Here are 8 simple steps explaining how to use a shampoo bar.

How to use a solid shampoo bar - 8 steps

If you’re new to shampoo bars, you may be wondering how you use them properly.

There are many different opinions online, but I’ve spent the last six years researching and testing different shampoo bars and today I’m going to share the 8 steps I use to wash my hair with one.

I first tried a solid shampoo bar when I became a mum, and I had absolutely no idea how to use one.

(I figured if I was going to compromise my appearance I might as well do it on maternity leave).

I’m not going to lie to you - it was a disaster.

I later realised that I wasn’t using the right type of bar for my hair (who knew there would be more than one type!)

Once I found a few shampoo bars that worked in hard water, I realised that the “transition phase” was a complete lie.

Before I reveal how to use a solid shampoo bar (in 8 easy steps) I’m going to tell you one thing you absolutely must check before buying one.

*Quote - Every year, UK households throw away 520 million plastic shampoo bottles* *(source)*

One thing you must check before buying a shampoo bar

I know you’ve come here to find out how to use a shampoo bar correctly, but if you don’t check this one important tip before, you might end up with bad hair.

Over the years, I’ve been contacted by an unbelievable amount of people who told me their shampoo bar left their hair looking greasy.

The most common reason for this is the bar contained no shampoo. Seriously!

There are so many bars of soap marketed as shampoo bars and they do not work for 99% of people. Especially in hard water areas where the minerals merge with the soap and leave a waxy residue on your hair.

A bar that contains natural surfactants that are compatible with your hair type will not require any additional treatments, such as baking powder or apple cider vinegar rinses.

The two most common ingredients in shampoo bars that work are Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Sodium Coco-Sulfate.

How to use a shampoo bar

Here are my 8 steps for using a solid shampoo bar. Keep reading for more information on each point.

Get your hair soaking wet.
Hold the shampoo bar under water for a few seconds.
Rub the bar in both your hands to create some suds.
Apply the bar directly to your roots (if necessary, part your hair to get to the roots underneath).
Massage the foamy lather into your whole scalp.
If your hair is long, stroke the bar down the length of hair from top to bottom.
Gently massage until suds are evenly spread.
Rinse the shampoo out of your hair completely.

Step 1 - Get your hair soaking wet

If you’re used to liquid shampoo, it might feel natural to squeeze the extra water out of your hair before applying the shampoo.

This is different when you use a solid bar because liquid contains water but a shampoo bar doesn’t.

So make sure your hair is lovely and wet before you use a shampoo bar.

Step 2 - Hold the shampoo bar under running water

You will want to hold the shampoo bar under the running water (or dip it in the bath) for a few seconds. Making sure the bar is wet will help it to slide down your hair without friction.

Step 3 - Rub the bar in both hands to create some suds

Rubbing the bar in your hands starts producing a lather, but you only need to do it for a few seconds because you want the shampoo in your hair, not your hands. You might even find you can skip this step with some bars as the lather will be produced when you slide it down your hair.

Step 4 - Apply the shampoo bar directly to your roots

Your scalp is where the oil is produced so it’s important to focus on your roots when you start washing your hair. I always begin swiping the bar on either side of my parting, and then move to the bottom and underneath.

Step 5 - Massage the foamy lather into your whole scalp

Some shampoo bars produce lather very quickly, while others have less, but I don’t find this affects the results. The bar I used yesterday had barely any lather but my hair felt beautiful after I washed it.

Regardless of how much shampoo it feels is on your hair, once you’ve covered your roots, massage your hair gently to ensure you’ve covered your scalp.

NOTE: If you have short hair, you can now skip to the last step.

Step 6: If your hair is long, stroke the bar down the length of your hair

If your shampoo bar has created a huge amount of lather, you may be able to spread it down the lengths of hair, but the chances are it hasn’t.

Because my hair is long, I split it into two sections (down the middle at the back) and drape each half over one shoulder. I then let the shampoo bar glide down the lengths of my hair - from top to bottom. It could damage your hair if you go against the shaft.

You don’t have to part it, but I have found this is the most effective way to make sure I get all my hair.

Step 7: Gently massage until suds are evenly spread

Once you’ve finished applying the shampoo bar, massage it softly to make sure the suds have covered the length of your hair.

Step 8: Rinse the shampoo out of your hair completely

This is pretty self-explanatory, but the final step of using a shampoo bar is rinsing it out. I like to massage my scalp and hair under clean water to ensure it’s all gone.

Once you’ve finished this step, you can move on to your conditioner bar, if you’re using one.

I hope this has given you the confidence to try a shampoo bar. Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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