Have you been reading more and more about how our plastics are not really being recycled? Articles like this one and this one. Yeah, me, too!
Now, more than ever, is the time to curb our plastic usage as much as possible. What is exciting is that it's becoming more and more easy and accessible to do so.
I've been using Shampoo Bars for almost two years now and I can't imagine ever going back to regular shampoo in a plastic bottle for two reasons. One, Shampoo Bars work just as well as regular shampoo. That is because one of the biggest differences between a bar of shampoo and liquid shampoo is water. The liquid type is pumped full of water.
The other reason is that Shampoo Bars last a long time - for me on average about six months if I wash my hair every other day or every two days (which is best for my hair because it's very dry naturally), which means I'm spending about $2.33 a month on shampoo with the average Shampoo Bar costing $14.00. I'm pretty frugal (reads cheap) so when I saw the initial price point of the bar I balked a little until that beautiful moment six months later when I realized I had finally run out and needed to go buy another one.
Originally, I used Lush Shampoo Bars (and their Conditioner Bars as well). I emailed the company to make sure that the ingredients were biodegradable (because greenwashing happens everywhere it seems!). I was told that in normal sewer systems, the ingredients found in the bars are biodegradable and not to worry. I read this as don't use these products in rivers or streams if you're going camping.
Recently, however, I stumbled upon The Soap Kitchen in Pasadena. It's family owned and operated and I impulsively bought a bar of their Rosemary Lavender Shampoo Bar Soap (because how could I resist trying a new Shampoo Bar?!). I asked the owner's mother, who was working at the shop, about conditioner and she said they don't offer it because it wasn't needed. She was right! The Lush Shampoo Bars dried my hair out but the Soap Kitchen ones don't. There is no need for conditioner with their Shampoo Bars. I still put a little Olive Oil on the dry areas of my hair (tips and a bit in the front) but it's a much gentler soap that does really well on my extremely dry hair.
This excerpt is directly from their website (www.soapkitchen.com):
"But why bar soap instead of liquid? It takes about 5 times more energy to produce a bottle of liquid soap than a bar of soap. Liquid soaps almost always contain synthetic lathering agents, or sulfates, which can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. And because of their water content, they also often contain harmful preservatives, such as parabens, which are known hormone disruptors and carcinogens. We believe that going back to basics with handmade bar soaps is the wave of the future. Not only is it more healthy and gentle on the skin, but it's easier on the environment, too."
I love that with buying their soap, I'm supporting small business and of course, not creating more plastic in the world. You can buy right off of their website and they will ship to you if you aren't located anywhere near Los Angeles.
If you would like to check out other options, Shampoo Bars can be found through these amazing Zero Waste stores as well (when you buy from them you're also supporting small businesses that are trying to make a big positive impact):
If you're new to Shampoo Bars, I highly recommend trying them out. When using, you can either lather in your hands and rub the lather into your hair and scalp, or rub the bar directly onto your head. I usually lather.
Thanks for reading and all that you do!