15 Best Shampoo Bars That Cleanse And Soften Your Hair In 2022
When choosing the right shampoo bar for your precious hair, keep your hair type in mind.
poulami nag 
Image: TheBridalBox Design Team
In This Article
If you are into eco-friendly things, you should consider buying the best shampoo bars. These are just shampoos packed down in the form of bars and are simple to use. All you have to do is rub the bar over your hair and roots and gently massage to cleanse all the build-up and dirt. Shampoo bars are an eco-friendly approach towards beauty and contribute to zero waste packaging. Moreover, they are great travel companions, as you don’t have to worry about them spilling over your toiletry bag. Delve into our list of shampoo bars and take your pick.
Top Picks
15 Best Shampoo Bars
1. Ethique Frizz Wrangler Shampoo Bar
Ethique from New Zealand believes in saving the planet by reducing plastic wastage. So, it offers this frizz wrangler shampoo bar that contains biodegradable ingredients and comes in compostable packaging. This soap-free shampoo bar is made with Samoan coconut oil and cocoa butter that can leave your tresses feeling soft and smooth. You can watch this video to understand how the product works before buying.
Pros
- pH balanced formula is suitable for colored hair
- Provides hydration for frizzy hair
- Helps nourish dry hair
- Does not make hair greasy
- Lightweight formula
- Suitable for normal to dry hair
Cons
- May not suit curly or textured hair
- Contains sulfate and parabens
2. Aspen Kay Naturals Lemongrass & Sweet Orange Shampoo Bar
Enriched with argan oil and other fragrant essential oils, Aspen Kay Naturals shampoo bar claims to cleanse hair while making it soft and strong. This natural conditioner bar can help you achieve smooth, manageable ‘salon quality’ hair.
Pros
- Made with organic argan oil, hibiscus, nettle, and horsetail
- Helps strengthen and moisturize hair
- Boosts hair growth
- Can calm scalp and improve hair luster
- Scented with pure essential oils
- Free of silicone, sulfate, parabens and any harsh detergent
Cons
- Contains natural ingredients that may not suit every user
- May not be ideal for dry hair
- Bar breaks apart easily
3. Cidbest Ginger And Polygonum Shampoo Bar Set
Cidbest’s shampoo bar set comes with two bars of ginger and polygonum shampoo. It claims to be made of fully natural ingredients and is free of harmful chemicals. It can deeply moisturize hair and scalp to help you attain beautiful long locks.
Pros
- Helps nourish and replenish damaged hair
- Improve hair growth
- Can help control hair loss
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Cons
- Strong fragrance can irritate sensitive nose
4. BamboEarth Shampoo Bar
Made of organic and natural ingredients, this vegan sha
mpoo bar by BamboEarth claims to not strip the hair of its natural oils and help make it soft and shiny. Its lightweight, non-toxic formula helps clean hair and condition it.
Pros
- Helps moisturize hair and scalp
- Ideal when travelling
- Free of palm oil
- Available in a variety of fragrances
Cons
- Contains SLS
- Bar loses fragrance after a few uses
5. J. R. Liggett Jojoba and Peppermint Shampoo Bar
A blend of several skin-friendly oils, J. R. Liggett’s jojoba and peppermint shampoo bar claims to improve the health of the scalp and hair. Its antifungal and antibacterial formula can help protect and heal the skin. The vitamins present in the bar can replenish dry hair and reduce split ends.
Pros
- Coconut oil helps maintain scalp’s health
- Castor oil promotes blood flow and improves hair growth
- Jojoba oil helps fight bacteria and control balding
- Almond oil makes the hair thick and strong
Cons
- Has a short shelf life
6. iHeart Nature Organic Shampoo Bar
This aromatherapy shampoo bar by iHeart Nature is a unique blend of amla, neem, shikakai, and hibiscus that can help boost hair growth and improve scalp health.
Pros
- Moisturizes hair and scalp
- Strengthens hair and promotes hair growth
- Can build hair volume
- Helps control dandruff
- Free of parabens, sulfates, silicone, or synthetics
Cons
- Can make thin hair greasy
- Tends to leave residue
7. Love Beauty And Planet Blooming Color Shampoo Bar for Color Treated Hair
Looking for a shampoo bar for colored hair? Here it is. Made with Amazonian murumuru butter and rose, this Love Beauty And Planet’s Blooming Color Shampoo Bar claims to help maintain your hair color while making the hair look shiny and glossy.
Pros
- Organic coconut oil helps make hair soft and smooth
- Helps maintain hair color and shine
- Does not contain parabens, sulfates, silicone, or dyes
Cons
- Strong fragrance
- Can cause hair greasiness
8. Whiff Shampoo Bar & Conditioning Bar
Whiff’s Shampoo and Conditioning Bars offer to give you the silky and healthy hair you have been longing for. The bars contain natural ingredients that help improve the elasticity and flexibility of the hair.
Pros
- Coconut oil helps strengthen the hair
- Cocoa butter nourishes the hair
- No strong scent
- Lathers well
- Can be used for color-treated hair too
- Does not contain parabens, silicones, SLS, SLES, or cocamide DEA
Cons
- Contains alcohol
- Pricey for the size offered
9. Detox Earth Solid Shampoo and Unscented Conditioner Bar Set
If you follow a vegan lifestyle, then you might like using a vegan shampoo bar. Like most shampoo bars, Detox Earth’s shampoo bar is also made of natural ingredients to help maintain the pH balance and make the hair silky smooth and soft.
Pros
- Coconut oil helps moisturize dry hair
- Suitable for all types of hair including color-treated hair
- Free of paraben, silicone, and SLS
Cons
- Has a strong scent
10. The Shower Bar Baja Breeze Combo Travel Pack
Available in a travel pack, The Shower Bar’s shampoo bar is made from natural ingredients such as cocoa butter, coconut oil, argan oil, and so on. It has the fresh scent of citrus fruits and may last for around 80 washes.
Pros
- Moisturizes dry hair
- Reduce split ends
- Can eliminate dandruff
- Helps add volume to limp hair
Cons
- Users who do not like the smell of citrus fruits may not like its fragrance
11. Falls River Soap Company Old Fashioned Shampoo Bar
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has received 1,239 positive Amazon reviews from its users, stating its numerous benefits.
Made of only natural ingredients, this shampoo bar claims to make the hair healthy and reduce hair loss. It cleans up easily and does not leave any residue.
Pros
- Helps control oil and reduce dandruff
- Natural formula does not require conditioner
- Vegan formula and free of gluten
- Can be used on the beard too
- Does not contain harsh chemicals such as paraben, sulfate, phthalate, and so on
Cons
- May not suit dry hair
12. The Yellow Bird Grapefruit, Rosemary, and Lavender Shampoo Bar
If you have a sensitive scalp, then you can try this shampoo bar by The Yellow Bird. It claims to suit sensitive skin as it does not contain any harsh ingredients that can strip the hair of its natural oils.
Pros
- Vitamins and minerals help nourish thin, dry, and even oily hair
- Argan oil and vitamin E keep frizz at bay
- Can be used for shaving too
- Provides relief from psoriasis and dandruff
- Free of harsh chemicals such as sulfate, silicone, paraben and so on
Cons
- Can leave a waxy residue
- Can cause scalp dryness
13. Frcolor Solid Bar Shampoo Soap
Frcolor’s Solid Bar Shampoo Soap claims to deep clean the skin, without stripping it of its natural oils, while also moisturizing it. Made from natural plant ingredients, its mild formula is safe to use on the scalp.
Pros
- Moisturizes skin
- Eliminates excess oiliness
- Highly durable bar can easily last several uses
Cons
- Contains SLS
14. Derm-Essentials Therapeutic Soap – Dandruff & SD Shampoo Bar
This therapeutic soap by Derm-Essentials claims to help with scalp conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis and severe dandruff. Its mild formula is suitable for use not only on the scalp but also on the hair, body, and face.
Pros
- Made using only natural ingredients, it is chemical-free
- Fights itchy, scaly, flaky scalp
- Antibacterial essential oils help keep dandruff at bay
Cons
- Can become ineffective quickly
15. Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve Rosemary Lavender Shampoo
Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve’s hand-made rosemary and lavender shampoo bar offers nourishment to dry, lackluster hair. Made with organic aloe vera, it claims to deep clean the hair. The essential oils present in it help add shine and improve manageability of the hair.
Pros
- Organic jojoba oil can make hair shiny
- Essential oils strengthen hair and nourish the scalp
- Can fortify and repair brittle, dry hair
- Boosts hair growth
- Free of sulfate and preservatives
Cons
- Can make hair squeaky clean
What Are The Benefits Of Using Shampoo Bars?
The following are some of the benefits of using a shampoo bar to wash your hair.
- It creates less to no plastic waste through environment-friendly packaging.
- Some bars may help boost hair volume and increase hair growth.
- It can soothe an irritated scalp.
- Most shampoo bars are formulated to help maintain the skin’s natural pH balance.
- Some bars contain ingredients that are naturally anti-fungal and anti-bacterial and fight dandruff and dryness.
- Essential oils present in these bars provide natural scent and help strengthen the hair.
- Ingredients such as coconut oil and castor oil help moisturize and rejuvenate the hair.
- Long-lasting bars can be equivalent to multiple bottles of liquid shampoo.
[ Read : Mom & World Hair Strengthening Shampoo ]
How To Choose The Best Shampoo Bar?
Shampoo bars often have the list of ingredients on the packaging. Also, product suitability would be mentioned on the package. Based on these, you can select a bar you feel will best suit you. Or, simply look for benefits offered by the bar and make your choice. For instance, if you have dry hair, look for bars that claim to provide intense moisturization, or if you have oily hair, then look for products that offer better volume.
But do not expect your first choice to be the right one for you. It will take some trial and error until you find the right shampoo bar for yourself.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Poulami Nag is an experienced product writer who writes extensively about skincare and hair care products. Here, she has compiled a list of the best shampoo bars using her research abilities. The products on the list have been chosen after examining the customer reviews and analyzing the product descriptions. She has also listed the pros and cons of each product and included a buyer’s guide to assist you in selecting the right option.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How should I use a shampoo bar?
A shampoo bar is simple to use following these steps.
- Wet the bar with water.
- You can apply the soap by either rubbing it between your hands and then applying it to your hair, or you may directly rub the bar gently on your hair till it forms lather.
- Cover your entire scalp and hair strands.
- Wash it off with water.
2. Are shampoo bars better than liquid shampoos?
It cannot be firmly established as to which of the two options is better because the answer varies from person to person. However, we can compare the two and try to come to a fair conclusion.
- Chemicals: Many shampoos are known to contain harsh chemicals such as parabens, SLES, and so on. Whereas, most shampoo bars boast of chemical-free formula infused with natural ingredients.
However, sometimes even certain natural ingredients present in these bars may not be entirely beneficial for the skin in the long run. Also, not all bars are free of chemicals, and some do contain chemicals like sulfate and SLS.
- Durability: Shampoo bars may lack durability and have a shelf-life of barely six-months, whereas liquid shampoos can be stored for over a year. Also, these bars can break easily, making it inconvenient to use while liquid shampoos are easy to squeeze out and apply without any hassle.
- Packaging: The biggest USP of bar shampoos is the packaging. Shampoo bars come with minimal and often environment-friendly packaging that does not create wastage. Whereas, the biggest shortcoming of liquid shampoo is its plastic packaging that causes tons of waste and affects the environment.
- Travel-friendly: Users of liquid shampoo have often complained of shampoo bottles leaking open in their bags when traveling. This problem of leakage does not bother shampoo bar users as bars are leak-proof.
As you can see, both bar and liquid shampoos have their respective advantages and disadvantages. It is entirely up to you to decide which one suits you better.
3. Can I use shampoo bars on babies and kids?
Yes, you can use a shampoo bar for babies and kids, provided it is formulated for them. Look for shampoo bars for kids that are mild and free of chemicals, so that you can safely use for your child.
4. Will I need to wash my hair more often after switching to shampoo bars?
When switching from liquid shampoos to shampoo bars, your hair and scalp may undergo what is known as a ‘transition period’. This period can last a few days or even a few months. In this period, your hair or scalp might start feeling oily or excessively dry initially.
This happens because your scalp is habituated to a chemical-based formula. Using a chemical-free shampoo bar surprises it and makes it act differently from usual. You need to give your hair time to get adjusted to the bar. But that does not mean you have to use it every single day.
Even if your hair feels different, be patient and let it adapt to it. Do not wash it more often than required because it might cause unfavorable effects on your hair. Use it like how you would use your regular shampoo.
Shampoo bars and cleansers are great alternatives to bottled shampoos and are the go-to options for those who are into sustainable and eco-friendly beauty products. Not only are they easy to apply and lather as well as your regular shampoo, but they also last a lot longer and are ideal for traveling, as they do not spill or leak inside your bag. The ones listed here have much to offer, from containing all-natural ingredients and pH-balanced formulas to being toxin-free remedies for dry, dehydrated hair. Before buying one, read the ingredient list so you can keep allergic reactions at bay and find a product that works for you.
Community Experiences
Join the conversation and become a part of our vibrant community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with like-minded individuals.
