How To Use Shampoo Bars
People seem a bit bewildered by Shampoo Bars and how to use them, when in fact it’s really about going back to basics and just using it like you would do a soap bar. I've done an easy step by step tutorial below and there is also a video in my Instagram story highlights (@theecofriendlylivingco).
I’m using the Superfly Soaps Lemongrass shampoo bar for this tutorial and it’s also the one I use on my hair. It's plastic free, SLS free and an all vegan recipe. Not only are they eco-friendly but they are also better for you and your hair due to more natural recipes they use. The lemongrass shampoo is aimed at normal to oily hair. 
STEP 1: Before using your shampoo bar, cut it into smaller pieces and just use it piece by piece. This helps it to last longer by reducing any wastage in the shower. I also highly recommend using a soap dish as again this will help keep your soap fresher for longer.
STEP 2: Just lather the bar up under the shower water. One of the plus sides of using natural shampoo bars is that they don’t contain detergent. Most commercial shampoos include detergent which creates this lather. You won’t find it in any natural shampoo bars as you don’t need it. Detergents actually strip hair from its natural oil, cause dry skin and they are linked to many hair and skin conditions. With this in mind, don’t expect lots of soapy lather from your shampoo bar as you simply don’t need it.
STEP 3: You don’t need a lot but when you’ve lathered up run your hands through the strands of your hair or you can run the bar straight through your hair from root to tip then simply rinse out.
TOP TIPS
One of the main things to remember when using shampoo bars is to allow time for your hair to detox. For years most of us we have been washing our hair in shampoos filled with chemicals so it may need an adjustment period. Most of us have a coating of products on our hair from the commercial shampoos we’ve used beforehand. This residue could be silicones which coat the hair to create an illusion of 'shininess’, it will only last for a short time. You can use a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar to combat that residue quicker.
If you live in a hard water area then the water may struggle to get any product out of your hair so make sure you give you’re hair an extra scrub. If you're struggling with excess residue try mixing a teaspoon of baking soda and water and work that through your hair. The baking soda will help to strip your hair of the silicones. Then use your shampoo bar as normal and finish off with working some raw apple cider vinegar mixed with water through your hair. This will help to balance out the use of baking soda.
However, if you want to avoid residue in your hair altogether then consider switching to one the Zero Waste Path 2in1 shampoo bars. These shampoo bars are PH balanced and made with gentle, biodegradeable surfactants (made from coconut) so do not need that acid rinse. The bars are made for specific hair types and the recipes include specific ingredients to combat any issues including dry hair, curly hair and itchy scalp.
I've also been asked so many times if they can be used on dry hair, curly hair, greasy hair etc and the answer is yes, sulphate free shampoo bars are the best shampoo to use on all hair types. For those with curly hair, I have recently come across hair care expert Lorraine Massey who introduced The Curly Girl Method in her book “Curly Girl: The Handbook.” It's a hair care method that trades in damaging hair habits for a healthy curly hair regimen using just conditioner and gel. You can wean yourself off shampoo altogether by cutting down over time, or she recommends just using a sulphate-free shampoo if that’s not something you want to do. It is also similar to the "no poo" method.
At The Eco Friendly Living Co we stock the Superfly Soaps Shampoo & Conditioner Bars, the Zero Waste Path range of shampoo bars and 2in1 shampoo bars and Sintra Naturals Shampoo & Conditioner Bars. Both ranges are SLS-free, vegan and completely plastic-free.
Once you’ve detoxed your hair and converted to an SLS free shampoo bar you’ll not only have beautiful, natural & additive free hair but you’ll also help reduce the number of shampoo bottles that end up in landfill thanks to this zero waste product. To see our range visit the website www.theecofriendlylivingco.co.uk.