Shampoo and conditioner bars are ecoconscious, travel-friendly, and last forever. But not all shampoo bars are created equal, so we tested formulas from our favorite brands.
Six years ago, a zero-waste grocery store opened up near my apartment. During the few years I shopped there regularly, I discovered so much that I still incorporate into my daily life — whether produce like kabocha squash and trumpet mushrooms or household products such as reusable.
Most crucially, this crunchy little depot introduced me to shampoo and conditioner bars. I’ve been obsessed with them ever since I first tried one from a local brand there, for so many reasons. There’s the environmentally friendly lack of plastic packaging, since most shampoo and conditioner bars come wrapped in paper. They’re alsowhen I pack them on trips. They’re economical — my shampoo and conditioner bars have lasted me three or four times as long as a given liquid formula product used to. The main ingredients are usually more highly concentrated in a solid shampoo and conditioner, so I always feel like my hair is getting the maximum impact. That said, it’s important to find the brand and formula that works for you. For context, my hair texture is loose waves and curls that fall out easily and are prone to frizz, so I’m always looking for moisture and volume. I also experience occasional scalp flaking, so I tried some formulas that specifically target that. One caveat — shampoo and conditioner bars should be stored in a dry spot in the bathroom. I’ve had success in keeping mine on Ethique’sI love Nopalera’s body products, so I was excited to try the solid shampoo and conditioner bars, and the Balance + Repair duo gave me the best hair day . The cactus-leaf shape of the bars is comfortable to hold, and the shampoo lathered up quickly and left my hair feeling clean, soft, and manageable. The conditioner was hydrating without feeling greasy, and my hair was super-shiny afterward. It stayed manageable and felt healthy for the entire two days until my next wash.This duo is currently sold out, but considering how shiny my hair was after using Balance + Repair, I have a feeling this formula could only intensify that effect.Redeem is a small brand that focuses specifically on shampoo and conditioner bars, along with body soaps from partner brand Pure Sabao. The shampoo lathered nicely and left my hair squeaky clean — really, it had an almost squeaky texture — and the conditioner was super-moisturizing and spread easily through my hair. Both products smell wonderful. After one use, my hair was the softest and shiniest it’s been in recent memory, and that lasted all the way until my next wash a few days later.From the smell alone, I knew this was going to be a powerful formula — and I was right. It clarified my scalp impressively but didn’t strip my hair of its moisture.This formula was super-moisturizing, and my hair came out really soft, but it also got oily a little faster. It wasn’t the ideal formula for me since my hair already is more on the oily side, but I think it would work well for hair types that need more supercharged moisture.After not getting a chance to wash my hair and having to settle for a quick body rinse on two hot days in a row, I noticed some mild irritation on my scalp. I decided to test Ethique’s Scalp Health shampoo bar, following it with the smoothing conditioner. It lathered up nicely, and my hair felt healthy and bouncy with no flakes to be found. I liked that the shapes of the shampoo and conditioner were different, making them easy to distinguish, but I found the half-moon-shaped shampoo a little difficult to keep a hold of. Ethique also has a wide range of formulas available for a variety of hair types and purposes.I also tried the Smoothing conditioner with its intended partner, and I did notice a subtle lack of frizz during a hot day in the sun.HiBar is one of the most well-known and trusted brands among solid shampoos and conditioners. Its products are reliable and high quality. I also find the ergonomic shape they come in to be very easy to use while lathering up or conditioning. After one wash with the Repair set, my hair was noticeably curlier than usual and felt healthy and voluminous., to the point that I kept running my fingers through it. I did notice my hair texture was more on the loose, wavy end of the curl spectrum, but that could be because I was touching it so much!The Soothe formula was such a gift to my scalp and I liked that the calming ingredients were paired with a citrusy zing. My hair felt superclean afterward, if a tiny bit dry.Davines only currently sells shampoo bars with four possible formulas. I tested DEDE, which is described as a gentle everyday shampoo. I liked that the shampoo had a creamy, almost moisturizing texture while lathering, and my hair came out shiny and soft.VOLU was equally creamy in its lather, and I did notice a little extra bounce and more defined curls after using it.Not to keep repeating myself, but the way this stuff lathers up is actually astounding. My hair felt hydrated and silky after being washed with this, but I did notice oily buildup after about a day and a half, which for me is faster than usual.Everyone Has Hemorrhoids NowWhat Is Karrueche Tran Doing in Deion Sanders’s Docuseries?If you were to engineer perfect conditions for this ailment, the result would look a lot like the way we live today. And treatment is far from simple.Your Daily Horoscope by Madame Clairevoyant: July 29, 2025 The Libra moon allows you to keep a level head today — use it to put plans in motion and strengthen your relationships.What We Know About the Death of Emilie Kiser’s SonYou'll receive the next newsletter in your inbox.New York
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