Are shampoo bars damaging (in your EXPERIENCE)?

[Velouria]

Shampoo bars are definitely the best washing method for my scalp. Whenever I use bottled shampoo (SLS or not) I get scalp sores and shed alarming handfuls. Herbal washes are a great method for lighter washes, and I have little shedding with them,but they don't get my scalp completely clean if it's very oily. They're also kind of a hassle.

Which leaves me with shampoo bars, if I need a thorough cleansing and I don't want to aggravate my scalp......but using them scares me, because of the things I've heard about their alkalinity inevitably causing damage. I don't really think I've noticed any more damage since I've been using them, but I've always had fragile, easily broken hair (it's genetic), and I've been scrutinizing it for signs of damage more often since I began using bars (because of my aforementioned fear), which of course I find. But I really can't view my hair objectively, especially when I get obsessive about a point like this. So I honestly don't know if my hair looks more damaged or not!

So, I'm posing this question to people that have used shampoo bars, either long-term, or for a fair amount of time...were/are they damaging to your hair?

I already know that many people believe them to be damaging, and for what reason (pH)...I'm asking for first-hand experiences only..

[PseudoScot]

I have used poo bars probably close to 2 years now. I have not heard of the alkalinity issue you mention but maybe I've been under a rock. :shrug: People will always say X is damaging, I'd go by your own experience. Actually I have used poo bars way longer, but they had sulfates. No damage noted.

I use sulfate free shampoo bars almost exclusively now and as I have stated, for awhile. I do throw in a sulfate [liquid] shampoo wash every so often, maybe one a month. I also use sulfate free condish [that said, one has a small amt of sulfate in near the bottom of the ingredient list].

I have not noticed any additional damage at all. None. If you have fragile hair you might want to lather the bars in your hands instead of directly on your head if you're concerned. You are probably not doing this but don't scrub your hair in the towel, or rip a comb thru it when wet, either. I use a shower comb for a variety of reasons but always use it on hair loaded with conditioner to help with any tangles.

But despite what you say about people saying they are damaging I am not one of them and they have been my primary source of cleanliness for quite some time!

ETA: I only use it on my scalp. Naturally it runs down but I usually have condish on the length.

[Rain76]

I used shampoo bars for a few months (CV), and had to stop. I also have extremely fragile hair, and I noticed that I shed more, and it seemed to break my hairs off more. I do agree with PseudoScot, though about lathering it in your hands 1st. I may actually try that, b/c I do have quite a few shampoo bars leftover. However, I didn't do well with the ACV rinse afterwards. Can anyone tell me...Is that really a necessity? I can't stand the smell.

[Canarygirl]

I have fine, porous, fragile hair but enjoy certain aspects of shampoo bars. So I mitigate the high ph of the bars by alternating them with "CO" washing, and/or by using conditioner from the ears down and washing my scalp with the poo bar. Rinsing will of couse cause the suds to run down the hair but it is diluted at that point and mixes with the conditioner so I'm thinking that the ph issue is not such a big deal this way.

[OhMyCurlz]

I've never had that issue, but my sister has. What works for her is to do baking soda rinses on her hair or JUST clean her scalp with the soap, and only put conditioner on her hair. I personally don't do this because to me washing the hair with conditioner is like washing your body with lotion BUT it seems to work really well for her.


Shampoo bars are definitely the best washing method for my scalp. Whenever I use bottled shampoo (SLS or not) I get scalp sores and shed alarming handfuls. Herbal washes are a great method for lighter washes, and I have little shedding with them,but they don't get my scalp completely clean if it's very oily. They're also kind of a hassle.

Which leaves me with shampoo bars, if I need a thorough cleansing and I don't want to aggravate my scalp......but using them scares me, because of the things I've heard about their alkalinity inevitably causing damage. I don't really think I've noticed any more damage since I've been using them, but I've always had fragile, easily broken hair (it's genetic), and I've been scrutinizing it for signs of damage more often since I began using bars (because of my aforementioned fear), which of course I find. But I really can't view my hair objectively, especially when I get obsessive about a point like this. So I honestly don't know if my hair looks more damaged or not!

So, I'm posing this question to people that have used shampoo bars, either long-term, or for a fair amount of time...were/are they damaging to your hair?

I already know that many people believe them to be damaging, and for what reason (pH)...I'm asking for first-hand experiences only..

[Aries_jb]

I don't think they're damaging for me. I only lather the bar in my hands and typically follow with an ACV rinse to close the hair cuticle. I also only wash my scalp and am careful with how I wash my scalp (no scrubbing in circles).

[intothemist1999]

Which leaves me with shampoo bars.


Have you considered CO (conditioner only)? I learned about that here and it's my primary cleansing method.

I have oily hair/scalp.

[masterofmidgets]

I've been using shampoo bars for about 9 months, and I haven't noticed any extra damage - actually, my hair feels a lot healthier than it did when I was using SLS. Mostly I try to be gentle when I wash, use a vinegar rinse afterward to close the cuticle and restore the pH balance, and mix it up every couple of shampoos with a CO-wash or a sulphate free liquid shampoo.

If you are really concerned, you can always get a sample bar and just try it out for a few washes - not a big money investment if it doesn't work out.

[Aer]

I've never had a problem with them, except the Burt's Bee shampoo bar. It caused me to have very dry hair, and breakage, but any other one has been pretty good.

[Elbereth]

My hair is babyfine, and shampoo bars are the gentlest and best washing method I have ever tried. I have used them for several years; first Chagrin Valley's bars, and for this year, homemade shampoo bars made according to my own recipe. When washing, I run the shampoo bars directly over my scalp.
If you are worried about alkalinity, you could use ACV rinse after washing (1 tbsp of ACV to a glass of warm water). I use the rinse almost always, however DH who uses same bars with me, is totally fine without them.

My skin is sensitive and dries very easily. Handmade shampoo/soap is about the only thing that has never caused me problems. Commercial shampoos have so much bad stuff (IMO) in them: sulphates, parabens, mineral oils, silicones, and to be honest, I am not at all convinced that their alkalinity level is any less than that of handmade shampoo bars. Most commercial cleaning agents do, after all, have high pH.

[melikai]

However, I didn't do well with the ACV rinse afterwards. Can anyone tell me...Is that really a necessity? I can't stand the smell.

I think some people go without, and results vary and seem to have to do with how hard or soft your water is. If you find an acid rinse beneficial besides the smell, you can try alternatives like citric acid rinses. I like lemon juice.

[Cinnamon Hair]

In my (limited) experience, they are not damaging but my hair does not get along well with ACV. It's not even a issue of the smell --I like it. It just majorly dries my hair out. I CO and have for over 5 years, just experimented with shampoo bars awhile back to see what's out there.

I'm wondering, if you don't use ACV can the shampoo bars cause soap scum / buildup issues?

[Madame J]

In my experience, the alkalinity of the bars makes my hair feel very fragile and tacky right after I've washed, but that goes away with an acidic rinse. So I'm just very very gentle with my hair until I can dump vinegar on it, and I've never noticed any signs of damage. I am also, however, considering alternating shampoo bars with CO once in a while because I did a CO wash last week and it left my hair very silky and clean-feeling.

I think the alkalinity is only a problem if you don't do anything to balance it, like conditioner or a vinegar rinse.

[Rain76]

I think some people go without, and results vary and seem to have to do with how hard or soft your water is. If you find an acid rinse beneficial besides the smell, you can try alternatives like citric acid rinses. I like lemon juice.

Thank you!

[Fethenwen]

The only shampoo bars I've used was Lush shampoo bars. They left my hair very clean, but also a bit dry and crunchy. They had both sulfates and parabens.
I guess shampoo bars can be more drying than liquid. Mostly usual liquid shampoos have more moisturizing ingredients in them... ok. I'm not really sure about that one.

But I'm considering to buy another bar (as soon as my SLS free shampoo runs out) which is more natural than the Lush ones and has no SLS nor parabens. I found some in a health food store that seems really nice.

[Velouria]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! So far, it seems that most haven't found them damaging, which is wonderful to hear.

Master of Midgets: I already have and use some samples; I wasn't worried about expense, only the health of my hair, which I feared for based on some anti-hair-soap stuff I had read.

Psuedo-Scot: I do only lather in my hands, and I rub the lather on my scalp only, letting the length be cleansed by the rinse-through, which seems sufficient. I'm glad to hear of some others doing this. On the shampoo bar thread, so many people advocate rubbing the bar on the head, lathering all the hair, lathering 3 times, etc. I've never been willing to even attempt those things.

intothemist: I actually gave up CO because I thought it increased my shedding, but now that I think of it, my shedding with it wasn't nearly as bad as it became with detergent shampoos. I may revisit it using different conditioners, but it never worked for me as my sole method...I always needed a stronger cleanser now and then. I do often water rinse my hair and scalp and condition the length between washes, and have for many years.

Aries jb: I have been lathering my scalp pretty hard, and in circles. I'll have to stop that.

Elbereth: I do always use an acidic rinse with them. I used to use ACV, but switched to a mixture of ascorbic acid and citric acid crystals that I stir into water. I like it better than ACV results-wise, not to mention scent. But I was worried about the purported damage that could occur in the minutes before applying the rinse. I'm very obsessive.;)

Rain 76, Cinnamon Hair: I believe that an acid rinse is necessary, even in soft water and leaving buildup issues aside, for pH reasons. The higher pH of soap lifts the hair cuticle a bit, and leaving it like that would, I think, be a problem in terms of damage, for those of us that want to grow or keep long hair. You should try citric and/or ascorbic acid. It doesn't smell like anything, and some people find it less drying than ACV.

[Asta]

Regarding acidic rinses, buildup, etc., I think it depends on the shampoo bar. I've been using a Sweet Creek Herbs bar and I've not noticed a need to follow up with either an acv or tea rinse. I am however pretty religious about the cold water rinsing; for me and my baby-fine hair, this is working really well.

[maria_asa]

I've been using CV bars for several years now and I haven't noticed any damage from it. I have to follow up with an acidic rinse though (I use rosemary infuced acv) or my hair gets very dry, stiff and strange feeling.

[Heidi_234]

Velouria, I've read alot of negative stuff about use of soap bars on curly hair over NC. It seems like an unanimous agreement over there, they explain it by saying that the alkainity opens the cuticle and soap bits just get stuck in there, resulting porous hair and possible damage. I used Shampoo bars for a short while, they were okay for me, nothing special, now I save them to wash my henna out and CO as a regular washing

[LaurelSpring]

I like them but I do get buildup so I put them in the rotation but cant use them exclusively. I was doing well with the ACV rinse until I figured out that ACV or lemon juice or citric acid gave me a huge case of the itchies so then I started with catnip rinses and that worked good for awhile. I got lazy with that but need to revisit it.

[Velouria]

Resurrecting this to update that I've come to the conclusion that they definitely damage my hair.

The 3 time periods I've tried using shampoo bars, I've always noticed an increase in splits and breakage. You'd think I would have given up after the first trial (w/CV), but no, I had to try several different brands of bars first. The last brand I tried (Sweet Creek Herbs) was the best in terms of immediate results. But now I'm again noticing more splits and fragility. No more! All my samples are going in hand-soap dishes.

[Gingevere]

So far, I haven't noticed increased damage from using shampoo bars. I think the ACV is a tad drying, though. I may try to dilute it more and I also want to incorporate catnip, since that's helped with my split ends in the past.

[wendyg]

I don't exactly use shampoo bars - I use the synthetic bars intended for very crotchety skin - Aveeno, my dwindling stock of Lowila, and so on. Perhaps it might be worth your trying these as a compromise? They certainly get your scalp clean, my hair (fine, fragile) is very happy with them because they're pretty gentle, and they're deliberately not alkaline (because that's hard on skin). They're also sure convenient for traveling...

wg

[elianne]

I love shampoo bars, and haven't noticed any damage whatsoever. I also follow up with ACV and (sometimes) Nature's Gate conditioner on my ends. The bar that I've been using is Wiseways, which is a local product for me (from Massachusetts). Also, my SO loves shampoo bars -- he has short hair, and likes the texture that it gives his hair.

That being said, I always use the bar very sparingly. My hair type is also very very different than yours, Velouria -- I have super straight hair that gets super slick/oily at the crown by day 2/3 post washing. At least even though they didn't work out for you, you can still use the shampoo bars as hand soaps!

[Fractalsofhair]

I use one from Black Toad Herbals in MA, and I've been using it for a month or so without problems. It's moisturizing. I've used a liquid shampoo (soap based, Alaffia), for several months/almost a year, and my hair was fine with it. It did slightly darken my hair though. It was very moisturizing, unlike SLS. I do find when I CO wash, I need to SLS wash once a week or so, as shampoo bars aren't enough to get rid of gunk from CO washing on my scalp.(My hair loves CO washing.)

[Merewen]

For me shampoo bars apparently equal splits up the wazoo. This makes me a little sad because I really liked my shampoo bars.

[Velouria]

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[florenonite]

I've been using 'poo bars on and off since April, and for the past several months haven't been doing an acid rinse (my hair doesn't like ACV and I'm too lazy to bother with lemon juice, which needs refrigerated). If anything, there's less damage with the bars than with conventionall shampoo. So, no, I don't think the alkalinity is damaging.