These Shampoo Bars Promise Soft AF Hair (And Minimize Waste)

We’re all for living that zero waste life when we can and greening up our beauty routine with eco-friend(lier) products, but let’s be serious: it can be a struggle. As creatures of habit, we’re used to reaching for – and using – what we’ve grown to love.

Even though brands are going the extra mile with recycled packaging and organic ingredients, as well as putting an emphasis on ethical production practices, buying stuff still means more stuff harming our planet.

That’s where low-waste shampoo bars come in. According to Flow Cosmetics founder Riitta Jänkälä, washing your hair with organic shampoo bars and vinegar-based hair rinses will help you get rid of dirt, grime, and product, including chemicals. The result is a snatched mane with plenty of structure and no empties to deal with afterward.

Behold seven shampoo bars we’re obsessed with at the moment, because not only do they smell reallllllly good and travel well, but they cleanse without stripping thanks to organic, gentler formulas. Read on if you’re ready to make the switch.

Flow Cosmetics Brunette, Blonde and Henna Red Shampoo Bars, $13 each

Source: Flow Cosmetics

In addition to hemp shampoo bars and an intensive creamy conditioner bar, Flow customizes its shampoo bars according to hair color. Rosemary and indigo add shine and deepen the color of dark and brown hair, all-natural lemon, marigold, and chamomile brighten blonde hair and naturally nourishing henna herb (Lawsonia Inermis) revives red hair. PS, their bars come in boxes made from 100% recyclable carton, so no plastic waste here.

Odacite 552M Argan + Coconut Soap-Free Shampoo Bar, $29

Source: Odacite

522 million shampoo and conditioner bottles are thrown away every year, hence Odacite’s name for its sustainable soap-free bar. Infused with argan, coconut, jojoba, and orange oil, it’s suitable for all hairstyles – from the super coiled to the pin-straight – and it saves the equivalent of three plastic shampoo bottles, or about 60-80 washes.

SheaMoisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Rhassoul Clay Shampoo Bar, $10

Source: Shea Moisture

Curly girls will love this mineral-rich shampoo bar that blasts away impurities, while cleansing and absorbing excess oil. Plus anything made with coconut oil smells like vacation and we’re about that life. Rhassoul clay also rehydrates and leaves locks crazy soft to the touch. To use, simply massage your wet scalp with the curved edges of the bar until there’s a lather, then rinse and follow with conditioner.

100 Senses The Ultimate Body Bar, $26

Source: 100 Senses

Say bye-bye to shower clutter with this all-in-one shampoo-shower-shave bar that’s 100% void of soap. The quad-milled derm-designed Ultimate Body Bar is non-drying, has an ideal 5.5 pH, and delivers a luxe creamy lather for your skin and scalp. It also comes in three delicious fragrances (Green Tea, Wild Lavender, and Citrus Neroli) or in a fragrance-free option.

Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo Bar with Aloe Vera, $22

Source: Christophe Robin

If your tresses are thirsty from over-heating, over-styling, and over-fussing with them, give Parisian colorist Christophe Robin’s shampoo bar a go. This solid sudser is a blend of aloe vera, natural glycerin, and castor oil, and it’s free from synthetic agents and made with very little water. Robin suggests giving yourself 2-5 shampoos to become fully accustomed to the bar – and to start seeing revitalized results.

Meow Meow Tweet Rosemary Avocado Shampoo Bar, $12

Source: Meow Meow

Free of sulfates and surfactants, this is a valid option for color-treated strands, or anyone wanting their hair (and bod) to smell like a dreamy garden. Rich avocado oil and aloe vera condition and soften, rosemary and hops flowers promote scalp health and some serious luster, and reviewers even commented that they didn’t need a leave-in moisturizer after using this gem. That’s how moisturizing it is. It also earns high marks for being certified organic and fair trade.

Ethique Hair Sampler, $16

Source: ethique

Ethique (French for ‘ethical’) is the first beauty brand to develop an entirely solid product range and their Hair Sampler offers strand solutions for everyone. Choose from: Frizz Wrangler Shampoo, Heali Kiwi Shampoo, Wonderbar Conditioner, Saint Clements Shampoo, and The Guardian Conditioner. The concentrated formulas last 2-5 times longer than bottled ones and these heart-shaped shampoos come in 100% dissolvable and compostable sleeves.

Bask and Bloom Rhassoul and Bentonite Clay Shampoo Bar, $9

Source: Bask & Bloom

If you’re trying to cut back on how often you shampoo and how much you use, this multi-tasking cleansing bar should be at the top of your list. Formulated with all-natural ingredients including mineral-rich Rhassoul clay, detoxifying bentonite clay, and hydrating honey, it gives an intense cleanse that effortlessly removes product build-up. Thanks to the amal powder and honey content, it’ll also nourish the hair strands and promote healthy hair growth. Plus, it doubles up as a facial cleanser – we’re sold on anything that cuts our morning routine in half!

Would you guys make the trade? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.