The 12 Best Shampoo Bars in 2021

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Bar soaps recently had a major moment, reemerging on the beauty scene with more options available than ever before. But while they were stealing the spotlight, there was an unsung hero quietly waiting in the wings—shampoo bars. As is the case with soap, these solid sudsers are poised to give their liquid counterparts a run for their money.

Meet the Expert

April Kayganich is a licensed cosmetologist, stylist, and owner of The Curl Whisperer Salon in Austin, Texas. She’s also a hair care expert for Puracy.

“Shampoo bars are a solid form of shampoo usually made from a blend of raw or plant-based ingredients like oils," says stylist April Kayganich, owner of The Curl Whisperer Salon in Austin, Texas and hair care expert for Puracy. Typically made without sulfates and other harsh detergents that are common in liquid formulas, shampoo bars are also lauded for being gentler on the hair and many are very hydrating, too. Yes, rubbing a bar on your head can take some getting used to, but if you're down to make the switch from liquid to solid, these shampoo bars are where it’s at.

Keep scrolling for our picks of the best shampoo bars.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

J.R. Liggett's Coconut & Argan Oil Shampoo Bar at Amazon

This shampoo for damaged hair contains coconut, olive, and argan oils to keep your strands strong.

Best for Colored Hair:

Love Beauty And Planet Shampoo Bar at Target

This ultra-gentle shampoo bar won't strip your color and will keep it shiny and vibrant.

Best for Curly Hair:

SheaMoisture Coconut & Clay Shampoo Bar at Leebeauty.com

Give your curly hair some love with this mineral-rich bar.

Best for Dandruff:

Ethique Heali Kiwi at Amazon

This bar is 100% soap-free and uses neem and karanja oils to treat scalp issues.

Best for Dry Hair:

Bar None Hydrating Shampoo Bar at Bar-none.co

Dry hair doesn't stand a chance against the cocoa butter and other hydrators in this formula.

Best for Fine Hair:

Lush Seanik Shampoo Bar at Lushusa.com

Try this shampoo bar to add volume to your fine strands.

Best for Oily Scalps:

Basin Charcoal Shampoo Bar at Basin.com

Formulated with charcoal, this bar helps to subdue oily scalps.

Best for Travel:

Apple Valley Bar Sampler Pack at Applevalleynaturalsoap.com

This sampler pack is great for testing different formulas and is small enough to take on the go.

Best Multi-Tasker:

Meow Meow Tweet Rosemary Avocado Shampoo Bar at Meowmeowtweet.com

A multi-tasker, this shampoo bar is formulated to cleanse both your hair and body.

Best Natural:

Friendly Soap Natural Handmade Shampoo Bar at Amazon

This formula is free of parabens, palm oil, plastic, and sulfates.

In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What To Look For
Why Trust Byrdie

4.8

View On Amazon View On IHerb View On Walmart

I Tried Byrdie’s Favorite Shampoo Bar and My Hair Never Looked Better

Not only does this contain moisturizing coconut and olive oils, but it also contains strengthening argan oil to help keep your strands long and strong. Made with Vitamin E and sunflower oil, this shampoo bar protects against pollution and UV damage. And how cute is the vintage packaging?

What Our Testers Say

"My dandruff issue subsided almost completely—much quicker and more effectively than dandruff shampoo—and the patches of red, flaky skin I was noticing along my hairline and sideburns vanished completely. My black turtlenecks and I are forever grateful to J.R. Liggett." —Jenna Igneri, Product Tester

Love Beauty and Planet Murumuru Butter and Rose Shampoo Bar

3.7

View On Target View On Walmart

Sulfate-free and ultra-gentle, this newbie is specially made to keep your hue shiny and vibrant and won’t strip color. Using ethically- and naturally-sourced ingredients, it’s also housed in a carton made from 100% recyclable materials. But we’d be remiss to not mention the scent, one of our favorites of all time—it’s the perfect balance of floral and sweet, and will have everyone asking what perfume you’re wearing.

View On Leebeauty.com

Some shampoo bars tend to leave hair tangled, particularly thick and curly hair. Not the case with this one, specially made to leave your spirals soft and full of body and bounce. The mineral-rich bar also has a unique curved edge that makes it super easy to work into your scalp.

Ethique Eco-Friendly Solid Shampoo Bar for Dandruff & Itchy Scalps

View On Amazon View On Walmart

This brand offers some of the top-rated shampoo bars, including this one. Formulated with neem and Karanja oils, it’s 100% soap-free and can help with scalp issues; users repeatedly comment on how well it works to fight flakes. Soothing oats combat itchiness, too, and the zero-waste brand places a special emphasis on minimizing their environmental impact, always a good thing.

View On Bar-none.co

Key Ingredients

Cocoa butter comes from the cacao bean, which is found inside the cocoa pod, which grows on the cacao tree. Because it's rich with fatty acids and antioxidants, it makes for a great moisturizer.

A trio of heavy-hitting hydrators—coconut, shea, and cocoa butter—make this extra creamy bar choice for parched hair. Plus, there’s also an accompanying solid conditioner, too, a product that’s not so easy to find. Happy reviewers rave about both and comment on the pleasant scent, too.

View On Lushusa.com

Key Ingredients

Seaweed is a very powerful concentration of seawater and is able to uptake minerals by absorption and active transport from seawater. Because of these processes, some seaweeds have a dense concentration of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, proteins, and lipids.

Lush offers an impressive array of 11 different shampoo bars, but if extra volume is your goal, make this your go-to. Using, you guessed it, a host of sea-based ingredients, sea salt adds body and boosts limp locks, while two different types of seaweed keep your hair soft.

"I was a firm disbeliever in shampoo bars until I tried this product. Not only does it smell amazing, but it actually works. My hair gets quite oily, and this formula cuts right through the grime without making my scalp feel stripped or starved for moisture. That, and my hair is always at its bounciest and most voluminous after washing with Seanik." —Holly Rhue, Editor

View On Basin.com

Hair Type: Oily | Sulfate-Free: No | Scent: Musk | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Charcoal is a commonly used skincare ingredient, thanks to its ability to remove excess oil. Breaking news: It can do the same for your scalp and hair. This bar, which lasts 50 to 75 washes, uses bamboo charcoal to eliminate oil and excess product residue, leaving your scalp and hair feeling cleaner than ever.

Apple Valley Natural Soap Shampoo Bar Sampler Pack

View On Applevalleynaturalsoap.com

Hair Type: All | Scent: Variety | Size: 15 0.3-0.5 oz bars | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Any shampoo bar is great for travel by definition since you don’t have to worry about spills or it getting snatched up by the TSA. But since most of them last for a long time, if you don’t want to have to deal with bringing the bar back home after your trip, grab this sampler pack. It features small slices (about 1/3 ounce, each good for three washes) of the brand’s 15 different shampoo bars. Take a different one with you each time you travel and figure out which one you like best.

Meow Meow Tweet Rosemary Avocado Shampoo Bar

View On Meowmeowtweet.com

Looking to streamline your shower situation? This solid sudser does it all, working to effectively cleanse both your hair and body, with certified organic and fair-trade plant-based ingredients. Not to mention that it’s safe to use for kids and even pets, too.

Friendly Soap Natural Shampoo Bar Lavender & Geranium

View On Amazon View On Co.uk

Most shampoo bars tend to have fewer chemicals and questionable ingredients, but the ingredient list of this one takes the cake. It contains castor, coconut, and olive oils, tea tree and lavender essential oils, and water, and is free of parabens, palm oil, plastic, and sulfates. Users love it, though they do point out that it’s better suited for oily rather than dry hair.

Chagrin Valley Shampoo Bar Rosemary Lavender

View On Chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com

Made with certified organic ingredients (an impressive feat, at this price point), this one uses hydrating jojoba oil and mango butter, along with invigorating rosemary and tea tree oil that leaves your scalp feeling pleasantly tingly.

Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo Bar with Aloe Vera

View On Nordstrom View On Bloomingdales View On Mrporter.com

Have fine, straight hair? Thick, curly hair? This bar works for every hair type and texture, using 100% plant-based ingredients such as aloe vera, castor oil, and coconut oil to gently cleanse strands. It’s also fragrance-free, perfect if you have a sensitive or easily irritated scalp.

Final Verdict

Shampoo bars are a travel-friendly, eco-conscious substitute for your traditional bottle of liquid shampoo—and there are plenty of options to choose from. The JR Liggett’s Jr Virgin Coconut & Argan Oil Shampoo Bar (view at Walmart) is our top choice. It's super hydrating and also packed with antioxidants that can help safeguard your strands from sun and pollution. The Love Beauty And Planet Murumuru Butter and Rose Shampoo Bar (view at Walmart) is a very gentle option, particularly for those with colored hair, while the Lush Seanik Shampoo Bar (view at Lush) earns our vote for those with fine hair. And if you want one bar that can do it all, pick up the multi-tasking Rosemary Avocado Shampoo Bar (view at Meow Meow Tweet), which can be used all over your body, too.

J.R. Liggetts Virgin Coconut Argan Oil Shampoo Bar — Byrdie / Jenna Igneri

What to Look For in a Shampoo Bar

Sulfate-Free

Most options are sulfate-free, here—but still, keep in mind that, even if sulfates are listed, not all sulfates are created equal. Many shampoo bars rely on plant-derived sulfates, which aren’t as harsh or drying, says Kayganich, who adds that it’s worth doing a little investigating if you do see sulfates listed on the label.

Fragrance-Free

Kayganich suggests avoiding formulas that contain added synthetic fragrance since that’s just a blanket term that can mask a whole litany of ingredients. Essentially, if you see that term on the list, it's much harder to know what you’re actually getting.

Activated Charcoal

According to Sofie Pok, barber and co-creator of STMNT Grooming Goods, the popular skincare ingredient is great for hair too, and especially good to seek out in a shampoo bar. It can help remove impurities while also increasing volume, she says.

FAQ

How do you use a shampoo bar?

Option one: Rub the bar in between your wet hands to work up a lather, then work that through your hair. Option two: Rub the bar directly on your hair (cutting it into smaller pieces will make this easier), but always work downward, instead of piling your hair on top of your head, which can create tangles.
How do you store a shampoo bar?

You can store it as you would any other bar soap, so in the shower is fine. But to help increase the longevity, try putting it on a soap dish that has some ventilation on the bottom, so that air can circulate around it and it doesn’t get gunky underneath.
How long do shampoo bars last?

According to Kayganich, one bar can replace up to three plastic bottles of shampoo—so quite a while. Some brands even claim that their bars last for 80 to 100 washes.

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough shampoo bars from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She’s a daily shampooer, and after writing this article realized how beneficial shampoo bars can be. (But definitely underscores the fact that it’s important to use lots of conditioner after.)

The 13 Dry Shampoos That Make Oily Scalp Woes a Thing of the Past

12 Shampoo Bars Giving Liquid Picks a Run For Their Money

Best Overall: J.R. Liggett's Virgin Coconut & Argan Oil Shampoo Bar

Best for Colored Hair: Love Beauty And Planet Shampoo Bar

Best for Curly Hair: SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Rhassoul Clay Shampoo Bar

Best for Dandruff: Ethique Heali Kiwi Shampoo for Dandruff or Scalp Problems

Best for Dry Hair: Bar None Hydrating Shampoo Bar

Best for Fine Hair: Lush Seanik Shampoo Bar

Best for Oily Scalps: Basin Charcoal Shampoo Bar

Best for Travel: Apple Valley Natural Soap Shampoo Bar Sampler Pack

Best Multi-Tasker: Meow Meow Tweet Rosemary Avocado Shampoo Bar

Best Natural: Friendly Soap Natural Handmade Shampoo Bar

Best Organic: Chagrin Valley Shampoo Bar, Rosemary Lavender

Best for Sensitive Scalps: Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo Bar with Aloe Vera

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