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One of the latest trends in hair care is shampoo bars to replace traditional bottles. Bars offer a number of benefits over bottles including reduced waste, a greater value, and more convenient storage/portability.
Many of us are set in our ways after a lifetime of reaching for (and occasionally dropping) those bottles of shampoo and conditioner. The question then becomes, are we clinging to bottles because they are a better product or simply because that is the way we have always done it?
With this in mind, let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks of shampoo bars vs. shampoo bottles and see which might be best for you!
There is one indisputable benefit to shampoo bars which can never be matched by bottles: shampoo bars require less packaging and have a smaller environmental impact.
National Geographic recommends ditching your shampoo bottle for a bar in a recent guide. Whereas shampoo bottles require a fair amount of plastic for their packaging, shampoo bars are frequently packaged plastic-free.
Many shampoo bars use only recycled paper packaging which is both reusable and biodegradable. The plastic waste crisis is sadly a very real thing. Shampoo bars are one small way to help reduce plastic waste in your everyday life.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is everyone’s favorite government institution. Wait, no -- I think we may have misspoken. The TSA guidelines for liquid products such as shampoo are so strict that there is an entire industry with the sole purpose of selling tiny shampoo bottles and other toiletries!
Shampoo bars do not fall under such scrutiny when traveling as they are not liquids. This makes shampoo bars ideal for traveling. You will not have to determine whether or not your liquids are above the threshold of 3.4 liquid ounces.
Bars are also very hardy and you will not be running the risk of shampoo spilling and leaking onto that brand new outfit!
Approximately 80 percent of traditional shampoo is comprised of water. That’s right -- the product we all have been using for decades is only 1/5th active ingredients. To be clear, this isn’t some nefarious scheme. Bottled shampoo requires high water content to achieve its desired consistency and get a good lather.
Shampoo bars take water out of the equation and let you provide that yourself. This creates a product which lasts far longer without the filler. Shampoo bars are generally comprised exclusively of oils and active hair care ingredients.
Consider paint. Most paints are either water or oil based and come in a tube. These run out quickly because they are used exactly as they are. Watercolors, however, use only a very small amount of dry paint to last a very long time!
Shampoo bars are made in a very similar fashion to traditional soap bars. There are mass produced soap bars and small batch manufactured soap bars. Consider choosing a shampoo bar manufactured using cold press, hand made methods which are produced in small batches.
Absolutely! Shampoo bars have very sustainable packaging when compared to other hair care products. Additionally, it is entirely possible for shampoo bars to be made from 100% sustainable ingredients.
Traditional shampoos do offer one advantage over shampoo bars: it is what most or our hair is used to. Shampoo bar usage does entail a short acclimation period where hair may feel heavy, greasy, or dull. This will quickly pass!
As we talk about in this post, traditional shampoos strip away natural oils which causes your body to overreact. The acclimation period is caused by your hair regulating its healthy production of natural oils.
Each individual will react differently, but we believe that shampoo bars are better in the long run. They are natural, plastic-free, sustainable, offer a great value, and they are extremely effective as a hair care product!
The Yellow Bird was started in 2015 with a simple goal: provide all-natural, chemical free products to nourish skin and promote overall health. What started as a single product business has blossomed into a thriving small business with products including artisan soaps, bath bombs, face oils, insect repellents, and more!
Our shampoo bars offer the sustainability of plastic free packaging with the effectiveness of traditional shampoo products. We are proud to make all of our soap and shampoo bars the old fashioned way: cold processed, by hand, and only in small batches. If you’re ready to take the plunge, check out the different variations we have or check out this page if you are not sure which bar is right for your hair.
To learn more about The Yellow Bird, explore our about us page or take the skincare quiz today!
Related Articles to Shampoo Bars:
Why Choose a Shampoo Bar?
The Number 1 Reason Shampoo Bars are Eco-Friendly
Tips and Troubleshooting for Hair Types and Shampoo Bar Transition
