Shampoo bars vs liquid shampoo - from a former hairdresser

If you’re reading this article, you’ve likely heard the hype around shampoo bars and the benefits they have for your hair.

Making the switch to solid shampoo can feel daunting if you’re used to using their liquid counterpart.

There are a few distinct differences between the solid and liquid shampoo, including their ingredients, eco-friendliness and how they’re stored.

Jayne, the founder of Hairy Jayne and a former hairdresser, breaks down the key differences between shampoo bars and liquid shampoos below.

What is a shampoo bar? And how is it different from liquid shampoo?

A shampoo bar is essentially shampoo solidified and shaped. One of the biggest differences is shampoo bars often don’t contain the same chemicals as liquid shampoo, like sulphates and detergents. These ingredients can strip the hair’s natural oils and leave your locks feeling dull.

Shampoo bars are also kinder to the environment. This is because they come in plastic free packaging, unlike many liquid shampoos.

Shampoo bars still give the same rich lather that liquid shampoo provides, without all the chemicals that can damage your hair.

Plus, Hairy Jayne’s shampoo bars are PH balanced and cruelty free.

Shampoo bar vs liquid shampoo: 3 important differences

If you want to dig a little deeper into shampoo bars vs liquid shampoos, former hairdresser Jayne outlines 3 key differences below.

If you’re looking for more information about shampoo bars, read our blog post about the top 5 benefits of a shampoo bar you need to know before making the switch.

Ingredients

As mentioned above, a distinct difference between shampoo bars and liquid shampoo is their ingredients.

Many traditional liquid shampoos come with a long list of ingredients, many of them harsh chemicals that can damage your hair in the long run.

Shampoo bars don’t contain detergent, which encourages the production of your hair’s natural oils. They are also free of sulphates, which can leave the hair feeling dry or brittle.

Hairy Jayne’s shampoo bars are always cruelty free, along with being vegan and sulphate, detergent and palm oil free.

Packaging

Traditional liquid shampoo often comes in single use plastic packaging. This packaging will eventually be broken down into micro plastics, which can impact wildlife in our oceans for years to come.

Shampoo bars more often than not come in recyclable packaging, like cardboard, an aluminium tin, or coated paper like Hairy Jayne’s shampoo bars.

When making the switch to using a shampoo bar, you are reducing your carbon footprint and being kinder to the planet.

Storage

Because shampoo bars are more compact than their liquid counterparts, they don’t take up as much space in your bathroom and help reduce clutter.

When storing your shampoo bar between uses, it’s a good idea to keep it raised off any surface, so that your bar doesn’t sit in a puddle and become mushy. A good shampoo bar holder can help with this.

It’s also important to keep your bar away from a constant stream of water when not in use.

Many people store their shampoo bar on their bathroom windowsill or surface away from the shower. This will avoid the bar losing its shape and help prolong the longevity of your solid shampoo.

Are all liquid shampoos bad for your hair?

No! Not all liquid shampoos are bad for hair. There are many liquid shampoos that don’t contain the chemicals mentioned in this article, but they can be a bit harder to find.

Hairy Jayne offers a semi-liquid shampoo concentrate that is refillable and free of any nasty hair damaging chemicals.

The packaging and refillable pouches are also recyclable or biodegradable, so you won’t be contributing to single use plastic either.

Shampoo bars vs liquid shampoo - the conclusion

There are a few key differences when considering both solid and liquid hair care. We hope you now have an insight into the benefits of shampoo bars vs liquid shampoos!

For more information around shampoo bars in general, why not read our ultimate guide to shampoo bars article.

If you have any questions about shampoo bars or liquid shampoo, don’t hesitate to get in touch or reach out via our instagram.