For many of us the thought of ditching our trusted bottled shampoo can be daunting.
This blog aims to show you that it needn’t be, and how after an initial transition period the benefits can be threefold: Financial, environmental and beautiful!
Commercial shampoos often contain synthetic detergents which are designed to remove dirt, sebum and styling products from the hair and scalp, and boy are they good at this – so much so that they also take most of the hair’s natural oils with them, causing the skin to counteract by creating ore oils, thus encouraging you to wash your hair more often. And so the cycle begins…
Shampoo Bars
Shampoo bars are kinder than this, but, like any natural product they require a little more elbow grease and a modicum of patience.
Our shampoo bars contain 100% natural oils & butters; coconut oil, avocado oil, castor oil and shea & cocoa butters to be precise (please note, no palm oil).
These work in unison simply to clean the hair rather than strip it of its natural oils, ultimately removing the necessity to wash it so regularly.
However, just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither can habits be broken in a wash! For years your hair has been coated with gums, thickeners and silicones found in commercial shampoos and these need to be removed in order for the natural bars to work their wonders.
Here are a few tricks to get you on your way:
- Mix 1tbsp of baking soda with 1 cup of warm water and use to rinse your hair before using the shampoo bar. The mixture will help remove the residue, allowing the oils to strut their stuff.
- Rub the bar directly onto the scalp/hair to create a rich lather and spread this evenly around the hair.
- Don’t hurry the rinse. The natural oils will be in less of a hurry to leave your luscious locks so take time to rinse them out.
- Dilute 1tb of apple cider vinegar in warm water scented with essential oils. Rosemary is a great one for adding shine to hair!
If you still think your hair is in need of some TLC here is an easy recipe for a conditioning mask:
Warm together 1tbsp of honey and 1tbsp of olive oil. Mix with either 2tbsp of yoghurt (for oily hair) or 1 mashed banana (dry hair) and rub all over the hair. Leave for 35 mins and rinse under warm water.
Finally, as with all our soaps, remember to store them in a free-draining dish so they can dry out properly in between uses.
We would love to hear how you get on or of any of your own tips for making the transition! We’re a friendly bunch so please feel free to comment below!
Hi Amber, thanks for your query. We can’t claim that this would help your eczema but the bars contain no nasties at all and are made with 100% natural ingredients. The Luscious Locks bar is the original all-rounder which has received many great reviews. I hope that helps a little?
Hi, I suffer from eczema under my eyes and I think it is triggered by harsh chemicals in the shampoos I use. I was wondering if this shampoo bar would help? Any suggestions on specific bars? Thanks 🙂
Hi, I’ve received 2 shampoo bars from my neice for Christmas, she and I are both advocates for small UK businesses. Is there one that my husband could use as he suffers from dandruff. Any advice would be welcome. Please stay safe. Kindest regards Angie
Hi Nicola, thanks for your message. I have sent you an email with information about this!
I am unsure which one to try. I am having trouble with a very itchy scalp in recent months. I wonder if a bar soap would be better. My hair is dark and tends towards greasy with the wrong product. Any suggestions please.
That’s wonderful to hear thank you so much Margarette!
I appreciate the information on this website. I gained a lot of knowledge about how to switch to a shampoo bar and it really helps me because i have a curly hair. Thanks again.
Hi Monika
Many thanks for your email, our advice regarding the shampoo bars should be on the blog but I have sent you a private email too! Thank you so much for your support.
Sophie x
Do I need to use conditioner after using the shampoo bar?
Hi Kathleen,
We’re trying our best to get it launched soon!
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you for your feedback, I’m so sorry you are struggling. Some hair types can take longer than others to adjust but there are other factors which contribute to this such as what products (styling and cleaning) you have previously used on your hair. These can create a little build up which needs to be removed before the shampoo can do its work! Have you tried the hair rinse suggested in the blog? These works really well and you can do it several times. There is a period of adjustment but when you get there the benefits are multi-faceted! If you want to email me on hello@thedartmoorsoapco.co.uk I can help more! Many thanks, Sophie
Oh and I would love a conditioner bar too! Any indication of when that’s likely to be launched please?
My mother-in-law bought me a shampoo bar to try as she’s recently changed over herself. My husband and two little girls use it and it works great on their hair, however I’m really struggling to get my hair clean. The top looks and feels clean however the back and underneath parts still look and feel oily. I’ve tried different things – splitting my hair into sections and washing it one by one, washing 2-3 times… any idea what I’m doing wrong.
If this is just part of the transition phase then I’ll keep going. Especially as I’m stuck in the house anyway – what better time to transition ☺️
Dear Jeanette, thank you so much for your feedback, yes there will indeed be a conditioner bar soon!
I suffer from migraines and many allergies and most shampoos either trigger a migraine with their overpowering smell or make my scalp break out in sores due to the chemicals.I was given Luscious Locks shampoo bar for Christmas and it is fantastic.It lathers well (many shampoo bars don’t) and it doesn’t leave a sticky residue (other shampoo bars I’ve tried have left my hair looking greasy).I absolutely love these bars,hopefully there will be a conditioner bar soon.So glad I’ve found these bars.Thank you.
Ah that’s good to hear! Thank you for sharing it with us!
I wanted to change to a shampoo bar & bought the Luscious Locks bar. I have dyed hair with a loose curl & unfortunately it didn’t suit my hair at all. However, not wanting to waste my lovely purchase I whimsically used it as a my facial cleanser one day. I can honestly say my skin has never looked & felt better! I now buy this bar as my facial cleanser & after reading the tips above will be buying one of your other shampoo bars to try again on my hair, combining with the tips. ????
Wow, Lea, that’s amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this, we’re so glad it has worked for you!
Sx
I used the avocado and coconut oil bar for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t do any prior prep, or aftercare, and can honestly say my hair has never looked, or felt better! A complete convert. I do have short hair, so the bar maybe will last a tad longer than for others, but I don’t seem to use as much as a traditional bottle of shampoo.
Fab tip! Thanks Sarah!
I have used shampoo soap for about 5 years and I use a spray bottle with 1/3 white or cider vinegar and 2/3 water with maybe some Essential oils if I am feeling fancy! Spray in after rinsing and rub well in, the rinse after a few minutes. Make the whole process very simple.