Lather Up: How to Use a Shampoo Bar

If your goal is to give your household a low-waste upgrade, start in the bathroom. Your shower caddy is packed with plastic, from your face wash to your shampoo bottles to the little brushes and scrubs you use to get rid of all the dirt and grime after a long day. And we all know plastic can take hundreds of years to fully degrade, and that’s not good for our planet. But don’t stress because there are a couple of ways to give bath time an earthling-friendly upgrade, and one of them is the small but mighty shampoo bar. 

What Is a Shampoo Bar?

So what is a shampoo bar, exactly? This revolutionary little bath staple is similar to a regular bar of soap, only it’s designed for washing your hair. Because it’s made into a bar rather than a liquid, it requires no wasteful, slow-to-degrade plastic bottling. Yep, it’s a bonafide plastic-free shampoo option that’s guaranteed to become your new go-to hygiene companion at home and away.

Step One: Find an Above-Par Bar

The first step in proper usage is to find the right bar. Like all bath and body products, shampoo bars come in a massive variety of options and not all of them are created equally. If you’re looking for the best shampoo bar for daily use and want one that’s actually better for the planet, make sure to choose one that ticks all the following boxes.

• A good shampoo bar contains no bad stuff that could hurt you or the planet, like SLS, preservatives, parabens, fillers or silicones.
• A good shampoo bar should be manufactured in the U.S. The fact is, the closer it is to home, the less resources and waste is required to get it to you.
• A good shampoo bar should be travel-friendly. Who says you have to take a dozen little plastic bottles with you the next time you go on vacation? Choose a TSA-friendly shampoo bar for easy travel.
• A good shampoo bar should be made with plastic-free packaging. We’ve come this far. Why ruin a good thing? Our high-quality shampoo bars are made with 100 percent compostable packaging.
• A good shampoo bar smells great. You want to emerge from your scrub sesh smelling amazing, so go for nicely scented options, like Sweet Sandalwood, Wild Vanilla or Simple Fresh.

How to Use a Shampoo Bar

Let’s not complicate things! Using a shampoo bar is as simple as rinse, lather, repeat. Seriously though, it’s all about applying the soap — either from the bar itself or from your hands — into your scalp and hair. Make sure to store your shampoo bar on a wooden soap dish-- these soap dishes are definitely necessary if you want to preserve the life of your shampoo bar in the shower. Follow the instructions below for the perfect plastic-free clean.

Technique One: Rub the Bar Directly onto Hair

With this technique, the soapy lather happens in the middle of the action. Foregoing a pre-lather can be a time-saver, but it might require some extra elbow grease.

• Wet your hair and your bar. You won’t get far with a dry bar! Make sure your hair and the bar itself are thoroughly wet.
• Apply the bar directly to your hair, rubbing all over your head and distributing the shampoo throughout while working up a nice lather in the scalp and strands. 
• Thoroughly rinse your hair, making sure to rinse out all of the remaining soap and lather before you get out of the shower.

Technique Two: Rub the Bar in Your Hands to Create a Pre-Lather

With this method, it’s all about the pre-lather. If you like the idea of going from bar to head with plenty of bubbles in tow, go this route.

• Wet the bar in your hands to create a lather. First, wet your hands and the bar. Rub the bar in between your palms and fingertips to work up a nice hearty lather.
• Apply the soap to your hair. After step one, your hands should be full of shampoo lather. Now apply the soap in your hands directly to your hair, working it into the scalp and strands. 
• Thoroughly rinse your hair, making sure to rinse out all of the remaining soap and lather before you get out of the shower.

Doing Our Part to Eliminate Plastic Waste

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but your standard self-care protocol may be a bit wasteful. Indeed, nearly eight billion units of plastic are generated each year for beauty personal care products. But using a shampoo bar and other plastic-free products is a great way to help reduce your contribution to global plastic waste. At The Earthling Co., we’re here to help you do it in style!