Comments on The Green Phone Booth: The Great Shampoo Bar Experiment

I've had the exact probs with shampoo bars you...

2011-07-29T14:03:31.442-07:00

I've had the exact probs with shampoo bars you described: waxy build-up that increases with use. The ACV rinse is supposed to rinse out any remaining soap residue (as well as restore a scalp's slightly acidic pH), but it wasn't working for me; the build-up would increase with each washing. This build-up corresponded with shedding, which told me something was wrong. So, if you're having this problem of build-up (waxy feeling), try this: a pre-rinse of diluted baking soda. The purpose is to remove previous build-up (baking soda is a weak base and so it dissolves and rinses out the shampoo residue on the hair, which is also a base -- "like dissolves like" from your chemistry days). Then use the shampoo bar, then the ACV rinse. It's the *only* method that works for me, and I've tried everything.

I discovered Ligget's Shampoo Bar in a "m...

2011-02-04T13:17:23.403-08:00

I discovered Ligget's Shampoo Bar in a "manly catalog" but found it locally in a health food store. It's supposed to promote hair growth. My hair looks better than ever, but I have short straight fine hair. No greasy residue and my hair is prone to greasiness if I don't shampoo evey day

Hello... it's me again. Thought to update you...

2010-06-08T06:06:30.958-07:00

Hello... it's me again. Thought to update you on my own shampoo bar experiement. In the past few days (since I posted) my hair has been softer, shinier, and healthier than it has ever been with SLS shampoos! Particular with the babassu marshmallow shampoo bar which I only use every 2-3 days. It turns out that I've been using too much vinegar in my rinces. I've reduced to about 1 tsp or less in a mug of water. The Herb Garden shampoo works wonderfully too, but I don't really care for the turkey dinner smell...

Good luck! I hope you find something that works with you. At this point, I can't ever imagine using anything else in my hair!

Hello! I only started about 2 weeks ago but have ...

2010-06-03T16:49:21.399-07:00

Hello! I only started about 2 weeks ago but have already fell in love with Chagrin Valley shampoo bars. I tried a few samples and like two of them the best: Babassu Marshmallow and Carrot Honey and Milk.
http://chagrinvalleysoapandcraft.com

I did have a one week of waxies, and was glad that I toughed it out: my hair feels so much softer now! I do not use any other hair product. I used ACV rinse a few times and really liked the result but my hair got greasy faster. My favorite is the Carrot Milk and Honey shampoo soap. It works great on my kids' hair too (they did not have an adjustment period at all!)

I also use Lush. Currently my hair is shoulder le...

2010-06-01T09:46:49.294-07:00

I also use Lush. Currently my hair is shoulder length. I have thick curly hair and the bars usually last me a year. I do not wash my hair daily...I think I read somewhere that is strips your hair of natural oils. I also use their conditioner, soap and lotions. And I have to say, the price seems high but the products last me ages! My conditioner is only now running out and I've had it since August. My shampoo bars normally last me a year, although I do alternate between two different bars.

I've used this bar- http://www.nurturemybody.c...

2010-02-08T22:49:14.104-08:00

I've used this bar-
http://www.nurturemybody.com/organic-soothing-shampoo-bar-sls-free.html

I think I'm going to switch over to it for 100% of the time.

P.S. they are on sale right now. :)

@Belinda~ Thanks, I will give that a try! @knitti...

2010-02-05T13:30:54.914-08:00

@Belinda~ Thanks, I will give that a try!

@knittingwoman~ Having super curly hair, I unfortunately can't get out of bed in the morning and brush it. It's frizzy and crazy when I wake up, brushing it makes it even worse...quite literally making it look like an afro. So I wash it each morning to let the natural curl come back. I suppose I could wet it down without using a soap on it though.

@dramamama~ Thanks, I will check out the link!

Thanks to everyone for the tips and support. I'm going to keep working on it, yet not stress too much.

I didn't like the Burt's Bees shampoo bar ...

2010-02-05T04:05:33.136-08:00

I didn't like the Burt's Bees shampoo bar either. My hair is long-ish - but thin. I used LUSH shampoo bars years ago before they came to America (got it in Canada). LOVED it. They had a mango shine bar. AWESOME. But you know, today their products are not that green. Fragrance, SLS, etc. Go to their website and read the ingredient label before purchasing. I'm going to try baking soda and vinegar soon. :-)

I have curly hair too - although it is not as thic...

2010-02-04T19:33:12.055-08:00

I have curly hair too - although it is not as thick as your hair sounds. I switched to Terressentials all natural "shampoo" which is acutally made out of bentonite clay. If I had the time I could probably figure out how to make the stuff myself because every ingredient could be purchased at a well stocked health food store. It is the only thing I use every few days or so - just a little bit. I absolutely LOVE how my hair feels. I do use some styling products (I hope to quit once my hair gets a little longer than my current chin length) but Terressentials shampoo keeps all of the build up off my hair - no dryness (and I would be prone to extreme dryness) and no conditioner necessary. http://www.terressentials.com/haircare.html Good Luck!!

i have yet to find a fantastic shampoo bar or natu...

2010-02-04T17:34:52.818-08:00

i have yet to find a fantastic shampoo bar or natural version equivalent to my nasty chemical shampoo. i went six months with terrible nasty hair, gave every shampoo bar and natural stuff at least two weeks and finally gave up.

seriously, my hair is annoying.

so- i figured i do a lot of other really fantastic things, like walk to work instead of driving. i also use a MINIMUM amount of shampoo (and yes i wash every day. mostly because everymorning my hair is UBER greasy... but after i wash my hair it's uber dry).
my shampoo bottle should last 6months to a year. this sounds terrible, but until i find another alternative, i am SO done stressing over it....

I applaud your efforts!! you really gave it a GOOD go! I second others, LUSH hides some sketchy chemicals. Personally, since they're expensive and still have chemicals, and smell VERY strong, it bugs me. I don't like companies that wax poetic about being 'green' and still contain chemicals.... :S

I have more fine, limp hair. I'm not sure if a...

2010-02-04T17:09:03.386-08:00

I have more fine, limp hair. I'm not sure if a shampoo bar would work for me at all. After I use up all the stray bottles of shampoo in the house (all with an inch in the bottom; I have a college daughter) I may give it a try.

I tried using liquid castille soap in my hair. I o...

2010-02-04T16:31:32.521-08:00

I tried using liquid castille soap in my hair. I only wash my hair every other day and I pushed it for about 2 months before calling it quits. the greasiness never went away so i would have to wash it more often which I didn't like. I thought about going no poo but after reading your experience I'm thinking maybe not. If you try Lush be sure to read their ingredients, a lot of their stuff has parabens.

I just got a shampoo bar from Bath Life (on Etsy)....

2010-02-04T15:10:50.769-08:00

I just got a shampoo bar from Bath Life (on Etsy). I tried their fragrance, the deoderant bar, have soap samples... now onto shampoo bar. It looks yummy and I can't wait to try it (but it's not shampoo day yet).

I use a shampoo bar from an Etsy shop called Dress...

2010-02-04T13:34:13.638-08:00

I use a shampoo bar from an Etsy shop called DressGreen. I highly recommend her products!! I used to wash my hair every day with shampoo & conditioner. Then, I tried baking soda and vinegar, which was a complete failure. (I have thick, wavy hair. It's short right now though.) When I switched to a shampoo bar handmade by DressGreen, I was able to wash once or twice a week (during the winter--summer remains to be seen) and not use conditioner.

I second knitting woman's question, why shampo...

2010-02-04T13:17:10.396-08:00

I second knitting woman's question, why shampoo every day? I have been no 'poo for almost a year, now, but prior to that drastic change, I reduced the number of times I washed and conditioned per week. I have thick, bra-strap length hair with a bit of wave. When I decided to try no 'poo, I figured I would give it an 8 week trial, not just a couple of weeks. I did not have any greasy adjustment period, but maybe that was because I had already reduced the number of times I washed my hair, anyway. Experimenting with different products and techniques can take some time. You seem to be okay with trying different products and techniques, but maybe they need to be tried for a longer time period.

I don't use a shampoo bar, but I've been u...

2010-02-04T13:12:59.029-08:00

I don't use a shampoo bar, but I've been using bicarb soda and apple cider vinegar (both locally produced) for over a year now, and loving the way my hair looks and feels.

It even got commented on out of the blue when a friend touched my hair and said she'd never felt hair so soft! And I'm the chick who always had ratty, dry hair!

I'm never going back to commercial products.

For styling, I use just plain cocoa butter. I rub a little on my hands, then run my fingers through my hair. This copes with even such nasties as straightening irons.

I write in detail how I use bicarb and vinegar in a post here at my blog.

I have been no 'poo for about a year using bak...

2010-02-04T12:15:35.642-08:00

I have been no 'poo for about a year using baking soda wash(1tsp to 1 cup water) with apple cider vinegar rinse(use a splash in 1 cup of water with some rosemary essential oil). Wash once a week at most and rinse with water in between washes if I feel like it, sometimes I don't. Even before I would only wash my hair once a week. Works great for my hair but my scalp is just totally horrible and nothing works.

If I use any shampoo, bars, natural, conventional, my hair is UNMANAGABLE. It is very thick, very coarse, very long, and was very frizzy with anything containing sls, even the natural coconut based ones.

The frizz is gone and I can get it's natural wave coming out. I use to NEVER NEVER EVER brush my hair with anything but my fingers because the frizz was just awful, now I can brush it whenever wherever and it's fine.

But my scalp is quite flaky and always has been. It fluctuates a lot with my hormones and stress but I know what the real culprit is, our horribly hard water. If I go an vacation erything is perfect and lovely because of softer water. I don't know what to do. I have a filter on my shower head, live in an apartment so I can't use a whole house softener.

A way to wash my hair without water....no don't think that would be a permanent solution. My struggle shall go on.

Hi, I'm from NZ, and I use a shampoo bar from...

2010-02-04T11:23:15.604-08:00

Hi,

I'm from NZ, and I use a shampoo bar from a place called 'global soap' in Nelson (I'm sure they would send to you, but don't know what shipping would be). Very cheap and very good. I use the tea tree one as I have some trouble with dry/itchy scalp. I have very thick hair also, but it is straight and I keep it short, but I find that if I use normal shampoo now my hair greases up within a day. I do very occasionally (maybe once a month or two) use a little bit of conditioner on the ends of my hair, but once my bottle is used up I'm going to try vinegar :)

I hope you find something that works for you!

http://www.globalsoap.co.nz/shampoobars.htm

God help us all, you've now got me wanting to ...

2010-02-04T09:22:42.753-08:00

God help us all, you've now got me wanting to try this. (Not because I disbelieve your results, but because I have very different hair--thick but fine and straight, like SCARY straight. Flat iron straight.) I haven't been happy with what my pseudo-natural shampoo (Nature's Gate Herbal) has been doing with my hair lately and need to try something else. I appreciate the various reviews and recommendations!

I'm also wondering, in terms of the "we do what we can" mentality, if alternating between a bottle and a bar or something might be a way to go?

I would be thrilled to not have to wash my hair every day...unfortunately I have this deal where I can only reasonably go 36 hours or so before it starts looking oogy, so if I'm going to skip a day I have to time it well; it's almost always a day when I don't have to go out that evening (and/or probably won't Get Any that night. ;-) (Not that he would mind, but it'd bug me.)

Who's intrepid enough to try making their own cold- or hot- process soap for shampoo? Anyone? :-)

I've tried a few different methods, such as ba...

2010-02-04T09:16:51.860-08:00

I've tried a few different methods, such as baking soda followed by vinegar rinse and the no-poo. I've never tried the shampoo bars.

Here's what works for my longish straight and fine hair. I do still buy a natural shampoo, but I transfer a small amount to a little squeeze bottle and dilute it by about 8-10 times as much water.

I have a small container in the shower for mixing up hair cleaner. Each time I need to shampoo, I start with 1/4 cup of baking soda. I add enough warm water to make it a little thinner than pancake batter. Then I squirt in a small bit of the highly diluted natural shampoo. Mix this all up with my finger.

I wet my hair thoroughly and pour this slowly over my scalp, using my other hand to work it in gently. When it's all on, I "lather up" for 15-30 seconds. I let this sit on my scalp for a minute or two.

I rinse thoroughly and follow up with an apple cider vinegar rinse (1 part ACV to 8 parts water). After sitting on my hair for a minute, it is rinsed out.

This works great on my naturally oily hair. I shampoo twice a week only. If I omit the dilute shampoo addition, my hair gets gross.

I went no 'poo last August and I am loving it....

2010-02-04T09:03:11.352-08:00

I went no 'poo last August and I am loving it. What has worked well for me is rinsing my hair and scrubing my scalp with my fingertips on the days when I don't wash it. It gets my hair just as clean as if I had washed it. Now, I am going 7-10 days between washings. I wash when my hair starts to feel greasy. Perhaps this method could help you cut down on the shampoo use.

I sometimes use Bronner's liquid soap to wash ...

2010-02-04T08:56:21.840-08:00

I sometimes use Bronner's liquid soap to wash my hair, and I use the unscented version, diluted, for my daughter. I don't dilute it when I use it on my own hair and it comes out squeaky clean; I then don't have to wash it the next day, and sometimes not the third day, either, depending on how it looks and where I'm going. I don't know how the Bronner bar soap's strength compares to the liquid, though. But you might try shampooing every other day.

Ha, totally on the same page. I switched to "...

2010-02-04T08:03:31.651-08:00

Ha, totally on the same page. I switched to "natural" shampoo a few years back until I looked it up on the Skin Deep data base and realized it really wasn't all that much better for me than the mainstream stuff. Then I switched to Burt's Bees in the bottle which has a better rating and which honesty is pretty much what I've stuck with. I chopped all my hair really short a year ago and my husband and I did start using the shampoo bar (he still uses and loves it but he's in the military and has a buzz cut....). It worked great on my hair...until it got past about 3 inches long and then it got greasy. So back to the bottle it's been......

I, too, use the Lush coconut bar. My hair is thick...

2010-02-04T07:25:14.136-08:00

I, too, use the Lush coconut bar. My hair is thick, fine,curly and very dry. I only wash it every 2-3 days so the bar lasts me a long time - I let the bar air dry between washings. No 'poo left my scalp way too dry - I was scratching like a fiend - and my hair looked dull.

I have very different hair from you--very straight...

2010-02-04T06:24:19.496-08:00

I have very different hair from you--very straight and baby-fine--but I love JR Liggett's. Usually I use the conditioning bar. My husband--who has very thick curly hair (but short)--uses it as well and it works for him.

Good luck!