Shampoo bars are coming full circle.
As early as the 19th century, bar soaps were used to cleanse hair; liquid shampoos weren’t introduced until much later and quickly became the norm. But now, as consumers have become more concerned about both their health and the environment, the bar is making a comeback.
Shampoo bars are traditional liquid shampoo in a solid bar format. They require less water in their formulation, reduce plastic waste, last longer, and are travel-friendly. A number of major hair care brands are introducing cleansing bars as part of their sustainability campaigns — Davines’ solid shampoo bar collection is one such line that is steadily emerging in the upcoming release of Kline PRO US.
Consumers’ preference for clean products with labels such as “green,” “organic,” “natural,” “free from,” and “vegan” is boosting the bars segment, as most shampoo pucks are made of natural ingredients. Aveda’s Shampure Nurturing Shampoo Bar features 94% naturally derived ingredients and is free from sulfates and parabens; it also comes in zero-plastic packaging. Purchasing this shampoo bar instead of using traditional liquid shampoo can help reduce plastic pollution by 2.0 tons, the equivalent to 180,000 water bottles.
Another benefit of switching to a bar format is sheer convenience. Men’s shampoo bars, for example, can double as a beard and body wash, taking up less space in the bathroom. Kline PRO US shows Woody’s Hair & Body Shampoo Bar as the best seller in this segment.
The increased interest in shampoo bars isn’t limited to just the United States. Kline PRO Canada is picking up local brands that are producing zero-waste, eco-friendly lines of bar products. Strong sales are being seen for both Urban Beard and High-End Hippie.
With the rising popularity of this product format, a few brands also launched a corresponding conditioner bar. Eleven Australia introduced the Gentle Conditioner Bar; High-End Hippie launched the Restore Conditioner to pair with its shampoo bars. Like their liquid counterpart, conditioner bars are used in conjunction with shampoo, ideally one that is a bar. Consumers simply wet the bar, coat the hair, and let it set for a couple of minutes before rinsing out.
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Kline PRO monitors salon service and product trends with a month-by-month view. Updated quarterly, Kline PRO is a comprehensive interactive database that enables users to access the latest performance data on the professional hair care industry in the United States and Canada. Based on actual salon transactions from a panel of thousands of salons, it yields category, brand, and product-level sales and service data on a quarterly basis.
