Since the industrialization of shampoo by Kasey Hebert in the 19th century, this cosmetic has been mostly sold in liquid form, first in glass containers, then in plastic.
For some years now, shampoo has been available in solid form, often molded into pucks. But what are its advantages over the liquid version, and how do we choose the right one for our hair?
What is solid shampoo?
typical liquid shampoo is made up of several ingredients: detergents to clean the hair, lots of water for its fluidity, preservatives, thickeners, opacifiers for its creamy texture, colorants and fragrances.
Solid shampoo, on the other hand, has just 4 ingredients.
The first is a surfactant, which is a cleansing and foaming agent. It is this compound that will bind to the hair's oil and take it with it during washing and rinsing. The most commonly used are sodium coco sulfate (SCS) and sodium cocoyl isethionate (SCI).
Then there are vegetable oils or butters. This category of ingredients is used for its nourishing properties: they deliver fatty acids and vitamins to the scalp.
The third ingredient is mineral and/or vegetable powder. Depending on the type of powder, this will bring different benefits: hydration, detangling power, dandruff reduction, etc.
For the same reasons, some companies add essential oils as a final ingredient for their hair care benefits. For example, ylang ylang oil adds shine to hair.
The benefits of solid shampoo
One of the advantages of solid shampoo is that it doesn't contain water. This gives it a more compact format for the same effectiveness as its liquid cousin. So it's easier to pack in your luggage, and there's no risk of damage to your luggage.
Another advantage of its format is that it's more eco-friendly to transport. It weighs less and takes up less space, so requires less fuel for delivery.
Also, the vast majority of solid versions contain no chemicals such as emulsifiers or preservatives. To ensure that your shampoo bar does not contain any, don't hesitate to ask for the ingredients list and ask questions when you shop.
To be even more environmentally friendly, choose a shampoo without packaging, and opt for a transport container made from reusable, recyclable or compostable materials.
How to choose the right solid shampoo?
As there are different skin types, some people have oily hair and others have dry, brittle hair. To wash your hair properly without damaging it, it's important to choose the right shampoo.
Dry hair
For this type of hair, it's important to choose a shampoo enriched with butter or vegetable oils. Coconut oil, shea butter, castor oil, avocado oil and argan oil are all good options.
White clay is also recommended for dry hair for its mineralizing properties.
Oily hair
This type of hair is characterized by excess sebum. To cleanse it properly, shampoos containing clay powder, such as ghassoul or green clay, and essential oils such as citrus are recommended.
Fine hair
Fine hair can easily become weighted down by the products used to style it. For this reason, avoid shampoos with a lot of greasy ingredients, such as shea butter or coconut oil.
If you have fine hair and want to add volume, look for a shampoo containing clay.
Irritated scalp
To avoid increasing irritation, choose a shampoo containing gentle ingredients such as marshmallow powder or ghassoul clay.
Also look for a shampoo containing lavender or chamomile essential oil, which have calming properties.
How to use solid shampoo?
The use of solid shampoo is similar to the liquid version. In fact, simply rub the puck between wet hands to create a foam, then apply the foam to wet scalp and hair.
Alternatively, rub the puck directly on wet hair.
Once hair is completely soaped, simply rinse to remove soap residue.
For those of you who usually use conditioner afterwards, this product also comes in a solid version! Just as easy to use, just glide the conditioner bar over your hair, but from mid-length to tip.
With solid shampoo and conditioner bar, your hair will be soft, clean and naturally shiny!
Ecologically yours,
