Are you looking for a more eco-friendly bath or shower? Solid shampoo bars are the perfect solution to cut down on plastic waste. I've talked many times before on this blog about the devastating effects of plastic waste from cosmetics. Shampoo bottles are one of those particularly bad pieces of plastic, as they're too small and low-grade to be recycled at the majority of recycling plants, even if the government actually sent plastic to be recycled (which is a whole issue in itself). When you think how many bottles of shampoo most of us throw away each year, it's easy to see how UK households reach an estimated 1.85 billion pieces of plastic waste a week (Greenpeace, The Big Plastic Count, 2022). So how can we eliminate one source of plastic pollution? By switching to solid shampoo bars of course! Now I'll admit, I was sceptical about these at first. I have very long, thick, mildly frizzy hair, so washing it is a bit of a chore at the best of times, and I didn't see how a small bar was going to be able to generate enough foam to get a decent spread over my hair. I'd studied the science of surfactants, so I knew that the amount of foam a product produces isn't necessarily linked to its ability to clean a surface, but even so, it does affect the spreadability and therefore ease of use. However, I desperately wanted to give up plastic shampoo bottles and I didn't fancy using glass for safety reasons, so I starting trialing out shampoo bars. I bought several different ones from different companies and I just didn't get on with any of them. I was of course limited in choice by my super sensitive skin, but the ones I tried didn't seem to include any hair-nourishing ingredients, and left my hair either dry and frizzy or not feeling washed well enough at all. So I did what I always do in such situations: I simply designed and made my own. For my shampoo bar formulation, I opted to combine a range of solid surfactants that would be mild on the skin whilst still giving a thorough cleanse, so they can work on a range of hair types. I also added some nourishing oils and butters, as well as a couple of special ingredients, including panthenol and Ecosilk, a plant-derived substance that mimics the properties of silk protein. All this adds up to a shampoo bar that foams easily, cleans well and doesn't dry out or damage hair. These shampoo bars are available in six different scents, so whether you prefer your shampoo floral, herbaceous, fruity or woody, you should find something to your liking. And if you have really sensitive skin and prefer to avoid essential oils altogether, I also have an unscented version. The shampoos are coloured entirely with natural clays, so there are no artificial scents or colours to worry about. You can find Solid Shampoo Bars in the store now!
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