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Introduction
The most important thing which any curly haired people had in mind is to keep the curls clean, soft and bouncy. And all we have to do for it is, to use a good shampoo and conditioner. But, recently I came across a new hair care product for curls. This is the shampoo bars for curly hair.
Yes, shampoo bars are the new beauty product which not only keep the curls and scalp clean but also makes them soft, moisturized and hydrated. Shampoo bars are infused with natural and organic ingredients. They are free from chemicals and works just the way liquid shampoo does.
In this blog, lets understand more about shampoo bars, what are they exactly and their benefits.
Understanding Shampoo Bars
What are Shampoo Bars?
You must have understood, that shampoo bars is the new trend in beauty and hair care products. So, what exactly is the shampoo bar? Well, in simple terms, shampoo bar is a concentrated form of liquid shampoo.
It is small in size, usually palm-sized, looks more like a normal soap bar. But it is especially designed to cleanse hair. Shampoo bars has gained a lot of fame in recent years, they are made from natural ingredients, are free from cruelty and helps in environmental benefits.
Following section, will highlight more about the features of shampoo bars.
Benefits of Shampoo Bars for Curly Hair
After understanding, shampoo bars composition. Let’s understand the benefits of using shampoo bars-
Natural Ingredients-
Just like shampoo, shampoo bars are also made up of natural ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera gel. They are formulated with plant based and essential oils. Ingredients are gentle on curls and helps to reduce frizz and dryness.
Travel Friendly-
I do remember, how mess and chaotic it used to be when traveling with shampoo bottles. Thanks to these concentrated form of liquid shampoo, shampoo bars that now you can travel easily. They are TSA-friendly and also reduces the risk of spillage.
Environmental Friendly-
Shampoo bars packaging is environmental friendly. It comes with minimal or no plastic at all. So, starting to use shampoo bars can be a holistic approach towards environmental health.
Moisturization-
Gone are the days, when bars used to rip out the natural oil from the hair strands and make them dry. These days shampoo bars are made from the ingredients which are moisturizing and hydrating in nature.
Curls tend to be on drier side, as natural oil do not flow down the hair strands. Therefore, moisturization and hydration is very important to them.
Cruelty free-
If you are thinking that shampoo bars are filled with chemicals, well you are wrong, shampoo bars have raised their bar by going cruelty free and vegan. So, if you are a person of ethical values, you can go for shampoo bars easily.
Balances pH-
Shampoo bars are free from cruelty, they are organic and natural. Some shampoo bars are formulated to balance pH level of the scalp. They help to keep your scalp and hair healthy, giving your smoother and softer curls.
Cost- Effective-
Shampoo bars are nothing but a concentrated form of liquid shampoo. These concentrated form tend to go a long way. Many shampoo bars even go till 100-150 washes. Just think how much money you are going to save by using these shampoo bars.
Choosing the Right Shampoo Bar for Curly Hair
After you have gained a detailed insight about what are shampoo bars and its benefits. Now, is the time to see what we should look in the shampoo bar before making a purchase and what to avoid.
Ingredients to Look For
Curly hair tend to be dry and frizzy. So, just like you choose a shampoo with hydrating and moisturizing ingredients, you need to choose shampoo bars, which is moisturizing in nature and keeps your scalp healthy.
Some of the ingredients to look for are-
- Coconut oil- One of the most common hair ingredient, it helps to add shine, moisture and strength in the hair.
- Olive oil- It acts as a conditioner to hair. Olive oil is rich in antioxidant and helps to repair damaged hair.
- Shea butter- Super moisturizing in nature. Shea butter takes care of dry and unruly curls.
- Argan oil- Known by the name, “liquid gold” it is a godsend ingredient for curly hair. It helps to add shine, reduce frizz and increases hair strength.
- Aloe vera- Well, one of the most moisturizing ingredient, which soothe the scalp, and adds moisture to the hair.
- Tea tree oil- Filled with antibacterial and antifungal properties, this is a must have ingredient when it comes to sensitive scalp.
- Activated charcoal- It acts as a natural detoxifier, which removes impurities and excess oil from the scalp and hair.
- Honey- Makes your hair soft, smooth and shiny.
- Glycerin- It acts as a humectant, and lock the moisture in the hair.
Avoiding Harsh Ingredients
Since you are looking for gentle shampoo bars, it is very necessary that you avoid certain ingredients. These ingredients can rip the natural oil from your scalp, cause irritation and add on to hair dryness.
- Sulfates- One of the most harmful chemicals used in beauty products. Sulfates like SLS or SLES, have strong cleansing property but they are too harsh for the scalp, leading to scalp irritation.
- Parabens- Parabens such as methyl or propyl acts as a preservative, they are the harmful chemicals which can cause potential health risk and also dry out the curls more.
- Artificial fragrance- Adding artificial fragrance in the formula can cause irritation and allergic reaction.
- Mineral oil- This acts as a barrier on the hair. It prevents the moisture from getting absorbed in the scalp.
- Triclosan- It is an antibacterial agent which hampers with the environment well-being.
- Artificial colour- Artificial colors not only causes irritation but they are of no use to the product.
Using Shampoo Bars for Curly Hair Care
How to Apply Shampoo Bars
Well, using shampoo bars is not a difficult task. It is just a bit different from applying shampoo.
- Wet your hair, so that the hair cuticles gets opened up.
- Take the shampoo bar, and wet it. Rub the bar between your hair to lather it.
- Now, you can either apply the shampoo bar directly on your hair or apply the lather produced by rubbing on your palms.
- Apply the lather first at the roots and then go to the tips of your hair.
- Massage the shampoo into scalp using your fingertips. This helps to increase the blood circulation.
- Work the shampoo through your hair strands. You can add water in between if you want.
- Wash your hair properly. Now, apply the conditioner.
- Using conditioner is your personal choice. If you feel, your hair needs more moisture you can use conditioner.
- Allow the shampoo bar to air dry, to increase its life.
P.O.V. It may take some time for your hair to adjust to the new cleansing method. After using shampoo bars, few times, you can actually see the benefits of it.
Incorporating Shampoo Bars into Curly Hair Routine
Just like you wash your curls twice a week. You keep washing your curls, just instead of using liquid shampoo, you switch to shampoo bars. You can also, try using shampoo bar one time and liquid shampoo other time, to get used to the new cleansing method.
Top Shampoo Bars for Curly Hair
Product Reviews and Recommendations
After getting to know everything about shampoo bars, let’s now jump to top shampoo bars for curly hair.
1. J·R·LIGGETT’S All-Natural Shampoo Bar-
An amazing mix of argan oil and coconut oil, this natural shampoo bar is very popular. You can see its all positive review on amazon too. Both the oils help to provide moisture and hydration to the curls. It is free from chemicals and keeps your curls healthy and bouncy.
Features-
- Repair damaged hair
- Nourishes curls
- A blend of essential ingredients
- Helps to rejuvenate hair strands
2. Pacific Spirit Shampoo Bar-
Infused with vitamin-rich ingredients, this pacific spirit shampoo bar is rich in coconut oil and sunflower oil. It helps to moisturize the curls, reduce breakage and also keep the scalp itchiness away.
Features–
- Moisturizes hair and nourishes them
- Adds volume to curls
- Leaves hair soft and smooth
- Hydrating ingredients shea butter and almond oil
3. Cush Mango Babassu Shampoo Bar-
This organic, chemical-free shampoo bar has amazing fragrance. Formulated with exotic mix of fair-trade oil, Babassu oil helps to remove dry and flaky skin from the scalp. The mango butter deeply conditions the hair and soothes the scalp.
Features
- Highly conditioning and moisturizing
- Soothes scalp
- Chemical-free
- Eliminates frizz
- Detangles hair
4. BeNat All-Natural Lavender Shampoo Bar-
This is one organic and natural shampoo bar made with all-natural ingredients like aloe vera, clay, and shea butter. It helps to provide hydration to dry curly hair and repair the damaged hair cuticles.
Features–
- Amazing lavender formula
- Free from chemicals
- Loaded with anti-oxidants
- Filled with antioxidant ingredients
5. Beauty and the Bees Real Beer Tasmanian Shampoo Bar-
A handmade shampoo bar that helps to rejuvenate the curls, and leaves it bouncy. Made from the essential oils like ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg, this shampoo bar help to promote hair growth and also keeps the scalp healthy.
Features–
- Palm-free oil
- Unscented
- Cruelty free
- Made with 100% natural ingredients
- Moisturizes scalp
- Leaves hair glossy
FAQs about Shampoo Bars for Curly Hair
1. Can shampoo bars effectively cleanse curly hair without stripping natural oils?
Yes, shampoo bars can effectively cleanse curly hair. They help to unclog the pores and remove product buildup. Shampoo bars not only cleanse the curly hair and scalp properly, it also moisturizes and hydrates the dry curly hair.
2. Do shampoo bars work well for different types of curly hair?
Yes, just like you have different shampoo for different types of hair. Similarly, there are different shampoo bars for different types of curly hair. You just need to choose the one that works best for you.
3. How often should I use a shampoo bar for my curly hair?
Just like you use shampoo, you can use shampoo bar. Washing curly hair once or twice a week, is good as it won’t rip away the moisture and won’t dry out the curls.
4. Are shampoo bars suitable for color-treated curly hair?
Yes, shampoo bars are suitable for color-treated curly hair, but it’s important to choose the formulation which is gentle and does not rip off the colour from your hair.
Also, after using shampoo bar, follow it up with a conditioner made especially for color-treated hair.
Conclusion
So, above are some of the amazing shampoo bars for curly hair which you can try and use. Cleansing your hair with shampoo bar is an old and traditional way. It has make its comeback again and this time with new formulas and being totally organic and natural.
Shampoo bar for curly hair helps to keep your curls soft, smooth and defined. You can choose the ingredients according to your hair type and then decide which shampoo bar to use. Shampoo bars are free from chemicals like sulfates and parabens, they keep your hair nourished and control the dryness.
Have you ever tried any shampoo bar for curly hair?
