How to use a shampoo bar: what you're probably doing wrong

You've just got your first shampoo bar. Or you've been using one for a few weeks, but your hair doesn't feel quite the way you expected. Either way, you're in the right place. Using a shampoo bar is a little different from pouring a bottle over your head, and small tweaks to your technique make a big difference to the result.

Why does a shampoo bar feel different from liquid shampoo?

A shampoo bar is concentrated. That's a big advantage: less packaging, less water, more active ingredients per gram. But it also means your hair and the bar need to be properly wet before you start. Skip that step and you'll get little lather, poor distribution and a result that just isn't right.

Most people who give up on a shampoo bar don't do so because the bar doesn't work. They do it because they use a technique that works with a bottle, but not with a bar. That's a difference that's easy to fix.

Step by step: how to use a shampoo bar correctly

Did you know?

A shampoo bar is a concentrated, solid cleansing product for hair and scalp. Because no water has been added as a filler, every gram contains more active ingredients than an average liquid shampoo. That makes it more economical to use and better for the environment.

The WONDR Shampoo Bars are formulated without unnecessary additives: purely no nasties, vegan and B Corp certified through our parent company Planet B.

Here's how to get the best result from every wash:

1. Get it wet, properly wet. Put your hair under warm water for at least a minute. Wetter than you think you need. Hold the bar under the stream for a moment too, so the surface softens.
2. Apply the bar to your roots. Rub the bar 2 to 3 times directly over your wet hair, from root to tip. For shoulder-length hair or shorter, that's more than enough.
3. Massage in the lather. Put the bar down and gently massage the lather into your scalp. Work from the roots to the tips. Want more lather? Run the bar through your hair once more, or rub it between your hands and add that.
4. Rinse thoroughly. Rinse with lukewarm water, for longer than you're used to. Not sure whether you've rinsed for long enough? Rinse once more. This is the most underrated step.

That last step is crucial. Not rinsing enough is the most common reason hair feels heavy or sticky after using a bar. Rinse until the water runs clear and your hair no longer feels slippery.

The 4 mistakes most people make

1. Using too little water

A shampoo bar needs water to activate. Starting off not wet enough gives little lather, poor distribution and a feeling that the bar isn't working. Make sure your hair and the bar are properly soaked before you begin.

2. Not rinsing enough

A bar doesn't leave visible residue the way a gel or cream would. That makes it easy to underestimate how long you need to rinse. Rinse for at least 30 seconds longer than you're used to.

3. Applying it straight to the ends

You apply a shampoo bar to your scalp and roots, not to the ends. The ends get cleansed while you rinse. Rubbing the bar straight onto them dries them out and leaves a gummy result.

4. Giving up before the transition period is over

Your hair needs a few weeks to adjust. Many people stop after two or three washes because their hair feels heavier or greasier. That's normal and temporary. Give it at least three weeks before you draw any conclusions.

What happens to your hair during the transition period

If you've washed your hair with harsh cleansing products for years, your scalp has learned to produce more oil than necessary. That's because intensive cleansers work so thoroughly that your scalp tries to restore the balance by producing extra oil. Switching to a mild bar breaks that pattern, but it takes a little time.

In the first two to three weeks, your hair may feel heavier, greasier or waxier. That's not a sign that the bar isn't working: it's your scalp resetting its oil production. What helps during this period:

• Wash as often as you're used to. Washing less to speed up the transition backfires.
• Always rinse extra thoroughly. Especially in the first few weeks.
• Add a conditioner bar if your hair feels dry or frizzy.

After three to four weeks, most people notice their hair becomes calmer, softer and gets greasy less quickly than before. That's the turning point.

Combining a shampoo bar with a conditioner bar

A shampoo bar cleanses. A conditioner bar cares. For most hair types, the combination gives the best result.

For normal hair, a shampoo bar alone is often enough. For dry, damaged, curly or coloured hair, a conditioner bar adds a noticeable difference in hydration, shine and detangling. Here's how to apply it:

1. Activate it with warmth. Hold the conditioner bar under warm water for a few seconds. It needs more warmth than a shampoo bar to activate.
2. Apply to the ends and lengths. Not on your scalp: that makes your hair greasy quickly.
3. Leave to absorb for 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Rinse well.

The first time, a conditioner bar lathers less. That's normal. After two or three uses, it gives a richer result.

Discover the WONDR shampoo bars →

Discover the WONDR conditioner bars →

How do you store a shampoo bar correctly?

A shampoo bar has one enemy: standing water. A bar that sits wet all the time dissolves faster and lasts less long. The golden rule: let your bar dry between washes.

Don't put it in a shallow soap dish where water collects underneath, but on a soap holder or storage tin with ventilation. Extra tips:

• Don't put the bar directly in the water stream of the shower head.
• If several people use it: each use your own bar, or wait until the bar is dry before the next person uses it.
• Travelling? Our storage and travel case is waterproof and has a built-in drip tray. That means you can simply take the bar in your hand luggage too.

A well-stored bar in the original size lasts 40 to 60 washes. The XL size lasts twice as long, but doesn't cost twice as much!

Tips by hair type

Not every type of hair reacts to a shampoo bar in the same way. A few specific points to watch for by hair type:

• Oily hair. Only use the bar on your scalp and roots. Rinse extra thoroughly. The transition period is often a bit longer with oily hair because the oil production is more out of balance.
• Dry or damaged hair. Always add a conditioner bar to your routine. Rinse out the shampoo with lukewarm rather than hot water: it holds on to moisture better.
• Curly hair. Wash in sections and massage gently without rubbing to avoid frizz. Always use a conditioner bar afterwards.
• Coloured hair. Always rinse with cool water to protect your colour. A mild bar without harsh cleansers protects your colour for longer than a conventional shampoo.

Not sure yet which bar suits your hair best? Take the hair quiz and get personal advice →

Using a shampoo bar with hard water

Hard water is water with a high limescale and mineral content. In a large part of Belgium and the Netherlands you have to deal with hard to very hard water. That can affect how a shampoo bar works: the bar lathers less well and can leave a waxy film on your hair after washing.

What helps:

• Rinse with cool water. Cold water closes the hair cuticles and reduces the waxy feeling.
• Apple cider vinegar rinse. Add a splash of apple cider vinegar to lukewarm water and rinse your hair with it afterwards. That removes mineral residue and adds shine.
• Use a conditioner bar. It seals the hair cuticles and masks the effect of limescale.
• A nourishing hair oil helps your hair feel soft, supple and shiny again. It also reduces frizz and makes your locks look healthier.

• Hair mask. A nourishing Hair Mask gives your hair an extra boost of hydration, helps repair damaged hair and leaves your locks feeling soft, smooth and shiny again.