How to use a shampoo bar?

Would you like to make the switch to shampoo bars but… don’t know how to do it? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered on this eco-friendly lifestyle swap. 

Whether you’re a newbie when it comes to sustainable living or just want to swap to a more natural shampoo, you might have some doubts about if using a shampoo bar is the right move for you. How to apply it? Will it leave your hair fresh and clean as the conventional ones? 

Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. So, where to start?

Choose the one that works best for your hair type

Just like you’ve been doing all these years. There are solid shampoo bars for all hair types: thin, oily, dry, coloured… you name it. 

Luckily for us, it have never been this easier to find a shampoo bar that covers our needs. Making it the perfect substitute to your regular shampoo.

Our favourite brands? Mind The Trash, Solito and LUSH. 

Take a look at the ingredients

Even though most formulas are natural and have clean ingredients, remember to check if you’re intolerant to any of these (for example: turmeric or rose water).

As solid shampoos become part of your routine, you’ll start noticing the formulas (and the ingredients) that really work for you. Ours? Sodium coco sulfate and sodium cocoyl isethionate as the main ingredients. 

There are plenty of options available these days. Photo: Good Soul Shop (Unsplash)

How to apply it?

Welcome to the one million dollar question! As solid shampoos are different to liquid formulas, you might be wondering how to apply it. Easy breezy! 

First step: wet your hair. The same way you would do if you were using your regular shampoo. Don’t forget: the wetter the better.

Second step: hold the shampoo bar and apply it directly to your hair with circular movements. Make sure you cover all the areas. As an alternative, you can rub the shampoo with the palms of your hands (they must be wet) in order to create a foam that you can apply to your hair then. 

Third step: wash your hair as usual.

Fourth step: rinse your hair under running water. Make sure that you remove all the traces of the shampoo. 

Storage it on a soap dish with drainage

This is the best way of making your solid shampoo last. Thanks to the holes on the soap dish, your shampoo bar will dry faster and it will last longer.

What about those tin cans from LUSH? Well, forget about these. Keeping your wet bars inside the tin can will make it harder to dry and your shampoo won’t last as longer as it could.

In case you’re wondering, leaving it directly on the tub surface isn’t the best option either. As it will make you lose some extra product.

Soap dishes are easy to find at your local supermarket and Amazon. Just make sure it has holes on it and that is within your budget. Especially if you need more than one.

Can’t find one? Be creative! You can make one reusing a plastic box and chopsticks or small rocks. Just make sure that the bar has room for drainage.