Liquid shampoo first peaked during the 1940s and is one of the first personal products that were made to be wasteful. It was advertised in a way where it is rapidly consumed, prompting users to buy more at an increasingly faster rate. However, before liquid shampoos, shampoo used to be dried out and molded into bars.
At the present, there is a call for environment-friendly products to dominate the market. And we are once again seeing the comeback of shampoo bars.
What is a shampoo bar?
A shampoo bar is another form of liquid shampoo that we are used to using. It is a shampoo that is molded into a bar and is made by “concentrating cleansing and conditioning agents into bars, then removing all the water that allowed the ingredients to maintain their liquid form.”
Shampoo bars are usually made by small businesses which use all-natural and cleaner ingredients compared to well-known brands that mass-produce their products and uses too many chemicals.
How to use a shampoo bar?
Those in the current generation might be scratching their heads on how to use a shampoo bar. It is something that hasn’t been commonly used for years and a lot of younger people might not be accustomed to the fact that shampoos in bar forms exist.
There are two ways to use this. First, just like a regular bar of soap, a shampoo bar will begin to foam once in contact with water. You can take this lather and massage it onto your wet hair. The second is to rub the wet shampoo bar directly to the hair.
What are the benefits of a shampoo bar?
A shampoo bar might not look much but it actually covers a good range of benefits. From the cost to being environment-friendly, a shampoo bar is a must-try product for these reasons:
Bye Shampoo Bottles
Shampoo bars’ biggest flex when it comes to environmental benefits is the lack of shampoo bottles.
Shampoo bottles are made from plastic provided by petroleum and fossil fuel, a top-tier industry when it comes to destroying nature. According to EPA, about 91% of the plastic is not properly recycled and is dumped into the ocean and landfills.
Shampoo bars, on the other hand, use paper boxes for packaging, which are easily recyclable and biodegradable.
Lasts longer
Shampoo bars are manufactured to be more concentrated than liquid shampoos, and with water drained out of the product, shampoo bars are just pure shampoo. This means that one bar is equivalent to two or three bottles.
Clean Ingredients
One of the benefits of shampoo bars is that, as of the moment, they are manufactured by smaller businesses. These companies use cleaner and all-natural ingredients that leave the hair shinies and voluminous, compared to bigger companies that use chemicals that strip the hair out of its natural oils.
Travel-Friendly
Unlike shampoo bottles where airlines have rules with sizes, traveling with shampoo bars is a grab-and-go moment. Like your regular bar soap, you are allowed to bring shampoo bars with you without any special containers.
All in One Bar
Shampoo bars can be a money-saver if you really want it to be. There are shampoo bars that can function as a body wash and body soap. If you are aiming to save money on personal care products or if you are planning to travel light, shampoo bars might be the best way to go.
What are the cons of shampoo bars?
Despite all of their good qualities, shampoo bars also has its few disadvantages worth noting before you make the switch.
Waxy
Since shampoo bars are more concentrated than liquid shampoos, some of them might leave your hair feeling waxy.
Not the best for curly or long hair
If you have very curly or long hair, shampoo bars might not be the best option for you. Shampoo bars might cause tangles for these hairs.
Top 5 Best Shampoo Bars of 2021
J.R. Liggett’s Virgin Coconut & Argan Oil Shampoo Bar
Overall, this is amongst the top-tier shampoo bars out there. The product contains coconut and olive oils that moisturize the hair. Aside from that, it also contains argan oil, an ingredient that strengthens the hair, and antioxidant-rich vitamin E and sunflower oil that protects the hair from pollution and UV damage.
Of course, plus points for the cute vintage packaging! Check out this top-rated shampoo on Amazon.
Love Beauty And Planet Murumuru Butter and Rose Shampoo Bar
If you have dyed your hair and is wanting to try a shampoo bar, this product is for you. The product is sulfate-free and is specifically made to keep colored hair shiny and vibrant. It uses naturally-sourced ingredients and is packaged with 100% recyclable materials. It smells of every favorite scent, the perfect balance of sweet-smelling flowers.
Check out the product here!
Ethique Heali Kiwi Shampoo for Dandruff or Scalp Problems
Having scalp problems? Or maybe the annoying dandruff? Ethnique got you. This brand is the home to some of the top-rated shampoo bars on Amazon, so you just know that they have the goodies that you need.
This product is 100% soap-free and contains neem and Karanja oils that helps treat scalp issues. It is famous for being the best when it comes to getting rid of flakes.
Check out the product at Ethique office website!
Meow Meow Tweet Rosemary Avocado Shampoo Bar
If you are looking for a shampoo bar that could serve both your hair and body, well, this product might be the one for you. This dual-function shampoo bar is certified to use organic and fair-trade plant-based ingredients. Another perks for this bar is that it is safe to use for kids and even for pets.
Check out the product at Meow Meow Tweet’s website!
Friendly Soap Natural Handmade Shampoo Bar
Compared to liquid shampoos manufactured by well-known brands, it is known that shampoo bars have less chemicals in them. But this particular product is the winner for those who are looking a legit all-natural shampoo bar.
The product contains olive, castor, and coconut oils, tea tree, and lavendar essential oils. Even better, it is also free of parabens, palm oil, plastics, and sulfates.
It is important to note though that according to frequent users, the shampoo bar best for oily rather than dry hair.
Check out the product here!
