Best Shampoo Bars: Top 7 Sustainable Washes, According To Experts -

Ever find yourself in the shampoo aisle, drowning in choices and wondering if your hair will ever forgive you for the constant product experimentation? The best shampoo bars are little blends of magic that turn your shower into a breeze without the stress of making a decision your hair may regret. They combine all your hair essentials into one compact package sans the frills that come with many products.

As many modern consumers value conscious shopping, shampoo bars are a great way to do so! There are plenty of leading brands creating their own versions, but they all have certain things in common. So, why should you ditch your bottled shampoo? Shampoo bars offer a multitude of advantages over traditional liquid shampoos:

Sustainability: Shampoo bars eliminate the need for plastic bottles, reducing environmental impact.
Eco-Friendly Ingredients: Shampoo bars often use natural and plant-based ingredients, minimizing the use of harsh chemicals.
Convenience: Shampoo bars are compact and travel-friendly, eliminating the need for bulky liquid bottles.
Lather and Conditioning: Shampoo bars produce a rich lather and provide conditioning benefits, leaving hair clean, soft, and manageable.

When you’re ready to break free from the plastic prison of traditional shampoos and embrace the eco-chic revolution you’re ready for a shampoo bar that will eliminate your guilt over trashing the environment. The best shampoo bars aren’t just about making your hair look like a million bucks; they’re also about saving the planet, which is why StudyFinds presents these expert recommendations for you. What’s your favorite shampoo bar? Share your success stories in the comments!

A man shampooing his hair (Photo by Alena TS on Shutterstock)

The List: Best Shampoo Bars, According to Experts

1. Odacité 552M Soap Free Shampoo Bar

Number one on our list of the best shampoo bars is by Odacité. “The Odacite 552M Soap Free Shampoo Bar is powered by argan and castor oil to leave hair feeling extra soft and clean and looking shiny. According to our tester, it’s easy to lather up strands for a squeaky-clean rinse. In fact, it leaves hair feeling so clean, that her hair maintained its refreshed luster until the fourth day. That said, she admits that part of why the effects last so long is because this bar isn’t the most hydrating. As such, we recommend following up with a hydrating conditioner post-rinse,” writes Instyle.

The best shampoo bars are here to sprinkle a bit of green goodness into your daily routine. “If you deal with greasy roots and product buildup, we recommend getting your hands on this shampoo bar. It works to rid the hair and scalp of excess oil and buildup, and the soap-free formula is safe for color-treated hair, too. In terms of the lather, our tester said it lathered nicely, just like a traditional bar soap would,” shares Byrdie.

Are you still navigating the sea of plastic bottles in your shower, or are you ready to join the shampoo bar revolution? “There are a lot of things we love about the Odacité Shampoo Bar. It’s great for basically every hair type and cleanses well while leaving your hair feeling hydrated and soft. The bar is made with nourishing ingredients like argan oil, castor oil, cupuaçu butter, and coconut oil. It lathers fully, smells wonderfully citrusy, and is soap-free, too, meaning it won’t strip your hair of the natural oils it needs to stay healthy,” says Health.

2. Garnier Whole Blends Softening Shampoo Bar

“For a budget-friendly price and available at your local drugstore, this is great pick. The bar was comfortable to hold, easy to use, and it lathered better than some other options on our list. It would be nice if the formula was a little more moisturizing; we found our thick hair felt a bit dry after using. We followed up with a conditioning mask to counteract those effects and that helped,” writes Instyle.

Step into the world where hair gurus swear by vibrant, compact bars for their luscious locks. “Every single GH Beauty Lab expert was impressed with this bargain-priced teardrop-shaped gem from Garnier. This is no small feat as our experts’ strands cover a wide range, from oily to dry, thin to coarse and unprocessed to bleached. “The lather is lush, it smells amazing and it leaves hair feeling fully clean yet not dry,’ raved GH Beauty Director April Franzino. We also like that it is cruelty-free certified by Leaping Bunny and packaged in Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified cardboard, meaning that the packaging is not only recyclable curbside but is also obtained responsibly from well-managed forests,” shares Good House Keeping.

Ready to bid farewell to the plastic bottle clutter? “It’s pretty awesome that drugstore brands have begun to embrace sustainability and less-waste products. Although the beauty industry has a long way to go in terms of its environmental impact, Garnier Whole Blends Softening Shampoo Bar is a good step in the right direction. We love that this bar lasts through many shampoos and works great to thoroughly clean hair. This vegan formula contains rice cream and oat milk to hydrate your hair and scalp while cleansing oils from your locks, too,” says Health.

3. Ethique Professor Curl Solid Shampoo Bar

Number three on our list is designed for curly hair. “Ethique Professor Curl Curl-Defining Solid Shampoo Bar is a fan favorite for its easy-to-use block shape that smells delightfully (but subtly) of citrus. Shape and scent aside, this shampoo bar is easy to use, works well to deeply clean hair, and helps define curls,” writes Instyle.

Elevate your hair game without compromising the planet. “People with curly hair know that it can be tricky to find shampoos that strike the right balance between effective cleansing and moisturizing, and this shampoo bar does that. In addition to lathering really well, our tester was super impressed with how effectively it removed a hair oil that she had applied prior to shampooing. It worked to give her scalp and strands a nice, thorough cleanse without compromising on moisture. She even noted that she was able to go a day or two longer without washing her hair, as compared to when she uses other shampoo formulas. After using the bar consistently for the allotted testing period, it remained in pristine condition—no crumbling in sight,” shares Byrdie.

The brand also makes a purple shampoo bar. “Just as a purple shampoo works to brighten blonde hair, it can also reduce brassiness in silver or gray hair. Ethique Tone It Down Brightening Purple Shampoo Bar is soap-free and does a great job of thoroughly cleansing hair while brightening color, thanks to the beetroot powder. This pick lathers well and won’t leave a waxy residue,” says Health.

4. Klorane Hair Shampoo Bar

Number four on our list of is by Klorane. “Offering 80 washes, Klorane’s shampoo bar is formulated with intensely nourishing cold-pressed mango butter, which simultaneously cleanses and conditions lengths,” shares Vogue, about their Nourishing Bar with Mango.

Dreaming of locks that defy gravity? Shampoo bars might just be the backstage pass to hair paradise. “Fine hair calls for a gentle, non-stripping shampoo that won’t leave your hair feeling greasy after use. Klorane Ultra-Gentle Shampoo Bar fits the bill perfectly,” says Health.

Ever wondered if your hair deserves the VIP treatment? “As a fan of the French brand Klorane, I was happy to see that they offer a solid version of their leading shampoo. Enriched with mango butter, which is packed with vitamins A and E, it fortifies strands to reduce breakage and smooth split ends. Ideal for thin hair or ends that have been damaged from hot tools or bleaching, this bar left my hair feeling ultra-nourished without the heaviness that comes with your typical moisturizing shampoos. Those wanting a generous lather should first lather the bar in their hands before applying it to their scalp, as it tends to not get as foamy as other solid shampoos,” raves CN Traveler, about the mango variety.

5. Davines Love Shampoo Bar

According to Byrdie, “For some people, the way their shampoo smells is equally as important as how well it cleanses their hair—it’s simply part of the experience. If this sounds like you, we recommend checking out this shampoo bar that features an invigorating, floral fragrance that’s bold but not overpowering. In addition to the fragrance, our tester loved that the formula worked to provide a nice cleanse while remaining gentle. She also appreciated how well it lathered in her hands, making it effortless to distribute across her scalp and through the lengths of her hair.”

Embrace the guilt-free suds and dive into the world of hair care revolution. “Give your hair and scalp some love with the Davines Love Shampoo Bar, an award-winning product. Specifically formulated for coarse, frizzy hair, this formula will help define curls, reduce frizz, and thoroughly clean your scalp, too. Yates recommends this shampoo bar to her clients because she loves the fragrance and the creamy lather this bar creates. “The aluminum travel case is fabulous and space-saving, too,” says Health.

Intrigued about the backstage gossip from hair gurus who swear by these little bars of wonder? “Formulated for coarse and frizzy hair, this smoothing shampoo bar from Davines develops a rich foam that leaves lengths soft, shiny, and silky,” shares Vogue.

6. Bar None Hydrating Shampoo Bar

Transform your shower into an enchanting space with a sprinkle of joy in every wash. “Do right by your hair and the planet and pick up one of Bar None’s zero-waste shampoo bars, made with ultra-moisturizing ingredients, such as coconut, shea, and cocoa butter,” shares Vogue.

Curious if a compact shampoo bar can rival the performance of its liquid counterparts? “In addition to our overall winner, we gave this product a perfect score in our testing. Since our tester has thin, straight, dry hair, they were a little skeptical about how this product would work. However, she found it was extremely easy to use during the testing period. It produces more of a lather than a typical bar of soap and can also be rubbed directly onto the scalp for more targeted cleansing. Our tester had nothing but rave reviews in regards to this shampoo bar, saying that it gave her hair ‘new life’ and helped hydrate her typically dry scalp,” says People.

7. Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo Bar

Finally, the number seven on our list of the best shampoo bars is Christophe Robin Hydrating shampoo bar. “If you’re in the market for a gentle shampoo bar that will leave you feeling clean and not stripped, we recommend this one. While our tester noted that it took a bit of effort and getting used to in terms of how best to get the formula to lather (she found rubbing it straight on her hair worked best), once she got used to it, it lathered nicely and effectively cleansed her hair and scalp. She explained that it left her hair feeling similar to how her go-to liquid shampoo leaves it, and the bar itself was easy to grip while she massaged it across her head,” writes Byrdie.

Are you still stuck in the plastic bottle era? It’s time to break free and dance into the sustainable future with best shampoo bars. “We found that this bar delivers on its hydration promises. Formulated with aloe vera and five different oils (including coconut oil for supple hair and olive oil to soften hair and skin), it packs a moisturizing punch. Using the bar directly on the scalp, it lathered very easily and performed as well as traditional bottled shampoo; however, when trying to create suds on its own with running water, it was a bit tough to get a good lather. Ten washes in, this durable little bar looked brand new and even several washes after that, it did not change in shape or consistency. We feel confident in getting a few months of washes out of it,” says People.

Ever questioned if a small, vibrant bar could genuinely transform your daily shower into a spa-like haven? “Formulated with hydrating aloe vera, this 100% natural shampoo barre masterminded by the Paris-based coiffeur Christophe Robin leaves lengths soft to the touch,” shares Vogue.

Sources:

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.

Tags: shampoo