Tips for your shampoo bar
Practical tips for using a bar. From lathering and storage to hard water, travel, and your seasonal routine.
Small things that make a big difference
You use a shampoo bar differently than a bottle, and you'll get used to it within a few washes. Wet your hair with warm water, rub the bar between your hands to create lather or run it directly over your hair and scalp, massage it in briefly, and rinse thoroughly. Then, use a conditioner bar on the lengths, not on your scalp. Our guide on how to use a shampoo bar explains it step by step.
What you do with the bar afterward determines how long it lasts. Between washes, let it dry on a soap dish or in a sisal soap bag so the water can drain away. Do not store it wet in a sealed tin: this will cause water to pool, and the bar will start to crumble. If your bar doesn't lather much, it is usually not the bar's fault, but your tap water. In shampoo bar and hard water, you can read why limescale inhibits lather and what you can do about it.
Something also changes with the seasons. In winter, static hair acts up due to dry air and hats, while in summer your lengths have to endure sun, salt, and chlorine. And during the menopause, both your scalp and your lengths change, which makes it helpful to treat them separately. That requires a consistent routine with castor oil and argan oil.
A bar is handy when you're on the go: it contains no water, so it is not subject to carry-on liquid restrictions and nothing can leak in your suitcase. There is also a separate bar for your dog's or horse's coat. All the tips are listed below.
How to use your bar
The basics, plus what you do if you have very little foam or when you take it with you.
Shampoo bar and hard water
Limescale in the water inhibits the foam; it works fine with cooled boiled water.
Taking your shampoo bar on your travels
No leaking bottles and no hassle with liquids in your hand luggage.
A bar for dog and horse
A 2-in-1 bar for every coat, with calendula, cedarwood and chamomile.
Per season and per period
Winter, summer and the transition. What changes and how you adapt your routine.
Static hair in winter
Six tips against static hair, from your beanie to your brush.
Protecting hair against sun, sea, and chlorine
A summer routine for your vacation: gentle cleanser, conditioner, and a mask.
Hair and scalp during menopause
A personal story about caring for your scalp and lengths separately.
A consistent routine with castor oil and argan oil
Build a routine for your scalp and lengths step by step.
Try it out first
Small sizes of shampoo and conditioner. Convenient for testing a fragrance or for taking with you on your travels.
Frequently asked questions about using a bar
How do you store a shampoo bar between washes?
Let the bar dry on a soap dish or in a sisal soap bag, in a place where the water can drain away. Do not put it in a closed tin or container while wet: the water will remain, and the bar will become soft and start to crumble.
How many washes do you get from one bar?
On average about eighty. How many you get depends on your hair length, how often you wash it, and especially how you let the bar dry in between uses.
Can a shampoo bar be taken in your carry-on luggage?
Yes. A bar is a solid product and therefore does not fall under the rules for liquids in carry-on luggage. Nothing can leak during transit either. Do bring a tin or a soap pouch, so you can transport it while dry.
Why does my bar foam less than someone else's?
That is usually due to the water. In areas with hard water, there is a lot of limescale in the tap water, and limescale inhibits lather. You don't need a lot of lather to get your hair clean. If you still want more lather, take a small bottle of cooled boiled water into the shower and use it to wet your bar.
Can I use my own bar on my dog?
We have a separate bar for that, with calendula, cedarwood, and chamomile, intended for the coats of dogs and horses. If your animal has skin problems, please consult your veterinarian for advice before using anything new.
Read more
Everything about hair care
All articles about shampoo bars, your scalp and your hair type on one page.
Ingredients in our bars
What SCI, SLSa, plant-based keratin, cocoa butter, and mica do in a bar.
Sustainable hair care
About packaging, plastic, and the difference between a shampoo bar and a bottle.