How to Use Shampoo Bars

Want to cleanse your hair without the plastic bottles? Shampoo bars are the perfect way to reduce waste within your hair care routine. Our solid shampoo bars have all the cleansing and nourishing benefits of a traditional liquid shampoo without the silicones, preservatives, artificial colours and plastic waste. Given that they’re also suitable for all hair types, you should certainly be wondering how to use solid shampoo by now.

Switching to shampoo bars can be daunting, especially if you’ve been loyal to your favourite shampoo for a long time. However, we swear it’s worth the wait, especially if you make your selection from our Hair Food range of shampoo bars, consisting of 94% plant-derived ingredients. We put together this guide to teach you everything you need to know about how to use shampoo bars. We’ll answer all your questions including how to store a shampoo bar and how to choose the right one for your hair type.

What should my hair care routine be?

Getting to know the characteristics of your hair is hair care 101. There are a number of different hair traits you need to take into account before you start deciding on your simple hair care routine, because everyone’s strands have distinct needs. Let’s look at some of the key factors you should consider.

Texture: Is your hair fine, thick or coarse? The finer your hair, the lighter your ideal product formulas.
Elasticity: Is your hair stretchy? Low elasticity can make it more difficult for your hair to hold styling, so you may need stronger styling products if you have this hair type.
Porosity: How much does your hair absorb water or products? High porosity can indicate damaged hair in need of support, while low porosity strands can be more prone to looking oily due to their lack of absorption.
Density: Do you have lots of hair or a little less? This will affect whether you need volumising products or something to tame your tresses.
Natural vs processed: Are you sporting your natural colour? Or is your hair lightened or colour treated? Lightened hair can require additional hydration, while colour treated hair can benefit from colour protective formulas.

If you're still not 100% sure what your hair needs, try using our Fructis Finder tool to help you find your perfect product match.

Simple hair care routine steps

No matter your hair type, it turns out that a basic hair care routine can be more than enough to keep your locks looking luscious. Streamline your routine with the simple steps below and cut out the excess.

Cleansing

This first step in your hair routine should centre the focus on your scalp. Thoroughly shampooing your hair helps clear your scalp of any build up including dead skin cells, excess oils and other impurities.

Evenly lather on our Fructis Macadamia Hair Food Shampoo and let the vegan, biodegradable and silicone-free formula help control frizz and revitalise unruly hair. If your hair is more on the colour processed or damaged side, instead use our Fructis Hair Food Shampoo with Papaya, designed to nourish and protect your strands against breakage.

Conditioning

After you've rinsed out all traces of your shampoo, it’s time to nurture your hair with a quality conditioner like our Fructis Macadamia Hair Food Conditioner. The 96% natural formula tames your hair while stimulating your senses with a heavenly scent.

Apply evenly on the lengths and ends of your hair but be sure to avoid your scalp so the hair is not too heavy. Wait for two minutes to allow the smoothing nutrients in the macadamia oil to fully absorb into your hair before rinsing thoroughly. The result? 24-hour anti-frizz properties. Don’t forget to responsibly dispose your shampoo and conditioner bottles when there’re done – they’re fully recyclable.

Detangling

If your hair is curly, coarse or damaged, tangling might be a big issue for you. Fear not, our Fructis Hair Food Conditioner with Papaya is designed to repair and detangle dry, damaged hair thanks to the enriching powers of papaya extract and coconut.

This 50% recycled plastic bottle contains natural ingredients for revitalised and healthier looking hair in just two minutes.

Moisturising

You could stop there if you're super short on time, but the best hair care routines do make time for a mask once or twice a week.

Try our 98% natural Fructis Hair Food Nourishing Banana Hair Treatment – which can be used three ways to repair damaged hair – as a leave in treatment, hair mask or intense conditioner. If you’re taking the mask route, it only takes one minute to repair your hair and smooth the ends with a formula free of parabens, silicones and artificial colourants.

Drying and Styling

Using a product to protect your hair during drying and styling is important for everyone, but especially for those will coloured or damaged hair. That’s why our Fructis Hair Food Protecting Goji Hair Treatment is designed to protect coloured hair from damage while reviving radiance thanks to vibrancy boosting goji extract. Use this 98% natural three way formula however you like and know your hair will be more protected.

Our best hair care routine tips

What is a good hair care routine if not supported by expert techniques? Here are our top tips for taking care of your hair at home:

Get regular trips every six weeks. This one requires a trip to the salon, but it will make sure your hair stays so much healthier and easier to manage at home.
Wash your hair with lukewarm water. Hot water can strip the natural oils from hair leaving it more vulnerable to damage.
Eat a healthy diet full of fresh fruit and veggies plus lots of water to help nourish your hair from the inside out.
Embrace your natural hair! Minimising processing, letting your hair air dry and taking days off from heat styling with help keep your strands lush and healthy for longer.

Enjoyed this hair care guide? Read our next article on The Benefits & Uses of Heat Hair Protection Spray to learn how to take care of your hair during the styling process.

What is a shampoo bar?

Shampoo bars pack all the functionality and goodness of a liquid shampoo into a nourishing, solid bar. Our shampoo bars are packaged in Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified cardboard that can be easily recycled, therefore reducing plastic waste in your hair care routine as part of our commitment to Green Beauty by 2025. Australians throw out millions of shampoo bottles each year, so this simple switch can really make a difference by reducing plastic waste in your bathroom. While our shampoo and conditioner bottles remain 100% recyclable, shampoo bars are an ideal plastic free alternative.

So, how long does a shampoo bar last? It depends on how you use it of course, but each shampoo bar tends to last as long as up to two bottles of traditional shampoo depending on your length!

What are shampoo bars made of?

Garnier’s scientists tested formula after formula to develop the perfect mix of nourishment, foam and care, giving you all the benefits of a liquid shampoo in an easy to use bar. Our Hair Food shampoo bars are 98% biodegradable as per the OECD 301¹ guidelines and are formulated with 94% plant-based ingredients to nourish your hair in a greener way. Fruit extracts and plant oils combine to nourish and hydrate your hair. Dermatologically tested, containing no silicones, artificial colourants or preservatives, our shampoo bars are easy to rinse and vegan.

What makes a good shampoo bar

Going from a liquid shampoo to a solid shampoo bar doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice nourished and healthy-looking hair. A good shampoo bar takes care of your hair by striking the balance between oils and cleansing ingredients. A well-formulated shampoo bar should also be nice and foamy, just like a liquid shampoo.

While shampoo bars can be visually reminiscent of a bar of soap, it’s important to note that this is where the similarities stop. Soaps that are harsh will dry out your hair, whereas shampoo bars nourish as they cleanse. If you’re wondering ‘Can I use a shampoo bar on my body too?’, the answer is no. Solid shampoos are designed specifically to care for your hair and should be used only for this purpose.

How to choose a shampoo bar for your hair type

Just like regular shampoos, there are different shampoo bar formulas to suit different hair types and concern.

If you have dry hair, go for our Banana Hair Food 2-in-1 Shampoo Bar with a dual cleansing and nourishing formula.
If you have hair that lacks shine, our Aloe Vera Hair Food 2-in-1 Shampoo Bar can help, while hydrating all hair types at the same time.
If your hair is on the fine side or in need of volume and bounce, our Watermelon Hair Food 2-in-1 Shampoo Bar is the ultimate formula. Simply lather it on for volumised, thicker looking hair.

How to use a Shampoo Bar for hair

To get the best results from your Shampoo Bar, follow these easy steps:

Start by wetting your hair and the solid Shampoo Bar, then rub it between your hands to make it foam.
Hold the Shampoo Bar to your hair and lather from roots to tips. Keep massaging into your hair and scalp until all hair is covered in an extra foamy lather - this shouldn't take too long!
Rinse thoroughly.
After using your Shampoo Bar, it's best to store it in a dry place such as a box or aluminium storage case for best preservation.
Follow with a conditioner or intensive hair treatment for more intense nourishment.
Always remember to recycle your package.

Do you use conditioner after a shampoo bar?

You should think about shampoo bars as a direct replacement for liquid shampoo, and should follow up with a hair mask or treatment for further conditioning if needed. Our Banana Hair Food Conditioner, Watermelon Hair Food Conditioner and Aloe Vera Hair Food Conditioner are ideal matches for your solid shampoo of choice if you are looking for additional nourishment.