I stared at the little brown bar in my shower. It looked like a fancy soap. I was skeptical.
My bathroom is a graveyard of eco-friendly products that just… didn’t work. This had to be different.
It’s a solid shampoo bar from Ethique. About $16. They claim it lasts 80 washes and replaces 3 plastic bottles. I needed proof.
Zero Waste Packaging
Comes in a compostable cardboard box — no plastic liner.
Biodegradable Formula
Washes down the drain without harming waterways.
Nourishing for Dry Hair
Promises moisture without silicones or sulfates.
Photo: Gabrielle Henderson / Unsplash
No water as a filler. The first ingredient is cocoa butter. It’s concentrated, so you use less.
- Cocoa & Shea Butters: Melt to condition, not coat.
- Coconut Oil: Cleanses without that squeaky-stripped feel.
- Vanilla Bean: Smells like dessert, not a chemical plant.
- Beetroot Extract: For a subtle rosy tint — a nice surprise.
Photo: Lora Seis / Unsplash
It doesn’t lather like a sulfate bomb. You get a dense, creamy foam — not a mountain of bubbles. Hair feels different wet, almost too soft.
Week 2 was the awkward phase. My hair felt waxy. Turns out, that’s the final purge of old silicone buildup. I almost quit.
Photo: Glenna Haug / Unsplash
After the transition, my hair got softer. Not silicone-soft, but genuinely healthy. Volume improved. But it still tangles easier than with liquid conditioner.
Photo: QUENTIN Mahe / Unsplash
It works, but it’s not a seamless swap. You have to want the eco-win more than the convenience.