[Closed] Stopping the Plastic - Shampoo & Conditioner For Girls

Shampoo bars in our house, the long haired users think it's fine.

There is a good thread on this actually something like save the planet track world.

I am a short haired man but also need to convince partner. I use her shampoo as plain soap irritated my sensitive
Scalp.

I'd like to ask if there are my shampoo bars available in supermarkets. Not found one in our local. Don't know the brand to look for.

Supermarket availability is a must really. Along with a price that doesn't make bikes look cheap.

how much shampoo are they getting through for the ~5g of plastic per bottle to be making any meaningful difference?

Lush sell them. We get ours from a local eco shop.

Yet again stw is scarily mirroring my life, just today I ditched the Lynx for a bar of soap in the shower, ridiculous amount of single use plastic in the bath/shower.

how much shampoo are they getting through for the ~5g of plastic per bottle to be making any meaningful difference?

It's a valid question. Something else I want to be careful of is getting rid of plastic for the sake of it. It is a fantastic material and shouldn't be demonised - just not misused. I think that some anti-plastic solutions are potentially much worse than plastic.

It’s a valid question. Something else 8 want to be careful of is getting rid of plastic for the sake of it.

Or throwing it away after one use.

Or throwing it away after one use

Exactly. A machine to refill is what is wanted. Thins just seems unplausable given the amount of brands, smells, colours that are available. It's shampoo for gods sake!

A machine to refill is what is wanted.

I don't think that's going to happen too often unless it becomes legislation. The amount these companies spend on marketing is scary. They are not going to want some git refilling a manky container then complaining on social media about the product they've just contaminated.

Here you go:

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/savetheplanettrackworld/

Google zero waste shops in your vicinity. My recently opened one sells shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, liquid hand soap, laundry liquid and fabric conditioner - simply take your empty container along for it to be filled in whatever quantity you want.

You can buy online 5 litre (plastic) containers of shampoo, conditioner and body wash.

The plastic bottles for shampoo, conditioner etc are easily recycled. We can put them in our recycling bins at home. It's not the material that's a problem it's the misuse/littering. Paper and other alternatives have just as many flaws as using plastic.

The plastic bottles for shampoo, conditioner etc are easily recycled.

But recycling isn't really the answer. It just makes it less bad.

Also, it is almost scary how often recycling storage wear houses catch fire. It's almost like the insurance is worth more than shipping it to a 3rd world country.

Google zero waste shops in your vicinity.

Good call. One fairly near work. Will check it out.

The plastic bottles for shampoo, conditioner etc are easily recycled.

Which is less desirable than re-use, or even better, elimination.

Just got on the bandwagon as well, I bought from Amazon, the friendly soap company products, shampoo is good, soap lasts about 3 days, maybe it’s me. Lots of good options on Amazon.
Btw, for shaving go back to the old fashioned double edge safety razors and shaving soap, loads of non plastic options.

Lush shampoo bar. HOW MUCH££££££££!!!!!!! But lasts ages (easily longer than a bottle of shampoo), just rubbing it between my hands is enough to lather my hair and beard.

My problem was the skin on my hands was cracking and occasionally actually bleeding. I thought I just had crappy manly hands from cycling in all weathers. Turned out it was just the surfactants in soap and shampoo drying out my skin. I now have quite normal hands!

You don't necessarily need conditioner. Soap is 10-20% oil, so in theory if you find a bar that compliments your hair (greasy hair, dryer bar, dry hair greasy bar) then you don't need to condition it afterwards as you are not stripping out all the natural oil in the first place. Conditioner is often full of silicones anyway, like cheap car wax. Why wash out the natural stuff to replace it with artificial? The lush shampoo seems better than straight soap, which made my hair look almost grey.

Someone suggested using apple cider vinegar once a week, just wet the hair through with a splash of it. Hair is naturally acidic compared to skin so the vinegar actually works as a sort of conditioner.

If you follow the link I gave there's a few chaps on here who use shampoo bars. From my research there's not many ladies who're happy with shampoo and conditioner bars. However I would suspect that water hardness comes into the equation.

As regards bars of soap, I can buy unwrapped bars in a box of 18 although the box is shrink-wrapped. Made by Faith in Nature, who coincidentally sell 5 litre plastic containers of shampoo, conditioner and body wash, and the cheapest place online is Dolphin Fitness who I've used for many years.

I've drastically reduced my plastic consumption although my way of doing things isn't for everyone. Nevertheless, I always ask myself the question "can I do better?"

how much shampoo are they getting through for the ~5g of plastic per bottle to be making any meaningful difference?

Apparently something like 32 million females in the UK, OK so not all long haired of course, but then not all males will be sporting a crew cut. So let's assume 32 million long haired people binning one 5g bottle every month? That's 160 tons... Which is probably a very Conservative estimate.

populations can make big changes if the the majority of individuals are willing to make relatively minor ones...

Lush bars are expensive, however my first one is still on the go at work after a year of use, cycle commute in most work days, and I've now got one at home to start a campaign with the wife and kids.... Weirdly soap bars don't seem to last but shampoo bars do, I figured its a cleaning product so use it as soap in the shower as well.  Kids haven't told me I smell since I started doing this so figure it's okay 🙂

We're just going down this road too.

I made a little collection of all the empty plastic bottles in the corner of our shower over a few weeks (3 I think) and there was a shocking amount.

Now using bars of soap instead of pump soap bottles and shower gel.

I'm using shampoo bars which work fine on my longish hair, other half hasn't started using them yet as they leave hair feeling a bit waxy so need to find something else for her to try - will keep an eye out on here for suggestions.

I get an itchy/flaky head, I was hoping the shampoo bars would cure it as they claim to be natural, but it's still sometimes pretty bad. Any suggestions for sensitive scalp ones?

And I've today used my new Merkur safety razor for the first time. Probably work out a lot cheaper in the long run and save on waste.

Also ditched the Tassimo machine last year due to plastic pods.

So still a long way to go but it's a start.

[url= https://i.ibb.co/xMk5fb7/1473-EBB2-08-ED-4848-AD45-B8257-C372-C60.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/xMk5fb7/1473-EBB2-08-ED-4848-AD45-B8257-C372-C60.jp g"/> [/img][/url]

Our plastic stash 😲

portugeezer
Btw, for shaving go back to the old fashioned double edge safety razors and shaving soap, loads of non plastic options.

I have a DE and love it, but I'm not sure it's eco friendly? Even in the 500 blade packs, the blades are in a plastic container box which holds 10 blades and is then wrapped in cellophane type stuff.

Then I'm also not sure about how you recycle the old blades...can you put them in the mixed recycling in the plastic thing? Or do they need to be loose? If so they're going to go straight through the gossamer thin recycling bags our council uses.

We get our soap (and soon shampoo and conditioning bars as soon as the bottles have run out)from our local health food shop. There is no packaging too. Also I'm, helping a local shop to stay open and it's family run.

I'm with c_g - I always look for a better way of doing things and I'm thrilled with the fact that plastic is becoming undesirable.

I made some cold process soap (coconut oil + tea tree oil + peppermint oil) and I use that instead of shampoo now with an orange juice rinse (about 50ml juice in a litre jug, fill it up with warm water in the shower) instead of conditioner. The soap lathers up really nicely and the OJ rinse conditions and helps bring the pH back down. My hair is slightly longer than shoulder length.

I've also noticed that my skin is loads less dry since we binned the plastic stuff off- no need for moisturiser after a shower or bath after using nice soap!

You don’t necessarily need conditioner. Soap is 10-20% oil, so in theory if you find a bar that compliments your hair (greasy hair, dryer bar, dry hair greasy bar) then you don’t need to condition it afterwards as you are not stripping out all the natural oil in the first place.

This is ok on short hair but it'll knack longer hair up in no time. You still need to do a slightly acidic rinse after washing your hair if you don't want to end up looking like Hair Bear 😆

Then I’m also not sure about how you recycle the old blades…can you put them in the mixed recycling in the plastic thing? Or do they need to be loose? If so they’re going to go straight through the gossamer thin recycling bags our council uses.

Go for the Lance Armstrong technique.

Put used ones in a coke can, probably best if it's a steel one for recycling, and dispose of periodically.

But recycling isn’t really the answer. It just makes it less bad.

But recycling is the answer. The problem with plastics is the contamination when they get out into the environment especially in a small microbead form. This is easily fixed - far easier than going down the no plastic use route. So use plastics...they greatly enhance our lives and in some cases are essential, but just ensure they are recycled. It is far more efficient to recycle plastics than to create from new. Producers need to ensure packaging is recycling friendly and the whole global recycling infrastructure needs improving, but absolutely zero problems with plastics if they are recycled and re-made into other products.

My girlfriend has switched us to:
Bamboo Toothbrushes
Shampoo bar
Conditioner bar (Lush)
Face wash bar
Metal razor (Naked Necessities)
Powder deodorant (Lush)

Also we have found a local shop (The Bare Alternative in Sheffield) for refilling washing up liquid, cooking oil, herbs&spices, rice, pasta, etc.

The toiletries are ordered online if not bought from Lush or our local zero waste store.
Good websites:
www.plasticfreedom.co.uk
www.thekindstoreonline.co.uk
Most products last well, are similarly priced and the websites above don't deliver in plastic.

Initially it can take time but once you have started it is easy.

*For those who say you can just recycle the plastic bottles, consider watching the current BBC show with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall War on Waste. Our 'recycling' is basically being put on ships and dumped in developing countries to leach into the rivers and oceans.

the cheapest place online is Dolphin Fitness who I’ve used for many years.

Thanks, @cinnamon_girl. I've been thinking about the amount of plastics in our bathroom, so just bulk bought for the next year or so.

Ecover laundry liquid too. The three local shops that do refills have run a gamut from "Sorry, we've run out, try again next week" to "We've decided Ecover aren't ethical enough" (they didn't explain why). It's taken longer to get a refill than to use up a second bottle.

But recycling is the answer. The problem with plastics is the contamination when they get out into the environment especially in a small microbead form. This is easily fixed – far easier than going down the no plastic use route. So use plastics…they greatly enhance our lives and in some cases are essential, but just ensure they are recycled. It is far more efficient to recycle plastics than to create from new. Producers need to ensure packaging is recycling friendly and the whole global recycling infrastructure needs improving, but absolutely zero problems with plastics if they are recycled and re-made into other products.

This is fundamentally wrong. It takes considerable resources to collect, transport, process, manufacture, transport, fill, distribute and sell recycled plastic. And that's a best case scenario, as inevitably global supply chains will find the cheapest disposal route.

It is far, far better to use less in the first place, which is what this thread is about.

thisisnotaspoon

Put used ones in a coke can, probably best if it’s a steel one for recycling, and dispose of periodically.

Thanks thisisnotaspoon, that's not a bad idea.

@phil5556

itchy/flaky head

This https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birch-Tar-against-Dermatitis-Seborrhoea/dp/B00L373R7W wukk cure that. It does last ages

bit of a smell to start off with maybe, but it's very good. And I've used it as a shaving puck - works well there to (albeit not as good as something like https://shavelounge.co.uk/product/razorock-the-dead-sea-shaving-soap/

This is easily fixed – far easier than going down the no plastic use route. So use plastics…they greatly enhance our lives and in some cases are essential,

In some cases they are essential, but is a shampoo bottle essential, when you can get basically the same product in a much smaller solid bar (less transport too) wrapped in a piece of paper.

It is far more efficient to recycle plastics than to create from new.

Versus not using the plastic in the first place?

Producers need to ensure packaging is recycling friendly and the whole global recycling infrastructure needs improving.

Douglas Addams had an idea called the "somebody else's problem field" which was invented as it was much easier than the alternatives.

These bars need wider availability. I just grab soap for hands and body when in the super market. I'm not out and about enough in town to go find a shop just to but bar shampoo. Shampoo is just not in my routine to buy online which is the solution I am left with, which isn't a bad option but the product needs to be where most people buy their shampoo. The supermarket.

The supermarket.

Waitrose sell shampoo bars.

retro83 Member

I have a DE and love it, but I’m not sure it’s eco friendly? Even in the 500 blade packs, the blades are in a plastic container box which holds 10 blades and is then wrapped in cellophane type stuff.

Then I’m also not sure about how you recycle the old blades…can you put them in the mixed recycling in the plastic thing? Or do they need to be loose? If so they’re going to go straight through the gossamer thin recycling bags our council uses.

Many of the blade options come in cardboard packs, rather than plastic cartidges. I've currently got Wilkinson Sword blades that do come in plastic packs, but will be replacing with Gillette SilverBlue when I have used them all, because they come in cardboard boxes.

I stash the used blades in a coke can & will take the whole lot to the dump when the can is full & put it in the metal recycling bin. You can get a lot of blades in a can though, so I probably won't need to do that for another 5 years or so.

Waitrose sell shampoo bars.

Which is smashing if you live near one. I think our nearest one's in Newcastle 20-odd miles away.

This thread has been quite a useful one for me I've found a few places to look at for alternative products. I'll admit while we do have a Lush in town I would tend to avoid it, I associate it with heavily perfumed bath bombs and smelly trinkets, but they do actually have quite an ecological ethos too so I shall revisit them...

This thread has been quite a useful one for me I’ve found a few places to look at for alternative products. I’ll admit while we do have a Lush in town I would tend to avoid it, I associate it with heavily perfumed bath bombs and smelly trinkets, but they do actually have quite an ecological ethos too so I shall revisit them…

It's worth looking on the Lush website. I think some of their products contain palm oil and some don't.

Washing Your Skin With Wee Has Serious Beauty Benefits

can also wash your hair with it, or whiten your teeth...

Washing Your Skin With Wee Has Serious Beauty Benefits

can also wash your hair with it, or whiten your teeth…

Don't forget to give your eyes a rinse too, but not until it's at least a week old.

https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2018/02/21/people-put-urine-eyes-results-entirely-predictable/

We mainly now use shampoo and soap bars, with me also shaving using a soap bar and bristle. We use 5 litre refill bottles for some conditioner and hand soap.

The amount of plastic in our recycling bin has dropped considerably and it's lower-cost to boot.

Aveda makes hair & body products in a completely eco-fashion. High quality (prices to match, sadly) and the local hair salon in Stafford has a bring your own bottle service.
Anybody who makes a moisturiser called "Hand Relief" is worth supporting.

I just ordered some bars! From eBay. There's loads on there - these were by Coconutty.
Worth a try I thought.
Need a soap dish to put them in now... non-plastic, I guess...

I just ordered some bars! From eBay. There’s loads on there – these were by Coconutty.
Worth a try I thought.
Need a soap dish to put them in now… non-plastic, I guess…

No you don't Dez, you need a soap saver that eliminates those disgusting manky-looking soap dishes. For example:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/667159206/organic-cotton-soap-pouch-soap-saver?ref=shop_home_active_1&crt=1

Edit: this is what I use, it's made from bamboo although out of stock:

https://allnaturalsoap.co.uk/shop/accessories/bamboo-soap-bag/

Thanks, @cinnamon_girl. I’ve been thinking about the amount of plastics in our bathroom, so just bulk bought for the next year or so.

Ecover laundry liquid too. The three local shops that do refills have run a gamut from “Sorry, we’ve run out, try again next week” to “We’ve decided Ecover aren’t ethical enough” (they didn’t explain why). It’s taken longer to get a refill than to use up a second bottle.

You're welcome nach. My new local zero waste shop is doing a roaring trade in refills and guessing that it's difficult to estimate quantities to begin with.

Just to add that from my zero waste shop I bought 500ml of hair conditioner made by an ethical company - £2.73 and it's good stuff too.

No you don’t Dez, you need a soap saver that eliminates those disgusting manky-looking soap dishes

Well, idea is you clean em and they save having to wipe the side/sink every day, but hey, the little bag thing looks good. I'll check my supplier (ebay) Thanks 🙂

Stupid question, but how do those soap bags work? Do you not just end up with a soggy wet cotton bag with a slimey lump of soft soap inside? Do they ever actually dry out?

I guess you chuck em in the washing machine occassionally. I'm trying to think of a practical solution for my commuting stuff - has to go in the locker with my shirts, so a bar of wet soap in a soggy bag isn't ideal. (8 quid for a soap holder seems a little excessive.)

Stupid question, but how do those soap bags work? Do you not just end up with a soggy wet cotton bag with a slimey lump of soft soap inside? Do they ever actually dry out?

dashed My bamboo bag dries out quickly, it's hung up on the shower door and would say that it depends on the type of soap as to whether it becomes a little soft. For example, supermarket soaps such as Dove would last longer than something that's a little fancy and contains different oils.

Mine is washed at 60 degrees and it's only fair to mention that some soaps will discolour it, mine is looking especially manky due to it containing melt & pour soap coloured pink with pink rose petals!

DezB - our soap dish is made from horn. Goat I think.

Have you got any old coffee tins in which you could store your shower soap? I use an old Whittards Monsoon Malibar tin.

Bamboo Toothbrushes

Where do you buy them for a non-astronomical price? Really - you can buy a pack of 6 plastic ones for about 50p in Tesco. There comes a point where you have to prioritise your spending!

On a related subject, has anyone tried using these toothbrushing sticks? They get mixed reviews!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miswak-Siwak-Natural-Toothbrush-Pieces/

Bamboo Toothbrushes

Can't link to ebay at work, but I was browsing this stuff last night and ebay sellers (Chinese, I think) have a bamboo bath accessories set including a toothbrush for around £3. (Which gets flown over to you from China in a private jet 😉 )

Where do you buy them for a non-astronomical price? Really – you can buy a pack of 6 plastic ones for about 50p in Tesco. There comes a point where you have to prioritise your spending!

I hear you DrJ, it's very much a compromise. One thing I refuse to give up is my electric toothbrush despite them lasting 3 years tops. It worries me that some of these zero waste shops won't last - there's only so many people who are prepared to pay £7 for deodorant, £7 for toothpaste, £5 for a bar of soap etc etc. Saving the planet should not just be for those who can afford to.

our soap dish is made from horn. Goat I think.

We need pics Bunnyhop!

https://coconutty.co.uk/collections/frontpage/products/coconut-soap-dish
From the same peeps who do the soap I bought

Both eco-friendly and stylish Dez! Do report back on the soap.

Found out today that a zero waste shop opened about 10 mins away from me! Missus came back today with some goodies 🙂

https://www.replenishery.co.uk/
They opened last month and do all sorts of stuff (detergent, soaps, coffee etc).

c_g I've been here for many years and still can't fathom out how to post a photo. (will try and remember to ask nbt later).

Soap. Hm, soap then.
It's been many years since I used soap and that squeaky clean, non-moisturised feeling it leaves your skin with will take a bit of getting used to. (So will thinking of what I will say to C_G on here whilst showering!). The Coconutty stuff smells really nice and has a lovely lather anyway.
I ordered a few more bits from co****ty.co.uk cos I loves coconut - got some sugar coming which I shall try on my cereal.
That Charcoal soap leaves a right mess on me white sink, so def need a dish 🙂

So will thinking of what I will say to C_G on here whilst showering!).

Lol sounds like a successful purchase and you've become a coconut convert if you want to eat it as well! Yeah, charcoal is messy but can give good results.

We’ve been making our own shaving soap/shampoo/soap/deodorant for a while now. There’s still plastic but the amount that goes in the recycling bin is vastly reduced.

A proper razor has made a difference for me, I’ve calculated I’ve 11 years worth of blades before I need to buy more.

I’ve also realised I don’t need deodorant to not smell. So mostly no longer bother. So long as the washes are regular the bacteria don’t have time to work up a stink.

Good work piemonster, that has to be a lot less plastic. Would you mind sharing your deodorant and shampoo recipes please, if you have any links that would be good.

Yes, can quite believe that deodorant isn't always necessary although very individual. My home-made deodorant seems to be working in this heat, it was a doddle to make too.

sShower wash should be banned, or heavily taxed, imo. The amount of wonderfully natural sounding Apple Source that ends up being immediately sluiced down the drain is ludicrous. Soap is the option.

Beyond that, I feel an issue with shampoo is that too much is used each time. Some kind of squeeze dispenser, eg 1 for the short, 2 for shoulder, 3 pumps for long hair, wound save a dramatic amount. I remember, when I had hair (!) that a 10p sized amount was good for the barnet, and indeed it was.

We make our own coconut oil based soap (and sell it if anyone's interested, we have the necessary CPSR in place) and I use it on my (shoulder length) hair as a shampoo, then condition with fruit juice* after rinsing to neutralise the soap and flatten the hair follicles down again.

* glug of OJ from the carton in a litre jug topped up with water from the shower and then rinse your hair with it. It leaves it lovely and smooth.