Four Fun Things

I love shampoo bars and they make great all over soap too. No need to bag shampoo or liquid soap for security!

Oh perfect timing! I just washed my hair yesterday with shampoo bar (one from Lush) for the first time and let me tell you, I am converted!!! My hair is fairly unproblematic but fine, straight and prone to falling out. I was a bit worried how it will go, that’s why it’s taken me so long to take the plunge, but I loved using it. Foamed nicely, no drama with application, my hair was a fair bit more dry when still wet which had me worried but then it dried soooo soft. Going back to buy the conditioner tommorow.

I’m glad to see the shampoo bars–we have to get very serious about the plastic problem (it’s really more a catastrophe than a problem). By Humankind’s deodorant is also the only natural I’ve found that works (it’s refillable!.) And we have to go beyond this: we have to buy bulk (with our own containers), refuse single use plastic cups and straws, reuse everything (in a serious way), buy local products (and make sure they are really local)–and reduce our consumption overall/ divest from fossil fuels. I’d love to see more on solutions to the plastic crisis (and the climate crisis!) from Cup of Jo. [And, of course, we need to hold the biggest problem-makers accountable: Coke, Pepsi, Nestle, Danone are HUGE offenders worldwide and have not been made accountable. This must change. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the future depends on it.]

here are my 4 comments on the 4 fun things.
1. I would like to be going somewhere on a boat, and that’s a cool website.
2. I want that heart with eyes t-shirt that Ali Wong wore in “Always be My Maybe”, and I think she is so brilliant, although I am too busy watching Big Little Lies and Stranger Things to get to that show- but summer is long so I will add it to my list.
3. It is too stinking hot to cook so I appreciate the cool easy dinner idea. I will add some olives.
4. I just went back to using bar soap in the shower and it smells fabulous, and I love it.
4.

Daughter of the Land, a small Seattle-based (women owned!) company makes the BEST shampoo bars!

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.

Review of the shampoo bars (and other sustainable body care and cleaning methods), please!

I know what you mean but it got me thinkin’ aren’t technically all Netflix series these days web series ? also I loved that episode!

Oh gosh fresh summer veggies with olive oil salt and pepper and a big glob of burrata sounds perfect

Also I tried a facial bar soap a few months ago and while no packaging = great! it drives me crazy how I can never gracefully use up the last tiny bit

When it comes to shampoo bars, I love milkandhoneynaturals.net

But it could just be because I’ve been living the no-poo regimen for years.

Um, what are Netflix web episodes? Where do I watch those?

FYI – i find whenever i click on a link you post for the DermStore, it never goes to the product, just the opening page. Which is disappointing as i can never see/read about the actual product you are recommending.

COJ, you reign on as my all time favorite blog! Thanks to you I give even better gifts than ever, cook like a magician, look better (clothes and skin care), feel better (advice about divorce), and now you solved my next dilemma. I’ve got an amazing invite to a wedding in Paris next spring. It’s 75 miles by train outside of Paris. I’m thinking…how the heck do I coordinate this trip and make it happen?? My friends, parents of the bride already have enough to take care of. And just like that, wah-lah, you have solved my problem. Rome2Rio!!! Not enough thanks in the world to shower you with, oh my!! Attending Sara and Martin’s wedding at Chateau de la Barbeliniere may indeed be possible to attend! Now I need a formal dress!! Sending huge kisses your way! Merci COJ!
Oh, and yes I too thought those were blocks of cheese not shampoo!!

Thank you for bringing up the plastic pollution problem and way to reduce it. Would LOVE to see more posts on it. Great Pacific garbage patch keeps me awake at times :O :)
We have switched to body soap bars a while ago and love it. Now we experiment with shampoo bars and dish soap bars.

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

European readers: any good suppliers of shampoo/conditioner bars in Europe? I checked most of the links people suggested on the comments section but either the delivery costs are outrageous or it’s way too much time/hassle/not very environmentally friendly to be shipping bars of shampoo across the world, when maybe there’s good alternatives in Europe? I have tried lush before but didn’t love it…

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

Did anyone else thing those shampoo bars were blocks of cheese?

…Just me? I think I need a snack.

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. :]

Kudos on the shampoo bars! I have finicky thin curls, and was pessimistic I would have luck truly ditching the bottle. We use J.R. Liggets’ shampoo bars and my FAVORITE is the Guardian conditioner bar from Ethique. I was more shocked than anything to have better luck with a bar conditioner than a bottle.

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 think someone wondered why everyone was talking about shampoo bars when Tan France was dressing comedians. The answer is….

“Hair IS everything.” -Fleabag

Also Plaine Products makes clean shampoo/conditioner, body wash, lotion and other personal care products in refillable and reusable aluminum bottles. They are easily returned in the mail with a prepaid label, and you can subscribe or do a single order. I haven’t tried it because I don’t live in the US right now but looks like a nice option for more traditional products that are also single use plastic free!

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.

Thanks for sharing! Those shampoo bars sound so interesting, I will definitely have to try them out!

-Kate

Please share more about the shampoo bars! I’m so curious about them.

I’ve found shampoo bars on etsy that I like much better than lush and beekman ones. Still haven’t found a bar conditioner that can touch my thick hair…..any recommendations welcome. What are all of you resting your bars on? My shower does not have a built in soap dish.