We’re so used to seeing hair care products as a liquid in a colourful plastic bottle. Therefore many have not heard about shampoo bars & conditioner bars. I’ve only stumbled across shampoo bars about 3 months ago. I was looking for an eco-friendly, more natural and cheaper alternative to bottled shampoo and conditioner. Did you know in the United Kingdom alone we throw away about 13 billion plastic bottles every year, according to a Government report in 2017? Though over half are water bottles, however many of the rest are shampoo, conditioner and other bathroom products. Thus shampoo bars are ideal if you are looking to go zero-waste and save money at the same time!

I have to say; I was a bit sceptic to buy a shampoo & conditioner bar at first. So I’ve added the bars by Bath Bubble and Beyond to my Amazon Wishlist. My friend David then got my very first shampoo and conditioner bar for my birthday, back in December to try.

5 reasons why you should make the switch to a shampoo bar!

1. Save money by switching to a shampoo bar

Are you aware that most bottled shampoos contain 80% water? The first ingredient on the shampoo bottle is usually Aqua. We know Aqua means water. So why pay for mostly H2O, when you can add water yourself, right? A bar of solid shampoo bar will last generally last 2-3 times longer than its liquid counter part. The reason solid shampoo bars are very economical is that they are made from very concentrated, active ingredients. This in turn means you save a lot of money in the long run and need fewer trips to the shop.

Before I made the switch to solid shampoo bars, I used Maui Moisture shampoo & conditioner. I’d buy these bottles once a month, costing me about £20 a month. That’s £240 in a year! A good shampoo bar cost about £10 and so does a conditioner bar, but since it lasts on average 2-3x longer than shampoo bars, I’d be spending £20 every 2-3 months. This basically saves me £120-£160 per year! What would you do with the extra cash?

2. Switching to Shampoo Bars reduces plastic waste

According to The United Nations, we produce approximately 300 million tons of plastic waste every year! 60% of the plastic produced ends up in a landfill or natural environment like the ocean. Shampoo bars cuts out the need for plastic bottles, as they don’t require packaging. Although majority of shampoo bars come wrapped in recycled paper or boxes. This makes the bars still a lot more sustainable compared to the bottled counterpart. The WWF states that plastics can take 100s of years to degrade and have a devastating effect on our wildlife. Many have already started using reusable bottles and ditched the single use plastic bag to be bit more environmentally conscious. Hence shampoo bars are a great eco-friendly option for you if you would like to reduce your carbon footprint.  

Since I have switched to shampoo and conditioner bars, I’m preventing 24 plastic bottles ending up in a landfill every year.

3. Shampoo bars are perfect for travel

If you love travelling like me, you already know it can be a nightmare to pack traditional shampoo and conditioner that are in bottles. With solid shampoo and conditioner bars, you won’t have to worry about the 100ml liquid limits set by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Bars also eliminate the chance of liquid shampoo or conditioner leaking all over your lovely clothes.

I find bottles also take a lot of space in my luggage, so it’s great that shampoo bars are very small.

4. Solid shampoo bars are kind to your hair and wildlife

Who doesn’t like healthier, silkier and softer hair?

Most brands that produce shampoo bars and conditioner bars are determined to protect our oceans, wildlife and ecosystems by avoiding the use of chemicals that majority of the beauty industry uses. Many traditional liquid shampoos contain a lot of preservatives and chemicals, which strip off the natural oils from our hair leaving our scalp feeling dry. Those chemicals often can’t be found in shampoo bars, instead ethically sourced natural ingredients and essential oils are being used. Another plus, is the fact majority of shampoo bars don’t contain palm oil, are cruelty free and vegan!

I sometimes wonder, why do we use mild shampoos and soaps on babies, but put the chemical and preservative loaded stuff on our body when we get older? It’s not even benefiting us.

5. Shampoo bar for babies & kids

When I got my first shampoo bar, I used to wonder whether there are any solid shampoo bars for babies or children. Then I came across the Ethique Oaty Delicious solid shampoo for little ones. So I had to get my daughter Yasmin her very own shampoo bar, as I wanted to avoid the plastic packaging of her Johnson’s Shiny Drops shampoo. I also didn’t want to pay for the main ingredient of the bottled shampoo… water.

Best shampoo bars brands 2021

Garnier Ultimate Blends Shampoo Bar

For those who feel more comfortable doing the switch from traditional bottled shampoo to a shampoo bar with a familiar brand, Garnier has recently launched their Ultimate Blends Shampoo Bars. As I’m writing these are on offer at Superdrug and you can gain points ordering from them.

I love their Ultimate Blends Hair Food 3-in-1 Multi Use Masks, as they are made from 98% natural origin and 100% vegan formula. However I won’t be buying it again after I use my last tub up, as it comes in plastic tubs. I wish Garnier made this mask that I occasionally use as a leave-in conditioner and hair mask, as a bar.

Ethique Oaty Delicious Shampoo Bar for Little Ones

The Oaty Delicious Shampoo Bar is a Baby Bar by Ethique, made with oats, coconut oil, cocoa butter and lavender oil. It’s mild and gentle and designed to be used for little ones hair and body. This bar is vegan, cruelty free, plastic free, sustainable and free from palm oil.

My little girl loves her Oaty Delicious solid shampoo bar. I like to use this before bedtime on her, as lavender is known to enhance relaxation and promote restful sleep.

Naturtint 2in1 shampoo & Conditioning Bar

If you prefer to have shampoo and conditioner in one bar, the Natutrtint 2in1 shampoo & conditioner bar is the shampoo bar for you! These bars are handmade and COSMOS NATURAL certified for using pure ingredients by ECOCERT. There are 3 options to choose from, including Strengthening, Nurishing and the Colour Protect.

I have 2 of the Colour Protect ones, as I’ve bought 2 Christmas gift sets in the January sales that contained one of these Naturtint shampoo & conditioner bars.

Ethique solid shampoo bars and conditioner bars

Ethique is a well known shampoo bar & conditioner bar brand from New Zealand, who uses ethically-derived ingredients to make these zero-waste, vegan & cruelty free beauty bars.They have a very large selection of shampoo bars and conditioner bars to chose from.

I really like their Heali Kiwi shampoo bar, which is a soap free solid shampoo for dandruff or scalp issues. My scalp is dry and found this bar nourishes and calms my scalp.

Earth Kind Shampoo Bar

Earth Kind is a multi-award winning brand, which produces plastic free and ethically sourced solid shampoo bars and conditioner bars in the UK. Currently they have 3 shampoo bars and one conditioner bar to choose from.

I like the sound of their Bergamot & Sage Shampoo Bar for Dry & Coloured hair, as it contains organic coconut oil and organic avocado oil. Something I have to add to my Amazon Wishlist.

My thoughts of shampoo bars

I really like shampoo bars, due to all the good reasons I’ve mentioned above. I’ve got my very first shampoo bar and conditioner bar in December 2020 as a birthday gift from a friend. Literally only a month ago and have already started my little collection of shampoo bars. I still have lots of traditional bottled shampoo and conditioner bottles in the house that I’ve bought a long time ago during sales & offers, then stocked up. I’ll keep and let friends and family use them, when they stay over once the corona virus restrictions have lifted and prefer the bottled stuff. However I’ll buy only shampoo bars from now on, as it is healthier for my hair and the planet, as well as save me a lot of money! I’m thinking shampoo bars could also make an eco-friendly gift for friends and family.

I’am aware there are some skin care bars too! Since all my skin care products come in plastic, with only some in glass jars. I would also like to make the switch to bars once my current beauty products have run out. I like the sound of Ethique The Perfector Solid Face Cream and SuperStar! Face Cleanser & Makeup Remover.

Though I still have a lot of products in plastic around the home, I’m trying to slowly live a more sustainable lifestyle by switching those products to reduce the use of plastics and opt for more natural options. Other products that I use to save money and live a more environmentally mindful lifestyle include the EcoEgg and Brita Carafe.

What are your thoughts on shampoo and conditioner bars? Have you already made the switch from liquid hair care products to solid ones? If so, are there any specific ones you would recommend to me? If you have tried any good skin care bars, let me know in the comments below!