Shampoo Bars (everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask).

They have different ingredients, which affects the prices. If the ingredients in the less expensive one work for you, of course you should stick with it. But I strongly recommend reading the ingredient list, because different people will respond to different formulations.

 

And, as noted way above, particularly if you have scalp problems, you will want to avoid any bars that contain SLS, SCS, and/or SLES.

 

I agree, but I don't have any real scalp issues, I just need something to wash my hair. After reading about the issues with some of the ingredients in regular shampoo I decided to try something different. The Soap Works site gives all of the ingredients in their soaps, here's what they show for the shampoo bars. It has a nice, pleasant smell and I can pick it up locally which is good.



Shampoo & Conditioner Bar

Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Palm Kernel Acid, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Aloe Barbadadensis Leaf, Talc, Parfum (Cedarleaf*, Eucalyptus*, Galbanum*, Orange*, Wormwood*)

 

Sounds like a good basic product. Having scalp issues, I need the stuff with the more expensive ingredients. But any bar that is SLS-free should be an improvement over liquid shampoos. Isn't it good to know that we can use a better product that is also cheaper & better for the environment?

 

Yes, it is. My wife and 17 year old daughter are slowly moving towards the shampoo bars, finding they take up less space than the big pump bottles of shampoo and conditioners they have in their bathrooms. The Soap Works bars don't have any kind of package at all, the bars are displayed individually at the store so all you end up with is the small brown sack the clerk puts them in, which of course can be declined.

 

That is great! I like it when you have the option of keeping packaging to a minimum.

 

A little more info- I have been using the GoatsMilk Soap Creations shampoo & conditioner bars for a bit more than a week now. I still love the shampoo bar. My hair is clean & the redness around my hairline is completely gone. The itch & flakes are reduced by about 80%. The conditioner bar is only fair, though. I can get a comb through my hair, but it could be much smoother. I will probably stick to bar shampoos & liquid conditioners.

 

Glad you found a combo that works and treats you well! You might want to try some of the oils listed above for a conditioner. Just a thought. I've become partial to Desert Essence Coconut Conditioner every few days. But, I've also had good results with straight jojoba oil. Straight coconut oil, I find, is better as a leave in for a while or over night then wash out. Jojoba can be left in.

 

I use a Jojoba oil/shea butter blend, for a leave-in, every few weeks. But I need a daily rinse that gets out the tangles & smooths my hair, as well.

 

I can't use regular cold process soaps as a shampoo bar. It makes my hair feel like straw. I prefer a syndet shampoo bar like this one. http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com/search?q=shampoo+bar

 

I have recently found one solid conditioner that acts like a conditioner. ( Some are really shampoo bars with some extra oils or butters) It's the one from Get Lathered. That is not a soap, but a real conditioner. It works about as well as a liquid. Honestly not better, but it lasts a long time, is good for travel & uses less packaging.

 

Update- the last soap I used (from GoatsmilkSoapCreations) lasted 8 weeks- a good value, even with the shipping cost. This week I started the JR Liggett Tea Tree & Hemp oil bar. Good lather, no irritation & minimal flaking. My only complaint is that it smells funny. (It has no added scent; this is just the smell of the ingredients.)

 

Do you have a link for the goat?

 

Here it is;
http://www.goatsmilksoapcreations.com.au/8-hair-bars
Thy are in Australia. They will ship to the US, but e-mail them for rates.

 

I've got a few more days left in the Soap Works shampoo bar I wrote about before it gets too small to use. It gave me over two months use which I don't think is bad for $2 and some change, considering I have really long hair and wash it every single day. I will definitely grab another bar of this in the next couple of days.

 

It's nice that they work better than liquid shampoos AND are cost effective. I feel so much better that it wouldn't bother me if they cost more. So the low cost is a nice bonus.

 

Lemon juice is indeed a good alternative to vinegar and was considered the rinse of choice for blonds "back in the day".

 

hmm interesting write-up, i seen some before and always wondered about them...im pretty sure my hair got messed up from the shampoo and all the hair products i used in grade school

i might try one of these bars out, but in the mean time i just rinse my afro and slap some coconut oil every other day...reduced my flakes and keeps my hair smooth...downside it does get super oily after a couple of days but oh well i already look like a bum according to people