Solid or liquid shampoos? It depends on your hair.

Far from being a recent invention, bar shampoos have re-emerged as the latest trend in sustainable personal care. For the eco-conscious consumer, these environmentally friendly and space-saving blocks have come a long way since Slidall’s Soap in the 1880s — an all-purpose bar soap which was used for cleaning everything from body and hair to teeth and toilets!

Today, bar shampoos, soaps and conditioners come in all colors, fragrances, shapes, sizes. In the multibillion-dollar personal care industry, these neat and uniquely designed bath bricks have found a popular niche among eco-shoppers primarily for their many sustainable advantages. But that doesn’t mean you should give up on your favorite clean and green liquid shampoo brands just yet.

Why are shampoo bars eco-friendly?

When you consider the shocking facts about non-recyclable plastic packaging and that more than a million plastic bottles are sold globally every minute, the environmentally friendly appeal of shampoo bars and bar cleansers is obvious–and the main reason why customers make the switch from liquid to solid shampoos.

Shampoo bars have a smaller carbon footprint than liquid shampoos in bottles. They do not contribute to plastic waste pollution because they do not require plastic packaging, and help conserve water by omitting it from their formulations. They also emit less C02 in transportation as they are lighter and consume less space in storage. In fact, it is estimated that one transport truck of solid shampoo bars equates to roughly 10–15 transport trucks of liquid shampoo in terms of the same number of hair washes!

Additionally, eco-friendly shampoo bars are touted to be much gentler and more natural than their liquid counterparts. Most do not contain harsh chemicals and preservatives like sulfates and parabens which can strip moisture from hair and cause dryness, and the natural oils and vitamins from their organic ingredients (like coconut, argan, and olive oils) are meant to give hair vitality and radiance.

Though great for the environment, shampoo bars may still not be for everyone.

Shampoo bars have one benefit that may also be a disadvantage for discerning shoppers looking for the perfect hair care product. Highly concentrated, and for this reason quite economical (shampoo bars last longer than their liquid counterparts at 80–90 hair washes per bar depending on usage frequency) the potent volume of saponified oils, alkali and other ingredients may build up in hair and scalp among people prone to dandruff, eczema or other skin conditions.

This buildup in turn may cause a range of effects — causing hair to be anywhere from dry, coarse and unruly to waxy, greasy and even sticky. That’s why it’s important to buy shampoo bars from trustworthy brands that use certified organic, natural ingredients and are guaranteed free from harmful chemicals!

At the end of the day, it’s all about what works best for your hair type.

Whether liquid or solid, what matters is that the shampoo you’re eyeing comes from a reliable brand committed to minimizing their carbon footprint and environmental impact while delivering great results.

When it comes to beauty and personal grooming, what works for one person may not work for another. And sometimes, trial and error is the only way to find what you’re looking for.

At cang, we’re all about making sustainable living a breeze for you.

And we do that by making sure that the eco-friendly products you buy from us are from trustworthy brands that care about people and the planet. No fuss, no hassle, no problem!

Why not try our September Starter Set today? You’ll get a Foamie Shampoo Bar, AlmaWin Natural Dishwasher Tablets, Wildplastic Sustainable bin bags, an ATTITUDE Natural Bathroom Cleaner, Sonett eco dishwashing sponges, a pair of FAIR SQUARED household gloves, youtiful hand sanitizer and Speick Bio Shower Gel. That’s nine products valued at €44.58 for only €31.36 — a great deal that can’t be beat!

YOU can make a difference by helping us make clean and green mainstream.

Happy eco-shopping!