How to Use a Shampoo Bar

How to Use a Shampoo Bar

Different people prefer to use the shampoo bars in different ways.

If you have shorter hair, you start with one or two swipes of the soap across your hair.  Then lather and spread through your hair. For longer hair, produce lather in your hands and then rub onto your scalp and spread it through your hair.  You can experiment with both ways to see which method you prefer. 

No matter the length of your hair, you want to be sure to massage your scalp as you are using the shampoo bar.   The scalp produces oils that protect the hair shaft and prevent breakage. So when you are washing your hair, it is just as important to clean the scalp and not just the hair. 

Conventional hair products continuously strip the natural oils, thereby causing your scalp to produce excess oil.

When using the shampoo bar, it is also very important to not use too much. Using too much of the shampoo bar can cause sticky and heavy feeling hair.   Many people find that their scalp adjusts immediately to a natural shampoo.  But for others, it can take several weeks for your scalp to adjust to the shampoo bar and stop producing excess oil.

Once you have finished lathering up with the shampoo bar, you should rinse it and store it in a place where it can fully dry. Make sure that you don’t store it in a puddle of water or your shampoo bar could easily disintegrate.

It takes very little shampoo bar lather to get the job done.  Store bought shampoos lather so much because they typically have foaming agents added. This extra foam does little to actually clean your hair and is unnecessary.  

Simply focus on trying to clean your scalp.

Stand your shampoo bar upright  this allows for the maximum amount of air circulation around it. (It’s also why we prefer making rectangular bars to round ones)

Rinsing Your Hair and Using Conditioner

When using the shampoo bar, rinsing may need to be more thorough than with conventional shampoos.   Every time you wash your hair, rinse very well with warm water then finish with cool water.  

Your hair may also benefit from a weekly vinegar rinse.  Simply dilute some apple cider vinegar (up to 10% apple cider vinegar or a little lemon juice diluted in water) and do a final rinse with it.  The vinegar scent will disappear as your hair dries.

Many people find that once their scalp and hair have adjusted to the shampoo bar, they no longer need any conditioning. If you find that your hair still needs a conditioner, put a pea sized amount of coconut oil on your hands and rub it together.  Smooth through your hair, particularly the ends.  

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