Safe-Synthetic vs. All-Natural Shampoo Bars

When you enter the world of shampoo bars, it might be hard for you to make your decision on your first shampoo bar.

Parrotfish sells safe synthetic shampoo bars to help make people's transition to a plastic-free personal care routine a little easier.  

Safe-Synthetic Shampoo Bars

If you love suds, check out our argan oil shampoo bar. This bar is the closest to commercial shampoo you can currently purchase at the store. Minimal transition is needed to switch from the liquid stuff to this mighty bar. Just lather it in your hands and then run them through your hair. It's that easy!

Sulfates are the primary cleaning agent known to make your shampoo foamy and remove dirt and dead skin cells from your skin and scalp. But sulfates must be balanced, as they play a vital role in removing dirt and dead skin cells while producing a sudsy lather. Our shampoo bars are created with the safe synthetic ingredient, Sodium Coco Sulfate, a mix of fatty acids found in coconut oil and lauric acid (a naturally occurring substance from coconut milk and palm kernel oil). It is milder thanAmmonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate because it is derived from coconuts, not petroleum. It also still produces a rich, foamy lather that we are all accustomed to. SCS has a natural balance of fatty acids that your hair and scalp desire. We also enrich our shampoo bars with other natural oils for your hair's optimal rich acid profile. Your hair is getting the best of both worlds because it effectively dissolves dirt and grease but in a gentler and more mild fashion. This makes the transition period from liquid to bar seamless.

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argan oil shampoo bar

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purple shampoo bar

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A synthetic ingredient does not speak to the quality or safety of an ingredient; it just means something that is not found and harvested directly from nature. Most importantly, not all synthetics are harmful, just as not all things labeled organic are innately good. A synthetic can be healthy, vegan, pure, non-toxic, and cruelty-free. The ingredients in our shampoo bar are high-quality and pass rigid Whole Foods Markets standards. They are also vegan and cruelty-free. The manufacturing company we chose to create our products has an in-house aesthetician and a doctorate of science that verify that the products they produce meet their manufacturing guidelines. Additionally, Working Group's (EWG) certification for surfactants, Sodium Coco Sulfate, is rated a "1," the highest safety rating.

All-Natural Shampoo Bars

For those that want all-natural shampoo bars, such as our rosemary apple cider bar, these might take a bit of adjusting. Most people will have an adjustment period with their first use, ranging from a few days to weeks or even months. This adjustment is because your hair is accustomed to commercial shampoos stripping the oils. Because all-natural shampoos keep all those oils intact, it creates a build-up and leaves your scalp in a state of shock. This build-up will make your hair feel greasy and heavy. These formulas also tend to be thinner and more difficult to distribute throughout the hair because they do not foam up. Many all-natural shampoos even emphasize that you should wash your hair twice within one shower to cover all of your hair effectively. However, washing your hair twice will reduce your bar's longevity and waste more water. We don't want to deter anyone who wants to cut plastic from their routine with a shampoo that could take over a month to transition to, so we decided to use a safe-synthetic alternative.

Commercial Shampoos 

The most common ingredients in commercial shampoos are harsh chemicals such as Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate due to their effectiveness in stripping and removing oils. We do not sell shampoo with any of these ingredients. Additionally, high concentrations of SLS are commonly found in floor cleaners and detergents. Because SLS is a lower price, it has found its way into 98% of shampoos so companies can save money. Stripping your scalp of its natural oils causes your scalp to produce extra oil to compensate – thus creating a dependency on the chemicals.