Best Shampoo & Conditioner Bars: 6 Non-Toxic, Plastic-Free Picks
- Olga Shavrina
- Jan 5, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 4
Home / All posts / Personal care / Best Shampoo & Conditioner Bars: 6 Non-Toxic, Plastic-Free Picks
Switching to shampoo bars sounds great in theory – until you end up with dry hair or that annoying waxy residue. Not every shampoo bar is environmentally friendly and gentle to your hair. In this guide, I review the best shampoo and conditioner bars that actually work, focusing on non-toxic, plastic-free shampoo bars made for real hair needs. After researching dozens of options, I selected 6 best solid shampoo bars that are gentle, residue-free, and sustainable.
Shampoo is a product used almost every day, and when packaged in plastic, it can generate tons of waste. However, where there's a problem, there's also an opportunity.
By switching to solid shampoo and conditioner bar in sustainable packaging, we can significantly reduce our environmental footprint.
Shampoo was one of the first things I replaced with an eco-friendly option, right after I sorted out the mess with trash sorting and switched to biodegradable trash bags. I initially made a mistake by choosing a soap-based shampoo, which caused significant irritation to my scalp. To help you avoid the same mistake, let me walk you through all the aspects of non toxic shampoo bars.
How to Choose the Best Shampoo and Conditioner Bar?
Not all solid shampoos and conditioners are the same. The fact that it is solid doesn't automatically make it good for both you and the environment. Solid shampoos differ in characteristics, ingredients, and price, and may or may not suit your hair type, just like liquid shampoos, so some will work for your hair and some won't.
To choose a best shampoo and conditioner bar that works for you, pay attention to:
Hair type: choose a shampoo bar that’s compatible with your hair type – whether it's dry, oily, normal, curly, color-treated, or sensitive.
Ingredients: look for natural ingredients like essential oils, butters, and plant extracts. Avoid harmful chemicals like sulfates or synthetic fragrances, which can strip your hair of its natural oils and cause irritation. For dry and damaged hair, choose a shampoo and conditioner bar with added moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, or glycerin to keep your hair hydrated.
pH Balance: ensure the shampoo bar has a pH level around 4.5 to 5.5, which is suitable for your hair and scalp. Be cautious of selecting a soap-based bar that is very alkaline (pH greater than 7), as it can dry out and irritate your hair, potentially causing dandruff and itching.
Sustainable packaging: look for zero-plastic packaging made from minimal and recyclable materials. Sustainably sourced, plant-based compostable materials are ideal, with bamboo being a top choice.
Here Are the 6 Best Shampoo and Conditioner Bars I’ve Found:
Author's Note on Non Toxic Shampoo Bars
I made a beginner mistake and bought the first solid shampoo bar that looked eco-friendly, and soon started noticing dandruff and itching. Apparently, the pH level wasn’t right (I learned that later, this whole experience actually led me to write the post you’re reading). After some careful consideration, solid research, and temporarily switching back to liquid shampoo, I tried the Rice Protein bar shampoo and conditioner with the correct pH, and hallelujah, it worked.
Hopefully, my experience helps someone avoid the same mistake and enjoy an eco-friendly solution without scratching their head too much :)
Q&A About Best Solid Shampoo Bars
Are all solid shampoo bars biodegradable?
No, biodegradable isn't guaranteed just because it’s a solid bar. Many bars are marked as "eco-friendly", but some contain synthetic ingredients like sulfates, silicones, artificial fragrances, or preservatives that do not fully break down in nature.
How to tell if a shampoo is biodegradable?
To ensure a solid shampoo bar is biodegradable, check for:
Plant-based surfactants (e.g., decyl glucoside, sodium cocoyl isethionate)
No sulfates, parabens, or silicones
Certified biodegradable or eco labels (e.g., Ecocert, COSMOS)
Plastic-free, compostable packaging
How to tell if a shampoo bar is soap-based or soap-free?
The main clue is the list of ingredients:
Soap-based shampoo bars typically contain saponified oils or fats. Saponification means mixing fats or oils with lye which makes soap so alcaline. Look for ingredients like "sodium hydroxide" (lye), "saponified coconut oil," "saponified olive oil," or similar terms.
Soap-free Shampoo bars usually contain a more complex list of ingredients with surfactants instead of saponified oils. Common surfactants are: "Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate," "Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate," "Cocamidopropyl Betaine," or other mild, sulfate-free cleansers.
Also, many shampoo bars will indicate whether they are soap-based or soap-free directly on the packaging or in the product description. Soap-free bars are often marketed as "pH balanced" or "sulfate-free".
"pH balanced" indication usually means that this is a soap-free shampoo
Do solid shampoo bars lather like liquid shampoo?
Not all of them. It largely depends on the ingredients—the more surfactants (short for surface-active agents), the more lather the shampoo will produce. The amount of lather can also vary depending on your water hardness (less lather in hard water).
How should I store a solid shampoo and conditioner bar?
Keep it dry. A soap dish with drainage or a wire rack is ideal for preventing the shampoo bar from sitting in water and becoming mushy.
Can solid shampoo bars be used for travel?
Yes, absolutely! It's one of the best things about a solid shampoo - it's compact, lightweight and, well... solid :) which means no additional liquid in a hand luggage. Just make sure it's dry before you pack it.
How long do solid shampoo bars last?
It greatly depends on the brand and how well you dry it between uses. Softer bars tend to last less, while firmer ones can last several weeks. Keeping the bar dry between uses will significantly prolong its life.
Does solid shampoo leave a residue? It depends on the ingredients, as even a non toxic shampoo bars can leave residue. If a shampoo bar is soap-based, it might leave a greasy, waxy residue in the hair, similar to soap scum in the shower.
Do I need a conditioner if I use a shampoo bar?
It depends on the specific bar, the conditioner, and your hair type. Some bars are 2-in-1, so no conditioner is needed. Personally, I use a leave-in conditioner to ease brushing and haven't changed this habit since switching to a solid shampoo bar.
Can I use shampoo bars every day?
An alkaline, soap-based shampoo bar can be too harsh for daily use, especially on dry, fine hair. However, using high-quality, soap-free non toxic shampoo bars is no different from using a regular liquid shampoo. If you're comfortable washing your hair daily with liquid shampoo, you can do the same with a pH-balanced shampoo bar.
Maximizing Convenience with Eco Friendly Shampoo and Conditioner Bars: Tips and Tools
Not every shower or bath has the perfect spot for a shampoo bar, which can be slippery and can't stand being wet. A practical solution to make your shampoo bar more convenient is to turn it into a liquid. Just chop it into small pieces and dissolve them in hot water, using a ratio of about 1:1. Pour the resulting mixture into your favorite shampoo bottle, and voilà – enjoy the ease of liquid shampoo with the benefits of a bar.
If you're not up for this DIY approach, consider one of these lovely soap holders as an alternative.
Shampoo and Conditioner Bar Holders:
I find the second option – the Wood Magnetic Soap Holder – absolutely brilliant! It's compact, has an eco-friendly look, requires zero space, and overall, feels magical. Definitely what you best solid shampoo bar deserves!
And by the way, a lazy hack - just use a kitchen cleaning sponge as a shampoo / soap holder. It works perfectly and looks (and is!) eco-friendly.
Image credit Amazon.com
#️⃣ Tags: Eco-friendly packaging, Zero-waste solutions
Perfect breakdown of what to look for in shampoo bars. I never knew about pH balance and packaging impact. Would’ve loved some price comparisons, though.
pH is so important! I started using a solid shampoo bar without checking the pH level and ended up with a scratchy scalp in just a few days. I had to pause, get my pH balance back on track, and regroup before trying anything new.