Gransnet forums

Style & beauty

Solid shampoo - have you tried ?

(95 Posts)
jura2 Fri 16-Aug-19 14:59:03

Hope we are all trying to do our bit against waste, and plastic waste even more so.

So have you tried solid shampoo? It could save 1000s and 1000s of plastic bottles (so could going back to bar soap too). Any comments or experiences to share, recommendations?

Thanks

Menopauselbitch Sat 17-Aug-19 10:32:39

Great, as long as your highlights are ok fuck the oceans and pollution.

maggie46 Sat 17-Aug-19 10:28:57

Didn't realise that shampoo bars are no new thing - haven't spotted any round my neck of the "backwoods" yet - but will certainly do the switch, online if necessary.
Yes, I'm one of those miserly people who makes soap scraps into new bars. I believe Her Maj does it too!

obag Sat 17-Aug-19 10:23:22

Using ETHIQUE brand face cleanser, shampoo and conditioner love them all, will be buying the bodywash.

Jaycee5 Sat 17-Aug-19 10:19:02

It is a shame that supermarkets don't carry this. I am going to start putting it on till receipt surveys so maybe they will start. The packaging to get it posted (which I am sure will be plastic) is what made me think twice but I think it's time to look again.

polnan Sat 17-Aug-19 10:17:49

thanks for this, never heard of solid shampoo

HOWEVER

I try to buy British made goods where and when I can,, but so hard to find out country of manufacture for so many items.

MissAdventure Sat 17-Aug-19 10:12:59

I think there is a sponge 'thingy' you can buy, where you can put all the pieces of soap in. (Or I'm sure it would be easy to make one?)

Then, when you make it wet, it lathers up and no waste, no messy slivers of soap.

jura2 Sat 17-Aug-19 10:12:18

Xgran, interested by this deodorant in a round tin - 'clay cure' - who makes it? Do you have a link? Thanks.

HannahLoisLuke Sat 17-Aug-19 10:12:12

I tried a solid shampoo and hated it. No matter how much I rinsed, even doing a final vinegar and water rinse I couldn't get it out. My hair was like dry clumpy straw.
Still I persevered all with the same result.
Now I get my shampoo, conditioner, washing up liquid, and cleaning spray refilled at the local independent health food shop and am happy with that. The hair products are Fountain and the cleaning stuff is Ecover.

jura2 Sat 17-Aug-19 10:07:20

mcem- same here- everytime I just walk past a Lush shop, I wonder how people can actually work in there, all day- the smells are so over powering.

Thanks for all your replies. Got a few bottles to finish, then will switch. Nothing here goes into landfill, and bottles used for cleaning products cannot be recycled but go in the super modern incinerators, providing heat for the local houses. So not so bad.

BTW - I've gone back to using powder soap for washing clothes, and in France I can buy concentrated refill pouches- so I've had the same Washing conditioner bottle for 5 years. I also buy refill pouches for bleach. Glad too that we can buy diswash brushed and toothbrushes, with replaceable heads- so can use the same handle for a very long time.

Tricia55 Sat 17-Aug-19 10:04:17

Jeanlizzie, hello, Hope you don't mind me asking do you mean the N.E. of England or the N.E. of Scotland?
If it's the later, there will be Lush shops in Dundee, Aberdeen. I'm sure there are others that don't come to mind.
Triciax

hicaz46 Sat 17-Aug-19 09:59:36

I have just bought a shampoo bar, which I haven’t used yet as I don’t want to waste shampoo I still have in a bottle, so I am interested in the replies from gnetters.

shysal Sat 17-Aug-19 09:52:42

To avoid having left over slivers of soap, I wet them and stick onto the new bar.

Years ago I used to make 'Joseph' multicoloured bars with them. My mother had a sort of cage with a handle to contain the bits. This was swished into water for washing dishes or clothes.

Tricia55 Sat 17-Aug-19 09:49:50

Why not do what they used to do many years ago, take all the tiny little bits of soap put them together in a container, a miniscule amount of water & leave it to gel together, then you have a new bar of soap which is multi-coloured.
My mother used to do this before recycling became fashionable.?
Triciax

dahlia08 Sat 17-Aug-19 09:48:51

I have always use soap for body. I just keep a shower gel for visitors(young one). They don’t use soap.i am old fashion, so is my other half. I have been using shampoo for my hair though. Long time ago I did use soap for my hair too. I should go to basic and start using it again.

sweetcakes Sat 17-Aug-19 09:47:04

Thanks Greyduster I'm going to Italy and you have just reminded me to get olive oil soap ?

Step4gran Sat 17-Aug-19 09:44:41

I use them - at the beginning your hair goes through a transition as they are stripping years worth of SLS etc from your hair. We suggest an apple cider vinegar rinse with ours to begin with (you don't smell like a chip shop) .

ChrisCross Sat 17-Aug-19 09:44:27

There are lots to choose from on line but I have started using Lush shampoo as we are lucky to have a local store and I can go along and smell them. I like the lavender one. Some are a bit too strong smelling. We also now have bars of soap in bathrooms, kitchen and for showering. No more plastic gel bottles. I have also bought bamboo cotton buds, mesh bags which I take to the supermarket to put loose fruit and vegetables in. Girls on the till say they are seeing more and more of this. ? We had a group from Extinction Rebellion outside our supermarket one Saturday recently collecting all the unnecessary plastic wrapping from shoppers as they came out. They filled 3 large trollies by the end of the day and gave it back to the shop. At last there seems to be a strong movement by individuals to do something rather than saying "my little effort won't help" but it will! Well done to everyone who is doing their bit.

Jeanlizzie Sat 17-Aug-19 09:35:47

Hi has any one got any suggestions apart from lush we haven't got a lush store ( or waitrose) near us , we are in the middle of nowhere in the North East.
Funnily I have been looking into shampoo bars myself recently but buying from lush then adding P&P makes ir eye wateringly expensive

grizzlybear27 Sat 17-Aug-19 09:34:28

I use one by "Friendly". It is much better than any liquid shampoo, and I no longer need conditioner, either.

Xrgran Fri 16-Aug-19 22:12:59

Waitrose have just started selling one that’s really good.

I use deodorant in a round tin it’s called clay cure and is fantastic no nasty chemicals and lasts for days very handy when you are travelling or can’t shower!

Parsley3 Fri 16-Aug-19 22:12:17

Calendargirl, I just keep using the soap till it disappears by taking the bits into the shower and lathering up my sponge.
I am going to have a look for Friendly soap now as I am also put off by the strong smell in Lush shops.

SueDonim Fri 16-Aug-19 22:11:03

Mcem Lush sells online!

pensionpat Fri 16-Aug-19 22:07:29

People used to put all the bits of soap together and heat it to melt, and then create a new bar, using a mould. Would be less messy in a microwave.

Maggiemaybe Fri 16-Aug-19 22:04:51

Friendly shampoo bars are very good, only around £2.60, and they last for ages. No palm oil or sulphates in them. Their soap bars are nice too, but I find they don’t last as long as I’d like.

I’ve always used bar soap. I absolutely love the almond Dr Bronner my DD2 buys, but was so disappointed to find it comes from the US, which rather defeats the object of buying ethical!

mcem Fri 16-Aug-19 22:04:10

Much as I'd like to try the Lush products, I don't think I could hold my breath long enough to complete the buying process!
Absolutely overwhelmed by the smell!