Bar Shampoo And Conditioner: The Easiest Sustainable Shower Swaps Yet?
Are you looking for easy sustainable swaps to make in your life? Using shampoo and conditioner bars rather than liquids in plastic containers is a small change that can make a big difference. Depending on your hair type, there are almost no downsides to making the increasingly popular transition. In fact, before the 1940s, it was actually more common for shampoo to be sold and used in bar form, according to Public Goods. People are returning to this traditional version for a multitude of reasons.
Shampoo and conditioner bars are made by concentrating the ingredients and drying all the water out of them to maintain their shape. They're usually manufactured with clean ingredients by smaller companies that hold their products to high ethical standards because they care about the environment and their customers. This creates a safe product, both for the people using it on their hair and the earth. Here's why they're the ultimate sustainable shower swap you should be making.
Cut down on plastic and water use
Shampoo and conditioner bars are sustainable for many reasons. The main reason why people are switching over is that they don't have to be packaged in plastic. The shampoos that line the shelves at your local store are mainly liquid in a plastic bottle that will end up in the garbage when you've finished it. It's reported that about 91% of plastic isn't recycled and ends up in landfills or the ocean (via rePurpose).
Meanwhile, with bars, they can be sold in cardboard boxes, wrapped in paper (or with nothing at all). Then you'll be able to compost or recycle the packaging. There's also no worry about getting your money's worth and ensuring you use every bit of your conditioner. When your bar is almost gone, just stick the tiny piece to your new one.
Bar soaps are also formulated with less water, making them more concentrated so they last longer. The exact time depends on how often you wash your hair and how much shampoo and conditioner you use. Although, you can expect it to last longer than a liquid product in a bottle. Keep your bars in a spot that allows them to drain and dry between showers. If they're sitting in a pile of water, they'll dissolve and won't last as long.
They're simple to use
Switching to an eco-friendly version of shampoo and conditioner is so easy because you don't have to learn a new way to wash your hair. There's even less of a learning curve if you've used bar body wash before, since all you have to do is redirect that process to your head. The first step when shampooing is to get your hair saturated with warm water. Then wet your bar; you can either lather it by rubbing it between your hands and into your hair or put it directly on your head. Once you have enough shampoo, work the product over your scalp. Rinse your hair out with water, and then you can go to the next step in your shower routine.
Conditioner bars work the same way as shampoo. Although, they will turn into more of a creamy texture than a soapy lather. Moisten your conditioner bar and work the product into the ends of your hair. Then all you have to do is rinse it out, and your hair is ready for styling.