PLASTIC FREE HAIRCARE
- Mandi Makes
- Jul 16, 2022
- 3 min read
Yes, it is possible to ditch the bottle!
With around 552 million shampoo bottles ending up in landfill each year, it's time for alternative. Enter one of my favourite natural and eco-friendly brands Ethiqueworld. (This is not sponsored, I just LOVE this company and their products). They produce solid bars instead of bottled products for haircare, skincare, body care, pet care and also the laundry! There are a number of other great companies out there with solid bars instead of bottles too. I would encourage you to look into solid bars as a great environmentally friendly option. Just make sure they aren't soap based. This blog post is focusing on the Ethique products I use (because that's what I know), as well as all the benefits of using solid bars instead of products in plastic bottles.
About Ethique
I was first introduced to this amazing brand and the idea of solid bars for haircare by my cousin several years ago. She bought me a sample pack of their shampoo and conditioner bars for Christmas. Ever since, I've been hooked. I have dry, frizzy, curly hair and have tried a gazillion (maybe a slight exaggeration) products over the years to tame my frizz and hydrate my hair. It took me a bit to get used to using solid bars, but there are so many benefits. Not only do the products do wonders for my hair, but the solid bars make travel easy with no risk of leakage and they take up less space.
So, the main reason for me babbling on about this company is that they are plastic free. Since 2012, they have saved over 20 million plastic bottles ending up in landfill, as well as saving water and planting trees. Another reason I love this company is that they are based in my home town of Christchurch, New Zealand :)
Why solid bars?
Each solid shampoo bar is the equivalent to around 3 x 350mL liquid shampoo bottles, and each conditioner bar is equivalent to around 5 x 350mL liquid conditioner bottles. That's a pretty significant financial and environmental benefit right there!
The shampoo bars still lather up! We have a weird psychological thing where we believe we need bubbles to make things clean. This is true for our hair and our dishes. You won't miss out on that with shampoo bars.
They don't strip your hair of it's natural goodness. The Ethique shampoo bars are won't destroy your natural pH levels.
They can last for up to 6 months! Yep, that's right. They last so much longer a bottle of shampoo or conditioner.
The cardboard used for packaging Ethique bars are compostable, even the little stickers they use for sealing the box.
What products I use:
SHAMPOO: I first started off using the "Frizz Wrangler" shampoo. I used this one for years and really loved it. But, last year I tried the "Professor Curl" and felt that it works better for my hair. It helps to reduce frizz, makes my hair softer and helps to define the curls.
CONDITIONER: I've tried a few options for conditioner. I started out using "The Guardian" for years. This one is specifically for dry hair. I have recently switched to "Curliosity" which is a co-wash and am in love! I've never tried a co-wash before, but this has been awesome for my hair. I have learned that whilst many haircare professional recommend shampooing your hair twice, this just strips my curly hair and leaves it dry and frizzy. I use the co-wash as a shampoo and conditioner and just use the "Professor Curl" shampoo every other wash (only one shampoo), or sometimes every two weeks. GAME CHANGER! If you've never heard of co-wash, check out this article for all the details.
Other tips
That whole "hair detox" thing when switching between shampoo isn't really a thing. If you hair doesn't feel good after using a new shampoo, it's not because there is a transition period, it just doesn't work for your hair. So, when trying a shampoo bar out for the first time, opt for the mini's if you can so you can sample some different types to find the right one for your hair. No need to work through any kind of "transition" or "detox" phase.
I hope you have found this helpful and perhaps encouraged you to explore the world of solid shampoo and conditioner bars! Remember to do some research on the companies you buy from, and always check the ingredient list to make sure it is as natural and beneficial for your hair as possible.
Mandi x
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