So you have actually made the switch and
bought your first Shampoo Bar. You were so excited to use it, and then you
wondered how to. After the first use, a lot of questions may pop up in your
mind.
This article will try to cover most of your
concerns, as much as we can. We simply thought that this type of information is
something that you ought to know. This is actually the second part of our
Shampoo Bar Story, and we will attempt to give an answer to all your possible
questions about this topic.
What
is a Shampoo Bar?
A Shampoo bar is just a solid form of the
liquid shampoo that we know. This bar however, is made with all natural ingredients, and as such,
it DOES NOT have any artificial fragrance, color, preservatives, detergents,
alcohol, urea, formaldehyde, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), DEA, propylene glycol, and other chemicals. These are harmful ingredients that strip your hair of its NATURAL OILS, and it can really damage your hair and scalp. At
times, these are the culprit behind your dry, itchy, and irritated scalp. It can
also dry out your hair, and can lead to hair loss.
What
are the benefits?
·
Increased volume, faster hair
growth, reduced dandruff, shinier hair and a lot more.
·
If you have curly hair, most
people say they that they have more defined curls with better control.
·
Shampoo bars are generally good
for all hair types and hair lengths (adjustment period may vary though for each
person)
·
There are even brands which are
formulated for permed and color treated hair.
·
Natural Shampoo bars are healthy
and safe for every user (even for daily
use!)
·
It is eco-friendly since it
does not contain any harmful chemicals
·
Highly economical because of
its being compact and concentrated in form (results to higher number of usage
compared to liquid shampoo).
·
Natural Shampoo bars are gentle
(allowing you to retain color and moisture)
·
It reduces instances of scalp dryness.
·
It allows your hair to
rebalance and produce the right amount of oils needed (something which is being
stripped off by chemicals present in commercial shampoos).
·
They are also a perfect travel
mate because they are so handy (without the bulky plastic bottles).
The process of making these bars are very
similar to handcrafted natural soap, but the recipe and ingredient may be different.
The essential oils plus the fruit and plant extracts are selected carefully to
make sure that it will nourish your hair and scalp.
What
can I expect to happen when I start to use the Shampoo Bar?
Since you have used conventional shampoos and conditioner for quite sometime, this natural shampoo bar is
something new to your hair and scalp. One good thing is that it will not strip hair like
detergent based shampoos, and you may notice your hair feels different immediately
after washing. This is what we call the "transition stage", or the period when
the hair will adjust to the natural ingredients. These effects may vary from one
person to another. Some people will just be okay while others may not.
Everyone's hair is unique, and the transition process will be a case to case basis. Your hair may feel greaser than normal, or it may even feel dryer than normal. It may feel waxy, coated or just weird.
This transition period (some people call them the "transitional purge" period), can last from a few days to a few weeks or even a month. This is literally a time for your
hair, which has been addicted to chemical-laden shampoos, to go through a withdrawal stage. Soon enough, it will eventually learn to live a chemical-free life. Remember, it may not be easy
but it will pass! Patience and perseverance will be your key and your reward will be a healthy, soft and silky hair.
Do I
still need to use hair conditioner when using this bar?
It depends on your preference. Some can do away without one, others may feel the need to use a conditioner because they feel that their hair is dull, lacks luster, and dry. Please remember though, that most natural shampoo bars will not strip the
natural oils from your hair. You just need to wait for your hair to fully adjust to the natural ingredients.
Because of the high concentration of oils
in natural shampoo bars, the hair tends to have more of a waxy consistency,
which can be gone after a couple of uses.
To avoid this, many bar shampoo users rinse
with Apple Cider Vinegar to remove the coating and shine their hair. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) rinses can be
very helpful in such cases as they are an excellent addition to any natural
hair care routine and can help bring back body and shine to dull, lackluster
hair.
What
is an ACV Rinse?
Do you need to use an Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) rinse? It depends on a number of factors.
Your
water: If your hair does not seem to be adjusting
to the shampoo bars, it may be due to your water. Hard water makes it more
difficult to rinse natural shampoo from your hair.
Hair
length: Many of our male customers and women with
short hair have found that they do not need to rinse with vinegar, simply
because their hair is short.
Tangles: ACV rinses often help with tangles.
Residue: If your hair has residue from previous products or you regularly
use conditioners, styling gels etc., our shampoo bars are mild and may not
remove residue from your hair like detergent shampoos. ACV rinses help remove
build-up and product residue.
Hair
type: Everyone's hair is unique.
Apple
Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse (ACV Rinse)
Ingredients
2-4 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
16 oz cool water
1-2 drops lavender oil (optional)
Directions:
After shampooing and rinsing your hair, mix
the apple cider vinegar, water, and essential oil (optional) in a plastic
bottle. Leaning your head back, pour the rinse over your entire scalp, allowing
the mixture to run through your hair. Be careful to avoid contact with your
eyes. Let the mixture sit on your hair for 1-2 minutes. Then, rinse thoroughly.
How
to Use Your Natural Shampoo Bar?
You can either use the shampoo bar directly
on your wet hair or, you can rub the bar in your hands and create the lather.
After that, you can run your fingers through your hair while applying the
lather.
It should be applied onto your hair from
scalp to ends, in a combing motion.
Cover each section of your hair. Gently
massage scalp and hair, adding more water as needed, until a good lather forms.
To prevent tangles, be sure to always work
from the top down, don't pile your hair on your head and use your fingers like
a comb, not a mixer.
With this method, it is very important that
you really build up a good lather on your head so there are no patches of soap
left on your hair.
Rinse thoroughly, and repeatedly, as much
as you can.
Repeat if desired.
We have been receiving a lot of feedback lately from people telling us that their hair felt more dry when they used the shampoo bars. Other feedback however is different. They said that they felt that
their dry hair had more moisture and many people who suffer from oily hair or
scalp said their hair had changed to what they believed "normal"
would be like. We all have different hair type and so the result of the products that we use will not exactly be the same.
When looking for a shampoo bar, keep an eye
out for natural ingredients like shea, mango, cocoa and other nourishing butters, along
with coconut, jojoba, avocado, argan and other moisturizing oils.
Essential
oils may be used to promote certain properties, such as rosemary and lavender
for healthy hair growth, or chamomile to keep hair looking healthy and bright.
Please avoid buying and using surfactant shampoo bars, or any brand that contain SLS. Always stay away from shampoo bars that contain any type of sulfate, and you should also pay close attention to bars whose ingredient lists feature sodium hydroxide - it is an extremely strong alkali which has a higher pH level than your hair. The hair doesn't have an acid mantle (your skin does, though!) and the difference in pH levels can cause your hair to become coarse, brittle and, overtime, heavily damaged.
These
are 3 most common types of Shampoo Bars in the market right now:
Cold-pressed: the process of mixing fixed oils (like coconut) with an alkali
(such as Lye) to achieve saponification, where the composition of the fixed
oils changes. These soaps are often rich in nourishing
fats (like oils and butters) and are often SLS-free. However, because of the
oils and butters, many users like to rinse their hair with a clarifying product
(such as an apple cider vinegar rinse) to prevent build up on the scalp.
Glycerin-based: glycerin is a natural byproduct of the soap making process, and
soaps containing natural glycerin tend to be kinder on the hair and scalp due
to their lower pH levels, which help to keep the peace with your hair's own pH
levels; this is said to help hair and skin maintain moisture.
Surfactant: soap containing a surfactant will often provide the most lather,
because surfactants are a compound of detergents which cause bubbling or
foaming (aka lather). Common surfactant soaps are those found at LUSH, for
example, and often contain SLS. The main purpose of a surfactant soap is to
remove the dirt, oil, and bacteria from your hair, and can be
extremely drying/clarifying to the point where they can do more harm than good
to the health of your hair.
Choosing the right shampoo bar can be a result of trial and error; there is no one specific shampoo bar that will
work for every hair type, nor are shampoo bars going to solve every hair issue
or concern.
One piece of advise though, not all Natural Shampoo Bars are the same. Ingredients do matter as they are the ones that will give benefits to your hair. Do not be swayed by just the colors, scents, and the looks. Know what each bar is made of as that will tell you the real worth of every bar.
#naturalshampoobars #guideonusingshampoobars #localshampoobars