The Best Shampoo Bars for Every Hair Type
As more people make an effort to cut down on single-use plastics, the once humble shampoo bar has been given a salon-worthy upgrade. There are dozens of high-quality and solid shampoos on the market today, inspiring even more of us to ditch traditional bottled shampoo once and for all. For travelers, there’s even more incentive to get on board: Doing away with liquids means less hassle while going through security and zero risk of leakage in your suitcase or backpack. And, since most bars are formulated to be concentrated, waterless, and biodegradable, they tend to last twice as long and are gentler on the planet than their mini bottled counterparts.
Fortunately, as interest grows, brands are creating shampoo bars tailored to different hair types and preferences—whether you have color-treated tresses or fine strands in need of some oomph. I tested and reviewed a dozen shampoo bars to see which ones worked best, so you can have more good hair days (and a smaller carbon footprint) on-the-go. (For reference, I have fine, color-treated hair that’s prone to breakage.) Below, the best shampoo bars to add to your Dopp kit.
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Unwrapped Life The Stimulator Shampoo Bar
Best all around
A thick lather and an invigorating tingling sensation make shampooing with Unwrapped Life’s Stimulator bar a true joy. My hair felt clean, hydrated, and weightless after one wash, and didn’t feel greasy until four days later (a rarity for me). Formulated to promote scalp health, this bar uses French green clay to clear dirt and impurities and matcha green tea to improve circulation and stimulate skin’s healthy cell turnover. If you plan to travel with your bars, grab the set that comes with the matte-gold travel tins, which are super lightweight and look sleek in your Dopp kit.
J.R. Liggett Original Formula Shampoo Bar
Best multi-tasker
J.R. Liggett’s multi-tasking bars are ideal for camping or backpacking trips. They contain 100 percent vegetable oil (coconut, castor, and olive oils) and work for all hair types. Plus, they can be used as body soap, for shaving, or for hand washing clothing items like socks and underwear. I especially love the travel-ready original bar, which comes with a small water-repellant and washable pouch, as well as a paper mat that wraps around three sides of the bar so that it doesn’t pick up any debris along the way.
By Humankind Shampoo Bar
Best for sensitive scalps
By Humankind’s shampoo bars are cold-processed to allow the formulation to retain more glycerine, an ingredient that helps moderate the pH of sensitive skin. Each bar has a five-week curing period, allowing any excess water to evaporate. The result is a dense bar that keeps its shape over time and a plant-based formula that doesn’t strip your hair of its natural oils. Keep in mind that this bar doesn’t leave your hair feeling squeaky clean off the bat—it might take your scalp a few showers to adjust.
HiBar Volumize Shampoo Bar
Best for fine hair
HiBar’s shampoo bars feature a cylinder shape with an angled edge, making them easier to apply directly to the scalp, and a flat base that allows the bar to be stored upright when not in use. The brand’s volumizing shampoo bar is a standout for fine hair. The bar contains African dates and vitamin B5 to boost body and tame frizz. And it even works for those following the Curly Girl Method, which encourages the use of sulfate-free shampoos to smooth and define waves, coils, and curls.
Ethique Frizz Wrangler
Best for curly hair
In 2019 alone, Ethique’s customers helped save 2.9 million liters of water from being wasted, in addition to countless plastic bottles. The brand’s eco-friendly ethos includes planting a tree for every order and using compostable packaging. Its waterless shampoo bars also deliver exceptional results. The brand makes bars for all hair types, but the frizz-taming shampoo bar is a standout for those with curly or wavy hair. It contains fair trade Samoan coconut oil and coconut butter to help smooth flyaways and enhance your hair’s natural shape and texture.
Attitude Leaves Bar Detox Shampoo
Best for oily hair
Rich in yellow clay, a mineral-based active ingredient that helps protect hair while absorbing excess oil, Attitude’s detox shampoo bar was made to tackle greasy strands. This lightly fragranced bar lathers well, lasts long (according to the brand, one bar equals two standard-sized bottles of shampoo), and leaves your hair feeling deeply cleansed and fluffy. As a bonus, Attitude works with One Tree Planted and Eden Reforestation products to plant a tree for every bar sold.
Odacité 552M Soap Free Shampoo Bar
Best for color-treated hair
Named for the 552 million plastic shampoo bottles that end up in U.S. landfills every year, Odacité’s 552M shampoo bar offers a pollution-free alternative to professional-quality shampoo. The soap-free formulation, made with argan and castor oils, is safe for color-treated hair, but also works well on untreated hair of most types (thin, curly, straight, or coarse). I found applying the bar directly to my scalp created a rich lather, and I loved the refreshing citrus aroma. The results were bouncy, silky-soft locks that didn’t feel stripped of their natural oils.
Klorane Hair Shampoo Bar
Best for damaged hair
As a fan of the French brand Klorane, I was happy to see that they offer a solid version of their leading shampoo. Enriched with mango butter, which is packed with vitamins A and E, it fortifies strands to reduce breakage and smooth split ends. Ideal for thin hair or ends that have been damaged from hot tools or bleaching, this bar left my hair feeling ultra-nourished without the heaviness that comes with your typical moisturizing shampoos. Those wanting a generous lather should first lather the bar in their hands before applying it to their scalp, as it tends to not get as foamy as other solid shampoos.
Peach Strengthening Shampoo Bar
Best for detangling
While no shampoo bar will cure thinning hair, Peach’s strengthening bar is designed to nourish and fortify weak strands. My hair is prone to split ends, so I was especially drawn to this bar, which uses monoi oil (made from soaking petals of Tahitian gardenias in coconut oil) to improve hair elasticity. The moisturizing base of coconut oil and shea butter helps to detangle and smooth hair, so I was able to easily brush out my wet hair without causing further damage.
Abhati Suisse Manali Moisturizing Shampoo Bar
Best for dull hair
Abhati Suisse Manali’s bar is one of the few shampoos that actually leaves my hair looking visibly shiny. Not-so-coincidentally, the brand’s name means “shine” in Sanskrit. Designed with ayurvedic principles in mind, the Manali bar’s pH-balanced formula uses nourishing cannabis seed oil, elderberry, and amino-rich spirulina extract to make dull hair look more radiant. This bar doesn’t contain any synthetic additives or fragrances, but has a pleasant floral scent thanks to botanicals like gardenia extract. All the plant ingredients are ethically sourced through agricultural partnerships with tribal communities around the Indian Himalayas.
