Shampoo is a staple in every person’s hygienic routine, and most of us can’t imagine going without it for more than a day or two. People spend over $3 billion per year on shampoos just in the US alone!
Individual bottles of shampoo can range anywhere from $3-$40 and up. But did you know that the average bottle of liquid shampoo is actually 80% water?
That’s right; most of what you’re paying for when you buy shampoo is packaged water. Some shampoos are more concentrated than others, but for most of them, water is the first ingredient and makes up the majority of the product.
Lately, shampoo bars have been rising in popularity within the haircare community. It’s not surprising that a population that is increasingly more interested in reducing waste would be interested in a planet-friendly alternative to traditional shampoo.
Shampoo bars hit that mark and more – they are highly concentrated, last longer than bottled shampoo, don’t create plastic or water waste, and are usually made out of natural and safe ingredients.
The only problem is that they’re a little bit more costly than bottled shampoo. However, when you compare the cost, you have to keep in mind that shampoo bars last longer than their liquid counterparts, so it’s like comparing apples to oranges.
So, how long do shampoo bars last? While it depends on the brand and how much product you use for your hair, most shampoo bars can last up to 80-100 washes. Considering that bottled shampoo can last up to 35 washes, you’re getting at least twice as much use from the bar. But that’s not the only thing to keep in mind.
In this post, we will go over some of the other key differences between shampoo bars and bottled shampoo that you should consider before you decide which one to go with.
What Is A Shampoo Bar?
A shampoo bar (we suggest starting with this one from Klorane) is basically like a bar of soap but for your head. It’s made using the ingredients that normally go into bottled shampoo, but without all the added water. It’s solid and compressed into a brick or bar shape.
Although shampoo bars have been rising in popularity over the last 10-15 years, they are actually the original form of shampoo. Liquid shampoo became a thing in the 1940s, but prior to that, all shampoo came in bar form.
Thanks to the popularity of sustainable beauty movements, shampoo bars are having a comeback, and we’re here for it. Using a shampoo bar is no different than using a bar of soap. The bar starts to lather as soon as you hit it with water and rub it with your hands.
You can then transfer that lather onto your wet hair and continue lathering up your hair, much like you would with regular shampoo. Once your hair is covered in the shampoo, you can rinse it out with water – and you’re done! No need to “rinse and repeat.”
Here’s a handy visual tutorial on using and finding the right shampoo bar from Sedona Christina below!
Are Shampoo Bars More Cost-Effective Than Bottled Shampoo?
To contrast, an inexpensive bottle of shampoo goes for about $3 but you can only get 35 washes out of it. That comes out to $0.08 per wash. And that’s if you’re using the most affordable shampoo on the market!
If you want something with natural ingredients that are gentle on your hair, you will most likely pay closer to $7 per shampoo bottle, resulting in $0.20 per wash, which is more expensive per wash than the highest-price bar of shampoo from our example above.
As you can see, shampoo bars are typically more expensive up front, but they last much longer and end up saving you more money in the long run.
Not only do they last you longer, but because they are so concentrated you don’t need to lather up twice to get your hair clean. This can potentially save you even more money.
Shampoo bars also come in simple packaging – usually wrapped in paper or cardboard – which means you’re not paying for excessive plastic packaging.
Are Shampoo Bars Better For The Planet?
Aside from being more cost-effective, we can’t ignore that shampoo bars are better for the planet as well. While saving the environment doesn’t save you any money directly, it makes your life better in the long run.
Bottled shampoos are manufactured with a lot of water and packaged into a lot of plastic, which ends up in the landfill (or in our oceans).
Shampoo bars usually come in minimal packaging. The companies that make shampoo bars tend to stick to biodegradable packagings like recycled paper or cardboard. These things don’t linger in the environment as plastic does, and they certainly don’t poison our wildlife.
Shampoo bars tend to contain fewer preservatives, too. Because of the high water content in bottled shampoos, more preservatives need to be added to the product since water is the perfect breeding ground for various microorganisms, which can end up in our waterways (and aren’t healthy for your body either).
Do Shampoo Bars Work As Well As Liquid Shampoo?
If you’ve never used a shampoo bar before, you might be wondering if it will work on your hair as well as traditional shampoo. The short answer is yes, but you might need to get used to them.
When you first start using a shampoo bar, you might notice that your hair feels a little waxy after a wash – this is a temporary feeling that happens during the “transitional” phase. Your hair and scalp will get used to the shampoo bar, and eventually this sensation will go away!
It may take some trial and error for you to find the right shampoo bar for you. Just like liquid shampoos, shampoo bars have different ingredients and are often marketed to different hair types. It might take you some time to find “the one” for you, but there are many resources online.
The majority of the ingredients in solid shampoos are the same as liquid shampoos. For example, if you have dry hair and like to use shea butter shampoo in liquid form, you can find a shampoo bar that contains shea butter and is formulated for dry hair.
What About Conditioner Bars?
Conditioner bars also exist, so if you want to replace your bottled conditioner with a more eco-friendly version – you can do it (although you don’t have to if you don’t want to). It’s perfectly okay to use a shampoo bar followed up by a regular bottled conditioner. Or vice-versa. You can mix and match your products as you wish.
Just like shampoo bars, conditioner bars are just the concentrated versions of the bottled product. Without all the added water, the conditioner ingredients get concentrated into a solid bar. You can put some water on the bar to activate it and transfer the creamy goodness onto your hair.
Conditioner bars last for around 80 washes, which makes them more economical than liquid conditioners.
Do Shampoo Bars Expire?
Yes, shampoo bars can expire just like liquid shampoo. Opened bottles of liquid shampoo generally expire after 6-12 months. Shampoo bars tend to last a little longer before you need to toss them – about 12-14 months.
It’s important to keep in mind that these are just guidelines – you would have to check the packaging for your specific shampoo type. Expiration dates can vary greatly due to the types of ingredients in them.
As a general rule of thumb, solid shampoos and conditioners last longer simply because they don’t contain a lot of water, which is what can often make the liquid shampoos become unusable after some time.
Final Thoughts
Shampoo bars have a lot of advantages: they are concentrated and provide you with more washes than bottled shampoo. They can last a long time before expiring. They are more eco-friendly and less wasteful.
Despite being slightly higher in price than the average liquid shampoo, we think they are worth the money in the long run. When divided by the number of washes you’ll get out of them, they are actually more cost-effective than regular shampoos.
However, using a bar instead of a liquid shampoo can take some getting used to. You might not know how much to use the first few times you try it.
You might also go through a transitional period for the first 1-3 weeks after switching to a shampoo bar where your scalp won’t be used to the new product. If you feel that you can overcome some of these inconveniences, then shampoo bars might be a great option for you.
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