In the world of natural beauty, your Haircare routine can be tough to change. A finite bathroom product I recently chose to substitute is shampoo. In a war against plastic and chemicals in my bathroom I realised just how many bottles of potions I had in my shower alone: body wash, violet toner for my blonde hair, anti-dandruff shampoo, conditioner.
I dared to ask the question- why do I need all these products? My hair was not particularly more glossy, silky or even less brassy. My scalp was still irritated and flaky. Turns out many of the hair products we buy are full of nasties that coat our hair to make it feel soft, but are not good for us or the environment.
Some of the most common nasties:
- Parabens – They are chemical compounds derived from Para-Hydroxybenzoic Acid (also known as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl and benzylparaben). These are used as anti-fungals and to extend shelf life of products. They can cause skin irritation, contact dermatitis.
- Sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate – This is a cheap, harsh detergent used in shampoos for its cleansing and foam-building properties. It can be absorbed into the body from skin application. Generally derived from petroleum, it can cause skin, scalp and eye irritation and other allergic reactions.
- Mineral oils (petroleum)-It has no nutrient value for the hair or scalp and can interfere with the body’s own natural moisturising mechanism, leading to dryness, chapping, dandruff etc.
I made the switch to shampoo bars. Believe it or not it’s what your nana used before commercial shampoo hit the market in the 1930’s….Yep, nana was way more hipster than you and she wasn’t even trying.
Solid shampoos are long lasting, have different lathers and textures and the active ingredients will work differently on your individual hair and scalp. Bars are touted as being able to get your hair back to its original, shiny, voluminous state by clearing away residue left from the chemicals found in traditional hair cleansers. And that’s exactly the experience I’ve had.
Don’t let the detox period deter you! Because of the high concentration of cleanser in bar shampoos, they tend to have more of a waxy consistency, which can build up in your hair. To avoid this, you can rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar or lemon juice to remove the coating. It took about 4 washes for this waxy feeling to stop for me, and I never bothered rinsing with vinegar or lemon juice.
Lesson: Be patient. Remember why you made the switch in the first place. I recommended shampoo bars to a friend recently and she was astonished at the volume in her hair after a week of using it.
Originally I could only find them available for sale online from places like flora & forna (link), but they’re becoming regularly available locally now in places like Lush. Turns out many educated consumers have become wary of the nasties found in commercial shampoos, finding them unnecessarily stripping of the natural moisture of the hair and scalp. I found my most recent one at my local The Source Bulk Food store. They’re anywhere from around $9 up, and last the two of us 3 months.
If bars aren’t your thing, check out Arbonne’s Pure Vibrance Lustre Fortifying Shampoo; Vegan Certified, botanically based, no artificial colours, sulfates or parabens. It’s equally as epic with key ingredients such as rice extract for strength, artichoke leaf extract for shine, Hawaiian white ginger extract for conditioning and repair, white tea-leaf, sage leaf and horsetail leaf (yes, that’s a thing) extracts for shine and protection, this shampoo packs a punch for your hair in a gentle way. The bottle is also 100% recyclable. Check mate!
Little Foot 