I wrote this post after finishing up my first shampoo bar, but I've updated it after using shampoo bars off and on for over 2 years. There was a bit of a learning curve to it, but it really is a simple way to cut out some plastic. So keep on reading to find out my shampoo bar reviews and tips on using a shampoo bar. This post contains affiliate or referral links. It is a way for the site to earn advertising fees by advertising or linking to certain products and/or services. I bought the combination pack of J.R. Liggett so I could try out several different kinds of bars, but I've found that they are pretty similar in terms of how they work. Ethique also makes a sampler pack so you can try out several of their bars. How do you use a shampoo bar? Take the bar and lather it in your hands. From there apply the suds to your hair. You can apply the bar directly to your head, but it seems to lead to more breakage. Or maybe there is just more hair ends up on the bar. It's annoying having hair wrapped around the bar, so I exclusively just apply the lather to my hair rather than the bar directly. I try to focus on my scalp and not the ends of my hair. The bar soap does not lather as much as regular shampoo does so I have developed a technique. I get lather on my hands from the bar, then massage my temple area. Then I lather up and apply the soap to the underside of my hair, and finally I lather up and get the front and crown of my head. This allows me to get soap to all parts of my head and only a little on the dry ends of my hair. Do shampoo bars work? The question we all want to know! I would say yes! Now, there were times when I was longer between washing (so my hair was greasier) and when I wasn't quite as good about washing all parts of my hair, it would seem greasier than I would have liked after washing. However after working out the above techniques I've been pretty pleased. My hair is also naturally dry, so I have to keep convincing myself that my hair isn't really greasy, it's shiny and healthy looking. My hair would start looking like the girls in the Pantene commercial and I'd start thinking I was looking like a hot mess. Do shampoo bars dry out your hair? I imagine it has to do with the type of shampoo bar you have. The first bar I used was JR Liggett's with coconut and aragon oils which I knew would have moisturizing properties. Now that I'm on the second bar I haven't found it being much drier, but full disclosure I've always used conditioner with the shampoo bars. My hair is so dry, I feel I need a conditioner. I've used Lush's conditioner bar and now use Plaine Products Conditioner (my review of Plaine Products conditioner). Is there a transition period with using shampoo bars? I didn't notice one. However I made the switch while trying to wash my hair less frequently anyway. So any changes in how oily, or not, could have been due to that. Some people have said their hair feels weighted down some, but I maybe attributed that to not having a great technique rather than a transition period. Pin for later! Did shampoo bars make your hair waxy? I didn't find that my hair was waxy. I know some people have described this. There are a number of reasons why I may not have and someone else would: The shampoo bar they were using (there are a whole lot of options out there!). The technique they were using (I think lathering in the hand is the way to go). Not using conditioner. I always used a conditioner or an apple cider vinegar rinse and it could be that this helped keep my hair from being waxy. Will I keep using shampoo bars? Absolutely! It is an easy way to eliminate a source of plastic in my house and it keeps my hair clean. What is your hair like? I have straight hair that is below shoulder length. It tends to be pretty dry and brittle and prone to breakage. As a result I'm trying to wash my hair less and keep some of the natural oils and protection on my hair. I typically was it no more frequently than every other day, but try to stretch it to every 2 days and maybe to every 3 over the weekend. On day 2 my hair either looks normal or may have a slight shine to it. (It took me a while to realize that what I was calling greasy was really just shine since my hair is that dry). By day 3 or longer it can get oily. Using my boar hair brush (alternative) helps a bunch in spreading the oils out down the hair shaft. I want to let you know some information about my hair so if you get totally different results it may be why. Don't forget to read about my experiences with other zero waste shampoo options. Would you use a shampoo bar?
