Natural Shampoo Bars: Benefits, Best Ingredients, and How to Use Them
Natural shampoo bars have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and honestly, it’s easy to see why. These solid bars are simple, long-lasting, eco-friendly, and made with nourishing oils that can leave your hair and scalp feeling clean without relying on harsh detergents or heavy synthetic ingredients.
I started making shampoo bars because I wanted something gentler for both hair and skin, while also cutting down on plastic bottles around the house. Over time, they became one of my favorite handmade soap products because they’re practical, travel-friendly, and surprisingly versatile.
If you’ve never tried one before, here’s what you should know about natural shampoo bars, the best ingredients to look for, and how to use them successfully.
What Is a Shampoo Bar?
A shampoo bar is simply a solid bar cleanser designed for washing hair and scalp. Some are true soap-based shampoo bars made with oils and lye through the cold process method, while others are detergent-based syndet bars made with synthetic cleansing agents.
I personally prefer traditional cold process shampoo bars because they can be made with nourishing oils and customized for different hair types using natural ingredients and essential oils.
If you’re brand new to soap making, you may want to start with my How to Make Soap at Home Step-by-Step guide before making shampoo bars from scratch.
Unlike bottled shampoos, shampoo bars are compact, concentrated, and usually packaged with little or no plastic waste.
Why People Love Natural Shampoo Bars
There are a lot of reasons people switch to shampoo bars, especially if they’re trying to simplify their routines or reduce waste.
Less Plastic Waste
One shampoo bar can replace multiple plastic shampoo bottles over time. That alone makes them appealing for anyone trying to reduce household waste or live a little more sustainably.
Long Lasting
Because shampoo bars are concentrated, they often last much longer than liquid shampoo. A properly cured bar stored in a dry area between uses can last for weeks.
Great for Travel and Camping
Shampoo bars are perfect for:
- camping
- off-grid living
- travel
- carry-on luggage
- small cabins
- minimalist lifestyles
Since they aren’t liquid, you don’t have to worry about airport liquid restrictions or spills in your bag.
I always keep a few bars packed with my off-grid cabin essentials and camping supplies because they’re lightweight and don’t leak everywhere.
Multi-Purpose
Many handmade shampoo bars can also double as:
- body soap
- shaving soap
- hand soap
- laundry soap while camping
That’s one reason I always keep an extra bar around.
I like storing my shampoo bars in a small travel soap container when camping or traveling because it keeps everything dry and easy to pack.
Best Oils for Natural Shampoo Bars
The oils used in a shampoo bar make a huge difference in how the bar performs. Different oils contribute cleansing ability, hardness, conditioning, and lather.
These are some of my favorite oils for shampoo bars.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil helps create a hard bar with lots of fluffy lather. It’s one of the main oils responsible for that rich bubbly foam people expect from shampoo.
It’s also highly cleansing, which is why it’s usually balanced with more conditioning oils.
You can learn more about using coconut oil in soap here: Coconut Oil for Cold Process Soap
Organic virgin coconut oil is one of my favorite oils for shampoo bars because it creates amazing lather and a harder long-lasting bar.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is known for its gentle, conditioning qualities. It helps create a milder bar that feels nourishing on both hair and scalp.
Olive oil has been used in traditional skincare and soap making for centuries because of its moisturizing properties.
You may also enjoy reading: Best Oils for Cold Process Soap Making
I usually use pure olive oil in my soap recipes because it creates a gentler, more conditioning shampoo bar.
Castor Oil
Castor oil is one of my favorite additions to shampoo bars because it boosts lather and helps stabilize bubbles. Even a smaller amount can make a big difference in the feel of the finished bar.
Neem Oil
Neem oil is commonly used in natural hair and scalp products because of its cleansing properties. It has a very strong earthy scent, but when blended properly with essential oils, it works beautifully in shampoo bars.
Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet almond oil helps add conditioning properties and can leave hair feeling softer and smoother.
Palm Oil
Palm oil helps create hardness and contributes to a long-lasting bar. It also helps stabilize lather and improve the texture of the soap.
If you’re learning how different oils affect soap recipes, my post on soap making oils and their properties explains this in more detail.
Essential Oils for Shampoo Bars
One of the biggest advantages of handmade shampoo bars is being able to scent them naturally with essential oils instead of synthetic fragrance oils.
Certain essential oils are commonly used in hair care because they help refresh the scalp and provide a clean herbal scent.
Some popular options include:
Rosemary Essential Oil
Often used in hair care products because of its fresh herbal scent.
Lavender Essential Oil
A calming, versatile oil that blends beautifully with rosemary and tea tree.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Known for its cleansing properties and fresh medicinal scent.
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Popular in refreshing scalp blends and often used in dandruff-style shampoo bars.
Cedarwood Essential Oil
A warm woodsy scent that works well in masculine blends.
Thyme Essential Oil
Often added in small amounts to herbal scalp blends.
One of my favorite combinations is rosemary, lavender, and tea tree.
If you want to learn more about natural soap scenting, read: Essential Oils for Cold Process Soap Makers
A good digital scale is extremely important when measuring essential oils and soap ingredients accurately.
I also recommend using amber glass bottles for storing leftover essential oil blends safely.
How To Use a Shampoo Bar
Switching to a shampoo bar can take a little adjustment at first, especially if you’ve been using commercial liquid shampoos for years.
Some people notice a short transition period while their hair adjusts.
Here’s how I use shampoo bars:
- Wet your hair thoroughly.
- Wet the shampoo bar.
- Rub the bar directly onto your scalp or lather it in your hands first.
- Work the lather through your hair.
- Rinse thoroughly.
Some people like to follow with an apple cider vinegar rinse to help remove buildup and leave hair feeling softer.
If you’re still learning the basics of cold process soap, my Cold Process Soap Troubleshooting Guide may also help answer common questions.
Tips for Making Shampoo Bars Last Longer
To help your shampoo bars last longer:
- Store them on a draining soap dish
- Keep them dry between uses
- Avoid leaving them sitting in water
- Allow bars to cure properly before use
I keep my shampoo bars on a draining wooden soap dish so they dry properly between uses and last much longer.
A stainless steel soap rack works really well in showers where bars tend to stay damp.
Shampoo Bars for Off-Grid Living and Camping
One thing I really love about shampoo bars is how practical they are for off-grid living and travel.
They:
- take up very little space
- don’t leak
- work as multi-purpose soap
- are lightweight for hiking and camping
- reduce waste around the cabin
I always keep a few bars packed away for camping trips and emergency supplies.
Are Shampoo Bars Good for All Hair Types?
That depends on the recipe and your hair type.
Some bars are more cleansing, while others are more conditioning. Hair texture, water hardness, and oil combinations all affect results.
It sometimes takes trying a few different bars before finding the perfect fit.
Make Your Own Homemade Shampoo Bars
If you’d like to make your own bars, check out my full recipe here:
I use nourishing oils like:
- coconut oil
- olive oil
- castor oil
- neem oil
- grapeseed oil
to create a long-lasting shampoo bar with rich lather and a creamy feel.
A quality silicone soap mold makes it much easier to unmold shampoo bars cleanly without cracking the edges.
An immersion blender helps speed up trace and gives a smoother shampoo bar batter.
Final Thoughts
Natural shampoo bars are one of the simplest ways to reduce waste while still creating a practical, nourishing product for everyday use. They’re compact, versatile, long-lasting, and easy to customize with oils and essential oils that suit your personal preferences.
Whether you buy them from a handmade soap maker or make your own from scratch, shampoo bars are definitely worth trying if you’re looking for a more traditional approach to hair care.
Disclosure:
The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Always practice proper safety when making soap or skincare products.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
updated May 2026
© 2018 – 2026, Tes. All rights reserved.
I find this article interesting.
I never tried to use a shampoo bar yet but I usually applied virgin coconut oil on my hair before I took a bath and it feels great to see my hair regrowth since I am now at the age of 40.
The next time I drop by at the grocery store, I will look to find a coconut oil shampoo bar and try out for myself.
Thanks! Please keep up the good work.
I have heard of shampoo bars before but never really contemplated using one. Do you find them to be more difficult to use when you have longer hair? I’m wondering why some people rinse with apple cider vinegar. What is the purpose of that? I love your point that using a shampoo bar is way less impactful on the environment. I can’t begin to think of how many shampoo bottles I’ve emptied throughout my lifetime. I love the idea of not leaving that kind of imprint on the earth. I’d love to hear back from you about the apple cider vinegar. Thanks so much for a great post and I think I’m going to go investigate shampoo bars 🙂
I think it’s fine for long hair as well. I use it, although I do sometimes add a conditioner afterword. We live in a very dry environment in the winters. People that use the Apple cider Vinegar rinse use it to help the pH balance, to de-tangles, and adds softness to your hair.
I’m so glad you posted this article. I never use regular shampoo for my hair. Don’t like the heavy feeling of most commercial brands and I think it’s a waste and not particularly good for you hair or scalp.
Shampoo bar soap is also what I often use to share as you noted. And here I thought I was just weird. Our culture gets hung up sometimes on having a specific product for everything and that’s just not necessary.
Thanks again for another practical article to help keep up grounded.
Thanks Tim, always great to hear from you.
What a wonderful idea. In this day and age when we are trying to reduce plastic waste it seems logical to start looking and reinventing products in this way. Great read, love your idea on using soap/shampoo bars. I think i would like to try them myself to see if the natural oils can revive my dull hair.
Shampoo bars are a natural way of treating your hair and I’m sure after a few uses you will be sure to see a difference in your hair.
Thanks for all the great information. I like the idea of using products that don’t put a lot of chemicals and plastic into the environment and you make a good case for using a shampoo bar on that basis alone. I have what I think to be pretty healthy hair and scalp just using commercial varieties of shampoo. I am getting older. What sort of ingredients are best to consider as one gets older?
Best regards,
Joe
There are a few things you can do to help your hair when getting older. Here are a couple links to articles you may be interested in reading
Natural Hair Growth
Can Gray Hair be Reversed?
How to treat Hair Loss Naturally
I have made my own liquid shampoo over the years. I did use castile soap (Dr. Bronnars). I put organic honey, and coconut oil (the can organic one).
But, I have used several combinations of shampoos. For example I have used a combination of:
Rosemary and Peppermint.Cedarwood and Vetiver.Lavender and Orange.Lemongrass and EucalyptusGrapefruit and Lemon.
However, I do have a question about keeping the bar solid. Do you use any kind of tray or anything to keep the bar from getting wet. I would guess if it gets wet it will melt away sooner. I have made this mistake many times before.
Like any other bar soap it is recommended to store them in a cool dry place when not using and also to use a tray when using so they are not sitting in water. Handmade soap storage and care
This is the first time I have heard of shampoo bars and they sound amazing. I haven’t even seen these in the shops, although maybe they haven’t come to South Africa yet.
Anything that has natural ingredients in it can only be better for you than all these chemical laden products we purchase and use.
Shampoo bars are, as you pointed out, also a great idea if you are flying and you aren’t allowed too many liquids on the plane.
Would one still need to condition I wonder or does the coconut oil do the job?
Hi Michel, some people still like to use conditions, but I find the shampoo bar seem to conditions the hair well enough that you really don’t need to.
I like to use natural soaps, but this is the first I ever heard of shampoo bars – very nice!
I want one with coconut oi, rosemary and thyme to help me regrow some slightly receding hairline.
My mom wants to make homemade soap, but I will have to mention these shampoo bars to her, also.
I also like your beer soap idea as it seems so manly. Would beer soap made with coconut oil, rosemary and thyme make a good shampoo bar?
Hi Alexander you could use the shampoo bar recipe and replace the water with beer. This would give you a beer shampoo bar. Here is the recipe for beer soapBenefits of Beer Soap – Beer Soap Recipe
Shampoo Bars are one of the latest rage products! I was pleased to see that you listed several different possibilities for scents and detailed how the soap bar should be used. Making shampoo bars requires a bit more finesse than making a regular soap bar. Castor oil makes great shampoo, as do softer oils like avocado, canola, almond, rice bran, soybean and jojoba. It is necessary to have a high concentration of coconut and castor oil to produce magnificent mounds of thinck bubble necessary to lift the hair shafts and that the final pH of the soap be close to 6.
Some people can use a regular body soap bar on their scalps and do just fine, others require a pH balanced soap shampoo bar, while others need to follow whatever shampoo bar with a rinse of Apple Cider Vinegar as a pH adjuster or with help in detangling hair (and yes, it does leave an after smell).
I’ve been using my own handmade shampoo bars for about 5 years. My hair length ranges from earlobe length to shoulder length, but I’ve used it on my granddaughters’ flowing 2 foot long locks as well. Hair has a natural sheen to it, flakes and dandruff are history, and a small soap bar will outlast many a bottle of shampoo!, While I am able to comb through my hair with a large toothed comb, quite often I have to use a ACV rinse on the granddaughters’ hair in order to detangle it…so I just put it on the ends of hair instead of next to their scalps.
Shampoo bars are wonderful and I fully concur they are terrific on flights, vacations, used as shaving soap in a pinch, take up lots less room that a bottle of shampoo in the bathroom and are all around healthier for your hair and scalp.
Kudos to you for bringing out all the benfeits of handmade har soap! Happy soaping!
Thanks Sharon to adding your comments and experiences. It’s great to hear from a fellow soapmaker.