Earth Day brainstorm: Toss those plastic bottles and try this brilliant all-natural shampoo bar

April 23, 2022 at 12:15 AM·7 min read

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Woman using a Hibar shampoo bar — Stop horsing around: HiBar shampoo bars are an easy, mess-free way to wash your mane. (Photo: Amazon)

This Earth Day, you've probably had reusing, recycling and repurposing on the brain, but we'd like to alert you to an important change you can make in the shower every morning: solid shampoo. The term alone might sound like an oxymoron, but only if you’re unfamiliar with the biggest movement happening in hair care. Liquid shampoos (and their plastic bottles) are quickly being phased out by shampoo bars — essentially, standalone bars of “soap” but for your hair.

Everyone’s trying to get in on the solid shampoo game these days, but only a few companies are doing it right. One of the best on our radar is HiBar, which elevates the shampoo bar concept by using all-natural, non-toxic hair-nourishing ingredients only—and absolutely zero harmful ones like sulfates, phthalates, parabens or silicones.

Starting at $12 at Amazon

The result is an ergonomic, egg-shaped bar that holds 16 ounces of shampoo but cuts plastic packaging out of the equation, taking up just a small spot in your shower caddy. Incidentally, it also fits neatly into your weekend bag or carry-on luggage, making it easy to get the equivalent of a standard bottle of shampoo through airport security. I mean, hotel shampoos: who needs ‘em?

Okay, so you know that HiBar shampoo bars are convenient and chemical-free, but do they keep your strands supple, strong, and shiny like your favorite shampoo currently does? The answer is yes, and there are also HiBar conditioner bars to maintain that irresistible bounce.

First of all, HiBar comes in three different formulations: Maintain (for normal to oily hair), Moisturize (for dry hair), and Volumize (for thin/lifeless or curly hair). So your customization starts at checkout.

HiBar Solid Shampoo Bars in Maintain and Volumize. (Photo: Amazon) — Grab one in Maintain, Volumize (above), as well as Soothe. Our planet will thank you. (Photos: Amazon)

Starting at $12 at Amazon

Secondly, HiBar shampoo and conditioner bars use a slew of natural, salon-quality ingredients that have been scientifically proven to boost hair health — especially crucial now, when salon appointments are harder to come by than usual. For instance, shea butter, a nut-based moisturizer, has been used for centuries to hydrate hair and prevent breakage.

Then there’s vitamin B5, which is known for helping keep the hair cuticle intact, meaning less frizz and more shine. It helps your health grow healthy and strong, too. You won’t want to spend a single night away from home without your HiBar, and it’ll quickly replace all those shampoo bottles taking up precious bathroom storage space.

HiBar Solid Shampoo Bar (Photo: Amazon) — Toss those earth-unfriendly plastic bottles...and head to the bar! (Photo: Amazon)

HiBar shampoo and conditioner bars even come in all-cardboard packaging, so you won’t have to give a second thought to polluting landfills — as of 2019, there were already 552 million shampoo bottles tossed there each year. And they’re made right here in the U.S., so forget carbon emissions, too — these shampoo bars are just as gentle on your hair as they are on the planet. It’s a win all around.

And the results are so lush and amazing, it’s gone to customers’ heads. “Honestly. I now always have good hair days,” one fan gushed. “These are actually little nuggets of gold...You know how shampoos can leave your hair feeling ‘coaty?’ Well these don’t. I swear, I love these things.”

“As a hairstylist, I can say that this product outdoes itself! My hair feels soft and clean after every use!” another fan bragged.

HiBar shampoo bars are made to last up to six months, depending on how often you use them—and customers say you can stretch it pretty far. It’s a sweet investment of just $12 for a waste-free bath product that will quickly become the ‘mane’ event in your shower routine.

Starting at $12 at Amazon

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.