When talking about No Poo, I’ve often noticed that washes, rinses, and conditioners are commonly mentioned. Yet, conversations about No Poo shampoo bar recipes and ideas seem pushed to the sidelines.
This has always surprised me since No Poo shampoo bars are incredibly useful, especially for those who value ease of use and have neither the time nor the patience to create their own one-use washes.
Shampoo can come in liquid and solid forms. The solid form is known as a shampoo bar and is effectively a bar of soap formulated for our hair. A No Poo shampoo bar will not contain sulphates, silicons, parabens, or other harmful chemicals that strip and damage our hair. It can, however, clean and provide nutrients like any other No Poo method.
Since the growth in popularity of the No Poo hair care method, more No Poo shampoo bars are becoming commercially available, as are DIY home recipes.
Read on to discover more about No Poo shampoo bars, and why they might be a great idea for your hair.
No Poo Shampoo Bar
When you decide to go No Poo, you join an ever-growing and exciting approach to hair care where you opt to use hair wash methods that are closer to nature.
No Poo means removing man-made chemicals from your haircare products since these damage our hair and the environment.
Some chemicals that are removed include:
- Sulphates
- Silicons
So, with this in mind, you might be wondering are shampoo bars good for your hair?
A No Poo shampoo bar is simply a shampoo bar that follows the No Poo edict of removing dangerous and unhealthy chemicals from your hair care regime.
These shampoo bars are not as prominent as ‘usual’ hair cleansing methods so you may not have heard about them.
A shampoo bar, like soap, is rubbed through your hair, with the suds massaged through to cleanse each hair strand before being rinsed out.
Shampoo bars are easy to use, are long-lasting, and make going No Poo simple for those who do not wish to use conventional washes or make their own No Poo washes at home.
Since all shampoo bars are different, make sure you pay close attention to the list of ingredients listed on each No Poo shampoo bar before buying.
Whilst going No Poo using a No Poo shampoo bar would seem to be a simple task, there are in fact different types of shampoo bars available.
Below are the different types of No Poo shampoo bars that exist, and what their respective benefits are:
1. OH Poo
The OH Poo bar is one that contains butter and oils.
This No Poo shampoo bar is suitable for use primarily with soft water and for straight hair.
Individuals with curly hair may find that their hair feels waxy and unclean if they use this product.
When using an OH Poo bar you may find that an apple cider vinegar rinse is also necessary.
Apple cider vinegar shampoo bars are also available to combat the need for this extra step.
2. Low Poo
This type of No Poo shampoo bar has had all the sulphates removed, but may still contain silicon.
Low Poo shampoo bars will not lather as much as traditional shampoo, but will still have the capacity to clean your hair.
This is a shampoo bar with surfactant.
3. Full Poo
If you are looking to go No Poo, then this is the type of shampoo bar to avoid since (as the name suggests) the bar is full shampoo.
Thus, full poo shampoo bars contain all of the ingredients that No Poo’ers wish to remove from their hair care regime.
Are Shampoo Bars Worth It?
How you wash your hair, and with what products are entirely an individual’s choice.
For some, a shampoo bar will be the most effective wash method, and therefore usually the easiest method to go from traditional shampoos to No Poo.
As with everything though, there are various pros and cons that need to be considered first.
The shampoo bars pros and cons list below may help you decide which is best for you:
Benefits
Below are the benefits of shampoo bars:
- Time: Having a soap bar ready and waiting is less time consuming than making your own wash.
- Cost: Shampoo bars can be considerably cheaper than traditional shampoos, however this is not always the case.
- Chemicals: Shampoo bars can be sulphate and silicon free.
- Whole Body: Shampoo bars are often able to be used as an all body wash meaning that you only have one bar to clean both your hair and body; cutting down on waste.
- All Hair Types: With the number of shampoo bars now available you should be able to find one for your hair type.
Disadvantages
Below are the disadvantages of shampoo bars:
- Ingredients: Many shampoo bars, even though labelled ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ are not No Poo.
- Rinsing: You may need you to use a vinegar wash afterwards to keep your hair in good condition. This is especially true when it comes to OH bars.
- Waxiness: Many people find that OH Poo bars do not effectively cleanse their hair. These bars can also leave a waxy residue that can be difficult to remove.
- Hard Water: Many shampoo bars work best in soft water areas. Those individuals who live in hard water areas may find this route more of a challenge. Learn more about this issue, in this article.
Many people swear by shampoo bars, and they certainly allow an element of ease and freedom whilst following a No Poo lifestyle.
However, the benefits are not achievable for everyone, and the ingredients list should be diligently checked before use to ensure that any bar you use is actually No Poo compliant.
Best Shampoo Bar For No Poo
Finding the best shampoo bar for you is a trial and error process.
However, many shampoo bars can be immediately discounted as they are classified as Full Poo, even when listed as natural and/or organic.
Whilst a shampoo bar for greasy hair, dry hair, or any other type of hair might be available, sometimes it is just easier to make your own.
When looking at buying a No Poo shampoo bar, try to keep the following factors in mind:
- Read the ingredients carefully: Just because it contains ‘natural’ ingredients does not mean that it does not also contain other non No Poo ingredients.
- Know your hair type: Just like liquid washes, shampoo bars are targeted to different hair types.
- Water Type: The ingredients that you look for in a shampoo bar will vary depending on whether you live in a hard or soft water area (source 1).
This is a great shampoo bar available on Amazon. It is a good No Poo shampoo bar and should work well with most hair types. It is also designed for dry hair and includes argan oil to combat this.
If you want to use a shampoo bar then you may be tempted by the wonderful advertising by Lush. Rest assured, the Lush shampoo bars are No Poo. However, be mindful to double-check the ingredient list. SLS is always one of the main ingredients.
The Gruum shampoo bar is another popular option as it acknowledges that hard water makes keeping your hair in great condition much harder than living in a soft water area.
Grumm has a whole line of shampoo bars that would help your hair become the best it can be.
The best thing to do is use a shampoo bar that has been designed for your hair type specifically. Once you find this, then find ways to tackle the hard water problem that you face.
For instance, the following options can all help reduce the impact of hard water on your hair:
- Fitting a water softener
- Using distilled water to wash your hair
- Using a vinegar rinse
How To Use Shampoo Bar
Shampoo bars work in very much the same way as liquid washes but may take a little while to get the technique right.
Here’s how to use a No Poo shampoo bar:
- Wet hair.
- Wet shampoo bar.
- Run shampoo bar down hair from the scalp line to your crown.
- Put bar on a drip mat so it does not stay wet longer than necessary.
- Massage suds through the lengths of your hair, making sure that your scalp is massaged at the same time.
- Rinse hair thoroughly with cold water to maintain shine.
Do You Need Conditioner With A Shampoo Bar?
Many shampoo bars have enough conditioning agents in them to remove the need for you to use a separate conditioner.
However, this depends upon:
- Your hair type
- The water in your area
- The specific shampoo bar you are using
Are Shampoo Bars Good For Coloured Hair?
The right shampoo bar can happily be used for coloured hair. This is because No Poo shampoo bars do not contain sulphates that strip the hair like traditional shampoos.
This means that they also do not strip the colour from your hair.
As with all other shampoos though, check the ingredients before use.
Hypoallergenic Shampoo Bar
When you choose a No Poo shampoo bar you have already made a decision that will exclude most of the harmful and irritating products from your hair care regime.
A No Poo sensitive shampoo bar such as this peppermint shampoo bar sold on Amazon will help calm your scalp and keep it in great condition. Click the link to learn more about this specific product.
Shampoo Bar Residue
Some shampoo bars will work better than others, just like traditional shampoos. This is because what works for one individual’s hair may not be as complementary to others.
Some shampoo bars are very laden with oils. If these oils are not correctly rinsed out then they could lead to a build-up on your hair leaving it feeling heavy and possibly waxy.
Conclusion
No Poo shampoo bars have become increasingly popular, especially with the growth of the No Poo movement over the last few decades.
Many shampoo bars are No Poo, however, the ingredients list should always be reviewed very carefully.
Related Questions
Low Poo Bar
Shampoo bars can be Full Poo, No Poo, or OH Poo. Low Poo bars can contain oils that may weigh down hair. With the number of No Poo shampoo bars available, going No Poo is easier than you think.