Nerd alert, but whenever we plan a trip, my secret way of avoiding annoying logistics (do we take a train and then a ferry? wait, what about the bus?) is the website Rome2Rio. You put in point A and point B, and it tells you all the ways to get there, how long they each take and how much they cost. (For example, here’s San Francisco to Seattle.) Try it, you’ll be hooked. — Joanna
Queer Eye fans, take note: On the new Netflix web series, Dressing Funny, fashion guru Tan France helps comedians like Tina Fey, Ali Wong and Nick Kroll embrace a new look. It’s like a stand-up comedy special and a makeover show had a baby, and I am so here for it. (Especially excited for the Tina Fey/Rachel Dratch episode, which drops this Thursday.) Have you seen it? — Caroline
When it comes to making dinner in the summer, any urge I have to stick to the protein-starch-veg triumvirate goes right out the window. Sandwiches make regular appearances, as do tapas-style salad situations or scrambled eggs. The latest iteration of my rebellion is what you’re looking at above. Chopped or sliced vegetables (think: snap peas, tomatoes, scallions, zucchini, cooked or raw beets) alongside a generous ball of burrata. Add a touch of vinegar, a glug of olive oil, salt, pepper, and a lot of crusty bread for dunking, and everyone’s happy. — Jenny
In an effort to use less plastic, we’re trying out these natural shampoo bars. They’re shampoo without the bottle, and they smell amazing — like peppermint or lemongrass. (I also like this simple bar soap for bodies.) — Joanna
P.S. More fun things, including a perfume smell test and a handy dinner flowchart.
(Seattle photo by Dan Cole.)
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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.
The heart eyes t-shirt is a Comme des Garcons!
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.
i really like Common Good: https://www.commongoodandco.com/
Grove Collaborative sells big pouches of hand and dish soap to refill glass pump dispensers. We buy the free & clear variety (no synthetic fragrances, dyes or triclosan and 97% biobased). When the bag is empty, they’ll send you a mailer to mail it back for recycling.
https://www.grove.co/catalog/product/gel-hand-soap/?v=3089
Hi Amy, I like the Unscented Company: https://unscentedco.com/
Their products work and they have very good customer service.
I have a local food co-op that allows you to bring your own bottles in and fill up on dish soap, hand soap, etc. I trust them because they only sell products that are clean as part of their mantra. Maybe you have something like that locally? I’d try googling bulk refill shops (or some combo of those words).
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?
youtube!
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.
oh i’m going to fix this! thank you!
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!!
what a sweet comment, this made me so happy, jamie :) :) :)
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.
I second that, please! Can’t wait to hear what you think of them, Joanna!
i’ll definitely report back! xoxo
I started using bar shampoo in the spring and it definitely took my hair a while to adjust. The internet suggesting rinsing occasionally with apple cider vinegar (very fragrant while your hair is wet, but when your hair dries the scent goes away). I did that weekly for a while and now my hair is very pleased with bar shampoo and I don’t need the occasional vinegar rinse.
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…
Hi Jo, I LOVE Chagrin Valley and here in The Netherlands there are a few online stores selling it. Maybe google if there is a shop that imports the soap to your country?
Thanks so much Maria, I live in Germany and I can’t find any stockists here but I found one in the Netherlands that delivers to Germany! Perfect!!
Thats great Jo! I hope you’ll love them too! I do use a diluted vinegar rinse after shampooing (50% water 50% vinegar in a spray bottle), if I don’t, my hair feels a little rough.
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 so interested in this discussion about bar shampoo — really want to try it out. Thanks for your suggestion about the canvas bag for travel!
Meg! How can we all get a copy of your 3-page email! That sounds amazing! I’ve tried Ethique bar shampoo (lavender) and it was wonderful! But I’d love to learn more!
I want your three page email! I have been using bar body soap that my sister-in-law makes for years but am just starting to research bar shampoo. Thanks for the tips on travel :)
Did anyone else thing those shampoo bars were blocks of cheese?
…Just me? I think I need a snack.
Kate, yes!! Totally see blocks of cheese :)
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!
Lol. Hair IS everything. Flea is so wise.
It’s so true!! PW-B has my HEART.
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.
A topic dear to my heart:) Tried so many brands and always end up using lush bars. The only ones that don‘t leave me with greasy hair. Lush works great though, i even get away with washing less often
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.
We use a suction-cup sponge holder to hold our soap in the shower so that it doesn’t sit in a puddle or slide off the shelf. Ours is a little narrow for full bars of soap but there are wider versions out there. Here’s the one we use: https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Rust-Proof-Aluminum-Suction-Sponge/dp/B00310RDKG
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.
I just use a travel soap holder! Mine’s plastic but I’ve been using it for 4+ years with no problem.
https://smile.amazon.com/Ethique-Eco-Friendly-Hair-Sampler/dp/B0761VRNL6
I’ve been using these shampoo and conditioner bars for about six months and I LOVE THEM. I had little sores on my scalp that completely went away in the first week. My hair is soft, healthy looking, shiny, the best it’s ever looked. Even my silvers are less wiry and more manageable. My hair dresser says it’s working awesome for my hair (long, blonde, tends to tangle, wavy middle age). Highly recommend. You can order straight from the company as well, if you’d rather avoid Amazon.
A couple tips: hey happy wet, gently rub shampoo bar on scalp, wet some more, scrub some more. Bars aren’t as bubbly as liquid. For conditioner, you just smooth the bar down your hair, wet again and run fingers through to distribute. It won’t seem like it’s enough but it is.
Also, my long thick takes forever to air dry hair, dries faster now! I think it’s something about lack of waxes in the conditioner, but very cool added benefit. Super easy for travel as well. Very cost effective and they last a really long time. These bars also smell lovely and no yucky anything. When I researched, a lot of popular bars had stuff I didn’t want in them (I had mistakenly assumed they would all be healthy, but nope).
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.
Just a point on shampoo bars and eco-friendly products in general: Often they’re not quite as good as we’d want them to be. But consider how long they’ve been around for compared to our not-so-eco-friendly favourites! Not long at all in a lot of cases. Much more development needs to be done on products that are less harmful to our planet but companies will only do that development if they see that these are the types of products we want. So spend! Spend on products that are a little bit worse so that companies will spend the money to make them better. The planet wins, we win, it’s just going to take a little time :-).
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!
Citymapper is great and available for many cities now. I used it a lot when I went to NY recently and found it invaluable. As a Londoner whenever I use it at home I always end up saying “nah, that can’t be right!” and going my own way :-D (yes I know that’s daft!)
Thanks for this! I live in NYC and it is so important to know which train car to ride in to be closest to the exit at your stop.
Sound so innovative!! It’s so mesmerizing to read this
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’!)
oh man; hair on soap- I don’t think I can deal.
That’s Plastic Free July (autocorrect)!
It’s plastic green july you guys! Google it. :-)
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?!
I have some not used up yet old bottles that I put out for guests. It’s really nice shampoo, I just don’t want to use it anymore.
Big Bar Shampoo user (and bar soap and bar face wash/soap and bar. . body lotion :) ). I keep small bottles of the liquid stuff for house guests. Of course, I go through the spiel of what is what in the shower and welcome anyone to use any of it if they want!
I would love to see some environmentaly friendly posts!! The plastic and waste is out of control in this country!! I get frustrated too because the options aren’t so great often times. For instance, we have reduced our meat consumption and upped our veges. BUT do I buy the healthier chicken wrapped in plastic and styrofoam or bring glass containers to the meat counter and buy chicken that is from a farm that doesn’t treat their animals well. Blah!
Anyhow sorry to get off track. I love that you are trying to reduce plastic and I feel like I should do a better job here too. I just know the comment section would be a goldmine on an environmental post :)
Second this!!
yes, we are on it! :) please stay tuned…. xoxo
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/
Ethique is Palm oil free as well.
https://smile.amazon.com/Ethique-Eco-Friendly-Hair-Sampler/dp/B0761VRNL6
What’s your opinion of the bar shampoo? I would love to try it! Do you know where they are made? from the website it looks like the US but more detailed info was hard to find.
I’ve used the Lush shampoo bar and it’s great. Their products are made in Canada. Lasts a long time, gets my hair clean, and rinses easily.
I just got back from vacation where I tried the Lush bar shampoo and conditioner and my hair turned into a mess. I had to borrow regular shampoo and conditioner from someone else in my group. I think I got the wrong type for my hair. So research well before buying! Someone else in my travel group was using the Ethique bars and really liked them. I will be trying those next.
While I commend everyone for trying to reduce plastic, bar soap creates more soap scum and is more difficult to remove from the shower etc.
However, a great cleaner for soap scum is a spray bottle of white vinegar and a spray bottle of half dish soap half water. Spray the shower with each and then wipe clean and rinse with water.
how do shampoo bars work? Do they turn liquidy when you add water? and what’s the difference between a “shampoo” bar and a soap bar?
First wet your hair as you would before applying liquid shampoo, then get the bar wet. Either glide the bar a few times over your head and lather with your fingertips, or rub it between your palms and apply the suds to the scalp.
There are soap shampoo bars and surfactant shampoo bars. Soap shampoo bars made from saponified oils and are therefore true “soap” (think bar of Bronner’s but gentler and with lots of goodies for your hair). Telltale ingredients: oils, anything with “hydroxide.” Surfactant shampoo bars use the same suds-makers as liquid shampoos, but in solid form. Key ingredients: sodium laurel sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium cocoyl isethionate, etc etc. (Dove bars are actually made with ingredients like this.)
Companies like Lush, Ethique and Bar None make surfactant shampoo bars, with conditioner bars to boot! The advantage of surfactants is that they’re closer to the pH of your scalp and hair, remove product residue well and rinse beautifully in hard water. Alternatively, some common soap shampoo bar companies include J.R. Liggett’s and Chagrin Valley. Soap is fairly alkaline, so sometimes you need to follow up with a slightly acidic hair rinse (a couple tablespoons of vinegar or a teaspoon of citric acid in a cup of water does the trick). Nothing tames tangles more quickly than an acidic rinse and a wide tooth comb!
Anecdotal evidence of effects: Traditional surfactants make my hair fuzzy, exacerbate my tangles and, over time, irritate my scalp. I switched to a soap shampoo bar from a local company called Soap Cauldron, a light vinegar rinse and a mini dollop of light styling cream in my ends, 2-3x/wk. I might deep condition (Shea Moisture Strengthen and Restore hair mask) once or twice a month. My gobs of fine, wavy hair are light, bouncy, shiny and rarely tangle, and my scalp is so happy it could sing! Hope this mini-novel helps with the plastic-free + joyous mane choices ;)
You basically rub it to make foam and apply the foam to the hair. The one I bought came in a little net bag which made it easier to make foam. Honestly I found it hard to cover the hair with thin foam, and I had to apply 2/3 times to get the hair well washed.
It also took longer to do the whole process. Having said that, I will try again and again until I find a good option as it is such a brilliant alternative to yet another plastic container which goes to the bin every 3 weeks. Also great for traveling as it’s one less liquid to carry!
Lems did a FANTASTIC job describing this difference – those with surfactant and those closer to soap (saponified oils). I can and have used both (my skin/face is sensitive to sls and I can’t use it in most of my products, so surfactant ones aren’t the best for me) but I’ve noticed that water hardness/softness GREATLY impacts which of the two styles of bar shampoo I can use. I used to primarily use the oil-based bars, then I moved to a new town and can only use the surfactant ones!
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!
I like the idea of shampoo bars, but I have color treated hair and my hair dresser said I should NOT use a bar. Sounds like there’s a resounding interest in shampoo bars. Would love to hear from a hair dresser on the matter!
My hairdresser said the Lush shampoo bars are fine. When I had lowlights, I used Jason and the Argan oil. Worked great for me. I’ve had the same stylist for 15 years.
For those that are using shampoo bars, what do you do about conditioner? Do you need it? I tried a conditioner bar from Lush and it was super hard to use, I kind of had to rub it directly onto my hair because it wouldn’t lather. Help! It’s the only thing keeping me off Team Shampoo Bar!
http://www.unwrappedlife.com has a conditioner bar that is easy to use. Just rub it directly on your hair.
Lush didn’t work for me but Ethique conditioner bars did.
https://smile.amazon.com/Ethique-Eco-Friendly-Hair-Sampler/dp/B0761VRNL6
Love the conditioner bars as well as the shampoo
Diluted vinegar rinse!
Second the unwrapped life conditioner bars. I have been rubbing it on my daughters fine, curly and always tangled hair after showers (without rinsing) and it is working like a charm – i love these things!
Another amen for shampoo bars! And bars for everything in general. I have 2 for my face (one exfoliating, one not), a bar for shaving, a shampoo bar, and usually one or two body bars going at any given moment.
Also, I wasn’t planning on going to the grocery store tonight, but after seeing that burrata plate I don’t think I have a choice!
You sound like an expert- what are your storage solutions? Do you just have several soap dishes? We have a shower hanger, and I somehow can’t imagine stuffing it with soap dishes!
It is tricky! I have one shelf far enough away from the shower head where I fit as many soap holders as I can, and then I have one suction cup tray that I stick to the wall to hold others so they don’t just sit in water and melt away. I use these: https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/spectrum-reg-soap-saver/1010217121?keyword=rubber-soap-dish (and yes, they’re plastic, but I’ve been using the same ones for years so I still feel better about them than if I were buying new bottles of things repeatedly).
Kate, your shower sounds like mine. I also usually have at least 2 body soap bars going at once just for some scent variety. What is your face exfoliating soap? Would love to try it!
Neela, regarding storage solutions, as many have mentioned it is imperative to have the bar touching as little as possible and out of the water dripping/spray! The soap saver Kate linked is awesome and I have several that will put it in a more decorative soap dish (and I always bring it along when I travel). But for shower storage, I have used a super basic wire, over the shower hanging thing that worked really well! My current shower’s nozzle doesn’t allow for a hanging solution, but does have a ledge which I have this muji tray on (and love it!). It holds a full 4-5 bars. You could probably attach suction cups to it or the double decker version!
https://www.muji.us/store/stainless-steel-bottle-rack-30x10x5-5cm.html
Larger version: https://www.muji.us/store/stainless-steel-bottle-rack-30x10x14cm.html
Hm, i like the idea of suction cup trays…
Meg, this is the exfoliating soap, and I have the charcoal, too. I love everything from here: https://wildwashsoap.com/collections/all-natural-skin-solutions/products/face-bar-with-neem-oilfacewashforacne
OK i’m making that mozzarella dinner tonight, thanks for the “recipe”, Cup of Jo team!
It’s kind of like washing your hair with wax mixed with a touch of sheep fat…leaves your hair feeling like it’ll never move again.
Beautiful way to articulate this experience, which I also had, unfortunately 😬
Next time I know I won’t leave the house for a day or two I will try again, though, maybe I just did it wrong.
I am already using a soap bar on my body, and it works way better than “classic” shower gel for me. I use less product and my skin doesn’t feel nearly as dried out.
My experience with bars a few years ago as well. Love Ethique now though, completely differently.
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 Love Beauty Planet Shampoo and Conditioner.
I can’t believe people are commenting about shampoo bars when you have Tan France dressing comedians! Hilarious! I can’t wait to watch this.
I would love to hear your reviews on the shampoo bars, especially if one of your guinea pigs has fine hair. I’ve tried several and my hair always ends up being a greasy, gross mess! I love the concept, but haven’t found one good enough yet to abandon my volume shampoo. Help me help the planet!
i’d love to report back! and curious to hear other people’s thoughts.
Have you tried Ethique shampoo bars? That the best one I’ve tried so far. I have fine, oily hair and it felt like was using traditional shampoo all along!
I also have fine oily hair and I’m loving Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve’s Neem & Tea Tree shampoo bar. It’s made for this hair type and as a bonus, it can also be used as a full body bar since it’s great for acne prone skin. I’d also recommend you read Ida’s tips on washing long hair with shampoo bars. The key for me was to rinse, rinse rinse after washing and occasionally do a rinse with diluted apple cider vinegar if I notice any build-up. I live in New York and find it works best with our softer water, but they offer sample size bars for only a few dollars so you can experiment with several different types and see what works for you. Overall, I’d highly recommend the brand and they have great customer service!
Been using bar soap for a while here (three different brands; Badger, Ligett’s and then a friend’s who sold hers on Etsy), and I do think it can leave a residue. If you have thin, fine hair and straight hair I could see it being problematic. Over the years (hit 40 and have had four kids) my hair has become coarser and wavier. Either way, my wavy hair seems to benefit from the bar soap. It holds the wave better and I end-up not needing product if I’m going the “wash ‘n go” route. After a few washes (I aim for every other day, but sometimes more often) it does build up, so I’ll rinse my hair with apple cider vinegar (I know. Not the greatest smelling stuff) and then my hair is super shiny ;). You need to rinse well, though, ’cause the smell is, well, strong.
Full disclosure: I do also have bottle shampoo and conditioner in the shower. I go through phases with these kinds of things. I love the fact of less plastic with bar soap, though!
Hope this helps!
I got very invested in this comment when I thought you were looking for shampoo recommendations for ACTUAL guinea pigs! :)
I love Ethique shampoo and conditioner bars. I’ve tried other brands and these just work. The shampoo bar lathers and the conditioner bar detangles. Another non-plastic option is to order refillable shampoo and conditioner thru LoopStore.com.
Yes, really really going to need a post about the shampoo bar transition. It’s something I’ve been wanting to try for YEARS but can’t think of a six week window when I’d be OK with having “transitional” hair. I’ve done an internet deep dive into the topic and it seems like there’s some vinegar rinsing I’d have to get on board with, too.
We already use bar soaps for our bodies and for washing hands. In DC I buy HunnyBunny soaps for hands/body.
I wash my hair twice a week now that i use a bar (used to be daily!). I also LOVE Chagrin Valley bars, but after shampooing I need a diluted vinegar rinse. I keep a spray bottle in the shower with 50%/50% water vinegar and spray that on my hair after I rinsed the shampoo. Rub it in, rinse it out and done. You do not smell the vinegar later and it makes my hair clean and soft. If I do not use the vinegar rinse my hair feels weird and unpleasant. Probably because we have hard water.
Has anyone with long hair tried and liked the shampoo bars? I have tried them and found that my hair would get really tangled (which is not usually a problem for me). Maybe I need to try another brand?
Yep, Ethique works great for my long hair
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.
Your 1 part acv and 1 part distilled water trick is a great tip. I’m going to start doing that. Thanks for sharing!
Amazing! I have been thinking of a bar shampoo, we switched to bar soap all over the house, including for dishes! This is the next step, thank you.
Can I ask what bar soap you use for dishes?? I’ve been working my way through the bar transition through my whole house and I haven’t found a bar soap that worked for dishes yet… I’ve ended up with weird residue on all of my dishes…
We use Marseille soap for dishes!
Thank you for trying out shampoo bars! I have converted our whole family to bar soaps & we love it. Little to no plastic waste & my son’s annoying habit of squeezing out my expensive shampoo or body wash is a thing of the past. My favorite face bars come from Herbivore, they are all incredible & I cut a one inch chunk off the end when I get them to use for travel. Love the shampoo bars from Lush as well. The cost is so much lower, the environmental benefits are huge & they last so much longer!!