The hype behind bar products
Bar shampoos are on everyone's lips - or more precisely: in everyone's hair. They foam like their liquid counterparts, care for and cleanse skin and hair and, incidentally, produce less packaging waste. But what exactly is in a shampoo bar? How is it different from a classic bar for hair? And what other advantages do 100% natural piece products offer?
What's behind the hype?
While sustainability and minimalism are becoming a trend, piece products are also experiencing a new hype. Because in times of zero waste, reduction and Co., we consumers are becoming more critical and not only demand unique performance, but also maximum sustainability and environmental friendliness - from the product to the packaging. This makes the good old piece products a kind of "status symbol" for the desire for a minimalist, sustainable lifestyle - like back in grandma's days. But not every piece is the same as the other. The consumer can now choose between classic soaps and bar products which, depending on the formulation, correspond to a shampoo, conditioner or shower gel.
Zero Water. Zero Waste.
Shampoo bars in particular are becoming more and more popular because, thanks to their high-quality formulation, they replace the classic shampoo from the plastic bottle in terms of performance. They are considered more economical than liquid shampoos, can be packed in paper or cardboard instead of plastic and also save CO2 in transport due to their lower weight. Particularly important: they do not contain water as an ingredient, in contrast to liquid shampoos, which often contain up to 80% water. They are therefore absolutely trendy, not least because, according to the Mintel Trend Report, water reduction and zero waste will be two of the most important future trends in the cosmetics industry. Important: The shampoo bars only become really recyclable when they are also formulated on the basis of 100% natural and biodegradable ingredients.
Bar soaps vs bar shampoos.
But what is the difference between a bar shampoo and a hair soap? Put simply, a shampoo bar is a shampoo, not a soap. Accordingly, the cleaning bars contain high-quality fats and oils that care for the hair during cleaning. Compared to a commercially available soap, no saponification with a lye takes place during the manufacture of the products. The raw materials for bar shampoos are often mixed by hand and then pressed into moulds. It also fulfills the desired requirements of a shampoo: it cleans and cares for the scalp, hair and hair ends and usually foams more than a soap during use. It is similar with a bar conditioner and body bar products. In contrast, depending on the formulation, soaps used in the hair as "shampoo" can often lead to a rough or sticky hair structure and in some cases are also more difficult to brush when wet than when using a shampoo bar. It is also advisable to use an acidic rinse afterwards with a hair soap - especially with hard water - in order to remove soap residue and to ensure more shine and better combability.
Natural vs. conventional bar products.
Whether in bar form or in liquid form: In general, natural cosmetics differ from conventional cosmetics in particular in the use of purely natural ingredients - from soap to shampoo. Natural cosmetics are accordingly based on 100% natural essences and oils from nature, often also in organic quality, and do not use synthetic preservatives, silicones, paraffins or mineral oil-based ingredients. In their production, natural cosmetics labels usually also rely on the responsible use of raw materials, refrain from animal testing and pay attention to fair standards in the production and manufacture of their products. In addition to the self-evident natural cosmetics standards, we focus above all on the topic of water protection. That's why all our products are 100% natural, biodegradable and microplastic-free and call for water saving.
And for everyone who is now curious: Our new waterless piece products are now available here !