Many of us try a lot of different products and techniques in our hair care routine. One of the least known products for cleansing hair is a shampoo bar. While these look much like a typical bar of soap, they do take some getting used to and there are definitely some tricks to getting the most from using one. A shampoo bar is different from liquid shampoo mainly in the same ways that bar soap is different than liquid soap. Bar shampoos, and soaps, tend to have a pH value between 8 and 10, making them alkaline and able to interfere with the normal acid levels of your skin. This does not mean that shampoo bars are harsh, because they are typically very gentle cleansers, but I highly recommend using an acidic rinse after washing with a shampoo bar.
Another thing to think about is how often you wash your hair, if you shampoo every single day, then a shampoo bar might not be the best choice for you. However, if you have experimented enough with your hair care routine discover that your hair is better looking and behaved when you wash it two, sometimes three, times a week then this might be a viable option for you.
After figuring out what a shampoo bar is, the next thing people wonder is why they might want to use a bar instead of typical liquid shampoo. For some of us, the reason is simple, because it is an option and we continually try new things to maintain the healthiest hair possible. For others, the experimentation with a shampoo bar might come purely from curiosity or a recommendation from a trusted friend. One reason to make the decision to use shampoo bars is that they can be made with fewer ingredients, and more natural ingredients, than liquid versions. There is no need for some of the preservatives in shampoo bars that you are likely to find in most liquid shampoos.
Another reason to try bar shampoo is based purely on practicality. A shampoo bar can be used on skin, from your scalp and face down to your toes. One cleanser in the shower can save time and resources, and come in really handy if you enjoy camping. A single bar for clean up is great, and the fact that it is a bar rather than a liquid eliminates the chances of shampoo or soap explosion in your bags. Less to carry with you and less possibility of a packing disaster, two good reasons to travel with shampoo bars.
Now for the tricky part, how to use a shampoo bar and achieve the best results. Your results might vary, depending on your hair length and hardness of your water. When I use a shampoo bar I typically lather twice. First, I apply the shampoo to wet hair using a combing motion, starting at the scalp with the hair closest to the face and working back to the nape of my neck. Then, I use my hands to lather up the shampoo that the bar has deposited in my hair. Massage the scalp and hair well, working up a nice lather. You might need to Add more water to your hair to achieve a full lather. Sometimes I use the bar to add more shampoo to my hair at this point, other times the shampoo has lathered enough that I do not need to. Since the shampoo bars tend to be very gentle, your massaging of hair and scalp is a mechanical and necessary part of the cleansing process.
When I feel that the shampoo has lathered enough, and that my hair is clean I rinse my hair well. I then repeat the earlier lathering process, using a wide toothed comb to ensue that the lather is distributed throughout all my hair, and removing any tangles that might have been caused while massaging and lathering. With the second lather, I usually let the shampoo sit in my hair, particularly the ends, while I take care of other things in they shower. This lets the ingredients of the bar do their part to moisturize my hair. Then, I completely rinse all lather from my hair.
I usually follow up with an apple cider vinegar rinse, one part vinegar to three parts water or herbal tea. The final step is a rinse in cold water, the colder the better. If you are concerned about the vinegar scent, have no fear it will be gone completely once you hair dries. Then you can enjoy the scent left behind by the shampoo bar or herbs you might have used in the vinegar rinse.
As I said before, your results may vary, and you might want to tweak this routine to better fit your hair’s needs. Also remember that you should allow for an adjustment period for you hair when making changes in your hair care routine. You might notice changes with the first wash, not all of the favorable. I highly suggest giving any major routine change a month before declaring it a success or failure. Let your hair and scalp adapt to the changes, your body will change the amount of oil it produces as you change your care routine, so give everything a chance to settle down before throwing in the towel or tossing your previously favored products.
Some of the shampoo bars that I have tried, and highly recommend, are from Chagrin Valley Soap and Craft Company. My favorites include Rosemary Lavender Aloe, Babassu & Marshmallow, Rosemary Mint (a bar that combines my two favorite herbs for hair and beauty treatments), Chamomile & Citrus, Herb Garden, Summer Sunshine, Nettle, and Olive Babassu. I also trust products from Lush and Mehandi. I highly suggest trying some sample sizes before ordering the full size of any bar, since a single bar of shampoo lasts for a fairly long time. They last much longer that any bottle of commercial liquid shampoo. Experiment, have fun, and enjoy trying something new that can be great for you and your hair.
