Even in conventional shampoo buying places (like the pharmacy or grocery aisle) picking the right shampoo can feel like an ongoing experiment. So it’s totally normal to feel a little overwhelmed when you step into a space like this, surrounded by brands you’ve never heard of and a wall of shampoo bars instead of plastic bottles.
But don’t worry, I’ve got you.
All the hair care on our shelves has been selected carefully and specifically (by me!), not just for its plastic-free packaging, but also for the nourishing ingredients that have amazing benefits, and the values of the people making them. These are products and small businesses I believe in.
We have shampoos that will help with…
- Caring for curly or textured hair
- Restoring damaged or thinning hair
- Balancing oily hair
- Treating scalp health issues and removing buildup
- Adding hydration and shine to dry, frizzy hair
- Maintaining colored hair
We carry a range of options because everyone has different needs. Whether it’s curls, color care, scalp support, or something else. I invite you to scroll to your top hair priority and explore the shampoo bars and liquids we have to offer.
CARING FOR CURLY OR TEXTURED HAIR
What to Consider: Curly and textured hair often requires extra moisture and gentle handling. Look for bars that have nourishing ingredients (like proteins and oils) to keep your curls fresh and hydrated.
1. Solidsilk Delicate Volume Shampoo from No Tox Life
- Lightly scented with essential oils: Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and Mint
- Gentle, sulfate-free, pH-balanced formula
Seaweed Extract imparts proteins and minerals to hair shaft to help with damage.
Macadamia Nut Esters and Cocoa Butter soften, moisturize, and create shine.
Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, and Butylene Glycol are a blend of gentle plant-based conditioners to help reduce frizz and tangles and lock in moisture.
2. Olive + Babassu Shampoo Bar from Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve
- Great for coarse, kinky hair
- Mild, coconut-free, sulfate-free, organic formula
Virgin Olive Oil is rich in oleic acid and nourishes hair from scalp to ends.
Babassu Oil is emollient rich and provides rich moisture and proteins, softening coarsely textured and/or tightly coiled curly hair.
Shea Butter deeply nourishes the hair shaft while moisturizing and softening curls, enhancing shine, luster, and overall manageability.
RESTORING DAMAGED OR THINNING HAIR
What to Consider: For hair that is damaged or thinning, focus on strengthening hair follicles and scalp stimulation. These bars contain ingredients like rice water and rosemary to promote hair growth, keep the root healthy, and strengthen strands.
1. Strengthen Bar from BRIXY
- Light Almond Blossom scent
- pH-balanced, color safe, sulfate-free formula
Pumpkin Seed Oil nourishes the scalp and strengthens strands with a rich dose of vitamins and minerals that are perfect for supporting healthy growth from root to tip.
Rosemary Oil boosts circulation and wakes up tired follicles to help reduce shedding and promote fuller, healthier hair.
Caffeine stimulates the scalp and blocks DHT to support thicker, stronger hair with continued use.
2. Everyday Shampoo Bar from dip
- Wild Sage & Vetiver, co-starring: Mandarin, Jasmine, & Sea Salt
- Salon-grade formula available in full size or mini
Sweet Almond Oil provides natural SPF and biotin to strengthen hair strands.
Olive Squalane softens and smooths without causing greasiness. Also acts as a heat protectant.
Amla Oil has antioxidants to keep hair roots healthy and promote growth.
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein helps boost volume and elasticity by binding moisture and temporarily repairing damage.
3. Voluminizing Grapefruit Shampoo Bar from Silver Falls Sustainability Co.
- Bright and citrusy Grapefruit scent
- Salon-quality ingredients formulated for thin and fine hair
Rice Water is a known and trusted hair thickening agent.
Argan Oil reduces breakage by hydrating, protecting, and strengthening hair.
Pro Vitamin B5 boosts hair’s overall health and quality by penetrating hair to rebuild its protein structure.
BALANCING OILY HAIR
What to Consider: Oily hair benefits from clarifying ingredients that remove excess sebum (the natural oil produced by the scalp) without over-drying, leaving hair feeling lighter and more refreshed. Some examples of clarifying ingredients are charcoal or clay, apple cider vinegar, and tea tree oil. Look for a shampoo that will balance your scalp’s natural oils and let you go a little longer between washes.
1. Mud + Clay Shampoo Bar from Chagrin Valley
- Refreshing Lavender Lemon scent
- Sulfate-free, scalp friendly formula
Rhassoul Clay and Dead Sea Mud deeply clean the scalp and absorb unwanted residue while depositing helpful minerals.
Lavender, Lemongrass, Lemon, and Rosemary Essential Oil Blend adds fragrance and help balance oil production.
Sea Kelp infuses vitamins and minerals to the surface of the hair follicle, reducing moisture loss.
2. Rosemary Mint Vanilla Shampoo from Plaine Products
- Bottle Return Program: bring back the empty bottle for 10% off a full one!
- Sulfate-free, hypoallergenic, good for all hair types
Aloe Vera as the base (instead of water) imparts 75 nutrients, including 8 essential amino acids, leaving hair squeaky clean without dehydrating.
Rosemary, Mint, and Vanilla Essential Oil Blend adds fragrance and help balance oil production
Sunflower Seed Oil works to both soften and smooth hair.
3. Lemongrass, Lime, + Rosemary bar from Tangie
- Simple, gently cleansing, palm oil-free formula
Powerful blend of Lemongrass, Lime, and Rosemary Essential Oils helps to cleanse hair and balance oil production leaving healthy hair that feels fresh.
Coconut Oil lifts oil from the scalp while also nourishing and conditioning dry ends.
TREATING SCALP HEALTH ISSUES
& REMOVING BUILDUP
What to Consider: A healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair. These shampoos will soothe itchy and irritated skin, reduce dandruff, and are great for people that use a lot of hair products that may build up on the scalp.
1. Tea Tree Lemon Shampoo from Aromaland
- Liquid sold by the ounce – refill your own containers and get as much or as little as you’d like!
Calendula Extract reduces inflammation.
Aloe Vera leaves scalp squeaky clean but not dehydrated.
Tea Tree and Lemon Essential Oils contain anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties that help combat the yeast-like fungus that often causes dandruff, and soothes irritated scalps.
2. Balance Shampoo Bar from BRIXY
- Comforting coconut & vanilla scent
- pH-balanced, color safe, sulfate-free formula
Contains niacinamide and ceramides that act as skincare for your scalp.
Algae Oil regulates oil production while smoothing hair and calming the scalp with anti-inflammatory benefits.
ADDING HYDRATION AND SHINE
TO DRY, FRIZZY HAIR
What to Consider: Dry and frizzy hair needs intense hydration. These bars use Vitamin C and hair-healthy oils to add shine and luster to dehydrated hair.
1. Citrus Shampoo bar from Tangie
- Simple, gently cleansing, palm oil-free formula
French Yellow Clay removes product buildup on the scalp without stripping natural oils.
Vitamin C enhances overall shine to dull hair.
A blend of Wild Orange, Palmarosa, and Pink Grapefruit Essential Oils add luster and moisturize the hair shaft.
2. SOLIDSILK Delicate Volume Shampoo from No Tox Life
- Lightly scented with essential oils: Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and Mint
- Gentle, sulfate-free, pH-balanced formula
Seaweed extract imparts proteins and minerals to hair shaft to help with damage.
Macadamia nut esters and cocoa butter soften, moisturize, and create shine.
Behentrimonium methosulfate, Cetyl alcohol, and Butylene glycol are a blend of gentle plant-based conditioners to help reduce frizz and tangles and lock in moisture.
3. Citrus Lavender Shampoo from Plaine Products
- Bottle Return Program: bring back the empty bottle for 10% off a full one!
- Sulfate-free, hypoallergenic, good for all hair types
Aloe Vera as the base (instead of water) imparts 75 nutrients, including 8 essential amino acids, leaving hair squeaky clean without dehydrating.
Citrus and Lavender Essential Oils plus Vitamin E help hydrate hair for strong and healthy locks.
Sunflower Seed Oil works to both soften and smooth hair.
MAINTAINING COLORED HAIR
What to Consider: Color-treated hair requires gentle, sulfate-free cleansers to prevent the color from fading or washing out. These shampoos are pH balanced and color-safe, so you can keep your perfect shade for longer.
1. Everyday Shampoo Bar from dip
- Wild Sage & Vetiver, co-starring: Mandarin, Jasmine, & Sea Salt
- Salon-grade formula available in full size or mini
Sweet Almond Oil provides natural SPF and biotin to strengthen hair strands.
Olive Squalane softens and smooths without causing greasiness. Also acts as a heat protectant.
Amla oil has antioxidants to keep hair roots healthy and promote growth.
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein helps boost volume and elasticity by binding moisture and temporarily repairing damage.
2. Purple Shampoo Bar from Silver Falls Sustainability Co.
- Plum lavender scent
- Salon-quality ingredients formulated for blonde or grey hair
Pro Vitamin B5 strengthens and makes the hair shaft more resilient to color fading.
Mango Butter, Coconut Oil, and Argan Oil provide additional hydration and create a protective layer on the hair, helping shield it from damage and color fading.
Purple pigments neutralize unwanted yellow tones and help elevate your color by eliminating brassiness.
Ready to Make the Switch?
Trying something new, especially when it’s different from what you’ve always used, can feel like a leap. It’s also an opportunity to discover products that not only work better for your hair, but also your community and the planet. You’re skipping the plastic bottle AND supporting small-batch makers. That’s no small thing!
A Few Quick Tips for Using Shampoo Bars:
- Let your bar dry completely between uses by using a well-draining soap dish. The bar will last a lot longer.
- To use the bar: Either lather in your hands first, then apply to your scalp, OR rub the bar directly on wet hair in small circular motions.
- Upcycle a small tin or baggie to get your shampoo bar from Point A to Point B – it’s one less liquid to pack.
- Be patient with your hair if you’re switching from conventional products. It may take a few washes to see how your hair reacts.
- The length of time each bar lasts depends on several factors: wash frequency, storage, hair length, thickness, etc. Typically for a long-haired person who shampoos every 2-3 days, a 2oz bar will last 3-4 months.
- Some bars lack the detergents or chemicals that help rinse the product out of your hair fully, causing a waxy feel when you first make the switch. This usually resolves in 1-2 weeks, but I recommend using an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse as needed to help condition the hair as well as pull out excess product build up which can lessen the transition period.
This concentrated Summer Rain Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse from Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve is infused with organic herbs and essential oils that will help clarify and refresh your scalp and hair follicles.
Or you can make your own rinse with our raw Apple Cider Vinegar.
**Never use undiluted vinegar on your hair.**
Beyond these tips, if a bar doesn’t end up being the bar, don’t toss it! Many make great body soaps, shave bars, or even hand soap at the sink.
Thanks for being curious, thoughtful, and open to change. You’re not just shopping, you’re impacting the system and voting with your dollar. And I’m so glad you’re here for it.
Note: Though all of our products are made with natural ingredients and no harmful fragrances, our unscented shampoo options are a great option for anyone with sensitive skin. Plaine Products, Tangie, and Aromaland all come in super safe, super simple unscented variations.
