Switching to solid bars for your shampoo and conditioner is a trending, eco-friendly upgrade to your hair care routine. If you’re new to shampoo and conditioner bars, here’s a friendly guide on how to clean your hair thoroughly and condition it for silky, frizz-free, healthy hair.
1. Prep Your Hair
Wet your hair thoroughly just as you would when using traditional liquid shampoo and conditioner.
2. Lather Up the Shampoo Bar
Two main methods:
In Your Hands: Rub the bar between wet palms until you get a foamy lather, then apply to your scalp and hair.
Swipe Directly Onto Your Hair: Glide the bar gently along your wet hair—focusing on the roots and scalp first, then move down to the tips. If you have a thick or long hair, you may want to section your hair into sections and swipe the bar roots to tips by section. You really don’t need much product at all to create a nice lather that will cleanse your scalp and hair. Just a few swipes of the bar directly onto your hair is all you need. Using too much product could cause your hair to feel more brittle or dry.
3. Rinse Thoroughly
Make sure you rinse out all the lather. Any leftover shampoo residue could make your hair feel dry or even tacky. Take your time here. Although cool water isn’t necessary, using cool to lukewarm water will help seal the hair cuticles for extra shine.
4. Condition With the Conditioner Bar
Hold the conditioner bar under the warm shower stream for a few seconds to soften it.
Apply mainly to mid‑lengths and ends. These areas need the most moisture. You can glide the bar directly on your hair or rub it into your palms first.
If you have a lot of hair, you may want to use a wide‑tooth comb or your fingers to distribute the conditioner evenly.
Leave the conditioner on your hair while you clean the rest of your body to allow those nourishing oils and butters to soften and revitalize your hair.
5. Final Rinse and Dry
Rinse with cool water to close the cuticles and lock in moisture. Squeeze out excess water gently with a microfiber towel or a soft cotton T‑shirt—avoid rough rubbing that can cause frizz.
6. Storage and Care for Your Bars
Keep bars dry between uses. After each shower, store your bars somewhere dry—like a well-draining soap dish or a wire rack in the shower. This keeps them melting just like a typical bar of soap bar gets mushy when sitting in water.
Rotate bars. If you have multiple bars (for clarifying or extra moisturizing), rotate them weekly to extend life and give your hair a balanced routine.
When the shampoo bars are in the final stages of use, simply add them to the top of a fresh shampoo bar. The sliver of adhere to a new bar so there is no waste. When your conditioner bar gets small, you can add it to the top of a new bar, use it as a shave bar, or break up the bar into small pieces and add it to a spray bottle with water to make a conditioner spray.
Tips & Tricks
Adjust frequency: Depending on your hair type, shampoo bar frequency might be every wash or every other wash. Many users can go days without washing their hair once they’ve made the switch from traditional liquid shampoo to a bar shampoo.
Switching to shampoo and conditioner bars is a simple swap that can cut down on plastic waste, save shower space, and save you money because they can replace 2-3 bottles of traditional liquid products. Give it a try, and celebrate each sudsy, sustainable wash!