Maybe you’ve used a solid shampoo bar already. Perhaps you got on with it, perhaps you didn’t. Maybe you’re just starting to explore whether you’d like to give it a go.
Whatever stage you’re at, I’m hoping that on this page you’ll find everything you need to know about natural, solid shampoo.
If you have questions I haven’t answered on this page, please get in touch to ask here.
What are Shampoo Bars?
As you’d probably expect, a solid shampoo bar is just a concentrated block of shampoo. Where shampoo is most often a liquid, a shampoo bar is a solid.
Because they’re concentrated, and because of their solid form, they tend to last a lot longer than an equivalent amount of traditional, liquid shampoo.
Shampoo bars are normally made from natural ingredients and typically have a significantly smaller environmental impact than their wetter, plastic bottled cousins.
Although most of us are used to the effects of the chemicals normally contained in liquid shampoos, natural soaps and shampoos offer a relief that your hair really needs. They tend to make room for your body’s natural processes, rather than trying to suppress or mask them as is sadly so often true of most chemical-filled soaps and shampoos (they don’t put that on the bottle though, do they?!)
Why Should I Switch?
You might be wondering what the advantages of solid shampoo bars actually are. This list certainly isn’t everything that solid shampoo has going for it, but it’s a start at some of the big advantages.
1) No More Plastic Bottles (Which is why we’re especially keen 😊)
Plastics Europe estimate that in 2014 that 3.7 million tonnes of plastic was being used per year in the UK. If anything, that amount has increased since then.
While plastic shampoo bottles don’t account for all of that plastic, they’re a source of (normally) single use plastic that most of us dispose of.
Solid Shampoo bars are typically supplied in biodegradable and/or recyclable paper, card or bioplastic. If you’re looking to cut down on your single-use plastic waste, the move from liquid to solid shampoo can be a relatively easy shift to make.
2) Reduced Carbon Footprint.
With most of the things we buy, transportation is one of the biggest causes of carbon dioxide release in the whole process (which is one of the reasons why shopping locally can be a good move).
In the UK heavy goods vehicles carrying products to and from shops, distribution centres and ports produced 20.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the year 2016. The 2nd highest road transport contributor – next to cars and taxis.
Switching to solid shampoo bars reduces the carbon released in this transport phase because you need to use less of it per wash (so there is less weight and volume to transport), and the packaging around the product tends to be lighter too.
3) No SLS.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is often used in shampoos and has a bit of a reputation for irritating skin.
Although there are mixed views on that, one thing is certain. Palm oil is used in the production of SLS. While a lot of palm oil is now sourced sustainably (thanks in part to campaigns like this by Greenpeace) some is still not, and has a devastating impact on tropical forests, habitats and wildlife.
4) Save Space.
If you’re anything like me, there’s a good chance you’d like your bathroom to be a tidy and peaceful place. Even if it isn’t – who wants loads of bottles lying around?
Solid shampoo bars are perfect for stacking and are way more convenient for storage. They’re about 3 or 4 times smaller than typical shampoo bottles.
You can finally free up some room in that cupboard.
5) Multi-purpose.
Just like liquid shampoos, a lot of bars are designed for specific hair types and conditions.
For those times, like when travelling, when you don’t want to have to lug around lots of different products there are also some bars with oils suitable for both hair and body.
Some are sold as being effective for cleaning clothes and lots are often natural enough to be used on your pets (although I’d probably recommend using a second bar for your pet!
6) No Parabens.
Parabens are another chemical often found in cosmetics and personal care products, which tend not to be present in solid shampoo bars (and are definitely not in any we’ll sell here)
In a recent study, Breast Cancer UK found that parabens can mimic oestrogen, which is associated with increased breast cancer risk. They’ve recommended it should be avoided where possible.
Natural shampoo in any form is good for your body. Most people report that their hair feels healthier and more natural after they’ve made the switch. It’s what your body wants.
7) Great for Travel.
Solid shampoo bars are not a problem for taking on a plane if you’re off on holiday. Lightweight and small, they are perfect for carrying on, without needing to worry about fiddling with those tiny carry-on plastic bags.
There ‘s no risk of spillages, which always seem to happen at exactly the moment I’d wish it didn’t (is that just me?). With solid shampoo bars, you’ll be able to keep using your normal shampoo without having to think about switching to mini, single-use little shampoos and conditioners coated in plastic.
8) Minimal.
While a lot of cosmetics and shampoos have loud, flashy labels and bottles. Shampoo bars (most of the time) have a simple and natural look to them.
Maybe it’s just me, but I much prefer the minimal look in my bathroom.
9) No Microplastics.
Microplastics are pieces of plastic less than 5mm across. They’re small enough to get into the food chain via fish, lobster and other sea creatures, and can eventually even end up on our own plates (although normally if that happens, the pieces are much smaller than 5mm).
Microplastics are often found in personal care products (as an abrasive in body scrubs for instance). Not many people seem to know they’re even there, but when used in the shower microplastics end up down the drain, and can make their way into the ocean.. In case you hadn’t guessed, there are no microplastics used in any of the solid shampoo bars we stock (or in fact, in any that I’ve ever seen).
How do I use Solid Shampoo Bars?
There are a few things to look out for when making the switch to solid shampoo bars. There are some differences to be aware of (which aren’t a big deal, but are handy to know about) which I’ll try to cover below.
Solid shampoo bars don’t tend to lather in the same way as liquid shampoos. Often in fact, they don’t lather very much at all.
While lots of lathering feels familiar, it is not necessary for actually cleaning your hair. It can be tempting for people making the switch to solid shampoo bars to try to recreate the same sensation they’re used to. But you really don’t need to use that much.
With all of that said, how do you actually use shampoo bars?
Well, they’re a lot like any other shampoo really. It’s normally best to rinse your hair, your hands and the bar in the shower before applying. Then you can lather the bar in your hands (you should see some lathering – just not as much as you’re probably used to), before applying the shampoo on your hands to your 
hair.
Instead of rubbing onto hands first, some people prefer using a sponge or scrubbie, and using that to apply the shampoo to their hair in the same way.
If you have long hair it’s probably easiest to split your hair up into sections and then apply the shampoo evenly. People often like to rinse out the shampoo, then apply and rinse again (especially when first starting with solid shampoo). You’ll get a feel for how that works for you, and how you find it easiest to apply evenly..
The lather will likely increase the more times you apply it as the hair gets more clean. Make sure to pay close attention to the middle back, so you get all of the shampoo out.
Once you have rinsed out, you have some options. Shampoo bars are inherently alkaline. This means you will need an acid to counter the alkaline – balancing out the pH – which we’ll get into below.
Brushing is super important! So you can grab your hair and gently dry your hair (Keeping it slightly damp) and thoroughly brush your hair. Brushing is always good for distributing natural oils, as well as untangling.
The Transition from Chemical to Natural Shampoo
Tradition shampoos are designed to strip your hair of healthy natural oils and replace them with different synthetic chemicals and residues. They contain silicone which smoothes the hair initially, but after time tends to leave hair feeling drier and damaged.
It turns out that our bodies are actually pretty good at produ
cing the right natural oils to keep our hair healthy, when we just give them the chance.
When first switching to solid shampoo (or in fact, any natural shampoo), your body will probably produce an excess of natural oils to begin with. After being suppressed by chemical replacements for so long, your body will try to generate oils as quickly as it can as it tries to get everything back in balance.
This process can mean that our hair gets oily quicker than your used to. Don’t worry though – this won’t last forever. Once your body is back in balance, oils will be produced less quickly and you’ll find that your hair feels healthier between washes.
Persistence is important here though. After years (if you’re anything like me – you’ve been using normal liquid shampoo for a while…) of replacing natural oils with a synthetic alternative, your body will need a little time to adjust.
The transition can take anywhere between a few days and 2 months. The length of your hair is a big factor in how long it’ll take for your body to adjust – the natural oils you’ll be allowing your body to produce need to make their way to the tips of your hair, which will take longer if they have further to go (we’ll get to that in a moment).
Sticking with it is important though. Going back to a liquid shampoo and stripping your hair again will reset the clock. It’s well worth pushing through – your body, and your hair will thank you.
What You Need To Know To Make The Shift
The most important thing you need to know is to not give up.
I’ll be honest – a few days (or even weeks) in, there’s a good chance you’ll be craving that fresh hair feeling you’re used to. But it’s so important to push through. That will come back (and in my opinion, get better), but you’ll need to give it time.
Remember that washing with a liquid, synthetic shampoo will almost “reset” things and you’ll need to start again. That’s also true for synthetic condit
ioners too. You can either use a natural, solid conditioner alongside your new shampoo, or you can rinse through with Apple Cider Vinegar (which is amazing – it’s incredibly effective).
Only using conditioner, or an apple cider vinegar rinse, every now and then when you need to will help. And try to only apply to the tips of your hair, rather than to your scalp too.
The reason it can take a little while to adjust is because you’re needing to help your body reset the balance. Your natural oils need to get all the way to your tips, so brushing your hair twice a day can be a big help. This is especially important if you have longer hair.
What Are My Options?
There are a lot of great brands out there, so this will come down to personal preference at the end of the day.
Some will be a better fit for you than others will, which means you might want a period of time experimenting with it.
The following two are our favourite brands of solid shampoo bars. We hear lots of great feedback about both, so would recommend you give these a go if you’d like to move away from plastic-wrapped liquid shampoos.
Funky Soap.
A small business in the heart of London, Funky Soap are dedicated to high quality, healthy and effective skin and hair care products.
They have bars for all kinds of hair types including colour enhancing and sensitive scalp bars. All made from 100% natural ingredients and use 100% RSPO Certified Sustainable Palm Oil.
Attribution: Funky Soap Instagram
Zero Me.
We’ve commissioned our very own solid shampoo bar. As with the rest of our product range, we aim to deliver high quality without the price tag (because we intentionally don’t have agents and other people in the middle of our supply chain).
100% natural and made in the UK, we’re proud of the feedback we get from people who have used our shampoo. are a south-west business with the goal of making the zero plastic The bar contains hemp, which is a ‘healer of all’ oil, which means it’s nutrient-rich essential fatty acids and can also work wonders for damaged skin. It’s suitable for all skin and hair types, so is a great place to start if you’re making the switch.
How do I store it?
Many soap companies have a soap tin that goes along with their soaps. Unfortunately, if you get your bar wet and then put it in your tin, it can stay wet, slimy and stick to the tin.
It’s best to let the bar completely dry out between uses. You can do that by letting is dry on a soap tray.
Or my favourite is to keep it inside a soap pouch, so after use, I can hang it and let it dry (and I don’t waste that last tiny bit when my bar has almost run out).
Time To Get Started With Solid Shampoo Bars?
It may seem like a lot at first, but the switch from “normal” shampoo to a solid shampoo bar transition is easier than you might think.
The pay-off will be worth it – this is better for your hair, your body and the Earth.
If you have any questions or would like to ask about something I haven’t covered here, please get in touch.
