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We all need a good wash now and then — but it doesn’t always have to be from shampoo in a bottle. More and more, brands are releasing plastic-free alternatives that are as eco-friendly as they are effective at giving us shiny and smooth hair.
We’ve found these shampoo bars that tackle problems from waxy residue to dry scalp, and best of all, they’re all perfect at home or for travel. They’ll make your beauty routine easier (and more sustainable) than ever!
For more nontoxic hair products, check out our guide to natural hair care here.
1. Package Free Shop
Best For | Specific hair care needs (detoxing, hydrating, etc.
Price | $19 for 3.5 oz
Package Free Shop works with brands like Unwrapped Life who prioritize low-waste practices. These round shampoo bars make it easy to make the switch, because they offer five options based on your needs. Itchy scalp? Color-treated? Thinning hair? You can find the natural alternatives you need here, as well as coordinated condition bars. (Set up a recurring subscription to receive 10 percent off every time!)
2. Sunniemade
Best For | Moisturizing, smoothing & strengthening hair
Price | $19 for 2.1 oz
Sunniemade‘s shampoo bars deliver rich hydration and shine with powerhouse ingredients like mango butter, rosehip oil, and chia seed oil — all while cutting out plastic waste. Each bar offers a unique benefit: Mango butter adds deep moisture and a tropical scent, rosehip oil strengthens and rejuvenates, and chia seed oil tames frizz and smoothes flyaways. They’re color-safe, free of SLS, parabens, and animal products, and each bar can replace up to three bottles of liquid shampoo. With recyclable, compostable packaging, these cleansing bars are as kind to the planet as they are to your hair!
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3. byHumankind
Best For | Subscription shampoo
Price | $15 for 4 oz
Want a shampoo bar to share? byHumankind crafts gender-neutral shampoo bars in scents like peppermint and lemongrass. Made ethically using organic and all-natural oils, each bar is cured for five weeks for the most effective wash. Your roots will thank you, once you’ve made the switch to this sulfate- and plastic-free alternative. Plus, they also offer subscriptions so you’ll never run out!
4. Meow Meow Tweet
Best For | Hair and body
Price | $14 for 4.5 oz
Hello, multipurpose shampoo bars! Meow Meow Tweet’s Rosemary Avocado bar isn’t just for washing hair, you can also lather it up on your body, too. This Leaping Bunny certified bar comes in an eco-friendly box, making it easier to repurpose or recycle than regular plastic. Plus, we’re pretty sure you won’t want to leave the shower anyway, with its herbal scent and aromatic rosemary and floral goodness.
5. HiBAR
Best For | Variety of haircare needs
Price | Starting at $14 for 3.2 oz
Meet HiBAR’s extensive solid shampoo bar collection! Each soap-free, surfactant-based bar is packed with ingredients like nourishing Vitamin B5, hydrating kukui nut oil, and softening cocoa butter, while leaving out sulfates, parabens, and silicones. Available in fragrance-free, volumizing, soothing, maintenance, repair, and curly hair options, these bars are pH-balanced, color-safe, and provide haircare that suits your exact needs. With a unique ergonomic design and a commitment to sustainability, every bar lasts as long as two bottles of liquid shampoo, helping eliminate plastic waste one wash at a time.
6. Bask & Bloom
Best For | Natural curly hair
Price | $18 for 4 oz
Bask & Bloom’s Shampoo Bar has been named a best-of winner by Cosmpolitan and Byrdie, and for good reason. Perfect for natural curly hair and locs (as well as for your face!), this spa-like bar mixes together mineral-rich clay, powder, honey, and nourishing oils for a deep clean. Each formula is cured for four to six weeks for maximum effectiveness! Bask & Bloom offers recurring subscriptions for 10 percent off.
7. Chagrin Valley
Best For | Stimulating hair growth
Price | $11 for 5.6 oz; smaller samples available
Chagrin Valley is taking notes from women in India who’ve long used coconut oil for their hair. This organic bar provides moisture, deep conditioning, and plenty of nourishment for dry, suffering scalps. Best of all, it’s a natural way to detangle hair, too. (Can you imagine its milky coconut and almond scent!?) Longer, healthier hair — here we come.
8. Nopalera
Best For | Naturally exfoliating & anti-inflammatory shampoo
Price | $37 for 3.65 oz
Nopalera shampoo bars harness the ancient power of Mexico’s resilient Nopal cactus, carefully using all parts of the plant to infuse each bar with rich moisture and antioxidants. Their Moisturize + Shine shampoo bar, ideal for textured or dry hair, combines prickly pear oil, blue agave extract, and aloe vera to deeply hydrate, strengthen, and add shine to your hair. For oily hair, their Balance + Repair shampoo bar soothes the scalp and reinforces hair bonds, leaving your strands clean, soft, and strong. Each bar is color-safe, pH balanced, free from sulfates, parabens, and silicones, and comes with an optional custom holder and travel case for a sustainable and travel-ready experience.
9. Ethique
Best For | Removing build up & clarifying
Price | $16 for 3.88 oz; smaller samples available
Ethique’s shampoo bars offer a powerful, eco-friendly alternative to liquid shampoos, with each bar lasting up to 80 washes — equivalent to three bottles! Their bestselling Heali Kiwi bar made with soothing oatmeal and Ayurvedic oils, targets dry scalps and balances oil production, while their St Clements bar clarifies and removes buildup for fresh and bouncy hair. If you’re in the need of frizz control, their Frizz Wrangler bar is enriched with organic cocoa butter and coconut oil to smooth and nourish your hair without leaving residue. And as a unique all-in-one solution, try their Tip-to-Toe bar, which serves as both a shampoo and shave bar! Check out Ethique’s hair quiz to help you find the perfect shampoo bar for you.
