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You may have seen bar shampoo products when you’ve gone camping or traveling—they’re super easy to pack and totally TSA-friendly. However, in the wake of the “no poo” craze, the idea of lathering up with something other than liquid shampoo has become more and more common for your everyday. Thinking about swapping your traditional hair cleanser for a good ol’ bar? We consulted the experts to find out what you need to know before making the switch.
Essentially, bar shampoo is simply shampoo in bar form. As Brianne West, product formulator of Sorbet Cosmetics says, “A good solid shampoo should do what a good liquid does—leave you with body and shine, without either drying the hair out or adding too much buildup.”
The Pros
Aside from being travel-friendly and seemingly longer-lasting than liquid shampoo, bars are touted as being able to get your hair back to its original, shiny, voluminous state by clearing away residue left from the chemicals found in traditional hair cleansers. “Plus, since shampoo bars do not strip hair in the same way as detergent-based shampoos can, you will notice a difference in the way your wet hair feels after washing,” Jamyla Bennu, creator and Grand Mixtress of Oyin Handmade, says.
How? Because many shampoo bars don’t include some of the icky additives used in commercial shampoos, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate. “Many educated consumers have become wary of the detergents found in commercial shampoos, finding them unnecessarily stripping of the natural moisture of the hair and scalp,” she says.
Gentle, low-lather bar cleansers leave hair clean without feeling dry the way many detergent-based shampoos can. For some people, conditioner isn’t even needed after their hair adjusts in a couple washings with a bar.
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The Cons
Chicago-based master stylist Jon-David says that because of the high concentration of cleanser in bar shampoos, they tend to have more a waxy consistency, which can build up in your hair.
“This happens because the soap—which is saponified oils and an alkali—reacts with water when you use it, and this forms soap scum,” says Kirsten Connor, formulator and creator at Flourish Body Care. To avoid this, many bar shampoo users rinse with apple cider vinegar to remove the coating and shine their hair.
Those with long, porous or curly hair especially may also experience tangles and frizz, along with that “coated” feeling, something Susonnah G. Barklow, editor at NaturallyCurly.com, knows all too well. “Personally, I find the act of rubbing a bar of soap on my head awkward,” she says. “And it almost always results in very tangled hair.”
How to Choose One
If you want to go for it, there are actually three broad categories of shampoo bars out there, according to hair and makeup pro Grace Mahoney, owner of Blushing Brides. The first are cold-processed shampoo bars (typically made by home crafters and natural products companies). They’re usually chock-full of natural oils, which help condition your hair, and are typically free of sodium lauryl sulfate. (These tend to be the ones that cause buildup, she says, and might require an apple cider vinegar rinse).
Then, there are glycerin-based shampoo bars, which tend to be more gentle and pH balanced, but they might not be as clarifying as other shampoos and won’t lather as well. Finally, there are solid surfactant shampoo bars (think of the kind made by Lush), which lather the best and are more pH balanced but can be a bit too clarifying for some hair.
Really, it’s all about trial and error and, of course, avoiding products with bad-for-hair ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate. (Really, any sulfates should be avoided). Sodium hydroxide—an extremely strong alkali that is used to make soap along with oils and fats—is another one to look out for. “The reaction that takes place produces a mildly alkali product—soap with a pH of 8–9,” Bennu says. “Since hair varies between pH 4 and 5 and doesn’t have an acid mantle like skin, this pH difference leaves the cuticle sticking up, resulting in rough, dull hair, which over time can cause damage.”
To use, natural hair expert Amanda Starghill, of NaturallyCurly.com, suggests cutting the bar into smaller portions so it’s easier to apply directly to the scalp. Ahead are some top-rated options to get you started.
Love Beauty and Planet.
Love Beauty and Planet Murumuru Butter & Rose Shampoo Bar
Should you want to give your color-treated hair a boost of moisture and shine, this new cleanser is infused with Amazonian murumuru butter, coconut oil, rose, mimosa, all of which are ethically sourced.
$4.99 at Target
Lush Cosmetics.
Lush Godiva Shampoo Bar
If florals are your vibe, this solid cleanser includes gardenia extract (my personal favorite), in addition to fair trade cocoa butter and a slew of other plant- and flower-based oils. In other words, prepare for your softest hair ever.
$12.95 at Lush
Lush Cosmetics.
Lush Honey I Washed My Hair Shampoo Bar
If the name didn’t give it away, this ultra-moisturizing bar includes fair trade honey and honeycomb. Yuuuum.
$10.95 at Lush
Lush Cosmetics.
Lush Avocado Co-Wash
Fresh avocados, cupuaçu butter, and cocoa butter make this an ultra-nourishing treatment for dry strands.
$15.95 at Lush
Brite Organix.
Brite Organix Bar None Hydrating Shampoo Bar
This affordable and travel-friendly bar is made with 100 percent naturally-derived ingredients and comes in compostable packaging.
$12 at Urban Outfitters
Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve Company.
Chagrin Valley Neem & Tea Body and Hair Shampoo
Combine the protective nature of the neem leaf with the antibacterial powers of tea tree, and you’ve got a power-cleansing duo.
$8.95 at Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve Company
Christophe Robin.
Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo Bar with Aloe Vera
A trifecta of castor oil, aloe, and glycerin that can be used on the hair and body.
Daughter of the Land.
Daughter of the Land Morning Glory Shampoo Bar
Free of palm oil and filled with certified organic ingredients (including goat’s milk), this travel-friendly bar delivers a healthy dose of nutrients to skin and hair.
$19 at Daughter of the Land
Ethique.
Ethique Eco-Friendly Solid Shampoo Bar
A combo of nourishing (coconut oil, shea butter) and soothing (peppermint) ingredients ensure that dry and damaged hair can be brought to life.
Indian Natural Hair Care.
Indian Natural Hair Care Henna & Cinnamon Shampoo Bar
Cinnamon is a prime ingredient for stimulating growth, while henna actually adds shine to lackluster locks.
J.R. Liggett’s.
J.R. Liggett’s Moisturizing Formula Shampoo Bar
Vitamin E, aloe vera, and almond oil have been added to aid in healing damaged strands.
The Mod Cabin.
The Mod Cabin Honeysuckle Shampoo Bar
A powerhouse combo of 100 percent essential oils for a gentle yet effective cleanse.
$10 at The Mod Cabin
OBIA Naturals.
OBIA Naturals Coconut Shea Shampoo Bar
Shea butter, coconut oil, and castor oil make this soap bar safe enough to use on your hair and body.
Oyin Handmade.
Oyin Handmade Grand Poo Bar
A low-lather cleanser that will provide a much-needed departure from detergent-based shampoos.
$7 at Oyin Handmade
SheaMoisture.
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Clay Shampoo Bar
If you’re dealing with a slew of buildup and gunk throughout your hair, this clay-based formula will be your saving grace.
3 Way Beauty.
3 Way Beauty Shhh. Bar
Shampoo, shower, and shave with this all-in-one cleanser for anyone and everyone.
$5–$16 at 3 Way Beauty
The Solid Bar Company.
The Solid Bar Company Botanical Vegan Shampoo
If your scalp needs a soothing treatment, prepare to fall in love with the soothing addition of lavender, patchouli, and geranium in this bar.
$15.85 at The Solid Bar Company
Tres Spa.
Tres Spa Organic Conditioning Shampoo
Chamomile is the perfect antidote for scalp and strands that have been through the styling wringer and need a much-needed break.
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