Top 7 Organic and Vegan Shampoo Bars That Are Also Plastic-Free
In our perpetual quest to ditch plastic, we’ve tried all kinds of unconventional beauty products. If you’re reading this, you can probably relate. One area many are reluctant to experiment in is shampoo. Everyone’s hair has unique needs, and some early adaptations of natural vegan shampoo bars left something to be desired. Fortunately, today’s marketplace has responded to consumer demand and provided a variety of quality options.
If you’re still on the fence, we have a few points for you to consider. We’ve also got some specific recommendations of our absolute favorite vegan shampoo bars. With these bars, you no longer have to sacrifice value in an effort to be environmentally conscious.
Shampoo Bars Versus Bottles
We're all so accustomed to liquid shampoo that bars might seem like a novel concept. In reality, shampoo bars were all the rage until the 1940s, when the liquid version became the popular choice. Here’s how the superb shampoo bar edges out its liquefied competition:
Environmentally Friendly
Providing shampoo without a plastic container makes the vegan shampoo bar superior in the environmentally savvy category. Considering their smaller size and weight, they also require less energy for transport.
Longer Lasting
Despite their compact size, shampoo bars last longer than conventional liquid shampoo. Instead of paying for a diluted compound, you can simply use the water from your shower to activate the concentrated form of shampoo in the bar. This definitely makes vegan shampoo bars the more cost-effective option.
Portability
There’s a reason campers and frequent travelers consistently opt for bars over bottles. They are lightweight and easily transportable. You never have to worry about your product spilling. You can even put it in your carry-on luggage!
Natural Ingredients
While the ingredients differ depending on the brand, vegan shampoo bars use more natural ingredients than their bottled counterparts. Vegan shampoo bars usually leave out the unpleasant preservatives typically found in liquid shampoo. It’s nice to know your shampoo isn’t leaking nasty chemicals into local waterways.
How to Use a Vegan Shampoo Bar
Wet your lovely locks as per usual.
Run water over the bar and apply it to your hair. You can either press it directly on your hair or lather it up in your hands first.
Massage the shampoo into your hair from top to bottom.
Rinse thoroughly.
A common beginner mistake is not rinsing enough, so make sure you don’t skimp on that part. If the bar is difficult to handle, you can slice it into smaller sizes for better accuracy and flexibility.
Vegan Shampoo Bars For Each Hair Type
Ready to give vegan shampoo bars a shot? Instead of wandering the aisles looking for one, check out our top three choices. Since every head of hair is unique, you may want to try more than one and see what works best for you.
Vegan Shampoo Bars For Normal Hair
J.R. Liggett’s Original Vegan Shampoo Bar
Price | $7.99 (Shampoo Bar), $12.99 (Conditioner Bar)
Amount | 3.5 oz. (Shampoo Bar), 1.75 oz. (Conditioner Bar)
Ethos | 100% Recyclable/Biodegradable Packaging, 100% Vegetable Oil Formula, No Detergents, Antioxidant-Rich, Certified Organic Ingredients, 100% Vegan Brand.
Over 30 years ago, J.R. Liggett discovered a recipe for “hair soap” in an old New England Cookbook. He used this recipe as the cornerstone for the Original Formula Shampoo Bar, and it has truly stood the test of time. With a 100% vegetable oil formulation, it won’t strip your hair of important natural oils. In fact, you may not even need to follow up with a conditioner!
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Odacité Soap Free Shampoo Bar
Price | $29.00
Amount | 3.7 oz.
Ethos | Salon-Quality, Plastic Free, Soap Free, Made With Nourishing Plant-Based Oils, Organic Ingredients, Non-Toxic, 100% Vegan Brand.
This 100% vegan and cruelty-free brand's shampoo bar is totally soap-free and salon-quality. Its dermatologically tested formula is designed to improve the texture of almost all hair types, including thin, thick, straight, curly, or color-treated hair. Plus, the combination of argan and castor oil help seal in moisture and keep your strands frizz-free! Improve your scalp health by giving this clean shampoo a try!
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Vegan Shampoo Bars for Curly Hair
The Earthling Co Shampoo Bars
Price | $15.99
Amount | 3 oz.
Ethos | Plastic Free, No Harsh Chemicals, Non-Toxic Formula, Suits All Hair Types, Made in the USA, Lasts 50-75 Washes, Divert Up to 15 Plastic Bottles Per Year.
Although you can use them for all hair types, The Earthling Co's all-natural shampoo bars are totally curl-friendly! Available in seven delicious scents and an unscented version, you're sure to find a bar that works for you. Each one features gentle yet effective ingredients like coconut oil, apricot seed oil, vitamin B5, and glycerin to nourish and lock in moisture.
Not only are they free from any harsh, toxic, or stripping ingredients, just one bar replaces 2-3 plastic bottles, lasting you up to 75 washes! And as soon as you receive your new shampoo, you can simply compost the box it comes in instead of tossing it in the bin. Add this luscious, eco-friendly bar to your haircare routine today!
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Vegan Shampoo Bars for Frizzy Hair
Whiff Botanicals Freedom Shampoo Bar
Price | $18.99 (Shampoo + Conditioner)
Amount | 3.4 oz (Shampoo + Conditioner)
Ethos | Plastic Free, Non-Toxic Formulas, Limited Ingredients, All-Natural, 100% Vegan Brand.
Our favorite thing about Whiff Botanicals' Shampoo and Conditioner Bars is that they're comprised of only a handful of ingredients. With an ultra-concentrated formula, you can get approximately 80 shampoos from just one bar. It strengthens and moisturizes with a combination of hemp oil, cocoa butter, and coconut oil. The cocoa butter is great for hair prone to frizz!
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Vegan Shampoo Bars for Itchy Scalps
Purple Prairie Botanicals
Price | $4.88
Amount | 4 oz.
Ethos | Shampoo + Conditioner in 1, All-Natural and Non-Toxic Formulas, 100% Vegetable Oils, QAI/USDA/NOP/RSPO/Rainforest Alliance Certified Palm Oil, Rated 1 On EWG Scale, Biodegradable Packaging.
This is a great shampoo bar to relieve an itchy and flaky scalp. The brand uses the highest quality castor oil to which is excellent to condition and add shine to your hair. They have a high rating from EWG website which indicates that the product has low toxicity to your health. Bonus, you can also use this soap to clean your body!
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Vegan Shampoo Bars for Oily Hair
Ethique Shampoo Bars
Price | $15.00 (Shampoo Bar), $17.00 (Conditioner Bar).
Amount | 3.88 oz. (Shampoo Bar), 2.12 oz. (Conditioner Bar).
Ethos | Plastic Free Packaging and Shipping, Certified Palm Oil Free, 100% Vegan Brand, 2% of Sales Donated to Charity, Non-Toxic, Caters to All Hair Types, Plant-Based Oils and Extracts, At Least 80 Uses Per Shampoo Bar, pH Balanced.
If you have oily hair, then Ethique's Saint Clements vegan shampoo bar is for you. The brand uses Lime and Orange oils to balance your scalp oil production and clean your hair. You won't even need a conditioner as the soap has humectants that draw moisture to your hair.
Join them on the #giveupthebottle journey. Each bar shampoo replaces 3 plastic containers. So far, they have saved the earth from over 4.3 million bottles, and by 2025 they're aiming to hit 50 million. Let's help them out!
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Shampoo Bar Storage Container
Ethique Eco-Friendly In-Shower Storage Container
Price | $13.00
If you’re looking for a good place to store your bar, Ethique offers an In-Shower Storage Container. It’s made of compostable materials and increases the life of the bar by allowing greater airflow.
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Our Pick: Superzero Shampoo Bars
Price | $40 (Bundles), $21 (Shampoo Bars), $20 (Conditioner Bars).
Amount | 3 oz. (Shampoo Bar), 2.12 oz. (Conditioner Bar).
Ethos | Plastic Free, Salon-Grade, Soap Free, Certified Climate Neutral by Climate Partners, Less Water Required for Its Production, Non-Toxic Formulas, 1% For the Planet Partners, 100% Vegan Brand, Caters to All Hair Types, 98% Natural, pH Balanced, Safe for Color-Treated Hair, Recycled/Recyclable Packaging with Non-Toxic Inks and Water-Based Adhesives, Full-Sized Bar Replaces 2-3 Bottles of Shampoo.
Superzero makes sulfate-free and salon-grade shampoo bars for ALL hair types, including dry, itchy, dyed, oily, aging/thinning, curly, frizzy, and more!
We love that their formulas are incredibly clean, made with plenty of potent botanicals that bring the best out of your locks, leaving them healthy and hydrated. Think science-backed actives like vegan keratin, protein, creatine, peptides, hemisqualane, provitamin B5, combined with nourishing plant oils and extracts!
Each bar is made without plastic or microplastics, making them incredibly ocean-friendly and sustainable. In fact, they are even certified microplastic-free by the Plastic Soup Foundation. Take the helpful quiz on their site and find out which Superzero bar best suits your locks now!
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