Shampoo And Conditioner Bars

I've always had a hard time finding shampoo, they tended to irritate my skin and dry out my scalp and hair. As time went on, it only became harder to find a product that didn't irritate my skin. Eventually I ran out of products to try and came up with a green tea rinse that I used for several years.

Conditioners were slightly less irritating but I could only use a very select few as long as they didn't come into contact with my skin and scalp.  But it still wasn't enough moisture, my hair and skin were in need of a whole lot more. 

When I started looking into natural shampoo bars I looked specifically at non detergent based ones. I looked for products that didn't contain sodium lauryl sulfate or ammonium lauryl sulfate (they're known to strip the moisture from hair and scalp). I also wanted to avoid ingredients like dyes, phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde producers and artificial fragrance.

It was a bit of a challenge to find products without some form of coconut in them (my hair hates it) but I did find a few really good options.  So, if you're at all like me and your hair doesn't like it or you have a sensitivity or allergy to coconut this just might be good news for you.

Both shampoo and conditioner bars offer quite a few benefits. They require far less packaging, they last longer and do more (so there's some money saved there) and they travel easily. You don't have to worry about any leaks in your luggage, and they take up a whole lot less space. You'll also find that since they're more concentrated than the liquid version they contain more moisturizing ingredients. And, after looking through many ingredient lists for both shampoo and conditioner bars I've noticed a lack of preservatives and other harmful ingredients. Which tends to make them a better choice for those of us who are sensitive.

I first began using an organic bar shampoo on just my hair and not my scalp, alternated it with my homemade version. (See my previous post "My Shampoo And Conditioner Replacements " Published March 9,2020 for the recipe I use.) After a couple of months I began using it on my hair and scalp, and to my immense relief, I had no reactions.  

I found the bars are very easy to use. You simply wet it down with your hands and rub the bar in a downward motion from your roots. Gently massage your scalp with your hands and working the product through your hair. Then give it a good rinse. 

I found I didn't need a lot of product for it to work on my long hair.  And since it's a gentle formula with ingredients like cocoa seed powder and cocoa seed butter it has a really nice soft subtle chocolate scent, which I kind of love. It's completely free from phthalates, sulphates, and added fragrance. Of course, since then I've discovered that it's no longer available at the store I purchased it. So I will hopefully be able to find it somewhere else. 

After my success with the shampoo bar I decided to try and find a natural conditioner bar. I found one called "Natures Aid Solid Conditioner Mango Tangerine". No artificial fragrances or colours, parabens, or silicones. The packaging states that one bar equals up to 150 washes and my online searches found that the price ranges anywhere from $9.00 -$13.00 for a bar at many health shops. ( I purchased mine at well.ca)  So far, I'm really liking this product and I'm very happy with how it has improving the feel and look of my hair. 

There are a few things I've learned along the way about shampoo and conditioner bars that I thought you might find helpful.  First, let your bars dry out between uses to help them last longer. A soap dish works great for this. Second, you might find that you don't need to wash your hair as often because there is less buildup on the hair when you use the bars. All in all, it's great news for both your hair and your pocketbook. 

As with all hair care products you really need to find what works for you and your hair type. So, do a little research about the product and remember to always check the ingredient lists.

Sources:

stylecaster.com/feature/should-you-be-using-bar-shampoo-425516/
sustainthemag.com/wellness/everything-you-need-to-know-about-shampoo-bars
nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/shampoo-bar-sustainable-toiletries-plastic-free
besthealthmag.ca/article/what-are-shampoo-bars/
.getthegloss.com/article/shampoo-bars-better-than-your-regular-bottle-of-hair-wash