Are you thinking of making the switch to a shampoo bar? You’re not alone! As many of us are trying to make more eco-friendly product choices, more people are ditching their liquid shampoos and using shampoo bars.

If you’re considering making the switch, here’s what you need to know to get the very best results.

Why shampoo bars?

There are a myriad of reasons to use shampoo bar, which you can read more about here. But the most common reasons people use shampoo bars are for their sustainability benefits, convenience and clean formulas.

Liquid shampoos are filled with chemicals such as sulfates that often remain on your hair even after you’ve rinsed the lather away. These chemicals can weigh down your strands and rob hair of natural shine, softness and volume.

What happens when you switch to a shampoo bar?

Most shampoo bars have clean formulas that don’t contain sulfates or other cleansing agents typically found in traditional shampoos. If you’re switching to a shampoo bar — or any sulfate free, “clean” formula — you may find that there’s a bit of an adjustment period. During this time many people report a range of experiences from their hair feeling more oily / greasy, waxy, frizzy, and / or dry. And some people report no adjustment at all. If you do experience a change in your scalp or hair, we recommend giving your hair some time to adjust — think of it as pushing the “reset button” on your hair.

Another cause of change in hair appearance or texture can be due to user error. If you’re using a cleaner, sulfate-free formula, it’s important to thoroughly wet the hair and completely rinse all product off. You may also find that you need much less product than a conventional, drug store shampoo. You can find more tips here.

How long does it take for your hair to adjust?

Most people report that their hair takes anywhere from a couple weeks to about a month to adjust.

Do shampoo bars work on all types of hair?

Yes, in general a shampoo bar is suitable for all hair types. Each & Every shampoo bars are also safe for color and chemically-treated hair.

How often should I use a shampoo bar?

Shampoo bars work best for regular use to remove daily grime. How often you wash depends on your hair and scalp — and what works best for you! For periodic removal of strong build-up and grease, it may be helpful to occasionally use a clarifying shampoo.

Tips for getting through the transition period and coming out the other side with fantastic hair:

 We asked some of our shampoo bar VIPs what tips they have for getting through the transition period. Here’s what they had to say:

 1. Shampoo bar washing technique makes all of the difference. The way you wash your hair with a shampoo bar is different than with a liquid shampoo. First, start by getting your hair very wet and ensure the water has soaked all the way down to the roots. Instead of running the shampoo bar directly over your hair, use your hands to create lather then transfer the lather to wash your hair.

For most shampoo bar users, massaging the lather into the scalp is all that’s needed—even if you have long hair. Many users report their best results happen when they allow the lather to drip down over the length of their hair, instead of rubbing it from scalp to ends.

2. Rinse, rinse and rinse again! Unlike liquid shampoos, shampoo bars require a longer rinsing period to ensure you’ve got clean hair. This is because shampoo bars often contain natural oils, such as Argan and Avocado oil, to cleanse the hair; you want to ensure that all product is rinsed from your hair to avoid feeling a waxy build-up or oily scalp.

3. What about conditioner? This is a personal preference! Many of our customers prefer to follow up with their favorite clean, plant-based conditioner to get a soft, silkier feel. But whether or not you use conditioner is up to you!

4. Want even better results? You might need an extra step or two to ensure that you’re removing any chemical build-up from synthetic shampoos and styling products or simply to remove any excess oil from your scalp and hair. Consider trying an apple cider vinegar post-shampoo rinse. Dilute one to four tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (make sure it’s ACV with “the mother”) with water then squirt some on your hair following a wash. Experiment with how frequently you use the apple cider vinegar rinse. Make note when your hair feels the cleanest and silkiest so you can develop the best schedule for your hair.

5. Can I use styling products? Absolutely! We do recommend ensuring your styling products have clean, plant-based formulas if possible, but styling products such as gel, curl crème, mousse and sprays can help give your hair definition, a soft texture, and reduce frizz.

6. Your water matters. The type of water you have running from your shower may be heavily chlorinated and fluoridated, heavily mineralized (hard water) or lacking in minerals (soft water). The type of water you have can change your natural shampoo bar results. In general, heavily treated water and hard water can leave hair with residue. If you think this is happening to you, a post-shampoo apple cider vinegar rinse can help remove build up and give your hair softer texture.

7. All hair is different. Finally, keep in mind that natural shampoo bar success is about listening to your body, paying attention to its signals and adjusting your beauty routine accordingly. When you find the best shampoo bar routine for you, you’ll be thrilled with your hair’s luster, softness and volume.

 Why choose an Each & Every Shampoo Bar

Our worry-free shampoo bars are a natural, eco-friendly alternative to liquid shampoos. Made with 100% natural ingredients, these bars use 90% less water than traditional liquid shampoo and leave no single use plastic behind. Our bars are scented with essential oils and packed with nourishing ingredients like Shea Butter, Argan Oil, and Avocado Oil to give you with beautifully clean hair!

 Each & Every Shampoo Bars are perfect for all hair types (including color-treated hair!) and are also vegan and cruelty free.