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Shampoo bars have been around for centuries, long before modern liquid shampoo. But these bars are making a big comeback and for a good reason. They help reduce plastic waste by concentrating their cleaning power into a small block that does not require plastic for preservation purposes.
A single shampoo bar can often be used the same amount of times as several bottles of liquid shampoo, meaning they are perfect for minimalists who are looking to reduce the number of products they use and save space in the bathroom. Some shampoo bars also act as conditioner and body wash too...convenient, right?
There are a lot of shampoo bars on the market today. To help you choose the right product for your needs, we have listed some of our favorite bars that you should consider before making a purchase. You can read about these later in our article. First, check out our selection of premium shampoo bars in 2024 below!
Detailing Our Favorite Shampoo Bars of 2024
Ethique Shampoo Bar — Best Overall
Key Features
- Equal to three bottles of liquid shampoo
- PH balanced
- Soap-free
- Variety of fragrances available
- A variety of bars for different hair types
- Vegan and cruelty-free
This shampoo bar provides the same amount of washes as three bottles of liquid shampoo, which means not only do you save money and space in your bathroom, but you are also helping save the environment.
All the soaps in this product line are PH balanced, vegan, and plant-based. The PH-balanced nature of these bars will help regulate your hair's natural oil production, so it’s great to use if you have greasy hair. In addition, this range includes shampoo bars that are great for normal hair.
The product range also includes shampoo bars for dry/normal hair and a shampoo and shaving bar. This range comes in many fragrances, so there is something to suit everyone.
Superzero Shampoo Bar — Nature-Friendly
Key Features
- Equivalent to three 8.4 oz shampoo bottles
- Packaged in eco-friendly packaging
- Suitable for dry, damaged, and color-treated hair
- Vegan-friendly
- Certified micro-plastic free
The Superzero Restoring & Repairing Shampoo Bar contains plant-derived squalane, hemisqualane, and macadamia oil esters that help revive dead-looking strands. It helps increase moisture levels, reduce frizz and hair breakage, and improve shine.
It has an amazingly restorative effect on dry and damaged hair. It creates a rich lather that covers your hair, providing necessary nourishment and locking in moisture. The result is beautiful, soft, and shiny hair.
One of these shampoo bars is equal to up to three bottles of liquid shampoo. You can easily carry it with you without excess weight burdening you down. Plus, it arrives in recyclable packaging for 90% less carbon emissions.
J.R.Liggett's All-Natural Shampoo Bar — Runner-Up
Key Features
- All-natural nourishing ingredients
- Vegan and plant-based
- Hand-cut
- Available in a variety of fragrances
- Conditioner bar available
- PH balance
This product contains antioxidants and vitamins to create vibrant and nourished hair. This vegan shampoo bar is made from all-natural ingredients, including olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, argan oil, and vitamin E.
This bar removes built-up sebum that clogs the hair follicles. After a couple of weeks of using this hair bar, you will notice your hair has a beautiful but non-greasy shine to it. You can use this product on all hair types and even sensitive skin!
This premium shampoo bar is hand-cut using a hundred-year-old recipe, and you may find that this nourishing shampoo bar negates the need for a conditioner. However, if you do want to use a conditioner, this range also includes a conditioning bar.
Superzero Restore And Repair Shampoo Bar — Honorable Mention
Key Features
- pH balance
- Vegan
- Natural ingredients
- Certified climate neutral
- 90% lower carbon footprint than equivalent liquid shampoos
- Superzero is a member of 1% for the planet
Superzero's shampoo bar is formulated to tackle dry and damaged hair. It is also great for use with color-treated or frizzy hair. This hair bar nourishes your hair while gently cleansing and its PH-balanced nature creates a satisfying lather, just like liquid shampoo.
You may find that you no longer need to use a conditioner after prolonged use of this gorgeous shampoo bar. This product is even made from vegan ingredients and contains no palm oil, sulfates, parabens, silicones, phthalates, or harsh soaps.
This company is certified climate-neutral, and this product has a 90% lower carbon footprint than many liquid shampoos. This company is a member of 1% for the planet, which contributes to a greener, healthier, plastic-free world.
Love Beauty And Planet 2-in-1 Shampoo — Also Consider
Key Features
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Natural ingredients
- Suited for thinning hair
- Shampoo and conditioner
- The gorgeous scent of mimosa flower
- It contains organic coconut water
Cut the cost of conditioners and reduce your plastic waste by purchasing this two-in-one shampoo and conditioner bar. In addition, this gently cleansing bar will make fine and thin hair seem thicker with volume.
The bar is infused with the scent of mimosa flowers and nourishing organic coconut water. It is perfectly safe and will improve the color of colored hair. It is silicone-, paraben-, dye-, and phthalate-free.
This hair bar lathers up for a luxurious and relaxing experience and is great for detangling dry and unruly hair. It is cruelty-free and vegan, so you are sure to love this product.
Acure Coconut Argan Shampoo Bar
Key Features
- Three-in-one product: shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
- Vegan
- Contains natural ingredients
- Can even be used on dogs
- Lovely scent
- Coconut oil-based
If you want a product that does everything, you should consider buying the Acure Coconut Argan and Shampoo Bar. This vegan and cruelty-free shampoo bar can actually be used all over the body.
This shampoo bar is made using natural ingredients, including coconut oil, argan oil, sunflower oil, acai, and goji, to nourish your body and hair. Purchasing this product will also nourish your soul, knowing you are saving plastic waste on several products.
This product will save you a lot of money, as it is the only product you need to achieve healthy and radiant skin and hair. It is sulfate-, paraben-, mineral oil-, formaldehyde-, and petroleum-free.
Buyer's Guide: Shampoo Bars
Things to Consider When Choosing a Shampoo Bar
To choose the right shampoo bar, you should consider the following factors.
Hair type
Choose your hair bar based on your hair type. Most bars list the hair types they are for. This should be the first thing you look for when you shop for a shampoo bar. You will find products for dry hair, normal hair, and greasy hair, so you’ll want to choose the bar that best fits how you would describe your hair.
Other conditions
If your hair is colored, look for a shampoo bar that will prolong the vibrancy of the color. If your hair is thinning, look for one that stimulates hair growth. And, if you suffer from dandruff, look for a bar that has anti-dandruff properties.
Scent
The scent of a hair bar should be appealing to you. After all, smelling good will give you the most confidence to be your best self all day long. So, smell the shampoo bar if you can; if you purchase the shampoo bar online, you can get a good idea of the bar’s smell based on the ingredients used and the customer reviews.
Handmade
Look for handmade shampoo bars. During the manufacturing process for soap, vegetable glycerin is often extracted. Vegetable glycerin will help your scalp maintain a balanced PH. Without it, your skin can be left feeling dry.
Ingredients
Always read the ingredients on the packaging. There are many beneficial ingredients for your hair (too many to list here, honestly). But, you can find them online with a quick google search.
Similarly, if you are unsure of a listed ingredient, google it and find out; or, ask the manufacturer.
Ingredients to avoid
Some, but not many, shampoo bars contain ingredients you should avoid, such as preservatives and sulfates. Preservatives such as formaldehyde are known carcinogens.
Parabens are a commonly used preservative and can damage your body after prolonged use by mimicking estrogen. This has been linked to the growth of breast cancer cells.
Multi-purpose
If you want to save space in your bathroom and save dollars in your pocket, you may wish to purchase a shampoo bar that can be used on other areas of your body. For example, some shampoo bars act as a shampoo and conditioner, and others can be used as an all-in-one full body and hair soap.
Uneven surface
An uneven surface creates an easy-grip soap. Some bars of shampoo have a naturally uneven look, and others will have a carved logo that works well as a graspable textured surface.
Size
You can get large bars or the same amount in smaller bars, which will last better. Some companies allow you to cut off the exact size you want from a large block of soap, but most sell soap in pre-set sizes.
Length of time a bar lasts
While the size of a shampoo bar is a good signal of how long it will last, it is not definitive. Some products have larger sizes than others, so a larger bar might last the same amount of time as a smaller bar by a different brand.
Many companies will clearly label how long a shampoo bar should last. However, you still need to take the length and thickness of your hair into account when figuring this number out.
Unscented
Choose an unscented shampoo bar if you have sensitive skin. Alternatively, choose one that advertises itself as being suitable for sensitive skin.
PH balanced
PH balance products also work well with sensitive skin. PH balanced products allow your hair to become more balanced in terms of your scalp’s oil production. If you have greasy hair, it will start getting greasier before it gets better, but stick with it; it will get better in the end.
Plant-based and vegan
If you are vegan or buying for a vegan, you will want to purchase a product that is not tested on animals or uses any animal product, such as honey, to make it. There are plenty of vegan options on the market, and because it is a huge selling point, most companies advertise that their product is vegan.
Eco-friendly
One of the benefits of using a shampoo bar is that it is better for the environment. This is because it uses smaller packaging than most shampoo bottles. For example, some bars are equal to three shampoo bottles, so you can imagine how much plastic you would save in a year.
To ensure your purchase is even more eco-friendly, purchase a shampoo bar that comes in recyclable packaging.
Customer reviews
When you have found a product you like the look of, read its accompanying customer reviews. This will let you know if the product is true as advertised and if many allergic reactions have been associated with it. There are so many shampoo bars available that you don’t need to buy a product that is anything less than fantastic to you.
How We Chose the Top Shampoo Bars
To choose the best shampoo bar, we considered the ingredients used and how well conditioned our scalp and hair felt after using the product. We also believed how pleasant the scent is and whether the product is good-value-for-money were important factors, too. We read many customer reviews and only recommend products that have been tried and tested and are popular with most customers.
