The Best Shampoo Bars Recommended By Readers

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Don’t get in a lather in your hunt for the best shampoo bars. I polled Moral Fibres readers and they have shared with me their top recommendations for solid shampoo bars for every hair type. From oily hair to grey hair, afro hair, and every hair type in between, we’ll find the best shampoo bar for you.

Many years ago I covered the best eco-friendly shampoo. This was long before solid shampoo bars came to prominence. Now, with the realisation of the impact of plastic on our environment, many of us are looking to ditch plastic where practically possible.

Shampoo bars have come to the fore as a great plastic-free haircare solution. With claims that some shampoo bars can replace anything from between 2 to 4 bottles of shampoo, there is a heap of plastic savings to be made.

However, not every shampoo bar is equal. It can be frustrating and costly to buy bar after bar, to try to find one that works for you.

Quick Links To The Best Shampoo Bar For Your Hair Type

With the proliferation of shampoo bars on the market, it can be hard to know which bar might work for you and your hair type.

To help you out, over on Instagram I polled my 13,000 Instagram followers on the shampoo bar they swear by and their hair type. I’ve put together the most popular responses below.

Use these quick links to jump to the section that covers your hair type, or keep scrolling to read all the recommendations:

The Best Shampoo Bars for Every Hair Type

Shampoo bar in a metal tin, on a yellow background, with a blue text box that says the best shampoo bars for every hair type.

For Fine Hair

For fine hair readers most commonly recommended Lush’s Honey I Washed My Hair shampoo bar (£9 for 55 g). One reader said that “I have fine hair, and I only need to use it twice a week”.

I have also used this shampoo bar in the past and got on really well with it. It also leaves your hair (and your bathroom!) smelling amazing too. Lush says that this bar should last between 60 to 80 washes. Do bear in mind that this bar contains honey, so isn’t vegan-friendly.

Shine’s Shampoo Bar (£9.50 for 75 g) was also popular with fine-haired readers. Readers praised its rich lather, and how it left hair feeling silky and soft, without feeling weighed down.

One reader said that “this did wonders for both me and my eldest”, and others commented on how little you needed to use, making it long-lasting. Others praised its handy tin that is useful for keeping your bar dry in your bathroom, and for travel.

Containing lemon and ginger for a citrusy, fresh scent, the bar is also made with quinoa. As well as helping to create a rich lather, this should also help to preserve and enhance coloured hair, without stripping any colour. Shine says this bar lasts four times as long as liquid shampoo.

For Curly Hair

Zero Waste Path for curly hair

For curly hair, Zero Waste Path’s Curly Hair 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner bar (£7.99 for 70 g) was the clear winner with Moral Fibres readers. (August 2023 edit – this shampoo bar is no longer available, but I will update here once I have more recommendations).

One reader said that it is “the only bar that works with hard water – it’s amazing”. Meanwhile, another said that “my curls have never looked better”. Other readers praised how soft it makes their hair feel.

Handmade from all-natural ingredients, this shampoo bar is 100% vegan-friendly and palm-oil-free too.

What’s also to love about Zero Waste Path is that they not only produce products that are zero waste in their packaging, but they are also trying to be zero-waste along the whole production chain too. This is no mean feat, so as advocates of transparency, Zero Waste Path shares all of its waste and best practices to help inspire change in the beauty industry.

For Frizzy Hair

For frizzy-haired readers, Ethique’s Frizz Wrangler (£9.74 for 110 g – available from Holland & Barrett) was voted the best solid shampoo bar. Readers say they love its moisturising properties, its delicious smell, and its compostable packaging. Others praised the lack of a transition period. It’s also safe for colour-treated hair.

As well as being plastic-free and vegan-friendly, Ethique shampoo bars are certified cruelty-free. What’s more, they are palm oil-free too. These solid credentials make for a great sustainable choice for tackling frizzy hair.

For Afro Hair

Image of the Afro Hair and Beauty Co Nurture gentle cleansing shampoo bar

For Afro hair, readers recommended The Afro Hair & Skin Co’s Nurture shampoo bar (£11.95 for 100 g). This UK-based Black-owned beauty business specialises in afro beauty and wellness products, and their shampoo bars come with a raft of rave reviews.

The Nurture shampoo bar has been specially created for afro-textured, coily, and curly hair types.

Infused with botanical extracts of wild nettle and lavender, this gently cleans away dirt, grime, and product build-up leaving hair looking and feeling fully cleansed and softened. The gentle ingredients won’t strip away the scalp’s natural oils either.

The Afro Hair & Skin Co source the finest quality sustainable ingredients that are grown and harvested in the UK. For items they can’t source locally, they look for certified organic and Fairtrade natural ingredients from a little further afield. Their shampoo bars are packaged without plastic too, for further reduced impact.

For Dry or Damaged Hair

Kind2’s hydrating shampoo bar (£12.50 for 80 g – available at Sephora) was recommended for those with dry or damaged hair. Chia seed extract, macadamia, shea, and hemp seed oils all help to restore and hydrate dry hair, with readers saying it left their hair soft, shiny, and smooth. However, some noted that it doesn’t produce a thick lather, but that it doesn’t stop it from doing its job.

Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free, it also comes in plastic-free packaging.

For Colour Treated Hair

grüum’s Nourishing Shampoo Bar (£8 for 50 g – available at Look Fantastic) got lots of recommendations from readers with colour-treated hair. Packed with hydrating coconut oil, readers say the rich lather leaves their hair smooth and shiny, without stripping colour.

grüum’s shampoo bars are plastic-free, cruelty-free, and vegan-friendly. grüum also says their bars, which are handmade in the UK, last up to 60 washes, which is twice as long as the average bottle of shampoo.

For Grey Hair

For grey hair, and for blonde colour-treated hair, readers recommended Ethique’s Tone It Down Shampoo Bar (£12.99 for 110 g). When used as your regular shampoo, it can help to keep yellow tones at bay.

As it’s sulfate-free, you don’t get a huge amount of foam. Ethique recommends shampooing your hair twice if you really want a squeaky-clean feeling when you wash your hair.

Equivalent to 3 bottles of liquid shampoo, it’s a great way to reduce plastic.

For Normal Hair

Faith in Nature dragon fruit shampoo bar

For hair without any particular concerns, Faith In Nature’s Dragon Fruit shampoo bar (£7 for 85 g – available at Big Green Smile) got lots of recommendations.

Here readers praised its ability to leave hair clean, soft, and silky without any transitional phase, or a waxy or greasy residue. Others liked how easily accessible it is because they are able to pick it up at their local supermarket. Others mentioned how beautiful it smells.

Faith In Nature’s shampoo bars are made with 100% natural fragrances and contain no parabens or Sodium Laureth Sulphates (SLS). All their bars are also vegan and cruelty-free, as well as coming in plastic-free packaging.

Ethique’s Pinkalicious solid shampoo bar (£9.74 for 110 g – available at Holland & Barrett) was also recommended as a best buy. Smelling of pink grapefruit and vanilla, it’s perfect for hair that doesn’t produce too much, or too little oil and doesn’t have any issues with dryness or damage.

For Thick Hair

For thick hair, many readers recommended the Lush Seanik shampoo bar (£9 for 55 g). One reader said, “It’s better for my wavy thick hair than annyy other shampoo”. Sea salt and lemon help add shine and leave hair feeling soft. Lasting around 60 – 80 washes, it’s also great value.

Other readers recommended Beauty Kubes (£13.95 for 145 g) for thick hair.

These solid shampoo cubes take a little bit of prep when washing your hair. To use, you take one plastic-free shampoo cube into the bath or shower and crumble the dry cube into the palm of your hand. You then add a little water to make a paste. Next, smooth the paste over your hair, add more water and massage it into your hair to create a luxurious lather.

One reader did say that “Beauty Kubes leave my hair healthiest, but are a bit of a faff and a little pricey”. From the recommendations Beauty Kubes received, I would say that it seems Beauty Kubes works best if you have shorter hair.

For Oily/Greasy Hair

The overwhelming recommendation from readers with oily or greasy hair was Zero Waste Path. Particularly their 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner bar for oily hair (£7.99 for 70 g). I got so many recommendations that this was definitely the clear winner. (Again, this shampoo bar is no longer available, but I will update here once I have more recommendations).

Lasting around 40 washes, this 2-in-1 plastic-free shampoo bar gently cleans your hair, whilst adding softness and volume, all without leaving an oily or waxy residue.

Organic broccoli seed oil also deeply conditions and softens your hair without leaving it oily. Meanwhile, the lavender and sage essential oils help to balance sebum production.

Handmade from all-natural ingredients, this shampoo bar is 100% vegan-friendly and palm-oil-free too.

For Sensitive Scalps

Finally, for sensitive scalps, grüum’s fragrance-free shampoo bar (£8 for 50 g) got lots of recommendations from readers. This shampoo bar is fragrance-free, as well as free from silicon, artificial colours, parabens, SLS, alcohol, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).

Readers praised how healthy it left their hair looking with one saying “it leaves my hair looking great, without any irritating fragrances”.

Thanks so much to everyone who took part in contributing to this guide. I really appreciate your responses. And if you didn’t get a chance to take part, then do share any shampoo bars you would add!

Do also check out my guide on how to store shampoo bars to help make them last as long as possible, so that you get your money’s worth out of your bar!

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5 Comments

  1. About 6 months ago I dumped shampoo and switched to a vinegar wash, and I can’t see me going back either. Delighted with the results, I have a fussy, sensitive scalp and very fine hair, it gives my hair more body, and a happy scalp. Spray on a 50:50 mix, massage in and rinse off, have used white and cider vinegar with equal results.

  2. Hi. I really like KinKind’s shampoo and conditioner bars. I have normal/ slightly greasy/ beginning to grey hair
    I didn’t have any transition issues and I find they last really well

  3. Hello Wendy,
    I’m new here so please forgive me if I’ve missed something. Looking down your list I can’t find anything for Beards (I have plenty of hair on my chin but not much up top!) Putting a shampoo on your face that was designed for scalps can be problematic. Wondering if you have had any recommendations. I’m not keen on the cream non foaming type I find them greasy.
    Best regards and keep up the good work,
    Neill

    1. Aah, sorry Neill, I don’t have a beard so don’t have any recommendations! Perhaps any bearded readers might have some recommendations that they can answer here? And if you find anything good, please do let me know and perhaps you can help me put a post together on eco-friendly beard care!