What Are Shampoo Bars?
The name itself is quite self-explanatory. Shampoo bars are shampoo in a solid form. They are are not really a new thing. Years ago, they were commonly used in place of liquid shampoo. A good shampoo bar can be equivalent to 1-2 bottles of liquid shampoo. The ingredients used in shampoo bars are the same as those in liquid shampoo. Want to know how they differ from soaps? Keep reading.
How Are Shampoo Bars Different From Soaps?
Though the process of making a shampoo bar and soap is similar, they use different ingredients and formulas. In most cases, shampoo bars are made with natural and organic ingredients and almost no chemicals. In regular soaps, the proportion of base oils, super fats, sodium salts, fragrance extracts, and essential oils is relatively high compared to shampoo bars. In shampoo bars, fatty acids are replaced with infused oils like castor oil, olive oil, and coconut oil. These oils generate great lather and moisturize your hair deeply. Also, note that soap bars cannot be used on your hair as they strip your hair of its natural oils. On the other hand, shampoos bars are great for using on your body as they contain natural moisturizing ingredients. Convinced that you should ditch your regular shampoo and get your hands on a shampoo bar? Check out the 10 best shampoos available in the market right now!
Top 10 Shampoo Bars For Healthy And Silky Hair
1. Best Ph Balanced:Ethique St Clements Solid Shampoo Bar
St Clements Shampoo Bar is a blessing in disguise for people with oily hair. This natural cleanser contains lime and orange extracts that control the oil production on your scalp. It gently cleanses your scalp without stripping off its natural oils. This shampoo bar has humectant properties that impart moisture to your hair without weighing it down. It claims to leave your hair looking soft and silky without using a conditioner. The quantity of this shampoo bar is equivalent to three bottles of liquid shampoo. Pros
Lathers well pH balanced Mild fragrance Free of harsh chemicals
Cons None
2.Best Mild Fragrance: J.R. Liggett’s Old-Fashioned Bar Shampoo
This unique formula was discovered in an old New England cookbook by J.R.Liggett. It contains vegetable oil that lathers clean, and rinses out quickly, leaving you with healthy, soft, and silky hair. This gentle cleanser contains a blend of olive, castor, sunflower, coconut, and palm kernel oils that prevents hair fall, improves scalp health, stimulates blood circulation, and moisturizes and volumizes your hair. Pros
Mild fragrance Removes dirt and impurities Conditions your hair Long-lasting results
Cons
Leaves your hair feeling greasy
3. Best For Fighting Dandruff:The Yellow Bird Peppermint Shampoo Bar
This natural shampoo bar is excellent for the sensitive scalp as it does not contain any harsh chemicals. It contains kaolin clay and sea salt that remove product build-up and other residues. It also contains vitamin-rich ingredients like argan, sunflower, coconut, peppermint, olive, jojoba, and organic palm oils. These ingredients hydrate, protect, and nourish your hair, leaving you with healthy, silky, and soft hair. It comes in a recyclable box that is convenient to store. This video will give you more insights into the product. Pros
Treats psoriasis Fights dandruff Suitable for dry, oily, and limp hair Improves hair growth Can be used as a body soap
Cons
Leaves hair feeling sticky.
4. Best Non-GMO:Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve Neem & Tea Tree Soap & Shampoo
Soothe your irritated skin and scalp with this pack of 2 bars from Chagrin Valley. These bars can be used both as a shampoo and a body soap. It is packed with powerful ingredients – organic neem oil, Jojoba oil, tea tree, and botanicals such as calendula and other herbs. This bar maintains your overall scalp and hair as it treats dandruff, dermatitis, and psoriasis. In addition, it can also heal infections, minimize skin disorders, and balances scalp oil production. To make an informed decision before buying, you can check out this video. Pros
OEFFA certified organic Non-GMO Cruelty-free Vegan Can be used as body soap
Cons
Might leave residue
5.Best Long-lasting Results: Tasmanian Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Tonic Shampoo Bar
Tasmania’s Natural Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo Bar stimulates hair growth and improves blood circulation to the hair follicles. It strengthens your roots and promotes healthy hair growth. The apple cider vinegar in this shampoo bar balances the pH of your hair and scalp. It also helps retain moisture and prevent split ends. It contains antibacterial and antifungal properties that prevent dry and itchy scalp. It cleanses your scalp gently by getting rid of all impurities. It helps you get healthy, thick, and silky hair instantly. Pros
Fights dandruff and eczema Strengthens hair Ideal for dry and damaged hair Pleasant fragrance Long-lasting results
Cons
Leaves hair feeling sticky
6. Best For Improving Hair Texture:Maple Hill Naturals Vanilla Honey And Brown Sugar Shampoo Bar
This shampoo and conditioning bar is a blend of fresh vanilla beans, honey, and brown sugar. It cleanses your hair gently without stripping the natural oils from your scalp. The essential organic ingredients in this shampoo bar deeply nourish and condition your hair. It contains ingredients like coconut oil, avocado oil, palm oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, hemp seed butter, shea butter, and marula oil. These botanical ingredients repair damaged hair follicles and restore healthy shine. Pros
Lathers well Prevents itchy scalp Adds shine to your locks Improves hair texture Pleasant fragrance
Cons
Weighs your hair down
7. Best For Color-Treated Hair:Skinny & Co. Rosemary Shampoo Bar
This super hydrating shampoo bar is made entirely from saponified 100% raw coconut oil. It claims to deliver intense hydration without weighing your hair down. This rich, creamy shampoo bar can restore radiance and shine to lackluster hair. It also conditions dry and damaged locks. Its exotic blend of coconut oil and rosemary oil leaves your hair feeling soft and silky. It promises to transform the driest and dullest of hair into a smooth and healthy hair. Pros
Hydrates the scalp Free of harsh chemicals Safe for color-treated hair Adds volume to your hair Pleasant fragrance
Cons None
8. Best For Naturally Curly Hair:Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo Bar With Aloe Vera
This natural shampoo bar made of aloe vera, castor oil, and natural glycerin cleanses your hair gently while hydrating and nourishing it. It soothes dry and damaged hair by imparting moisturizing proteins to hair cuticles. It provides vitality to the hair fiber and improves blood circulation in your scalp. This shampoo bar promotes hair growth and strengthens your hair follicles from within. Pros
Improves hair texture Suitable for naturally curly hair Paraben- and silicone-free Soothes dry ends Tames unruly hair
Cons
Expensive
9. Best For Thin Hair:Dr. Harris & Co. Arlington Shampoo Bar
This volumizing shampoo is formulated to leave every strand looking gorgeously silky, soft, and healthy. It clears all the impure residues off your scalp and strengthens your hair from within. It treats dry and damaged hair. This cleanser improves the texture of your hair within a few uses. Besides volumizing, this shampoo hydrates and repairs hair follicles to add shine to lackluster hair. Its aluminum tin packaging makes it travel-friendly. Pros
Lathers well Ideal for thin hair Cleanses scalp well Mild fragrance Does not weigh down your hair
Cons
Availability issues
10. Best Ergonomic Design:HiBAR Solid Shampoo Bar
HiBAR Solid Shampoo Bar is formulated for daily use to moisturize dry hair. It is fragrance-free. It adds volume to thin, lifeless hair and soothes itchy and flaky scalp. This shampoo is free from harmful chemicals, curl-g-friendly, and safe for colored hair. The ergonomic design of the shampoo allows it to hold the shampoo bar easily while in the shower. Click here to check out this YouTuber’s unbiased review. Pros
Long-lasting Easy-to-use Travel-friendly Ergonomic design Sulfate-free
Cons
Less lather
Shampoo bars are a great alternative if you want to cut down on the usage of single-use plastic bottles. Be rest-assured that the formulas are no different than regular shampoos. These surely are a game changer as they come in a variety of formulas that cater to different hair concerns and needs. Here are a few factors to consider while picking the right kind of shampoo bars for your hair.
Things To Remember While Picking The Right Shampoo Bars For Every Hair Type
Hair Type And Ingredients One of the basic factors to consider is your hair type. Shampoo bars are just like liquid shampoos. They are formulated with cleansing surfactants that wash away dirt, along with conditioning ingredients that leave your hair manageable and soft. Shampoo bars that are specifically formulated for thick or curly hair have more conditioning ingredients such as avocado oil, argan oil, or olive oil as these work wonders when it comes to moisturizing. Similarly, those with dry and damaged hair must pick bars that have coconut oil, oatmeal, calendula, or manuka honey as they soothe dry scalp and help treat dandruff. As for oily hair, natural ingredients like apple cider vinegar, baking soda, orange, lemon, and aloe vera are the best. For those with color treated hair require extra care. Pick hydrating ingredients like coconut oil or argan oil to ensure your dyed hair remains nourished. Ingredients To Avoid Shampoo bars look like bars of soap but are not formulated the same way. Avoid soap-based shampoo bars as they contain ingredients such sodium cocoate, sodium palmitate, as saponified vegetable oils, or sodium hydroxide. While these may not be extremely harmful, they do cause hair breakage, leave residue, and can cause dryness and dull strands. Longevity Make sure to pick a shampoo bar that lasts long. You do not want to invest in a tiny bar that hardly lasts for a couple of weeks. Depending on your needs, consider the factors of how long your hair is and how big the shampoo bar is. Ideally, a shampoo bar that is 100g must last for up to 50-80 washes on average for medium hair length. So, look for a shampoo bar that has a good lather, however, also consider how long it can last. The way you use a shampoo bar is (obviously) different from how you use a liquid shampoo. Scroll down to the next section to find out how to use it correctly.
How To Use A Shampoo Bar
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Pooja Karkala, is an avid hair care enthusiast who knows her way around the world of hair care products. According to her, shampoo bars are setting new standards in travel-friendly toiletries. She compiled a comprehensive and detailed list of all the top products after studying their reviews and user feedback. Shampoo bars are eco-friendly, pocket-friendly, and last up to almost 80 washes, which makes them a better alternative than liquids. How often should you wash your hair with a shampoo bar? You should wash your hair 3-4 times weekly with a shampoo bar. How long does it take for hair to adjust to a shampoo bar? It can take up to 2-3 weeks or more for hair to adjust to a shampoo bar. Do you need to condition even after using a shampoo bar? No, conditioner is not necessary after using a shampoo bar because shampoo bars include oil that works similarly to conditioners. What makes a shampoo bar better than liquid shampoo? Shampoo bars, unlike their liquid versions, do not include water; therefore, the other substances in the bar are not diluted. Shampoo bars have more nutrients to nourish and clean your hair. They are also free of sulfates and preservatives, which contribute to dryness. Are shampoo bars all-natural? Yes, most shampoo bars are manufactured using natural and organic materials and are environment-friendly. Do shampoo bars work in hard water? Yes, but because of the combination of chemicals and pH levels, only some shampoo bars perform well in hard water.
