Shampoo bars

These shampoo bars sound great - where do I buy them?

I was given a Shampoo Bar for Christmas and I was quite impressed with how it left my hair. Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the residue left on the shower walls, from the first wash. I towel dry the shower cubicle every night after use and the undesirable content was noticeable.

One annoying thing about shampoo bars is that, being a boutique product, the current range is long on "natural" stuff that has no effect on hair apart from perhaps perfuming it a bit, and very few if any actual active ingredients that make shampoo shampoo. For example the Lush bar has one single active ingredient, the surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate, which is towards the harsher end of the scale of hair-care surfactants compared to things like the laureth sulfates. Others available in NZ have no identifiable active ingredients in them at all. The Ethique one at least has proven active ingredients, various surfactants, emulsifiers, lathering and chelating agents, and so on.
A disclaimer, I have nothing do with Ethique and had never even heard of them until I read the latest Consumer magazine, just surprised at some of the stuff that's being peddled under the label "shampoo" when it should be called "saponified fruit extract".

We (2 people household) have been using hair soap for some months now and we have only finished the first bar a couple of weeks back. It certainly is economical and I find it washes well and I don't need to wash my hair as often. Dirty Hippy also do a hair soap and we have just started on that and seems just as good. We did get a container when we got the first bar of Ethique and that keeps it dry as the base is a drainer with a cover over the top. I believe we have saved lots in changing and certainly will not be going back to liquid shampoo.

Been using them for 10 years or so, great product and lasts for ages. They featured Global soap on Country Calendar a year or two back.
https://globalsoapnz.co.nz/product-category/shampoo-bar/

I have made a beeswax and shea butter moisturising body bar. The beeswax reduces dry skin on my hands associated with frequent hand washing/alcohol based hand gel at work. I melted 3 tablespoons beeswax, 3 tablespoons Shea butter, 3 teaspoons cornflour and 3 tablespoons baby oil in a clean tomato can sitting in a pot of hot water. I stirred the mixture with a disposable chopstick. Once combined and lump free, the mixture was poured into a silicone muffin tray. It is difficult to completely remove the waxy residue from the cooking utensils, hence the tin can and chopstick! Maura

I remember my grandmother and my Mum saying they used Pears soap to wash their hair when they were young. I use Health Basics Cream Body Wash and have done so for years - my hair is soft and smooth and I do not need a conditioner. It does come in a plastic container unfortunately. Can remember when I was a teenager (60 years ago) using beer as a styling liquid - great unless you got caught out in the rain when you smelled like a brewery.

This chemical received a bad press in a UK tv medical programme a few months ago. Since then I've avoided any shampoo containing it. As I have fine hair I've resorted to baby shampoo. Check out:
https://www.chemicals.news/2017-11-14-sodium-lauryl-sulphate-toxicity-side-effects-diseases-and-environmental-impacts.html

Are any of these shampoo bars an anti-dandruff type. I'm currently using head & shoulders

To stop either soap or shampoo bars from becoming mushy put in a mesh draw string bag like supplied with gifts or soaps this allows it still to be used but doesn’t go mushy.

Ethique now have a significant range of shampoo bars to choose from, so I am, over time, trying the ones that look right for my hair. So a bit of trial and error required, I reckon!

I think I've cracked it! I found a largish piece of oval shaped pumice on the beach and rasped down two sides to make flat surfaces for the bars, divided by the untouched pumice. This sits nicely in my shower tray. The bars don't seem to slip and slide overly on the pumice, which I rinse down before starting a new bar. And I can vouch for longevity. I wash my hair about every 3rd day and so far the bars have lasted a full year.

Can highly recommend Frankie Apothecary for the Kawakawa + Kūmarahou shampoo bar, and the vanilla and Kawakawa conditioning bars - all natural, no nasties, less commercial, local business, smells great and does what it says. Tried and tested by the whole family. 5 out of 5 from us.

Sensitivity or allergy to Sodium Laurel Sulphate is more common than people realise. It can produce symptoms from constant itchyness to flaking (no, not dandruff) to very sore lumps on your scalp that block the pores and cause painful build up in glands in the neck.
It’s a real shame that a shampoo bar would use this stuff when there are safe alternatives.

66 year old male with a reasonable amount of remaining fibres switched to bicarbonate of soda three years ago. Figure I could get a lifetime of clean and shiny hair for the cost of one of those bars.

I have a sensitivity to coconut in products including shampoo, laundry detergent and dishwash liquid. I have been importing shampoo from Australia as I couldn't find one in New Zealand without coconut. Interesting to see that the Lush bar doesn't contain coconut but the Ethique one does. I must try the Lush bar.

I have sensitive skin so years ago, before the mainstream switch to hypoallergenic products, I spent $$$ finding suitable shampoo. Someone told me "Sunlight" soap was quite gentle & effective on hair & skin, so tried it & haven't used shampoo for decades. My recollection is it took 2 or 3 weeks for my hair to 'adjust' to no chemicals, and even then no problems with being clean. Also great for hand washing clothes (different bar of soap for different purposes), plus cleans showers, sinks etc. I store in the open @ home to stop from going soft, & keep travel container open as much as possible when not on the move, plus cut into smaller blocks helps with drying out. I don't seem to have to wash hair as often, which is a bonus!

Great stuff, no chemicals, use on body and hair. Bar lasts a long time.

https://www.mynaturalhealth.co.nz/products/view/sabun-olive-oil-soap

Ethique does samplers so you can find the best type for your hair, it’s worthwhile to try a few, the first I tried I wasn’t happy with. Lush products are very highly fragranced and can be overpowering.

Are there any unperfumed ones? I was given a peony shampoo bar which has given me scalp eczema.
I love the idea of a shampoo bar but am loathe to pay a lot for one I will be too sensitive to.

Been using Ethique products for well over a year. I only have to shampoo twice a week. Get yourself some of their containers to keep bars dry, made from compost able material. Love this stuff and the company is helpful and dedicated to lowering the plastic on our planet.

I tried Dr. Bronner's shampoo bars, and while they seemed to work well enough they turned to goo in the plastic box I had to put them in. May work if you can keep them dry between uses.

Been using ethique for a couple of years now. There's no going back..hair is softer and rarely needs conditioning ( and I usually use the conditioning bar) When you make the changeover it takes 2-3 washes to get the accumulated chemicals out of your hair.