So you are thinking about having a breakup with your old shampoo? We know this might be scary, But you're doing the right thing. That relationship is toxic. Literally.
We don’t have all the answers, but we’ll take a shot at some of the questions we have been asked often about our goat milk shampoo bars.
How do I know if a shampoo bar is good for me?
Part of the magic of shampoo bars (and natural products) is that they provide a uniquely personal experience. They may work wonders for one person… while for another… well, they may not be a perfect match. And that’s totally ok! If your locks are exceptionally long, curly or porous, you may find that shampoo bars create knots and frizz rather than body and shine. Basically, if your hair usually gets you mistaken for an Old English Sheepdog, you might have to sit this one out. Did we mention we are honest?
Will I experience a transition period?
So you decided you’re gonna give a shampoo bar a shot. You give it a go, and aren’t too thrilled with this experience. You might be feeling squeaky clean, greasy or dense. Don’t freak out or change your mind; these are all completely normal and they are a part of the transition phase.
You see, the fact is, your old shampoo was really good at it's job. It cleaned (stripped) your hair of dirt and oils. It did this by using detergents or nasty sulfates which essentially over wash your hair and strip it right back. The chemicals in that shampoo are designed to do exactly what you expect of them. Some fight frizz, some clarify, some tint. They do what they do because they are chemically designed to do it. But have you seen that list of ingredients and does anyone have a clue on what the heck they are??
So what’s the deal with a detox? The best way for us to explain this is when you first use a shampoo bar, you may experience a "waxy" feel to the hair after washing. This is often referred to as "the purge" or "the waxies" in the shampoo bar community. This could be the result of one of two things: a bad reaction with hard water, OR an adjustment to balancing out your scalp's oil production. Both "the purge" and "the waxies" can usually be remedied with an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse. (use a 1:4 ratio of ACV and water)
Remember, it's completely normal to have a not so pleasant short period of time where your hair is adjusting and it will be resolved. The “waxy feel” is temporary and just a brief phase. Do not give in, because if you do you will have to restart the process all over again. Stay strong! Anything that takes time is worth it, we promise.
How do I use a shampoo bar?
Pre-shampoo, prep your hair by getting rid of tangles and knots and then wet your hair. Apply the shampoo in one of two ways. You could lather the bar between wet hands and apply the lather to your wet hair (as you would with a liquid shampoo). Or you could wet the bar and apply it to wet hair, rubbing in circular motions down the hair strands. Rinse out and repeat as needed.
Do I need conditioner after?
Yes, using a conditioner after a shampoo helps replenish moisture and smoothes down the hair. The shampoo step has already washed out excess residue and build-up, so this allows your hair to soak the conditioning ingredients into your hair.
We are working on a recipe to offer a conditioning bar…we are super stoked about this, but need to perfect the product before we launch. Click here to be notified when we have it available.
So breaking it all down, here is what you can look forward to with using our shampoo bar:
+ having soft, shiny hair and itchy scalp relief due to the pure natural oils in our recipe along with the goat milk
+ knowing you are kicking more chemicals to the curb - no mind boggling ingredients
+ making the planet happy - shampoo bars are biodegradable and zero waste
+ saving money-every piece of the shampoo bar gets used, unlike those drops of liquid shampoo frustratingly glued to the bottom of the bottle.
+ More room in your suitcase, space saving and travel friendly
We hope this helps with a few of your questions about ditching and switching your hair care routine. Thank you for considering Sparrow Soaps products!
Peace,
The Sparrow Soaps family