8 Best Shampoo Bars for Dryness, Thinning Hair, More

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When you think of shampoo, you probably picture your go-to bottle that’s sitting in your shower as we speak. Perhaps it has a pump nozzle or squeeze top. It suds up and gives your hair a squeaky clean feel. What we bet you didn’t picture is a shampoo bar (yes, similar in look to a bar of soap). These environmentally-friendly, space-saving cleansers are becoming more and more popular, and we’re seeing more and more brands coming out with their own versions. Even better, more options are becoming available for different needs, such as shampoo bars for thinning hair, ones for oily hair and more. If you want to learn more about shampoo bars and want to know which is the best shampoo bar for your hair, keep reading.

What are shampoo bars?

Shampoos bars essentially do everything your normal shampoo does, just in a different form than the standard shampoo and conditioner. It rids your hair and scalp of excess oil, dirt and grime, and helps them look and feel healthier, just like any form of shampoo should do. The main difference is how it looks and is applied.

Shampoo bars come in, as you can guess, bar form. It looks similar to a bar of soap, but often brands will create them into fun and unique shapes, include natural oils and feature relaxing scents. Shampoo bars are more concentrated and have a higher pH than liquid shampoo, but both adequately clean hair.

What are the benefits of shampoo bars?

There are quite a few benefits to using a shampoo bar over your typical shampoo. For starters, shampoo bars are more eco-friendly than traditional shampoo. Why? Its packaging. Shampoo bars are small and compact, so it requires little packaging. Usually, they’re sold in a small box, oftentimes made from sustainable materials. Regular shampoo, on the other hand, is typically packaged in plastic bottles that are a lot larger (meaning it requires more materials to make). Plus, liquid shampoo requires much more water in the formula than shampoo bars, which save water. Shampoo bars overall are a great environmentally-friendly alternative to other shampoos.

Another benefit of shampoo bars is they take up way less space than most other shampoos. As previously mentioned, shampoo bars are a lot smaller and compact, meaning they can save precious space in your shower. They are also a breeze to travel with. Regular shampoo bottles are often big and bulky, and can be hard to fit in your suitcase or worse, spill all over your suitcase, while traveling.

Perhaps best yet, shampoo bars are super gentle on hair and typically contain gentler ingredients than your typical shampoo. This can be especially great for those who struggle with thinning hair and hair loss — looking for gentle ingredients in your shampoo is crucial if you fall into this category.

One downside, however, is they can be a bit drying due to their higher pH levels and higher concentrates. If you find shampoo bars dry out your hair after using, consider rotating between a shampoo bar and your go-to bottled shampoo (or just stick to your regular shampoo if it’s still too drying).

How to use a shampoo bar

One of your biggest questions may be how to use and apply a shampoo bar. This can take some patience, so give yourself time to adjust and learn the best technique. Overall, it’s pretty simple: Just wet hair, then either suds the bars up in your hands and then massage into hair, or massage the shampoo bar directly on the hair and scalp. Although the steps are simple, it may feel odd or strange at first until you get used to it.

The 8 best shampoo bars to try

Keep reading for our top picks for the best shampoo bars based on your hair concern.

Best shampoo bar for hair growth

Kitsch Rice Water Shampoo Bar for Hair Growth

The claim is in the name: Kitsch Rice Water Shampoo Bar for Hair Growth is specifically targeted to boost hair growth, which is great for both those who want thicker hair and those who want to add a few inches onto their length. It’s made with rice water, which contains proteins proven to strengthen and grow hair. It has over 7,000 reviews, with the majority of those ratings being five stars.

However, a word of caution: it’s advised to avoid rice water if you have low porosity hair since it can have a harder time handling this extra protein.

Best shampoo bar for damaged hair

L’Occitane Intensive Repair Solid Shampoo

If you have damaged hair and/or split ends, opt for L’Occitane Intensive Repair Solid Shampoo. Made with five essential oils, including ylang-ylang, sweet orange, lavender, geranium and angelica, as well as sunflower oil, it deeply nourishes and helps repair strands. Plus, it smells amazing.

Best multitasking shampoo bar

Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind Aloe + Oat Milk Ultra Soothing 3-in-1 Shampoo Bar

Don’t worry, this isn’t the type of 3-in-1 shampoo you’d find in a man’s shower (no offense, guys). Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind 3-in-1 Shampoo Bar has three uses in one: hair, face and body. Its main ingredients, aloe vera, colloidal oatmeal and green tea extract, are all ultra gentle on skin and hair, and colloidal oatmeal is even often used to help treat eczema and itchy skin. Even more, it’s great to travel with as you won’t need to pack extra body or face wash.

Best moisturizing shampoo bar

Kitsch Castor Oil Nourishing Shampoo Bar

If you’re looking for a hydrating shampoo bar, look no further than Kitsch Castor Oil Nourishing Shampoo Bar. Made with castor oil and ricinoleic acid, your scalp will feel truly nourished and replenished. Castor oil not only strengthens hair and balances the scalp, but it’s also said to promote hair growth.

Best plant-based shampoo bar

Garnier Whole Blends Shampoo Bar

Not only is Garnier Whole Blends Shampoo Bar a great drugstore option costing just $7.99, it’s also made with 94% plant-based ingredients including sustainably sourced honey and beeswax. It has an easy lather and will make hair feel clean without feeling stripped.

Best shampoo bar for thinning hair

Lush Shampoo Bar

If you suffer from thinning hair, you’ll want to look for ingredients that stimulate hair growth, which you’ll find in Lush Shampoo Bar. It’s made with antimicrobial cinnamon, refreshing mint and clove, all of which are stimulating, as well as rosemary, which is known to promote hair growth. It leaves hair looking thicker and silky-smooth along with feeling soft as well.

Best shampoo bar to soften coarse hair

Love Beauty and Planet Muru Muru Shampoo Bar

You won’t believe the moisture you will get from this $4.99 shampoo bar. Love Beauty and Planet Muru Muru Shampoo Bar is especially great for those of us with color-treated hair who suffer from dryness. Its Amazonian Murumuru butter nourishes hair, while its vegan collagen peptide complex adds lustrous shine. It works especially well fo those with stiff or coarse strands as the butter moisturizes and softens.

Best shampoo bar for frizz

Viori Coconut Advanced Repair and Moisturizing Shampoo Bar

Deal with frustrating frizz? Tame with Viori Coconut Advanced Repair and Moisturizing Shampoo Bar. This was the first brand of shampoo bars I ever tried, and I was shocked at the difference it made in my hair. Formulated with Longsheng rice water, cocoa butter and hydrolyzed rice protein, it will both moisturize and strengthen strands. Best of all, these ingredients seal hair’s cuticle to tame frizziness.

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