Best Solid Shampoo bars for different hair types

I converted to solid shampoo bars years ago and haven’t looked back. Firstly, they’re perfect for holidays, especially when you’re travelling with hand luggage only and can’t take liquids through airport security. Plus, sometimes you just don’t want to lug big bottles of product around, which often happens if you’re heading off for a few weeks or more. Secondly, they’re much better for the planet, since there’s no plastic packaging. The bars are far smaller too and take us less space in my bathroom!

Yet it’s not always plain sailing when it comes to picking the best travel shampoo bar. How to choose solid shampoo really depends on your hair type, and I know that for many of us, that can change depending on the day, the month, or even the year. Some days my hair is oily, and others is dry, according to what I’ve been doing, what the weather is like, and the water type of where I happen to be at the time.

I’ve tried dozens of bars over the last few years, some have been incredible, but others have fallen far short of what I expected. Which is why I’ve put together this solid shampoo review, to help you figure out which ones you want to try.  I suggest picking a few and experimenting over several weeks to help narrow down your search.

What is solid shampoo?

So, let’s start with the basics. Solid shampoo bars are essentially shampoo in a bar form. Imagine a bar of soap, but for your hair. They’re compact, often eco-friendly, with a range of ingredients that are tailored to different hair types. If you’re wondering what makes a shampoo bar better than liquid shampoo, stick around—I’m about to spill the beans on solid shampoos and why they might just be your new favourite hair care product.

You can buy both solid shampoo and conditioner bars, though as you’ll see below I’m not a huge advocate of the latter.

Is solid shampoo better for your hair? Maybe. The ingredients are often natural, and even completely vegan, and much kinder to your hair than the chemicals that you can get in many liquid shampoos. Once my hair got used to the solid bars, it felt healthier than before, so for me, yes, I think shampoo bars are good for your hair.

How to use solid shampoo

I struggled with how to use my first shampoo block. It didn’t lather like the liquids I was used to, so I thought I was doing something wrong. Spoiler alert – bars just don’t lather up in the same way, but they’re just as effective.

So, think of the solid shampoo like a bar of soap for your hair. Then follow these instructions:

1. Wet Your Hair: Just like with liquid shampoo, start by getting your hair completely wet.
2. Lather Up: Rub the bar directly onto your wet hair, or between your hands to create a lather. The goal is to get a nice, foamy texture that you can then work into your hair. I find you usually need less product than you might think.
3. Massage and Rinse: Massage the product into your hair, then rinse. You might need to rinse a bit more thoroughly than with liquid shampoo to ensure all the product is out.
4. Repeat if Necessary: Depending on how much product or oil you’ve got in your hair, you might want to do a second lathering.

Pros of shampoo bars

Eco-Friendly: Solid shampoo bars are usually packaged with minimal or no plastic, which is great for the environment. There’s a lot less waste, and fewer plastic bottles is always a good thing for the planet.

Travel-Friendly: These bars are perfect for travel. No more worrying about liquid limits or spills in your luggage. They’re compact, easy to pack, and won’t count against your liquid limit. I love them for longer trips, of when I travel with only hand luggage.

Long-Lasting: One bar of solid shampoo can last a surprisingly long time. It’s not uncommon for one bar to last several months, depending on your hair length and usage. Many say they’ll last up to 50 washes, but I find it’s usually a bit less than that (I probably just put too much product on!).

Effective Ingredients: Many solid shampoos are formulated with natural and high-quality ingredients, making them effective for various hair types.

Cons of shampoo bars

Learning Curve: If you’re used to liquid shampoos, it might take a little while to get used to the bar form. Lathering and rinsing might feel different at first. It took me several weeks before I fully got the hang of it and decided that the bars were working well.

Storage Issues: If you don’t store them properly, solid shampoo bars can get mushy and waste away. Proper storage is key.

Less Lather: Some people find that solid shampoos don’t lather as much as their liquid counterparts. But that doesn’t really matter. It’s doing the same job, so don’t worry about it.

Product Build-Up: Over time, some solid shampoos can build up on the bar or in your hair if not used correctly. I find that so long as you rinse really thoroughly, this isn’t a major issue.

Price: Although shampoo bars aren’t a new thing, the prices don’t seem to have come down since the early days. Some of the smaller brands have frankly eye-watering prices, when compared to a standard bottle of liquid shampoo. That’s why shopping around is key, as well a looking out for sale offers and free samples. Do remember that bars last longer than bottles!

Solid shampoo for different hair types

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about which solid shampoo bar might be the best for your specific hair type. I’ve tried and tested heaps of bars myself to bring you my top recommendations for various hair types.

These are the ones that came out on top:

Shampoo bars for normal hair

I know, there’s no such thing as ‘normal’ these days, but sometimes you just want a bar that’s a ‘one size fits all’ kinda vibe. When my hair is going through a ‘normal’ phase, isn’t too greasy or dry, then I tend to stick with a ‘normal’ bar to avoid adding extra oil. Here are some of my favourites:

• Garnier Ultimate Blends Shampoo Bar – I love the smell of coconut, it makes me feel like I’m on holiday. And the added aloe vera is a nice touch. This bar is hydrating without adding too much oil, lathers pretty well, and is great for when you’re having a ‘normal’ hair day. It’s one of the cheapest shampoo bars I’ve ever found and works better than some of the more expensive ones!
• Ethique Pinkalicious – I don’t buy this shampoo just for the cool name, promise! I love the sweet smell, and the way that it makes my hair feel – silky and clean. This one lathers really well too. It is a bit more expensive than many of the others, but it’s quality.

Shampoo bars for greasy or oily hair

My fine hair gets oily very quicky, especially in the sun, or if I’ve been exerting myself. On these occasions I like to use a shampoo bar that can cope with combatting the grease, and there are only a few that have actually managed to do this. Here are my top picks:

• Edinburgh Natural Skincare Co. “Lemonazing Chunky Shampoo Bar” – this smells amazing (of lemons!), and I feel it leaves my hairy extra shiny but without the oiliness. It also comes in a lovely little bag and is handmade in Scotland, which always gets my vote.
• Arista Balancing Shampoo Bar – I’ve only just come across this one, but am liking the results so far. It does reduce the oiliness of my hair, and makes it feel softer, no doubt because of the natural vegan ingredients.

Shampoo bars for dry and damaged hair

My hair often goes through spells of feeling quite dry, especially during the summer or when I’m on holiday, spending time in the sun or the sea. So, I sometimes use bars designed for damaged hair to add a bit of conditioning moisture and pep it up a bit. Here’s what I suggest trying:

• Garnier Ultimate Blends “Honey Treasures” – one of the cheapest shampoo bars out there, and also one of my favourites. This lathers better than most solid shampoos, feels really nourishing, and has a lovely honey scent.
• Aussie Moisturising Bar – this one is on the more expensive side, so I don’t buy it often, but the shampoo is super nourishing and has a subtle macadamia nut scent. It’s in the shape of a koala, so how can you resist?!

Shampoo bars for colour treated hair

I have blonde highlights, so often use a shampoo bar for treated hair. It really does make a difference using a specially designed bar, because some of the ‘normal’ solid shampoos don’t always hit the mark when it comes to moisturising your locks.

• Bath Bubble and Beyond “Blonde Ambition” – this is probably my all-time favourite solid shampoo bar. It’s just the right shape for round travel storage tins, lathers well, and smells of fresh lemons -divine! I often get it with the matching conditioner bar too.
• KinKind “Make me SHINE”  – gentle shampoo to protect your colour, with coconut oil for hydration and henna and juniper for added shine. Probably my second-favourite bar for coloured hair.
• Gruum Brightening Bar – another one of my go-tos, but as they’re quite expensive I tend to only buy them when there’s a discount code knocking around. This is another one with a deliciously fresh lemon scent, and I find I need to use only a little to get my hair nicely lathered. The almond oil is hydrating too, which is much-needed to keep the highlights shining.

If you use purple shampoo to keep topping up blonde coloured hair, there are several purple shampoo bars on the market. I’ve tried the Kitsch Purple Toning Bar and the Arista Purple Bar, and found both pretty decent alternatives to the liquid I have on standby. As with standard purple shampoo, the scents aren’t as nice as the other bars.

Shampoo bars for curly hair

I asked some of my girlfriends about the best shampoo bars for curly hair, since my own locks are, alas, poker straight. They came up with a couple of suggestions, and the general consensus was that they probably tend to use a little more product on their curls than I need to do on my straight hair. Which is no biggie, but do consider that when looking at the prices.

• KinKind “Give me MORE” – wheat bran active ingredients for extra smoothness and hydration. Gorgeous ylang-ylang and geranium fragrance. I’ve been advised that
• Arista Curly Hair Shampoo Bar – this one has shea butter and almond oil for extra nourishment. One of my friends said this was the best bar she’d tried.

Shampoo bars for thin hair

As I’ve got older, my hair has got thinner, so finding volumising products is key. I’ve not found many volumising shampoo bars, but one of the ones that has done the best job for me has been the KinKind Give me Strength bar. It’s made from rice protein and wheatgerm oil, and I find my hair is bouncier after using it.

Shampoo bars for grey hair

KinKind do a great solid shampoo for grey hair, made from argan and coconut oil for extra nourishment. It’s had great reviews and is formulated to keep hair soft and hydrated. I’ve not personally tried it as I’m not quite at that stage, and think I’ll probably go white rather than grey. Which is a shame, because grey or silver is all the rage these days!

Do conditioner bars work?

I’ve honestly tried dozens of solid conditioner bars and never really found one that 100% works. By far the best has been Ethique’s “The Guardian” which is surprisingly creamy for a bar, and does actually leave my hair less tangled and smooth. It doesn’t really smell of anything either, which is great as this means you can use it with any scented shampoo bar without the fragrances clashing. They’ve written some guidance on how solid conditioner bars work if you want a bit of a tutorial.

I use solid conditioner on my travels, but when I’m at home, I tend to stick with bottled product when I need it. Hopefully in the future there will be an amazing solid product out there, but right now, I’m not convinced.

Solid shampoo bar storage

I’ve tried lots of different storage solutions for my shampoo bars, and have come to the conclusion that leaving them out in the shower just isn’t a good idea. Just like soap, they start to disintegrate when they’re constantly wet, so keeping them dry in between washes is key.

My personal favourite storage essential is Humangear’s GoTubb round containers. The medium ones are just the right shape and size for most shampoo bars (except the awkward square ones!), and being plastic they don’t rust like the metal tins. It’s really easy to wash them out afterwards too, and they’re perfect for taking on your travels.

So, what is the best solid shampoo bar?

I’ve tried an awful lot of different shampoo bars over the last few years, and in fact have become a bit obsessed with finding the perfect one. Of course, everyone’s hair is different, so what works for me might not be best for you, but you’ve got to start somewhere, right?

I know what you’re wondering, are solid shampoos any good? The one thing I’ll say about shampoo bars is that they’re all different, and some really don’t work as well as others. I found I had to persevere for months, trying several brands before I found some that I liked. So, don’t give up if the first one you choose doesn’t feel right. There will be a shampoo bar out there for you!