The best bar shampoos cleanse and nourish with clean ingredients formulated for your hair and scalp. To be clear, this isn’t your average bar soap that through clever marketing is now being called a shampoo bar.
Using a shampoo bar is a departure from liquid shampoo but once you try it, I think you’ll be surprised at how much you like this no fuss solution to a daily (or every few days) ritual.
Even better, shampoo bars can work for all hair types and are usually eco-friendly and of course, travel-friendly.
*Affiliate Disclosure: I do have affiliate links in this blog post. If you purchase something from my link, I will receive a small commission from the sale. This comes at no cost to you, but is paid by the company. I do not take becoming an affiliate with any company lightly. If I am, it’s because I believe in the company and their product.
*Suzi(Gurl Gone Green) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Good Juju
Good Juju wins best shampoo bar! One of the reasons is that it’s so effective. It really does clean my hair so well and gives it a bouncy, fresh feeling. It also has a conditioner bar that you can get with it as well. I’ve found not all shampoo bars have that option and I love that Good Juju does. The brand also doesn’t just have one shampoo bar, but several kinds depending on hair type. So if you want something for curly hair they have an option, if you want something for normal hair they’ve got you covered and so on. It really makes switching to a shampoo bar that much easier!
Why Choose A Shampoo Bar
There are many perks to choosing a shampoo bar over conventional, liquid shampoo. A few of these include:
1. Environmental Impact
With a shampoo bar, there’s no plastic packaging and no water is used in its creation.
2. Concentrated Formulas
Because the ingredients in shampoo bars aren’t diluted by water, you get a concentrated formula that can lend itself to washing your hair less.
3. Cost Efficiency
On average, shampoo bars replace 2-3 bottles of liquid shampoo.
4. Travel-Friendly
One of the best perks of shampoo bars is that they are a solid not a liquid, making them travel-friendly and TSA-friendly!
Related Content: Best Natural and Non Toxic Shampoo & Conditioners
Considerations When Choosing A Shampoo Bar
Just like when choosing any other beauty product, there are a few considerations you may want to think about when looking for a shampoo bar that will work for you. These include:
1. Hair Type
Every hair type, texture, or concern can benefit from a shampoo bar, as long as the shampoo bar is formulated for your hair type.
2. Ingredients
When choosing a shampoo bar, make sure that it is pH balanced for the hair and not the body.
Instead of parabens and sulphates, look for gentle cleansing ingredients or surfactants such as essential oils, plant extracts, and vitamins. One of these gentle surfactants is sodium cocoyl isothionate which comes from coconut oil.
A few of the natural hydrating ingredients you want to look for include shea butter, cacao seed butter, argan oil, avocado oil, coconut oil and jojoba.
Other ingredients include botanical extracts such as nettle leaf, chamomile, and aloe vera and clays and proteins.
3. Scent and Fragrance
You want to steer clear of synthetic scents and fragrances in your shampoo bar. If you prefer scented to unscented, you can find bars that use essential oils for a more spa-like and fragrance-friendly experience.
How To Use A Shampoo Bar
Initial Transition: I found my hair did great when I started to use a shampoo bar. I didn’t have any waxy buildup or greasiness. The only time I had that issue is when I used a shampoo bar that wasn’t effective or didn’t work. My hair didn’t need time to adjust. I was also already using a natural shampoo, but if you weren’t your hair may need time to adjust to that. While shampoo bars are formulated to not have to use a conditioner bar, I found I still needed a conditioner. My hair is highlighted, so that may be why.
Tips For Using A Shampoo Bar
1. Actual use
- Wet hair and shampoo bar.
- To create a lather, rub the bar directly on hair and scalp and then massage the soapy foam over your scalp and throughout your hair. This helps to get a good amount of product on your hair and produce a good lather.
- Rinse hair thoroughly.
- Use a conditioner bar if your hair requires extra hydration.
2. Proper Storage
It is best to store shampoo bars in a well-drained soap dish in a dry place, where it can air dry between uses. Many shampoo bar brands sell mesh soap bags for the purpose of extending the life of your shampoo bar.
Best Bar Shampoos
Ayuna
Best For
For all hair types, including color-treated hair and sensitive or reactive scalps
Active Ingredients
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate + Cocamidopropyl Betaine – These two coconut-derived cleaning agents gently but deeply cleanse the hair and scalp while also creating a luxurious lather.
Corn Macromolecules – Detoxifying absorbents that absorb pollutants and dirt.
Revitalizing Coconut and Argan Oils
Cost
$37.00
Size
2.5oz or approx. 40-50 washes.
Review
I was really impressed with Ayuna’s Shampoo Bar! It lathers well. I actually felt like I didn’t need to apply the shampoo bar to my scalp that much because a little went a long way. It smells really nice. If you’ve used Ayuna’s products it’s their signature scent of Holy Wood, Myrrh, Chamomile, Rosemary, and Buchu. My hair felt clean and bouncy after using it. I found myself reaching for it again and again!
Good JuJu
Best For
All hair types! They have different shampoo bars depending on hair type- something I love about this brand.
Active Ingredients
Coconut Oil – essential fatty acids help promote healthy hair and scalp.
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein – increases hair volume by 32%.
Shea Butter – protects against damaging UV rays.
Argan Oil – contains Vitamin E, an antioxidant that hydrates and softens hair.
Cost
$19.99
Size
2.5oz
Review
This is definitely my favorite. As I mentioned earlier, I love that you can really customize their shampoo bars to your hair type since they have different options depending on what your hair needs. They also come with a conditioner bar as well, so you know your conditioner is working in tandem with your shampoo bar. I selected the Good Juju Oily/Fine Hair Bar Duo. It works so well at giving my hair a good cleanse, it doesn’t suds up as much as some of the others, but still provides a nice clean feeling. My hair felt soft and bouncy. What I loved is that the conditioner did a great job at detangling but didn’t weigh it down like so many conditioners can. My fine/thin hair was clean and had volume!
Meow Meow Tweet
Best For
All hair types.
Active Ingredients
Coconut oil – essential fatty acids help promote healthy hair and scalp.
Olive oil – an antioxidant and fatty-acid-rich oil that moisturizes and repairs dry skin.
Shea fruit butter – an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant tree nut oil with emollient properties; it calms itchy skin and nourishes with vitamins A and E.
Castor seed oil – softens and protects the hair from split ends and breakage.
Cost
$12
Size
4.5oz
Review
I tried not only the shampoo bar by Meow Meow Tweet but also their Conditioning Bar too. I wasn’t impressed with either. In fact I felt like I needed to wear a hat when I was testing out their shampoo bar because my hair was so limp and dirty feeling still. It didn’t give my hair a clean feeling at all sadly. The Conditioning Bar was also not actually hydrating for my hair. It just felt like I hadn’t rinsed the product out of it. Not one I would reach for again.
Kitsch Castor Oil Bar
Best For
All hair types, even color treated.
Active Ingredients
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate – gentle, cleansing agent that creates a luxurious lather.
Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate – gentle cleansing and foaming agent.
Hydrogenated Castor Oil – softens and protects the hair from split ends and breakage.
Cost
$14
Size
3.2oz or approx. 100 washes
Review
I was impressed with the price and performance of this shampoo bar. You can get it for $14 on Amazon and it works! It actually felt more clarifying than I was expecting. My hair felt really clean and it had a great lather to it. I was also impressed with the minimal ingredients too. It was one of the first shampoo bars I had tested and I almost took it on a trip with me because it was so good. A great buy and easy to find! They also have some other formulas depending on hair type.
Auromere
Best For
All hair types.
Active Ingredients
Coconut Oil – essential fatty acids help promote healthy hair and scalp.
Sesame Oil – supports a healthy scalp.
Vitamin E – supports a healthy scalp and hair growth.
Castor Oil – Softens and protects hair from split ends and breakage.
Tulsi (Holy Basil) compound – rich in Vitamin K and antioxidants, Tulsi can help prevent hair loss and premature graying.
Neem Oil and Leaf – botanical ingredient with antifungal properties that can help with the treatment of dandruff. Neem can also support hair growth.
Hydnocarpus (Cactus) oil – it can help smooth damaged hair and stimulate hair growth.
Amla (Indian Gooseberry) – strengthens hair follicles and encourages hair growth.
Cost
$5.95
Size
4.23oz. Equivalent to 18 oz. liquid shampoo.
Review
This was ok. It did give a nice suds to my hair and it felt somewhat clean, however I felt like I could only get one shampoo out of this shampoo bar before my hair got greasy. It just didn’t give me the volume and squeaky clean feeling that I got from other shampoo bars.
J.R. Liggetts Shampoo
Best For
All hair types.
Active Ingredients
Saponified Olive Oil – conditions for shiny, soft hair, and controls fungi, bacteria, and dandruff along with improving blood circulation and stimulating hair follicles.
Virgin Coconut Oil – essential fatty acids help promote healthy hair and scalp.
Castor Oil – Softens and protects hair from split ends and breakage.
Cost
$7.99
Size
3.5oz
Review
I did not like this shampoo bar. My hair felt like it wasn’t clean at all. It felt like I had a coating on my hair after using it. So hard to comb through. I got the jojoba and peppermint and while I wanted to love it, it didn’t do anything for my hair.
Superzero Bar
Best For
All hair types. They offer several different bars depending on your hair needs. They even have a purple shampoo bar!
Active Ingredients
Bond builder – bond building technology that strengthens the internal hair structure up to 3 x compared to untreated hair.
Triolein – supports a healthy scalp and increases hair’s shine and luster.
Purifying Agent – removes buildup and impurities.
Hemisqualane – reduces frizz, enhances color, and thermal protection.
Cost
$28
Size
1.76oz or approx. 1 x 16oz bottle of luxury shampoo
Review
This is another shampoo bar that I was really impressed with. It cleaned my hair so well and gave it some great shine. The lather was nice too! This also comes in several options depending on hair type which is a plus. They also offer conditioner bars as well. It’s definitely one of the more pricier shampoo options I tested and I did feel like it was a little smaller with the triangle size. That is the only thing I don’t love. Felt like the price was high and it didn’t last as long as others. However, it’s a great product and I would still buy it again because the performance was there. There isn’t really any scent to the bar, except what is naturally occurring from the natural ingredients.
Modern Mammals
Best For
All hair types.
Active Ingredients
Sodium (C14-16) Olefin Sulfonate – Cleansing agent that removes dirt, pollutants and buildup.
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate – gentle, cleansing agent that creates a luxurious lather.
Brassica Alcohol – reduces breakage and supports more manageable hair.
Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter – fortifies and repairs dry damaged hair.
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil – nourishes hair and soothes dry scalp conditions.
Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil – moisturizes hair and prevents future damage.
Cost
$24
Size
2.4oz
Review
This was another huge favorite of mine and one that I would reach for again and again! It lathers so well. I actually feel like I use way less product in general when I’m using a shampoo bar compared to regular shampoo and conditioners but especially the Modern Mammals Shampoo Bar. The bar even says it’s low suds, but I actually felt like it still had a good amount of suds to it. Maybe I’m used to not having as many suds because I’ve been using natural shampoos for so long- either way it works really well. It’s fragrance free. While I love my hair feeling clean I noticed this bar not only did that but also kept my hair feeling moisturized and balanced. It didn’t give it that stripped feeling like I can often get with shampoos. This might be marketed towards men more but I can attest it works just as well for women! It is a little pricier but a good size and I love the charcoal color.
Christophe Robin
Best For
All hair types.
Active Ingredients
Aloe vera – supports hydration.
Coconut oil – essential fatty acids help promote healthy hair and scalp.
Olive oil – helps to soften hair.
Cost
$22
Size
100 g
Review
This did not work for my hair at all. It felt like it didn’t clean it and was so hard to comb through. It was oddly stripping, yet didn’t feel clean at all. It also wasn’t budget friendly at all either at $22.
Bar Shampoo FAQ’s
1. How long does a typical shampoo bar last?
A shampoo bar will typically last approximately 60-80 washes.
2. Are there conditioner bars too?
Shampoo bars are usually formulated to cleanse and moisturize without the need for conditioner. However, many conditioner bars are sold alongside shampoo bars to give your hair that extra hydration it may need.
3. What is the difference between bar shampoo and regular bar soap?
The difference between shampoo bars and regular bar soap lies in the type and amount of oil used. Shampoo bars contain a higher concentration of oils and have a different pH balance than body soap. They are also formulated to effectively cleanse and moisturize hair without weighing it down.
4. How do I store my shampoo bar?
It’s best to keep your shampoo bar in a soap dish with a drain so that it’s not sitting in a pool of water. Allowing shampoo bars to air dry will extend their lifespan.
What’s your favorite shampoo bar? Share below!
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I’ve been using the Good Juju bar for a while – I’m on my 2nd shampoo and still using the 1st conditioner bar. I like them both a lot.
Thanks for sharing your experience- Suzi loves Good Juju also!
Have you heard of Rowe casa organics? I recently found them and bought their shampoo and conditioner bar. So far I do like it. Given my fine hair type It does a good job! I’d love to see you try some of their products out and review!!
Hi Kayla,
I haven’t- but thanks for letting me know! 🙂