“Save the Earth. Ditch the Plastic”
This is the new motto, which you must have heard everywhere these days. People have become more cautious and aware towards their environment and the best example is the use of organic and vegan beauty products. Yes, you must have seen beauty brands making a great and conventional shift towards the vegan products. One such product for hair care is the shampoo and conditioner bars.
Shampoo bars are made up of natural ingredients, in an environment safe packing and goes long way to care for your hair.
When the brands started making environment friendly products, their main focus was limited waste, luxurious formula and suitable for everyone. And the practical example of it is the eco-friendly hair care products.
So, check out the best shampoo and conditioner bars for curly hair-
I. Unwrapping the Concept – What Are Shampoo and Conditioner Bars?
In recent years, shampoo and conditioner bars have gained too much of popularity. And people are actually making change from their liquid shampoo to shampoo bars. The question is, what exactly are shampoo and conditioner bars?
As the name suggest they are shampoo and conditioner but in a bar form, or we can say in solid form. Just like liquid shampoo and conditioner helps in cleansing of hair and making the curls soft and smooth, similarly shampoo bars too helps to cleanse the scalp and hair.
Shampoo bar is more concentrated than liquid shampoo, it will give you lather, and the formula of shampoo bars is more natural. It does not strip the natural oil from your hair.
Let’s understand more about shampoo bars-
II. The Curly Hair Advantage
Why are people making a shift from liquid shampoo to shampoo bars? Is it worth it. Will your hair be same after using shampoo bars? These are the questions which might be bothering you. In this section, we will talk about the formula of shampoo and conditioner bar, and is it capable to meet the curly hair requirement like moisture and frizz control.
- Moisturizing Ingredients- Curly hair tend to be on drier side. Using shampoo bars with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil and argan oil helps to retain the moisture in the hair and prevent hair dryness.
- Humectants– Humectants such as aloe vera and honey, helps to retain moisture in the hair. Curly hair is prone to dryness, having humectant ingredients helps to hydrate the curls and reduce frizz.
- Anti-frizz agents- Some of the anti-frizz ingredients like panthenol and dimethicone controls frizz and make your curls soft and smooth.
- pH balance- These bars helps to maintain the pH balance of the scalp. It repairs the damaged hair cuticles and prevent hair from excessive hair dryness.
- Natural oils– Shampoo bars contain natural oils like coconut oil, jojoba oil and olive oil, these oils helps to nourish and condition curly hair contributing in curly hair health.
- Sulfate-free- Shampoo bars are free from harmful chemicals like sulfate and parabens. Both these ingredients can rip down the natural oil from your scalp, making curls and scalp dry.
- No Heavy Silicones- Not all silicones are bad, some help in detangling and smoothness of hair while some heavy silicones can weigh down the hair. It is good to choose water-soluble silicones to maintain curl volume.
It is necessary that you carefully select the ingredients for shampoo bar.
III. Benefits of Making the Switch for Curly Hair
Before making a switch from shampoo and conditioner bottle to shampoo bars, let’s understand the benefits of using shampoo bar-
- Moisture Lockdown-
Shampoo bars are very moisturizing and hydrating. It helps to keep the porous curly hair soft and smooth. The porosity of curly hair helps in the better absorption of the product.
Some of the shampoo bars are rich in glycerine, shea butter, coconut oil and argan oil. These ingredients help to moisturize the curls and keeps them hydrated.
Shampoo bars acts just like the curly hair shampoo you have been using. It is true that curly hair is prone to frizz, you cannot remove the Frizziness from the curls, but you can surely control it. The more your curls are hydrated, the less frizzy they will be.
- Eco-friendly-
Well, this is obvious. Since, you will stop the use of plastic shampoo and conditioner bottle, after you start using shampoo bar, the amount of waste plastic will get reduced making the shift eco-friendly.
- Long Lasting-
Shampoo bars are long lasting than liquid shampoo. Your one shampoo bottle will last for approx. 20 washes (Depending on your hair length), but shampoo bars lasts longer, they will be there with you for 80-90 washes.
- Travel Friendly-
Carrying a liquid shampoo bottle is more of a hustle than carrying a shampoo bar. Shampoo bars are more travel friendly. You don’t have to worry about spillage.
- More Natural-
The ingredients used in shampoo bars are more natural. Shampoo bottles are filled with preservatives and chemicals, which can strip down the natural oil from the scalp. Shampoo bars are rich in vitamins, minerals and natural oil, which give your hair vitality and moisture.
- Amazing Fragrance-
It’s all thanks to natural ingredients in the shampoo bars, that they smell so great. Instead of using a synthetic fragrance, shampoo bars use the natural essential oil, which give your hair a refreshing scent.
- Goes with bathroom interior-
I know this sounds weird, but trust me no interior designer likes shampoo bottles to be shown, they do not go with their design. They prefer shampoo bars more. Shampoo bars helps to create a minimalist aesthetic in shower and bathroom.
IV. Finding the Perfect Match – Popular Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
1. Ethique St Clements Clarifying Shampoo Bar-
Ethique brand is known to make eco-friendly hair care products and best shampoo bars which helps to control the frizz and cleanse the scalp. It’s clarifying formula, helps to remove sebum, oil and product build-up. This soap-free shampoo bar helps to balance the pH of the scalp.
Pros:
- Best for oily scalp
- Helps to balance pH
- Does not strip the natural oil
- Hydrate curls
Cons:
- The brick is very large
2. Davines VOLU Shampoo Bar-
This is one of the most amazing shampoo bar which helps to control the pH value in the scalp and keep it healthy. Made with natural ingredients, the shampoo bar helps to protect the earth and environment in every way possible. It helps to enhance the hair volume. Its packaging is 100% recyclable and helps to provide mildness and softness to hair.
Pros:
- Vegan product
- 100% recyclable packaging
- Softens the hair
- Maintain pH value of the hair.
- Enhance hair volume
Cons:
- None
3. Eco Warrior Deeply Nourishing Shampoo Bar-
Made with natural ingredients like hydrating pink clay, ginger essential oil this shampoo bar is free from harsh chemicals like sulfates and paraben. This vegan, cruelty-free and soap-free formula helps to keep your curls soft and smooth without leaving any residue.
Pros:
- Vegan
- Curelty-free
- Economical
- Does not leave residue
Cons:
- None
4. Faith in Nature Coconut and Shea Butter Shampoo Bar-
Just as the name tells us, this shampoo bar is rich in coconut oil and shea butter. Both these ingredients are moisturizing and hydrating and helps to control the frizz in the curls. This shampoo bar is made with 100% natural ingredients and has natural fragrance.
Pros:
- 100%natural ingredients
- Hydrating ingredients
- Reduces frizz
- Lathers up
Cons:
- None
5. Only Curls Cleansing Shampoo Bar
Formulated with Avocado and Kukui-nut oils, the shampoo bar helps to hydrate the curls and give a soft and creamy feeling. Anyone who has used this shampoo bar, was very much satisfied with the result and never stopped using it since. The eco-friendly shampoo bar helps to reduce frizz and achieve voluminous and bouncy curls.
Pros:
- Natural and hydrating ingredients.
- Reduces frizz
- Makes curls voluminous and bouncy
- Smells amazing
- Makes hair shiny
Cons:
- None
How to choose the right shampoo bar for you?
Well, now you know what ingredients to look for and some of the best shampoo and conditioner bar. But still, one question is left and that is how to choose the right shampoo bar-
- Understand your hair type- Before you decide to go for a shampoo bar, it is necessary that you know about your hair type. Every hair needs different type of shampoo bars. You cannot use same shampoo bar on type 2 and type 4 curls.
- Know your hair problem- After you have understood your hair type, now is the time to know about your hair problem. For what exact reason are you buying the shampoo bar, is it to get your curls soft or to protect your colored hair.
Because dry and damaged hair, requires shampoo bar with nourishing formula and colored hair needs a gentle formula.
Key Ingredients to Look for in a Shampoo Bar
After understanding your hair type and hair problem, now your focus should be on ingredients. Which type of ingredients to look for-
- Dry and Damaged Hair– If you have dry and damaged hair, you should look for ingredients which are moisturizing and hydrating in nature. Ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil and avocado oil can help and maintain the moisturization in hair.
- Oily Hair– Oily hair requires ingredients which control the oil level in the scalp and hair strands. Look for the ingredients like witch hazel and tea tree oil. Both these ingredients are like antifungal and antibacterial and help to unclog the pores.
- Sensitive Scalp- Sensitive Scalp requires ingredients which are gentle on scalp. Look for the shampoo bar with ingredients like aloe vera which soothe the scalp and reduces irritation.
V. Addressing Concerns and Myths
Some of the common myths and concerns regarding shampoo bars are-
- Shampoo bar strip the natural oil from the scalp. This is not true; shampoo bars are in fact made up of natural ingredients which are moisturizing and hydrating in nature.
- Conditioner bars do not condition your hair. Well, if you choose high quality conditioner bars, they are made up of shea butter, argan oil and cocoa butter. These ingredients are hydrating in nature.
- Shampoo bars do not lather much. Well, you may find some shampoo bars which do not lather much, and these bars are sulfate-free, which is good for hair as it is an approach for eco-friendly hair care for curls.
- Shampoo bars are not suitable for different curly hair. You will find different shampoo bars for different types of hair.
In conclusion, myths and concerns regarding shampoo bars are not true, it all depends on the formula.
VI. How to start using shampoo bars?
After knowing everything about shampoo bars, the question which arises now is how to start using shampoo bars or how to make a transition towards shampoo bars. Just follow the following steps-
- Start with a clarifying wash- Before you start using a shampoo bar, it is advised to wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo, to cleanse the scalp and remove any product build-up.
- Try and Try- It is not necessary that the shampoo bar you start using at the first will be best for your hair. Just like you tried for liquid shampoo, you will have to try different shampoo bars to know which suits your hair the best.
- Use warm water– To create a lather with the shampoo bar, try using warm water. Wet your hair and also the soap first, before using it on your hair.
- Don’t apply directly- Just like you used to dilute your liquid shampoo, similarly, it is recommended that you rub the shampoo bars on your hand and then apply it on your scalp and hair.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. Can Shampoo Bars Really Cleanse Curly Hair?
Yes, shampoo bars are formulated with ingredients which helps in gentle cleansing of the scalp and also keep the curls healthy, soft and smooth.
2. How Often Should I Use Shampoo and Conditioner Bars on My Curls?
Well, you can use shampoo bars on your hair two days a week for keeping your curls and scalp clean and healthy.
3. Are Shampoo and Conditioner Bars Suitable for Color-Treated Curly Hair?
Yes, there are some shampoo bars which are suitable for color treated curly hair. They have gentle formulation and does not fade away the hair color.
Conclusion
So, in the above blog, you came to know that shampoo bars are just a solidify form of shampoo with hydrating and moisturizing ingredients. These days’ people have started to make a shift from using liquid shampoo to shampoo bars.
Gen Z have started looking for an eco-friendly hair care for curls and what better than using shampoo and conditioner bars for curly hair. We have also lightened up the issue of some myths related to shampoo bars.
Get to know your hair type and search for the best shampoo bars for curly hair.
Have you ever tried a shampoo bar?