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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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.
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Let customers speak for us
from 196 reviewsI have been wanting to switch to bar shampoo to lower my plastic use and love this option. It works just as well maybe better thank liquid shampoo.
I am thrilled to have a case specifically for my shampoo and conditioner bars when I travel. No more plastic baggies! It is a perfect addition to my travel cases.
I found this Nourishing Shampoo Bar at our local HEB Central Market. I wasn't sure what to expect but was super impressed after I tried this shampoo bar. I love the mint scent and that it was effective at cleansing my hair and scalp. I loved the soft feeling afterward. I plan to buy the conditioner bar the next time that I run to HEB Central Market.
Wow! This is my first experience with shampoo in a bar, and I am a big fan. It lathers easily and feels good on your scalp. It rinses out easily and left my hair feeling soft and moisturized when it dried. I like how convenient and small the packaging is, and I like that it claims to replace up to three shampoo bottles.
These bars smell amazing- create beautiful lather while being non toxic! AMAZING
My family and I are obsessed with the smell, texture, and softness that it leaves our hair after washing. As a blonde, I had to wash my hair once/day or once/two days due to my hair appearing oily after using liquid products, which would then aggravate my scalp; now, I wash my hair once every 3-4 days because my hair maintains shine and softness. For blondies and gray/silver-headed beauties, do yourself a favor and try this pairing.
I have to admit I was skeptical about how this product would preform. I had never used a shampoo bar before. I have very dry long fine hair. A little goes a long way. It foamed up in a great consistency and made my hair feel clean and soft. Gentle yet effective. Great for travel and great for the environment. Smells great and made my hair look (shiny) and feel great.
I came back for more because I
love how it makes my hair feel. It controls frizz and also makes it feel soft. I was afraid if I didn’t stock up a little I would run out .
I’m always looking for clean and natural products that are safe for me and Mother Nature. I was happy this soap foamed, but it’s not big enough for the cost. I have a lot of hair, but only wash it once a week. Fingers crossed it lasts long.
I love how this product lathers in my hair and leaves it feelings super clean and strong! I have tried other shampoo bars and this one is definitely one of my favorites.
this is a great concept and product. no plastic bottle and clean, natural ingredients. there's nothing not to like about it. i hope more companies start doing this. i wish there were more kinds of products like this so i love it but it's very niche and not easy to come by in a regular store.
i have never seen or tried any product like this, i really liked the smell of the peppermint and it did a nice job cleaning my hair, i found this at a local store
I recently found the Peppermint Nourishing Shampoo Bar by Parrotfish at our local Central Market. I was both intrigued and skeptical because many of us don't associate anything in soap bar form with good for our hair. However, Parrotfish figured it out and this is the coolest thing ever! Not only do I love it for the way that it improves my scalp health, scent, and makes my hair shiny, but let me tell you that parents need to know about this! My son is so messy with shampoo and conditioner. I don't even know what he does in there but he goes through liquid shampoo and conditioner like crazy. I also find it spilled. These shampoo and conditioner bars are great for him! I don't know why I didn't know about these sooner, but now I am hooked! My son loves them too because they are so easy to use. He also loves the peppermint scent! Definitely look for these and give them a try!
I really liked the Nourishing Shampoo Bar by Parrotfish. . My only complaint is it is a little pricey. I would like to try the conditioner as well.
I have never tried using a bar form shampoo but this works. The clean ingredients was a plus and my hair felt fabulous after. Who knew this would work so well?! It is pricey so perhaps it will be an occasional treat!