Four Fun Things

Also, I hate the fact that I have to buy seventh generation plastic soap dispenser bottles every time our kitchen hand and dish soap run out. Does anyone have a good, clean (no fragrance, no SLS, no pthalates (sp?) sustainable option for kitchen/hand/dish soap?

My MIL recently bought us a monster refillable bottle of dish soap but it has a citrus fragrance aka poison.

Would LOVE a review of those shampoo bars. So curious about them but hesitant to try as an oily-haired person.

I’ve always loved the Cup of Jo comment section, but this might be my favorite favorite comment section yet! I’m a HUGE bar soap/shampoo enthusiast and am thrilled this comment section is filled with people raving about it or interested in trying it out!

(Cup of Jo, if you need more bar soap content, I’m more than happy to send you a 3-page email I send to friends who ask about my obsession – fav brands, why it’s ideal for your skin, travel, environment, how to store/travel with, etc.)

A few notes on the bar shampoo discussion –
– As many have noted, as with any product, you might have to try several brands and bars before finding one that works for you. But it’s not just that – it’s also what works for you, with the water that comes out of your shower-head. I’ve been using bar shampoo for years and just moved to a new city where the water is completely different and the shampoo I’d used for years no longer worked for me!

– Storage has come up a few times in the comments, and I wanted to also mention storage for travel. Again, I travel with all my bars. Lush sells fancy tins that act as soap dishes, but my preferred way to travel with bar soap and shampoo is in a simple canvas bag. This is for a few reasons: 1 – the bar is able to dry out and doesn’t become soap soup 2 – the bag
Here’s a link to the simple bag I use (from my absolute favorite soap brand) : https://osmiaorganics.com/products/soap-travel-bag
JR Liggett’s also includes a little bag with their that’s amazing because it has an inner sleeve or strip of fabric that’s closest to the soap for easy removal if the soap dried the bag to it : https://jrliggett.com/ez-pouch.html

I’m going to play around with Rome2Rio right this instant because I have a lot of of planning for an upcoming trip. This sounds absolutely perfect. :]

I adore http://www.rometorio.com and tell everyone about it. It’s good for actual trip-planning, but I can also get “lost” on it, daydreaming for an afternoon, researching different travel destinations.

I had an experience with shampoo bars in my attempt at plastic free. Oh man I gave it a good 4 months. I was using a popular one from Whole Foods, but I don’t remember the brand. I really wanted it to work, but my hair was an icky mess. I even tried the vinegar rinses to clarify, but it just didn’t work for me. I love the idea though. On the positive there were several plastic free ideas I have been able to stick with for years so all was not lost.

I have yet to figure out how to use bar anything in the shower without it turning into a scummy mess. Maybe my shower is just too small and everything gets covered in water?

That dinner looks INSANELY delicious! I also pare down in the summer. Especially when the local produce is soooo delicious. Zucchini, tomatoes, corn. My favorite time of year to eat.

Just remember to use a soap dish with the little feet on the bottom so your soap dries between uses and doesn’t turn into a pile of mush. I’ve been using a locally made facial soap for years and it melts away my make up and leaves my face so soft.

For anyone planning on travelling to London, City Mapper is a really useful app that helps, like Rome2Rio. Put in your start and end points and it’ll show you the fastest route (as well as tube only/bus only options if you want to travel a certain way) and the cost!

Does anyone have experience with soap and shampoo bars in a family household? How does storage look? Do people know which bars are for what purpose in the shower, for instance? (I’m imagining shampoo and conditioner and soap bars in the shower and wondering if they get ‘misused’!)

That’s Plastic Free July (autocorrect)!

I love shampoo bars! My one issue with using them all the time though is that we only have one shower and this we share it with all overnight guests. The ‘The shampoo is the purple bar that smells like lavender and the conditioner is the brown bar and the soap is the light brown bar that smells like lemongrass’ conversation got so old and confusing I did away with the entire idea entirely. Any tips on that?!

A shampoo bar method that’s worked for me:
1- lather on hands
2- massage scalp with soapy hands
3- repeat like 10x (I have a lot of thick hair)
Something that did not work for me was to put the bar straight on my scalp and lather. Would leave my hair gross-looking.
Also, for those looking for shampoo bars without palm oil, this cute shop has some: https://www.tinyyellowbungalow.com/product-category/shampoo-bars/

Jenny, I just did something in a similar genre for dinner tonight! I piled feta cubes, hummus, tzatziki, cucumbers, tomatoes, and pita bread on a plate (in five minutes flat) and called it Mediterranean Night! My eight year-old actually called it “delicious” which happens almost never!

And I love all the rest of the suggestions as well! You all continue to be the coolest gals I “know.” Thanks for sharing so much with us!

OK i’m making that mozzarella dinner tonight, thanks for the “recipe”, Cup of Jo team!

Thank you for posting an idea for reducing plastic! Out of love for our gorgeous planet and oceans, my family is trying to cut out single use plastics and shampoo bars seem like a practical step. I will try this brand and I’d love to see more suggestions for environmentally sound products that your team likes. As a new mom, one item we’ve found useful is this easy to fill and dishwasher safe toddler food pouch:
http://squeasygear.com/6oz-purple-squeasy-snacker/

I’d love to hear what everyone else has found helpful!

I love that you posted about shampoo bars as a great way to eliminate plastic (and also simplify your life). I’ve been using one for a year now (from local to me but also online Purple Prairie Botanicals) and my hair and I LOVE it. My curly hair is more relaxed and happy than ever. It took a little time to transition to it, but not long. I spritz with 1 part apple cider vinegar and 1 part distilled water from a spray bottle after the shampoo bar, rinse that out too, and it leaves my hair super soft. It’s a great feeling and so minimalist! No other products needed.