Our award-winning best bars of shampoo are manufactured in the UK. They are pH balanced with gentle, foaming, vegan ingredients to form a convenient solid bar undiluted with water and without the need for plastic.
They will reduce build-up without stripping the hair, leaving it as shiny, clean and healthy hair should be. Follow this shampoo wash with one of our conditioner bars for soft, tangle-free hair.
What’s the difference between the solid shampoo bars?
The Luxury Bars
These bars all have the same base ingredients and come in four different scents which slightly affects their outcome. They each have SEVEN foaming ingredients (the more you have, the milder the bar) along with a plant-based foam booster (great to help with foaming in hard water areas), as well as salon ingredients such as oat protein, pro-vitamin B5, and a silicone plant-based alternative. This makes them great for hard water.
All four bars are excellent for tackling frizzy hair, for humid control, and locking in moisture and they are all sulfate free and plastic free shampoos!
The ‘Woodland’ is by far the heaviest and most moisturising for the hair due to the essential oils used in that bar. It is the best shampoo bar for thick hair, straight or very curly hair as well as dry hair, and frizzy hair.
The 'Orange' are the lightest and have the most limonene content (a good cleaner).
The 'Herbal' have a six essential oil blend that gives it a clean citrus/minty scent including Rosemary and Eucalyptus, and is the best shampoo bar for hair growth and dandruff. It also contains Bergamot and Spearmint known to be stimulating and regenerating.
The 'Botanical' has relaxing Geranium and Patchouli, musty with a slight floral tone, and is the most popular scent of the luxury range (also available in our soaps and deodorants). The Botanical bars of shampoo are a little lighter than the Woodland and is also the best moisturising shampoo that isn’t too heavy, even on fine hair.
Our Purple bars are also made with the ‘Botanical’ scent for grey hair; are the best shampoo bars for silver hair and lifting highlighted hair. However, if your hair doesn’t suffer from frizz then the ‘Essential’ or '2-in-1 bars are also a good option.
Choose either the normal/dry or normal/oily variant formula to suit your hair, then follow with our detangling conditioner bars.
The Essential Bars
The 'Essential' range contains 5 gentle, foaming ingredients with a plant-based foam booster (great for foaming in hard water areas). They are offered in two naturally scented blends of ‘Orange’ or ‘Herbal’ and are free of any artificial fragrances.
Just like the luxury bars, they also contain oat protein and pro-vitamin B5 which add both protection and shine to the hair. They don’t contain a silicone alternative so if your hair is prone to frizz, then we would suggest the ‘luxury’ shampoo and conditioner range.
Otherwise, they are a great every day bar that beat 350 liquid shampoos in the Top Sante awards, and as a simplified version of the luxury bars, they are offered 30% cheaper.
Choose either the sulphate free shampoo for normal/dry hair or the normal/oily variant formula to suit. Follow with our detangling conditioner bars.
2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner Bars
Lastly, the 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner bars also have 5 surfactants, along with a plant-based foam booster (for hard water areas), two humectants, combined with the very best in light, conditioning, and detangling ingredients.
They are available in the family favourite 'Orange' scent as well as the precious 'Frankincense' blend, working well as a convenient bar that saves on time, money, and water.
They will feel a little different from using separate bars but the outcome is fantastic, giving you soft, shiny, and manageable hair. They are the best shampoo bars for all hair types and don't require additional conditioning.
These alternative bars of shampoo are the most effective for curly hair and are great for people with damaged hair or sensitive skin, those who prefer gentle products, and anyone looking for an alternative to harsh chemicals in their beauty routine. They are made with all-natural ingredients that won't strip your hair of its natural oils.
Don't forget to check out the full range of plastic free shampoo bars here.
The Solid Bar Company cruelty free shampoo bars contain significant vegan and natural ingredients; we’ve combined Oat protein and plant based silicon alternatives with Pro-Vitamin B5 for a gentle and nourishing cleanse to leave your hair soft and shiny.
All our ingredients are 100% natural and in our range of scents we have included an essential oil blend of Geranium and Patchouli for a refreshing scent; Sweet Orange essential oil for a stimulating scent; a six herbal essential oil blend, including Rosemary, Bergamot, and Eucalyptus for an energizing scent; Vetiver and Patchouli for a calming earthy scent.
These natural bars of shampoo will all leave your hair feeling, looking, and smelling heavenly and incredibly soft, shiny, and free from build-up too.
The cetyl alcohol we use is plant derived and palm oil free and helps add moisturization and enhances viscosity in our hair care bars.
Our formulations ensure that all these vegan shampoo bars are safe for both coloured hair and all hair types. They are fully pH balanced and salon-approved with ‘Easy foam’ for hard water foaming.
With the multiple variants we offer, ours are the best bars for hard water, the best shampoo bars for normal or dry hair, the best shampoo bars for greasy hair, the best shampoo bars for curly hair, and the best shampoo bars for coloured hair in the UK!
Additionally, there is no transition period when switching to these UK-made vegan bars of shampoo.
There are additional benefits of using bar shampoos for hard water hair. They are a great solution for those who live in areas with hard water as they are specially formulated to remove mineral build-up from the hair, which can leave it feeling dull and lifeless. Containing natural ingredients they will help to restore the hair's natural shine and softness.
What's more, they are eco-friendly and cost-effective, as they last longer than traditional liquid shampoos. So, if you're struggling with hard water hair woes, consider switching to a solid shampoo for a healthier, more manageable mane.
So what are the benefits of using natural bars of shampoo? Are they good for your hair?
Yes, without doubt, they are good for your hair. They are made with natural ingredients that are gentle on your hair and scalp, and they don't contain harsh chemicals that can strip your hair of its natural oils. They are also more environmentally friendly, as all our bars come in minimal packaging and don't require plastic bottles.
Furthermore, as part of our commitment toward a zero waste footprint, we now offer our bars in cardboard containers (please note these are not suitable for long-term use) or as bar-only refills in paper wraps.
To remain fully eco-conscious, we recommend that you choose the refill option; the cardboard they can be purchased in is primarily if you wish to gift the bars, for long-term/in use storage if you need, we recommend the travel tins.
Next time you travel, take a natural bar with you instead of a regular plastic bottle of shampoo. They last for months, so they save you money; they are so compact, they save you space. They are the perfect travel accompaniment and you don't have to worry about replacing them!
The packaging is the obvious factor that people hone in on when they ask what waste these bars can help to reduce. But that's only the start. In most, if not all, liquid shampoos right at the top of the ingredients list you will see the word "aqua" - and that, quite simply put, means that water is not only the first but also the greatest by percentage too.
It will come as a surprise to many of you when you discover that the average liquid shampoo consists of around 80% water.
You may think, judging by the amount of rain we suffer here in the UK, that water wastage isn't a huge issue. But in other parts of the globe not as lucky as us, and according to Unicef, four billion people - almost two-thirds of the world’s population - experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year.
Our bars help change that barren landscape. No water is used in the manufacturing process nor in the ingredients; you add the water yourself when applying the bar to your hair. As a result, less is used and less is wasted.
Despite their lack of water, these shampoos still produce the foamy lather we all associate with a salon-quality shampoo and, due to their special formulation, they are gentle on your hair, unlike a traditional soap bar. Not only that, these are some of the best bars to use for hard water in the UK.
We have even developed natural conditioning bars to complement the natural shampoo bars, and they assist with moisturization and hydration.
How is a shampoo bar different from soap bar?
The base formula is similar to a body wash bar but hair care ingredients and extra foaming agents are also added. These ingredients help leave the hair feeling soft and allow the product to spread more easily too.
Don't forget to check out the full range of shampoo bars here.
Should you always use a conditioner after a shampoo bar?
Without a doubt, it is best if you do. Using a conditioner after a natural shampoo helps replenish moisture and smooth down the hair. The shampoo step has already washed-out excess residue and build-up, but the conditioner helps the conditioning ingredients soak in.
We have the best UK-made natural conditioner bars.
How do you store (and dry) a shampoo bar?
- When not in use, keep the bar out of direct water flow.
- Place on a simple rack or dish - ideally one with holes to allow the bar to dry like here.
- Then allow drying in a well-ventilated space, out of direct sunlight.
How to use a shampoo bar?
Before applying the cruelty free shampoo it is best to get rid of tangles and knots with a tangle-teaser brush and then wet it. Then you can apply the shampoo as follows:
You could lather the bar between wet hands and apply the lather to your wet hair (as you would with a liquid shampoo). Or you could wet the bar and apply it to wet hair, rubbing in circular motions down the hair strands.
Rinse out and repeat as needed. This short video will show you how to use a shampoo bar.
Studies show that the UK discards over 500 million plastic shampoo bottles every year and only a very small percentage of those are actually suitable for recycling.
That means the majority will either end up in landfills or head to incineration plants; either way, they will be spoiling the environment around us. Not only is this detrimental to our planet, our oceans, and wildlife, but when plastic eventually does biodegrade after many years, it breaks down into microplastics! These microplastics then find their way into our waterways and cause harm to aquatic life.