PSA: Shampoo bars work just as well as their liquid counterparts

Trust me, they don't all leave that waxy residue

As a devoted shampoo and conditioner bar user, I’ve noticed that a lot of people have a weird attitude towards them.

Some people think they’re fine for travel, but not for everyday life.

Some just can’t wrap their heads around the idea of a solid form of shampoo and conditioner. I know that it can be hard to change habits if you’ve only ever used liquid shampoos and conditioners.

And others, understandably, have been turned off by a bad experience.

Listen, I get it. I first started using shampoo and conditioner bars around 2019, and it’s taken me a lot of trial and error to find ones that work well for my hair. In fact, I’ve only just found the brand that I really think is the ‘one’ — don’t worry, there will be a reveal shortly.

I’ve experienced the unpleasant waxy residue that some shampoo bars leave behind, and the conditioner bars that don’t really seem to do anything.

But I stayed on my trial and error journey, because I really loved the concept of shampoo and conditioner bars. They allow me to be very low waste (more easily than almost any other product), they tend to be made with more natural ingredients, they’re easy to transport, and they last so much longer than bottled shampoo and conditioner. The average bar is the equivalent of 3 shampoo bottles, so it really does make a difference when it comes to reducing waste and saving money.

I know the upfront cost of a shampoo bar can seem like a lot when it seems like such a small amount of product, but trust me when I say they are more cost-effective. Shampoo and conditioner bars are more concentrated than their liquid counterparts, so a little bit goes a long way. If you don’t believe me, just check the ingredient list of the average liquid shampoo — aqua, or water, is usually within the first three ingredients. There’s a lot of filler in liquid shampoo, which is why you need to use so much of it.

I have loooong hair (it’s past waist-length when it’s straight), and a single bar lasts me around 6 months on average. And I share with my husband. I’d probably only need to buy one once a year if it was just me. So while they often come with a higher upfront investment, you’re probably going to save more in the long run.

Shampoo & Conditioner Bar Tips & Tricks

Aside from the trial and error of figuring out which brands/bars work best for my hair type, I’ve also learned that there are certain techniques that make them work more effectively:

• Rub directly onto your scalp/hair. I used to do a hand lather because I thought it would be gentler and I wanted to avoid getting stray hairs on the bar, but it’s easier to transfer the lather when you rub the bar directly onto your hair. You only have to rub for a little bit (until you notice a lather forming), then you can let your hands take over and wash your hair the conventional way. I find it’s gentler on the hair to ‘brush’ the bar in downward strokes from the roots.

• Invest in a good drainage system. Bars will turn to mush if you don’t let them dry out properly. But that can be avoided with the right storage solution. I have two recommendations for this:
  
  1. Foamie — who make bars on a string (that are very reasonably priced, may I add). Depending on your shower/bath design, you can simply hang the bars to dry in between uses. Unfortunately they only ship around Europe at the moment, but maybe one day they’ll expand internationally.
  2. Viori — who have an adorable stacking tray/bar holder inspired by traditional Chinese bamboo steamers. You can buy it individually, or get it as a set with your shampoo and conditioner bars, which is what I did. I’m obsessed with mine and am considering getting another for my body bars.
  3. If neither of these are your jam, look for any other soap tray with drainage. Shampoo and conditioner bars are not soap, and will not dry properly on a tray without drainage.

My Top 3 Shampoo & Conditioner Bar Brands

And now for the big reveal. These are based on my personal experience as someone with long, wavy, frizz-prone hair.

3. Lush. Imo, you can always count on Lush! Their solid skincare range is pretty, well, solid — including their shampoo and conditioner bar offerings. I was kind of skeptical at first because their bars aren’t sulfate-free, but they actually kept my hair soft and smooth with no residue to be found. Lush is also a convenient option because they have so many locations, so the bars are always easy to find. The only downside is the strong scents if you’re sensitive to fragrances.

2. Viori. I already mentioned Viori’s genius bamboo stacking tray, but their bars are also fantastic. I was actually drawn to the brand because of their interesting mission and USP. Viori was created after the founders took a trip to the Longsheng region in China, and noticed that all the locals had amazing hair. After doing some digging, they learned that the secret to their long, healthy hair was rice water. So they launched a brand of shampoo and conditioner bars specifically formulated with Longsheng rice water, which strengthens hair and promotes growth. I found this to be true, because my hair started growing crazy fast (even though I had recently got a cut) after I switched to Viori. The bars also left my hair smooth and silky, and the scents are divine (they do have unscented options for those with sensitivities). Viori is definitely my favourite shampoo bar brand for fragrance (I recommend the Citrus Yao scent) and aesthetics; the shampoo bars in particular come in gorgeous packaging and have a beautiful design. The only downside was that I found my hair was getting oily fairly quickly between washes as I neared the end of my bar. I guess my hair was too used to the product?

1. Good Juju. I was inspired to try Good Juju after seeing a woman with the most gorgeous, healthy-looking curls say she swore by the brand. I do love that they have so many options for different hair types; I actually felt a bit spoiled for choice! I decided on the conditioner bar for curly/wavy hair, and the scalp care shampoo bar since my husband has some scalp sensitivities. Good Juju’s conditioner bars are hands down the creamiest and most liquid-like bars I’ve ever used; you can really feel the conditioner transfer onto your strands. I’ve only recently started using the shampoo bar, but I’m also happy with the way it lathers. My only slight complaint is that the scents aren’t as nice as Viori, but the bars leave my hair smoother so I don’t mind. I honestly feel like these bars give me the closest thing to salon hair I’ve ever experienced, even compared to liquid shampoo and conditioners. The founders of Good Juju were on a mission to create bars that were just as effective high end liquid brands, and I’d say they succeeded.

Of course, with haircare I feel like the proof should always be visual. Here are some pictures of yours truly after switching to Good Juju shampoo and conditioner bars.

Day 1

This is my Good Juju-ified hair after air drying. No styling or blow drying, and no other products were used. I feel like the conditioner really brought out my natural waves, and the shampoo bar did a great job of cleansing my scalp.

Of all the shampoo and conditioner bars I’ve used, Good Juju’s seem to reduce my frizz the most.

Testing it out in the wild. It’s easy for hair to look sleek and tame right after brushing at home, so I decided to see how well my hair would hold up by the beach, where the wind gets pretty strong. Some of my waves were blown out, but at least my hair didn’t look like a frizzy mess!

Day 3

Another great test is seeing how well the results last. I find my hair tends to get oily after 2 or 3 days, so I usually wash my hair twice a week. This was taken on day 3, or the last day I’d go before washing. It got a bit more frizzy, but overall my wave pattern held up nicely and it didn’t feel too oily at this point, so I was really impressed.

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So there you have it. Shampoo bars work, guys. But like their liquid counterparts, they come with different levels of quality. It will probably take you some time to find your ‘one’.

I hope this post has been inspiring to anyone who’s been on the fence about trying them out — they’re honestly one of my favourite sustainable beauty products for their efficiency, longevity, and minimal waste.

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