When I began transitioning to zero waste products in 2017, two of the most difficult switches I had were: 1) haircare and 2) natural deodorant. We’ll save the natural deodorant saga for a different post and focus on effective, zero waste shampoo and conditioner bars today!
Prior to 2017, I used traditional drug store hair products like Pantene and Suave. These products are packaged in plastic and are filled with sulfates, parabens, and other toxic ingredients. While they were effective on my curly hair, I had a few problems:
- I ran out of conditioner like crazy! I would buy conditioner monthly.
- I learned the effect of these toxic ingredients. Some are linked to estrogen and skin problems. Yikes!
- I was contributing to plastic pollution. On average, it can take up to 450 years for plastic bottles to decompose. Even it the bottles are recycled, there is no guarantee they actually make it through the system.
When I switched to a zero waste lifestyle, I learned about shampoo and conditioner bars from a eco-bloggers on Instagram. Why hadn’t I heard of this option before? Most shampoo and conditioner bars come “naked” (no packaging) or packaged in recyclable materials, are made with natural ingredients, and last for months! My hair dilemma was solved, or so I thought.
I spent three years using shampoo and conditioner bars from Etsy. Each product met my zero waste criteria: package-free, natural, and long-lasting. While I was happy for these reasons, my hair suffered from dryness and a greasy residue throughout this time (yeah, it was kinda gross). I continued to use these products for that long because I couldn’t find an alternative that met my new criteria. Plus, I was traveling most of this time and didn’t have access to other natural alternatives.
I finally gave up on my shampoo and conditioner bar journey in the beginning of summer 2020. My curls were dull and lifeless. I purchased all-natural, vegan products from Bounce Curl in an attempt to heal my dry hair. As I was using these new products, I couldn’t stop thinking about the plastic packaging that met me in my shower every day.
My brother was going through a similar frustration in his hair journey with shampoo and conditioner bars. In September, he asked me if I could recommend a new shampoo and conditioner bar brand. I decided to give shampoo and conditioner bars a try one more time. After researching new options, I found solid moisture shampoo and conditioner bars from HiBAR. I’m so thankful I tried one last time!
Products from HiBAR are:
- All-natural & vegan – no sneaky sulfates, parabens, silicone, phthalates, or palm oil
- Long-lasting
- 100% plastic free
- Moisturizing – no frizz or dryness
- Effective – they work just like drugstore products!
- Do NOT leave a greasy residue
- Sold on Earth Hero – a site that sells all things zero waste and ships carbon neutral! #yayforearth
I am so excited to share these products with you because they actually work! This post isn’t sponsored; I just love that there are zero waste haircare products that are effective and eco-friendly!
Looking for other zero waste swaps? Check out my zero waste blush and lip tint post!