What to expect when turning to shampoo bars
Making the decision to use shampoo bars will reward you in so many ways, but you might be unsure of what to expect. How will my hair feel? Will it go greasy? Will I need to wash my hair more often? You may also have heard about the ‘transition period’ (which is not as scary as you might think), so here’s our quick guide to tell you what to expect when making the eco-swap to shampoo bars.
The benefits of shampoo bars
First off, these solid bars don't come in single use plastic bottles, instantly reducing your plastic footprint and dependence on plastic. They’re also a great way to escape the barrage of chemicals used in your standard off-the-shelf shampoo. You’ll be dodging highly controversial parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), tricoslan, phthalates and ingredients like palm oil. There’s research out there to suggest these can have detrimental effect to our health as well as the environment. However, you need to be vigilant, there are some shampoo bars out there that still contain these ingredients!
How to use them
Read the instructions of your chosen shampoo carefully as they can differ. Shampoo bars will lather up after several strokes across your hair, which you can then rub in just as you would with regular shampoo. Some manufacturer recommend lathering it in your hands and applying to to you hair, rather than directly rubbing to shampoo on your hair or scalp.
Some people suggest dry brushing your hair beforehand. This spreads the natural oils produced by your scalp and pre-conditions your hair before washing. Some use shampoo bars as a step on the way to going ‘no-poo’ relying solely on your bodies nourishing natural oils to maintain your mane.
The transition period
As your hair recovers from exposure to the chemicals in normal shampoo, there will be a period of adjustment. Those natural oils we talked about earlier may be working overtime to figure out a normal level and during this time, you can expect your hair to feel a bit greasy or waxy. This can last anywhere from 4-6 weeks, but once you’ve ridden this out, your hair will become natural, soft and healthy.
To reduce the waxy feeling, some people have had success with an apple cider vinegar rinse which helps to balance hair and scalp pH, remove product buildup, and to treat dandruff and hair loss.
It may feel tough at times but keep using your shampoo bar - you are doing amazing things for you and the planet!, If you normally wash your hair daily then maybe think about going longer between washes. This will help your body find the natural balance a bit quicker. You might also want to think about using a solid conditioner bar too, which can be filled with natural ingredients like argan oil, rose and geranium.
Further benefits of shampoo bars
Natural, healthy, chemical free hair is the obvious main appeal along with a reduction in the amount of environment-strangling plastic in circulation, but there are also other hidden benefits to using shampoo bars too. They’re perfect for travelling, as not only do you avoid any nasty spillages and mess in your toiletries bag, but you can skirt around the liquid restrictions in hand luggage too. They take up much less space compared to a shampoo bottle and keep your bathroom looking less cluttered. Many find that once making the switch to shampoo bars, you can go longer between washes and a shampoo bar lasts MUCH longer than runny bottled shampoo so there are excellent cost savings too.
If you would like to know more about Banishing Bathroom Bottles we have also written a blog with some great tips.
We have a wide range of natural shampoo and conditioner bars to choose from, you can find them all easily here. Delicious scents, vegan, natural ingredients and various properties to suit all hair types. Happy switching!