This is a review of KIND2’s sensitive shampoo bar

Finding a shampoo bar that works is hard. Especially if you have a sensitive scalp or a skin condition.

Hair products that work for most people can make your head feel itchy or cause dandruff - even the “natural” ones.

Maybe you found a bar you liked but it left a questionable waxy residue behind? Or you’re too scared to try because you’ve seen this happen to others.

“Rinse it off with vinegar,” they say.

Then you end up looking AND smelling like a chip shop. No thanks.

Yep, been there too.

I’m on a quest to find an eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner bar that won’t leave me scratching like I’ve got nits. One that cleans well in hard water, is good value for money and has no “transition phase.”

Reviewing KIND2

KIND2 caught my eye because they have a shampoo bar that is free from soap and fragrances.

Fragrances, including essential oils, can be highly irritating to a sensitive scalp and most shampoo bars on the market contain synthetic fragrances with undisclosed formulas.

After a brief chat about my hair with Sue Campbell (the founder of the company), she kindly sent me their sensitive shampoo bar and also a mild conditioner bar to try out in exchange for an honest review.

I thought I’d share my experience on my blog in case anyone else suffers from a flaky head and wants to avoid chemical shampoos in plastic packaging.

COMING UP

1. Short summary of experience

2. Is KIND2 environmentally friendly?

3. About KIND2’s ingredients

4. Shampoo bar “the sensitive one” review

1. Short summary

In case you’re in a rush or prefer to skim, I’ve started with a short visual review of the KIND2 sensitive shampoo bar:

Edit - I have been given a discount code to share with my readers, use SOPHIE15 for 15% off (affiliate).

2. Is KIND2 environmentally friendly?

I’m not interested in using a product if the company itself isn’t sustainable.

I always check what efforts have been made to reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact. If I can’t find information on ingredients, I will email to ensure there is no greenwashing.

KIND2’s sustainability:

• Their headquarters run on renewable energy

• All products and packaging are manufactured in the UK 

• They use Royal Mail to deliver

• Products come in recycled cardboard packaging

• Packaging is compostable

• Using no animal products in their products (vegan and cruelty-free)

• There’s no water in their products which reduces carbon emissions

• No palm oil

• KIND2 are completely plastic-free

• Full transparency about ingredients, including a glossary explaining what they are and where they are derived

  
  

** Source

3. About KIND2’s ingredients

If you’ve struggled with shampoo bars in the past because of the waxy residue left behind, it’s highly likely the bar was made from soap, not shampoo.

Low-poo uses natural surfactants derived from fruit and vegetable oils. They are not sulfates (like SLS) but can still remove dirt and grease from your hair without washing out the natural oils. 

The three plant-based surfactants in KIND2’s shampoo bars are derived from coconut. Using smaller amounts of multiple surfactants is gentler than using a large amount of one. Less is not better in this case.

I have been trying all different natural surfactants on my hair for 4 years. Some of those shampoos have given me mild dandruff, but my hair still looked clean and healthy afterwards.

Read more in my blog post about transitioning to solid shampoo bars in hard water.

4. Does KIND2 contain palm oil?

Did you know most solid and liquid shampoo contains palm oil?

One of the reasons KIND2 stands out is that it has formulated its bars using surfactants (cleansing agents) that are completely free of palm oil and derivatives.

As rainforests are still being massacred for palm oil, it is important that we all do our best to reduce what we consume. Brands like KIND2 are making it easier for us to get a palm oil-free bathroom.

Tap to pin this to your zero waste Pinterest board:

5. Review of KIND2 - The Sensitive One

My hair (which is desperate for a cut after I attempted it myself at the start of lockdown) is wavy, thick, slightly dry and can get a bit frizzy. I also colour it.

According to their website, the bars adhere to curly girl-approved ingredients, although I cannot provide a personal experience as my hair is wavy, not curly.

Key features:

• Suitable for easily irritated, dry, itchy or flaky scalps.

• No added fragrances or essential oils

• Contains fuller earth to help soothe the scalp

• Free from parabens and sulphates

• Won the bronze award at the Free From Skincare Awards 2020

• Contains 3 natural surfactants derived from coconut and rapeseed to remove grease, dirt and mineral deposits from hard water

Effectiveness: *****

I gave this 5/5 because it cleaned my hair well the first time I used it. I live in a hard water area and there was no sticky residue and I did no vinegar rinse. 

Sensitivity: *****

I had mild dandruff from the shampoo I was using before this bar and it was gone after using KIND2’s bars (although it does tend to come back when I don’t wash my hair often enough). I’ve used it twice in the last fortnight and I have no itching, flakes, or irritation.

Ease of use: ****

Shampoo bars take a bit of getting used to, especially with long thick hair like mine. The bar does lather but it is very different to using a liquid shampoo which you can easily spread around your scalp. I think I used too much to make sure I’d covered my whole head but thankfully it washed out easily. The trick is to make sure your hair is really wet.

Price: ***

This bar feels expensive and if you’re on a tight budget this might feel excessive. This is because palm oil-free surfactants are more costly. KIND2 say it lasts for approximately 60 washes which means it is the same as two bottles of liquid shampoo.

Scent: *****

I like that this bar is fragrance-free because it means I don’t have to worry about essential oils irritating my scalp.

Conclusion:

I am thrilled to have found a shampoo bar that cleans well in hard water without aggravating my sensitive scalp. My hair feels cleansed and soft after washing with no coating.

Use code SOPHIE15 for 15% discount

Shampoo bars can be one of the hardest swaps because everyone’s hair is so different.

What type of hair have you got? What’s been your biggest challenge when trying to use plastic-free shampoo?