroo · 04/10/2018 14:23

This thread is so useful!

So @marko2002 , do you use a conditioner as well as an Amica shampoo bar? Or just the bar? And if just the bar, does it get tangles out?

marko2002 · 04/10/2018 14:45

@RooKangaroo I don't use a conditioner at all, I did start using their Shea Shampoo bar and loved it to begin with, then I got the Argan Oil bar and that was even better. With the Shea bar I felt as though I could have done with a conditioner but resisted the temptation, but I've also since tried the Honey & Glycerin Bar and both that and the Argan Oil bar are fab for me. I have short hair, and would probably define it as "fine" and I find with the Argan and Glycerin bars I don't need to worry about conditioner. The Amica guys don't even do a conditioner bar and I did ask them if they plan on it but they said they would be planning it at some point but couldn't really say when.

As for tangles, I don't have that issue as I have short hair but from what I've read it's really down to how you apply the bar to your hair at the washing stage, the trick is not to "scrub" but instead allow the bar and lather to follow the direction of long hair as scrubbing will cause tangles :)

scrappydappydoo · 04/10/2018 15:09

Very keen to try shampoo bars but completely confused as to which would be best - I have very thick short hair and I colour it too. Any advice?

simplepimple · 04/10/2018 15:25

A possible answer to the sticky when drying problem.

Shampoo bars
RooKangaroo · 04/10/2018 15:48

Thanks @marko2002, I'll see how I get on. I've ordered the argan one.

Might need to top it up with conditioner, given my thick and unruly hair. It doesn't help with plastic cutdown, but there's a Tresemme non-silicone conditioner that I like.

ChishandFips33 · 09/10/2018 08:01

So...rinsed with ACV - my hair feels soft and swishy but now it looks lank and flat 🙈 Before it felt stick but didn't look it

I need to decide if I need it to look OR feel good, don't think I'll be getting both!

marko2002 · 09/10/2018 08:19

@ChishandFips33 It can be a bit of a dilemma when trying to nail the shampoo bar, I had similar probs when I first started using shampoo bars too, almost gave up if I'm honest, just couldn't be bothered with the transition period and hated the way my hair felt when still wet, I could barely run my fingers through the hair and felt waxy, but I persevered and it paid off for me, eventually I found the bar that worked for me too and I still don't use any conditioner, hair still feels weird just after washing and when still wet but once it has dried fully its great!! Stick with one bar perhaps and give it at least a week, if that doesn't work for you try another for a week and so on, there will be a bar that'll knock your socks off, it's just finding it lol :)

papersmile · 09/10/2018 18:06

I also ordered the selection box from the Friendly Soap company and have been really impressed. They're all really nice and I'd definitely repurchase.

I'm alternating the lavender shampoo bar with the Lush honey shampoo bar. I use a normal conditioner too and my hair looks the same as ever. I just prefer using a soap bar and obviously like the fact that we're using less plastic.

papersmile · 09/10/2018 18:09

I'm using the Friendly Soap company lavender shampoo bar (in case it's not clear from above). They say that 'All our soaps are Free from Palm Oil, Parabens, Sulphates, Triclosan, Phthalates and Cruelty, as well as being boxed in plastic free recycled (and recyclable) packaging' - so that's pretty good too.

I would buy from them again before buying from Lush.

ChishandFips33 · 09/10/2018 20:30

Thanks Marko

Sticking with glycerin bar for now - will persevere but lordy it's so tempting to go back and know what your hair will dry like! I've not had 2 days the same so far

Feawen · 09/10/2018 20:39

I tried a the Funky Soap shampoo bars, which I liked, but found - like some others on the thread - that they left a waxy residue. A cider vinegar rinse solved the residue problem but was a bit of a faff and I find the smell a bit much first thing in the morning!

I now have the Pure Nuff Stuff peppermint hair and body bar and it’s working brilliantly for me. No residue and leaves my hair silky without a vinegar rinse. I use a conditioner from the same company but actually I only apply it once a week or so as the bar is quite moisturising on its own.

It’s so nice not to have dry hairs and a flaky scalp. Different formulations clearly suit different people so it is worth trying another type of bar if one doesn’t work for you.

OliveOilSoap · 07/11/2018 09:23

You can but the pH is a bit high for your hair, this is ok if the hair is in good condition and followed by Apple cider vinegar rinse.bA properly formulated shampoo bar is better. Unfortunately some companies just make a soap with no modifications to the pH and label it a shampoo bar.

OliveOilSoap · 07/11/2018 09:46

This should have read "you can use a body soap for your hair, but the pH is a bit high,..." I can't find a way to edit my postConfused

OliveOilSoap · 07/11/2018 09:49

@ChishandFips33 how are you getting on with the solid shampoo now?