I’m just going to go bold and say it: solid shampoo bars changed my life. Dramatic, you say? Hear me out — for someone whose travels full-time and is constantly attempting to live a more sustainable lifestyle, it was a game changer. Since I first switched to solid six months ago I have found myself becoming somewhat of a shampoo bar evangelist, writing passionate screeds online, preaching to my friends and family, and pouncing on unsuspecting plastic-bottle toting backpackers in hostels to try to convert them.
How much do I love solid shampoo? Let me count the ways.
1. No more hauling heavy liquids. These solid shampoo bars are feather-light!
2. No more plastic bottles that I guiltily throw in the trash when I can’t find recycling facilities on my travels. The tins Lush shampoo tucks into are endlessly reusable. Considering each bar is the equivalent of three bottles of shampoo, you’re saving the earth from 75 grams of plastic with each one!
3. No more exploding sticky shampoo in my backpack after a long flight. Does this happen to anyone else as often as it used to happen to me?!
4. It works beautifully on my hair! You just rub it on your head like you would rub a regular soap bar on your body, and it lathers right up.
Eventually I reached out to my shampoo crush, Lush, to tell them how excited I was about what they were doing with their products and ask if they’d be willing to help me baptize, ahem, do a giveaway for all you. They said yes! And how do I love Lush as a brand? Let me count the ways again!
1. Lush uses environmentally-friendly, ethically-sourced ingredients.
2. Lush is committed to eliminating unnecessary packaging and plastic use.
3. Lush uses no animal testing and passionately lobbies against its use in the cosmetics industry.
4. You can restock on the road — Lush is available in all these countries.
I first started using Lush after a few readers recommended it to me and I popped into a Lush store in New York City out of curiosity. I wasn’t planning to make a purchase, necessarily, but the sales guy won me over by reaching out and hand combing through my locks (with permission!) in order to make the best recommendation for my hair type. I was skeptical when he said the Jumping Juniper bar I bought would last two months based on my showering habits, but he was right, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Now, there have been a few bumps along the road. When I was gifted a Squeaky Green bar by a fellow traveler, I didn’t adore it quite as much as the Jumping Juniper — which is why I highly recommend you visit a store in person to get a recommendation for the best bar for your hair if possible. Also, while I haven’t really had this issue, some readers have mentioned to me that the tin doesn’t really work for them as they have a hard time opening it with slippery hands, or the bar got stuck inside. Reader Lauren has a suggestion for that — Bubble Tape containers!
Finally, I wanted to love the solid conditioner. Really wanted to love it. But alas, it just didn’t work for me and it seems from online reviews it’s not nearly as popular as it’s shampoo cousin. So for now I’m sticking to liquid conditioner and praying to the Lush Goddesses to keep working on that formula. But the bottom line is, if you’re a fan of travel, living green and/or luscious locks — you need to at least give solid shampoo a try. [UPDATE: I found a different solid conditioner that I love! Read my review here.]
. . . . . . . .
And now onto the fun part — I’m hooking up five of you up with a Little Green Bag! This little bundle of goodness is the perfect introduction to Lush land.
What’s inside? All kinds of yummy smelling treats, starting with, of course, a solid shampoo bar and reusable tin.
Followed by the cleverly-named Sexy Peel bar, a citrus soap packed with all kinds of surprises for your skin.
Next up, a punch-packing mini Sugar Scrub.
Last but not least? An Each Peach massage bar, which is best described as solid lotion.
And it’s all wrapped up in a resuseable knot wrap, complete with instructions on how to use it as a tote for all your bare new products.
I found an even better use for it though — a headwrap to keep the hair out of my face while running around doing blog post photoshoots. Shazam! (And yup, that is indeed a Spice Girls reunion tour t-shirt. I can feel your jealousy from here.)
Ready to fall scrub over loofah for some solid shampoo? Five of you are going to win one of these goodie bags — just enter below. Unfortunately, my friends, this giveaway is open only to US and Canadian readers. The rest of you I promise will get some love next time around.
Alright, you guys are actually the reason I stared Lushing in the first place, so I’m ready to hear it — what’s your next suggestion for the travel product that’s going to change my life?
What can you not live without when you’re on the go?
Thanks for the product review! I am currently attempting to become aware of where my products come from and how they impact animals and the earth. This is a good one to add to my list of things to try! Currently I use Paul Mitchell shampoo.
I’ve started incorporating essential oils into daily life and actually used them for malaria prophylaxis and bug repellent for my last trip. I also use them daily internally (in capsules), for oil pulling, Aromatherapy, and in the shower/post shower. Essential oils are now my must have “products” always (goodbye traditional meds for just about everything)! My fellow RN friend turned me on to them after force feeding me oils the entire time we were in Honduras.
Interesting, Anne! I still go with the nasty old chemical bug repellent but maybe I need to start looking into some more natural alternatives.
Hi Alex,
I threw away all my chemical repellents when I moved to Panama because none of them worked. I tried the famous coconut oil but it was just too smeary and I don’t like the smell either, it seems too heavy. Instead I found a natural mixture of oils and herbs called ‘Pickled Parrot’. It contains coconut oil, citronella and a few other things, it is great for your skin and doesn’t stick on it like the coconut oil. It prevents bites and even soothes the itch and it has worked better for me than anything else. It is produced locally here in Panama but I’ve also seen other similar products at organic farms, so I you might be able to find something like that in an organic cosmetics store or similar. If not, just try citronella essence or oil, it should taste lemony and not sweet, that will work too.
Citronella for bug repellent is amazing!
That sounds amazing! I had never thought of solid shampoo as a serious option so I’m glad to know that it actually works!
Yeah, I was pretty skeptical myself! But in terms of performance and results, there is no difference between this and a liquid shampoo.
For the fellow ladies out there..If you havent found it already, and you are looking on going green and sustainable:
https://www.lunette.com/ or
https://www.mooncup.co.uk/
These are cups that you use during your time of the month. As soon as you have learned how to handle them, they are GREAT travel companions, relieve you from having to buy any products ever again, and you usually are free of changing anything during your days as you generally can leave them up to 24 h without any spill – live savers on long train rides where you just refuse to use that nasty toilet and similar situations. After you have finished using it, a good clean, and maybe 2 min. in boiling water will make the cup fit for next time. The material is silicone and it just takes a bit of learning to handle the cup.
I would recommend these to anyone and my gynocologist has also confirmed they are safe to use 🙂
I am happy to answer more questions personally.
🙂
I keep hearing about these Nathalie, thanks for sharing! Currently I use the applicator-less o.b. tampons which are teeny tiny (perfect for packing) and have no plastic waste. A good alternative!
Super excited to try some solid shampoo!
I hope you love it as much as I have Emily… let us know what you think when you do 🙂
Would love to win this. I travel a lot and have had the leaky bottle of shampoo so often I double bag them or leave them at home and hope the hotel has something good.
Glad to hear I’m not the only one who suffers the explosions. And though I often have a lot of other liquids in my bag, it ALWAYS seems to be the shampoo. Maybe it’s something in the chemical makeup that makes it prone to explode in a plane?!
You are amazing. I can’t wait to try it. I’ve been meaning to tell you how excited I am about doing a Southeast Asia trip next year–your posts have been so helpful in planning where I want to go and what I want to do.
Thank you!
Thank you so much Kristie that is so great to hear! There’s no way that won’t be a great trip. Enjoy 🙂
I have heard of lush but never knew that they were about. Thanks for sharing it with us. I hope they can work out that conditioner recipe for you. I think I will stop by the store and check out their products.
Fingers crossed they keep working on that one! From the reviews on their site I can see I’m not alone, but I would love to switch to a solid form there as well.
I started using Lush solid shampoo a while back when I decided to ditch the liquids for carry-on’s sake and I’m totally obsessed. I’ve tried both the ‘Big Solid Conditioner’ as well as the ‘Jungle Conditioner’ and was disappointed with both. As you mentioned, I’m hoping they’ll pull through and solidify their recipe so I can be a conditioner convert as well.
I only tried the Jungle Conditioner but it was such a fail I didn’t bother trying the other. I think a big part of the problem is I have SO much hair I really need a lot of conditioner; the bar just went too quickly.
I’d never heard of this shampoo – will have to give it a try, especially since YOU, with your gorgeous hair like it… but why exactly didn’t you like the conditioner? I can’t live (or get a brush through my hair) without conditioner…
I can’t live without conditioner either! I actually travel with a regular liquid conditioner AND a leave-in spray kind for when I’m diving because otherwise my blonde hair dries out way too quickly. The solid conditioner didn’t work for me for a couple reasons… it didn’t spread very easily and so I found some parts of my hair were totally dry and unconditioned while others still had little chunks of the bar in it (ha), and also because I need to use so much it didn’t last nearly as long as the conditioner. Just didn’t perform well, unfortunately!
I have yet to find a solid shampoo that doesn’t leave my fine hair a tangly mess. So, I would LOVE to try the lush bar! Crunchy hippie alert – I’ve resorted to washing my hair way less often (once or twice a week) and using a homemade dry shampoo. It doesn’t get rid of the shampoo issues travelling, but it helps cut down! I have also had way less luck with the natural conditioners.
I would definitely check out one of the stores, in my experience the sales people are super friendly and knowledgeable and can direct you towards the best fit for your locks! And kudos for the homemade shampoo — that’s hardcore!
Me me me! Pick me! Pick me! I’ve always passed by the Lush store in Union Square and now I know I need to go in – your reviews are always spot on, so thanks for another great product suggestion! 🙂
That’s the one I originally bought from! Say hi to the curly haired manager for me 🙂
I’ve been meaning to try the solid shampoo for a while after first reading about it on your site. Do you use it just for your hair or could you use it as body soap too? I did a 6-month RTW trip, and my dream would have been to have single bar that works as shampoo/conditioner/soap all-in-one.
Another great advantage of the shampoo bar — it doesn’t apply to the liquid carry-on limits on airlines!
I don’t see why you shouldn’t use it as body soap (I always do double duty with shampoo as body soap, even the liquid kind!) though you’d probably go through it a bit quicker.
I’m loving ALL your giveaways. Crossing my fingers on this one!
Thanks Alexa! We went too long without one for a while there, gotta make up for lost time 🙂
I didn’t know about Lush shampoos. I love your posts, and your travel stories. I subscribed after your post about Burning Man! I hope I get one of the giveaways! But if not, I’m definitely going to research to see if there is a store near me.
Thanks for reading, Charlee 🙂 Fingers crossed for the giveaway or the nearby store…
I have super curly hair that tangles easily–I’d love to see if I could have some success with a solid shampoo. I’m all about not having things explode in my bag!
They are the worst! There’s nothing like arriving in a new destination… and realizing you have to do laundry.
I hope the LUSH people appreciate what an ambassador you are for their products!
And I agree with Maddy: Pick me! Pick me!
I hope they do too 🙂 When I love something so much, I just have to share it!
i heart this post alex! thank you so much for promoting sustainable travel — imo, not enough bloggers do! plus, unlike some products, this seems more convenient than the regular so really it’s a no-brainer. you’ve sold me.
travel product that will change your life? hmm…if you don’t already have a uv-powered toxin-killing water bottle like this one, i’d recommend it. it makes me crazy having to buy water abroad, so wasteful!
https://shop.camelbak.com/all-clear-bottle/d/1208
and i’ll also give you a fashion one. my vegan leather matt & nat day pack (inside made of recycled plastic bottles) looks way too stylish to be functional for long-term travel but i’ve dragged that thing through jungles, in the rain & then taken it to a nice dinner that night:
https://mattandnat.com/shop/handbags/backpacks
Yeah, that’s why I’m so obsessed… there is literally no sacrifice! It is better for your hair, the earth, your baggage weight, your wallet, the list goes on. And thank you for that Camelbak tip! I’ve been on the hunt for exactly that item, just waffling on brands. Great to have a personal recommendation!
I don’t know WHY this never occured to me! Solid shampoo is a genius idea for carry on luggage.
Seriously! I never do carry-ons (serial over packer here) and also can’t live without conditioner, but for people who can this is fairly revolutionary.
Hey Alex,
Only yesterday I was reading about alternatives to shampoos and was considering going back to soapnuts which we used to use as kids. No chemicals and it used to work great though not as convenient as shampoo (You had to protect ur eyes from it, else it stings). How timely! I would like to try this!
Regards,
Rekha
Timely indeed! Definitely worth giving a go whether you win or not!
Looks awesome!
Thanks Rebecca! Good luck!
I’ve been meaning to get some of this for a while. Good advice to head into the store for suggestions, they are always very helpful at the stores.
Good sales people too! I am a very indecisive spender and almost never buy the first time I look at something. But they had me sold within minutes!
I can’t wait to try it!
Let us know how it goes, Kimberly! And good luck!
I’ve been wanting to try this stuff!! I should probably get some anyway before I go to Swaziland in two weeks, ha.
Um, that sounds like a fabulous trip! Can’t wait to see photos!
I wanted to love these Lush shampoo bars but I’m still not sold yet. I’ve been using mine for about three weeks and every time it’s a struggle to get out of the tin and it takes ages to build up enough foam to work it through my hair. Maybe I have the wrong type for me, but nobody at the shop was too interested in helping me choose! I’ll use it til it runs out but I’ll probably look for an alternative then.
That’s a bummer about your experience in the shop! I’m sure there are other brands of solid shampoos so I’d play around until you find one you love. I’ve heard a few people complain about the tin but mine lathers up immediately — I think there are a lot of differences between the various “flavors,” though!
Great giveaway Alex! I’m equally obsessed with Lush’s solid shampoo, it’s such a good product to travel with. Unfortunately I’ve had a few occasions where not tipping out watery residue from the tin before you seal it up again causes the shampoo to disintegrate a bit, so now I pat dry both the tin’s insides and the shampoo itself before packing it away.
That is such a good tip and I do it most of the time too kind of subconsciously — hence forgetting to mention it here! New Lushers, take note!
I will need to try this!
Let us know how it goes, Karisa!
I’m fairly new to reading your blog although after reading an overdose worthy amount in the past few days I can safely say I’m hooked! I happened upon one of your posts while searching for helpful bits about getting into diving, packing for abroad and moving to/traveling around Southeast Asia and was happy to see your blog is full of useful, entertaining, and inspiring entries on all three! After reading your toiletry pack post I’m very happy to see your verdict on solid shampoos is a positive one. Hopefully I’ll get to try some of the free products but either way I’ll definitely be stopping into a store the next chance I have to pick one up!
Thank you so much for this sweet comment, Caihley! That is all so lovely to hear… glad my posts were helpful to you in your planning 🙂 Hope you keep coming back for more!
Yay!! LOVE Lush products. Remember when we first weren’t allowed ANY liquids in carryons? Well, my dad is an airline pilot and when I fly at home I fly standby, with carryon bags only. It was the day the liquid ban went into effect and my stuff got tossed… I popped into the Lush store inside the Toronto airport and they were making bank on solid shampoos. That’s where I got my first one! I was hooked as well. Agree with you on the conditioner too – hope they can get a better one coming 🙂
Okay, they are geniuses to have their shops in airports! As much as I hope the ridiculous liquid ban is lifted, I’m happy it’s unintentionally nudged people towards making an eco-friendly choice 🙂
You’re helping me reinvent the way I travel! Next on my list is the packing cubes, which I already love but don’t even have yet. I’ve wanted this solid shampoo for a while! We’ve all had too many mishaps with liquids in our bags. I need this in my life (and backpack!)
Krista those packing cubes are on sale — check out the link in my sidebar!
Lush Rocks!
Indeed it does — good luck Betsabe!
After reading an earlier mention of solid shampoo I planned to buy some before I travel to Peru next spring, but I’d love to win the giveaway and start using it now!
Peru was the trip that got me hooked! Good luck Melanie!
I had no idea such a product existed. It sounds marvelous
Hope you get the chance to give it a try!
Thank you for sharing this awesome tip! I am heading to the Philippines in March for a dive trip and I will definitely be bringing along the shampoo bar with me. I am blonde as well so I will have to bring a little bit of purple shampoo as well. Fingers crossed Lush reformats the conditioner bar before I leave!
I use purple shampoos occasionally as well… I wonder if the purple in the Jumping Juniper bar works the same magic?! I have no clue if that’s true, haven’t thought of it until now but maybe that’s part of the reason they recommended it to me!
I love Lush! They are my favorite. I started using the solid shampoo, conditioner and lotion to save space in my carry on liquid bag a couple years ago. I really like the Godiva shampoo, but I’m not sold on the conditoner either. I tried the Jungle conditioner and will use it in a pinch, but it’s not my first choice. Fun giveaway!
I am excited to try out the solid lotion, but I use SO MUCH lotion I can’t imagine it would last long enough for someone like me!
I cannot live without my Brookstone high-powered flashlight that’s shaped like a barrel, 2 inches high/3 inch circumference at its widest and comes on a lanyard. Discovered it in a shop in LGA. It’s a must for travel to nondeveloped countries and comes in handy everywhere – I keep mine thumbtacked to the wall next to my front door in case the power is out when I come home.
That’s awesome thinking ahead… when the power goes out I’m always lamely scrambling for my iPhone!
The jumping juniper is perfect for my hair too– I’ve got fast-greasing but thick hair. Really love it. AND for whatever reason they don’t have any stores in Poland! I really have to stock up whenever I’m outside the country.
I also didn’t care for the solid conditioner–it just doesn’t work in the same way. Fingers crossed that will change!
And yup, the perfect solution I’ve found for the container is a Hubble Bubble Gum Tape dispenser… super cheap and keeps my shampoo bar dry.
So glad you like this stuff. I’m really interested in any other product reviews, or maybe especially toiletry reviews, you have for traveling because sometimes one thing can make a big difference in my packing strategy 😉
I will definitely keep doing more of them as I find stuff I love, Lauren! So far the two products that have majorly blown me away have been the packing cubes and this, and it’s been super fun doing giveaways of both. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more… hence me trolling for recommendations at the end of this post 🙂
Have been eyeing the Lush products for a few months now! Just quit my job and am about to head on an around the world adventure – have been wondering if I should make the switch to this dry shampoo bar! P.S. Love your blog!!
I think it’s definitely worth testing out before your big trip Shelly! I’m gearing up for my next six month trip and I’ll be toting a full supply of these 🙂
Woo woo! This is the best giveaway yet!
All too perfect timing, I just went into Lush 2 weeks ago for the first time and bought a pot of Dark Angels face scrub. I am a total convert, it is the best beauty product I have ever used, I can’t stop raving about it to everyone I know. Leaves my face smooth and bright. I will take your recommendation on the shampoo bar if you take my recommendation on the Dark Angels scrub haha Thanks again Alex. Excited to nerd out over Lush goodness. And so crossing my fingers I win this giveaway!
You may just have convinced me to give it a try, Rachael! I’m pretty minimal with my face products, but it sounds exciting…
I cannot go anywhere without coconut oil! Lotion, sunscreen, makeup remover, skin soother, hair conditioner. I pretty much use it for everything!
I’ve never tried it Valerie, and I had no idea it could work as a sunscreen!
Love Lush! I really want to try their shampoo bars, but are they conditioning? Or do you use conditioner separately?
I use a separate conditioner — but I always do! Those two in one products are never enough for my hair. Anders has pretty long locks and when we were traveling together he just used the shampoo, but I always followed it up with some liquid conditioner!
I always take along my travel hair dryer defuser. It’s just a mesh-like contrivance that fits over the hair dryer and packs flat. A must have for those with curly hair.
I am so grateful I don’t have to blow dry my hair… I’m so lazy 🙂 I do it once or twice a year and lose my mind!
I am obsessed with lush!! Every time I visit a new city, i usually know that a lush is in the area by smell. I’m like a hound dog when it comes to lush stores, my nose perks up and my tail starts wagging. I’ll try out the shampoo bar!
Nice to hear from another fan! I was so excited to see there were stores in Panama City when I had run out 🙂 It was like a Mecca!
They have a bunch of these stores in DC/VA and now I must…try the solid shampoos when I travel. I wonder if its ok to use on colored hair? I have a bit of purple hair!
Definitely ask in the store to be sure… I wouldn’t want to be held responsible for any purple streaking going down 🙂 I’m assuming since it’s all natural it wouldn’t do any harm though!
I second the mention of a menstrual cup (I use the Diva cup) as a life-changing travel tool. It took me several cycles to get used to it, but now I LOVE IT more than anyone should love something associated with their period and would never consider going back.
My other must-have, which I’m sure you’re aware of by now, are facial wipes. On treks without frequent bathing facilities it feels so amazing to clean your face at the end of the day.
I have a really good brand I use of facial wipes (can’t think of it off the top of my head but it’s in my toiletry post) that is all natural, not tested on animals, etc. Love them! The only bummer is I go through them too quickly and on long trips can’t pack enough to get me through the whole trip.
I have seen this before, but never realized it was solid shampoo! I guess because it isn’t a liquid, you could take it in your carry-on rather than stuffing it in your suitcase if you had to.
I cannot live without my Rocky Mountain Soap lotion when I am on the go. I came across this store when I was visiting Banff, and because I have very sensitive skin, I was skeptical in trying any of their products. Their lotion is wonderful though! No itchiness and it seals in the moisture. Just what a Canadian girl needs for those extra cold winters we have 🙂
Yeah, there are a lot of hardcore carry-on travelers that love this stuff for that very reason (for me though I still need loads of the liquid conditioner… and can’t pack light anyway!) That lotion sounds tempting…. I’m a moisture addict myself!
I figured I’d give it a go, I mean it is a free giveaway! But I am a little doubtful it can work for my long tangly hair. We will see!
I do admit I have pretty easy hair. But next time you are near a store location you should see if there’s a certain bar they’d recommend to ya!
Fingers Crossed that I win this I love Hand made items 🙂
I don’t think they are handmade but I do believe they are manufactured with love!
No truer words have ever been written! And lush makes amazing shampoo bars. Let me also do a little shout out for lotion bars and solid sunscreen! Change traveling completely! Now if they can just sort out conditioner and face products, we could be free of liquid in our luggage altogether….
What brand of solid sunscreen do you use? I’m pretty attached to Sunbum but I’d be willing to try something new!
I just use Hawaiian Tropic’s as it is tiny, solid, and works. For me, non-liquid is the most critical product feature.
Damn wish I was a Canadian or US Resident! Might have to give it a try, looks like it would be great for travelling 🙂
I’ll try to make sure the next giveaway is global Katie! Unfortunately it’s not always in my control 🙁
I’d love to try it. Thanks for the opportunity.
You are so welcome, Susie! Good luck!
I bought my first Lush solid shampoo bar back in December all thanks to your rave reviews. So, if you need to give Lush proof they’ve made a wise choice in your influence, I’m it! Love the solid shampoo especially for traveling and like you, not a fan of the conditioner either but it would be awesome if they can get that one sorted out down the road for sure. Oh, and I definitely recommend visiting the store as well, the employees are hugely knowledgable and helpful.
Aw, thanks Cat! I would love to be an official brand ambassador for Lush if they’d have me 😉 So glad to hear you made the switch… think how many less plastic bottles are out in the world now as a result!
Ahh that’s a shame I can’t enter but I totally understand why. I love Lush but we don’t have it in China. They (and other ethical shops like The Body Shop) won’t open here because there is a strange beauty product law that says all products must be tested on animals first!! Hopefully they will be changing that horrible and ridiculous law soon. I’ve been wanting to try lush solid shampoo for a while, so I’ll have to get some if I go back to the UK for Christmas this year.
I’ve read about that bizarre rule… I hope it changes soon! One thing I love about Lush is they are super vocal about ending animal testing. It’s nice to see someone speak out about it!
I can’t wait to try this! I already love their massage bars… No messy oil spill and great after a long day of hiking! Thanks for the tip!
Hope you get hooked on the shampoo bars too… good luck!
Hi Alex,
I’ve never really thought about using solid shampoo before. I might just buy some for Chloe to take with her to Koh Tao! Do you think it will work with the islands water flow?
Do you mean the water pressure? If so, definitely — it performs just like regular shampoo!
I did mean that – thanks Alex!
Ahhhh I LOVE solid shampoo too! God bless Lush, which incidentally is a great British company, so I’m super proud of this Trans-Atlantic love
I actually didn’t know that, Lucy! British pride indeed.
This is on my packing to list to pick up before I set off to Southeast Asia in a few weeks! I adore the smell of the Lush shop…heaven!
Let me know if you love it as much as I did, Lisa! My guess is you will 🙂
Leaking bottle syndrome seems to follow me around. We are big campers/hikers so its important to travel light and we move around so often that bottles are being chucked into our backpacks which then result to exploring.
I have always be reluctant to try dry/solid shampoos and conditioners because my hair is so temperamental – dry, frizzy and really thick – maybe it’s time for a trip to Lush to see what they can do for me – just a shame I live in the UK so I can’t enter your competition!
I wonder if someone has found a solid conditioner that they feel is a successful substitute for the bottle variety?
I’d love to hear if someone has a solid conditioner recommendation as well!
Amazing idea!! I’m always looking for easier ways to travel (ie: how to lighten my load, limit my liquids, etc.) and I can’t wait to give this a try! Is there solid conditioner too?
Hey Ashley, there is but as noted I’m not much of a fan! Read through the comments here — a bunch of fellow readers have noted that they tried and didn’t love the conditioner version, unfortunately.
I’m so pumped about this shampoo! I’ve been looking for something to replace my plastic bottles and this may be the winner! Great post.
Thanks Samantha! I still have a ton of plastic in my pack unfortunately, but I’m always looking for way to cut down when I can!
Getting ready for a big 3 month honeymoon trip to se Asia, will definitely be bringing along the solid shampoo! Gracias for the tip 🙂
You’re welcome, Kristin! Hope you love it as much as I have!
I fell in love with solid shampoo when I came across a beautiful soap store in Barcelona and tried it there. I’m hooked! I would love to try the lush version 🙂
Lush is actually the first one I’ve ever seen… I’d love to check out other brands as well!
I have been intrigued by this solid shampoo business for a while and would love to try it. 🙂
Fingers crossed, Charise 🙂 Good luck!
Would love to try this shampoo on our upcoming trip through Europe. Alas it’s only for a month but baby steps for us first!
A month is a pretty big baby step 🙂 Happy travels!
What face products do you bring with on the road?
Hey Emily, I have a whole post about my toiletries, search “Inside my Bag” in my archives 🙂 Basically though just whatever face wash I can find on the road, and Jergens Natural Glow face lotion! Pretty simple on that front.
Love the solid shampoos by Lush. Helps me bring down the amount of liquids in my bag, and makes it much easier to go carry-on only. Plus if you forgot to bring soap or body wash it’s good for that too.
Glad to hear another endorsement, Alouise! Thanks!
I have a problem when it comes to hair products. I try them all. I have at least 12 different hair products right now. At least. So I thought this was really cool and will definitely be trying this!
I am the opposite, I almost never try new beauty products… I’m like ugh, one more thing to carry! So this was definitely a big deal for me 🙂
I would never have guessed that a solid shampoo could be so awesome, thanks for letting us know it works! I bet it smells amazing – just walking past a Lush store is heavenly!
Give it a try, Catherine… you might be surprised! I certainly was.
I love lush’s solid products. SO practical for travel!
The conditioner and deodorant are nice as well.
Seriously! I’m surprised I don’t see more travelers using them.
I love solid shampoo, though haven’t tried Lush products at all.
What kind of solid products do you use? I’m on the hunt for more!
I used bar soap from a company in Ottawa: https://www.purpleurchinsoap.com/collections/hair I love all of their stuff – if you make your way there, make sure to stop at their cute shop!
I’ve only tried lush henna, but i love the brand so far!
I didn’t even know they had henna… learn something new every day!
Thanks for sharing. Even if I do not win, I think I will try it for my Peru trip in August! 🙂
It was my own trip to Peru that made me fall in love with solid shampoo Paula. You’ll love it!
Enjoyed your post. I’ve been a LUSH user for years, but would still love to win your prize. My favourite product is definitely the shampoo bar, and I agree with you about the solid conditioner.
Sounds like there is a consensus here on the solid conditioner. Hope they keep working on it!
I admit I was a little skeptical about solid shampoo at first, but your enthusiasm really has me thinking otherwise now! I’m hoping to branch out from the typical liquid shampoo brand I’ve been using for 5+ years. Hopefully solid shampoo is the answer!
Let us know how it goes Zoe! I have a feeling you’ll be hooked. I was skeptical too when other travelers told me about it, but now I’m singing the gospel…
This is a super helpful review! Thank you! Travel tolietries are always a total confusing nightmare for me, but I am really excited to try this out for my next trip!
Thanks Sarah! Hoping to do more reviews like this as I find products I can’t live without…
My favorite LUSH solid shampoo is Godiva. It has chunks of cocoa butter in it and that helps condition your hair.
Um, that sounds delicious! Might have to give it a try next time…
Lush is wonderful!!!! I’ve decided that the next time I travel I will switch to their solids. It just sounds so much more convenient and totally less stress of exploding products all my stuff!! 🙂
Let us know how it goes, Abigail! It is super convenient, I just want them to keep expanding so I can restock more often from the road 🙂
I absolutely love Lush products, although haven’t used the solid shampoos in a while! Lush actually comes from the town I’m from in England (Poole). They have a Lush spa there too which is incredible! I miss using their bath products a lot when I’m away!
Ummmmm Lush SPA?! Now you’re speaking my language! I’m totally checking that out!
strangely enough, I have only bought perfumes from LUSH. they smell wonderful!
Perfume is something I give up when I travel in order to keep my bag from ballooning up. I definitely miss it sometimes when I’m feeling smelly 🙂
DRY SHAMPOO. I’ve never tried a solid shampoo from Lush, but their No Drought Dry Shampoo lasts forever and works much better than the baby powder cornstarch mixture I used to use! Totalllly worth it.
I have pretty greasy shampoo so I use dry shampoo often when I’m too lazy for a whole wash! Will have to try out Lush’s version.
Absolutely love LUSH! I haven’t tried their solid shampoos yet but I’ll have to after reading this!
Good luck, Melissa! Hope you love them as much as I do!
I loovvvve everything LUSH. Especially the solid shampoo! Their dry shampoo is a lifesaver!
I’m a dry shampoo junkie as well though I’ve never tried Lush’s version. I will after all these recommendations for it, though!
Thank you for the opportunity, Alex. It’s so sweet of you to think of us!
I gotcha, girl! 🙂
It does sounds like a game changer! No more sticky spills and the eco friendliness are a good thing!
I’ve been looking for shampoo bars where I’m at (Malaysia) since I heard of them but with no luck so far 🙁 Guess I’ll have to look harder or maybe find them when I get to NZ
Check Lush’s international site — they have stores in more countries that I would have thought!
Thanks! Sadly they’re not in my country. At least I now know they’re in New Zealand, I’ll be getting some from there!
I’ve been using Lush solid shampoo bars for years and they’re amazing! But how can they make such an awesome shampoo and such an awful conditioner?! Couldn’t wash it out my hair, left my hair greasy and dry all at the same time! Weird :/
I know how you feel, Kiara! Hopefully all the comments here will be a nice incentive to keep working on that formula 🙂
On the solid shampoo bandwagon!
It’s a game changer Gemma! Let us know what you think!
Great post!
I just bought a shampoo bar and conditioner bar at Lush today. I’m about to leave for backpacking trip through Spain and didn’t want to carry bottles or many liquids with me – so these are perfect and I can’t wait to try them.
I really wish I would have seen the Little Green Bag while I was there though.
Oooo I hope you love the shampoo as much as I do! Let us know how it goes — and you can always grab a Little Green Bag when you’re back 🙂
Got the solid shampoo yesterday after reading about it here, and tried it this morning. It was great!
Any luck on finding an alternative for conditioner yet?
I’m leaving for a backacking trip in 3 weeks, with a carry-on backpack only, so I’d love to find something similar that works.
What was it about the solid conditioner that wasn’t good?
Hey Evelina, you have good timing, I actually just received a new solid conditioner I ordered in the mail and will be testing it soon! The Lush one I didn’t love because it went quickly, it was really tricky to apply (it came out in strange clumps that stuck to my hair) and it just didn’t have great results. I guess because conditioner doesn’t lather it’s just a much trickier thing to try to put in solid form, unfortunately. High hopes for this next brand I’m trying, which was recommended by a friend!
Awesome! Can’t wait for your review 🙂
Leaving next week to spend 6 weeks in SE Asia. I’m a guy with short hair and wondering if 1 shampoo bar will last the entire trip? Also, what do you recommend for body soap for the trip? Hoping to avoid checking luggage. Thanks!
Hey Phil, based on my experience I’d definitely say you’ll be fine with one bar! I don’t travel with body soap — I just use what’s in the occasional hotel or private hostel room I stay in or use my shampoo bar or face wash in a pinch. Hope that helps!
Hi Alex!
I really love your blog and all of the stories you share, so I hope you don’t mind me sharing this. Both of my parents battled or are battling cancer, so I pay a lot of attention to the ingredients in my products. I used to use Lush products due to their claims of being natural, but I learned that most of the shampoo bars actually include sodium lauryl sulfate (a foaming agent) which is linked to cancer, neurotoxicity and other scary stuff. Totally get that some people just like products that are convenient, and these bars are nothing but amazing in that department! I also am fully accepting of the fact that my lifestyle is not for everyone. Just wanted to share the research I’ve done in case the natural aspect was the draw. If you’re ever curious about the toxicity levels of your beauty product (which I know is not always important to everyone) I recommend the Think Dirty app. It’s owned by a third party that does mostly I dependent research and should be fairly unbiased. It’s pretty interesting, in my opinion!
Regardless, I am so excited to see more women paying attention to the environmental impact of the beauty products we use! Lush is fantastic in that regard.
Hey Holly, of course I don’t mind you sharing! I love everything I’ve learned from those who take the time to leave interesting comments like this one over the years. I’ll be doing a post on the solid conditioner I’ve fallen in love with soon from Harmony LLC — I’d love to hear if that one gets the all clear.
Awesome! I’ll keep an eye out for it, especially since I’m still trying to find one myself! 🙂
+1 on the Mooncup. Such a lifesaver, especially if you’re doing any big physical activity or are going somewhere where there aren’t any public toilets like we did so often.
Instead of solid shampoo, I just use a bar of soap for everything. Works just as well, at least on my short hair, and it cuts way down on different products I need to carry and restock.
I basically do the opposite — carry solid shampoo and not soap 🙂 My hair is pretty low maintenance but it immediately turns to straw if I don’t condition and while I’ve never tried, I suspect it might do the same if I tried to use a regular soap bar! I’m always trying to cut down on my number of products though, with varying levels of success.
I recently bought a solid shampoo and conditioner from Lush and wasn’t sure about the purchase once I left the store. After reading this I am so happy that I made a good decision to get it. I plan on doing a lot of traveling and it is so practical!
I hope you fall in love with it like I have! And actually, I need to do a review of the solid conditioner I’ve recently fallen in love with…
The shampoo bar defo makes sense plus less room and more WOW! 🙂 i really want to try this out now x
Let me know how you like Leanne! I know there are a lot of converts around here!
I have been using solid shampoo bars for almost a year now, but definitely NOT from Lush because of the chemicals and artificial fragrances they use in their products. I don’t consider them to be safe at all. I much prefer to use 100% certified organic products with zero synthetics and that is why I use Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve products. They are 100% natural and work extremely well. After using their shampoo bars, I will not go back to bottle shampoo ever again. Their lip balms, salves, skincare and body products are amazing. I definitely recommend them to those that have sensitive skin or are looking for genuinely natural products.
Hey Leanne, thanks for the suggestion! Lush might not be perfect but I still give them a big thumbs up for sourcing ingredients ethically, campaigning against animal testing, participating in social and environmental activism, and funding cruelty-free scientific research. Not to mention making such great travel-friendly products 🙂
Alex,
Great suggestions! I have a ton of hair too and those mini shampoo bottles just do not last! I’ve only tried Lush products once. I wanted to buy the entire store, everything smelled good and was either pretty or just interesting. It is a bit pricey so it’s good to know you were able to make it last so long. I would love to try solid shampoos and some of the other products again but let me first tell you what happened that put me off…I purchased a solid lotion and left it in my car while I continued to shop. It ended up melting and getting EVERYWHERE before I even made it home (I lived in Florida at the time so it was HOT). I would be worried about the same type of thing happening with the dry shampoo or lotions in my bag. This post was from awhile ago so I’m curious if you’ve had any issues with the products melting. I would be worried about ruining everything in my bag with oily stains (from the lotion) or just getting them soapy. Hopefully you havent had this issue and it was just me!
Hey Hannah! Hmmmm, that’s a weird one! I’m guessing it’s a lotion-specific problem because I haven’t experienced anything like it and Southeast Asia and Central America definitely are on par with Florida when it comes to heat. The shampoo starts to crumble if anything, and while the conditioner can get really soft and slimy, I’ve never had it liquify. However, I do keep them in their little tubs regardless so that they don’t rub off on anything 🙂 They are super long lasting — I definitely recommend giving them a try! (Check out my later follow up conditioner post for a great brand recommendation there.)
These product have lasted me a pretty long time (almost one year)! It smells great and is super portable (even in the airplane).I use this every time I wash my hair (4-5 days). I 100% notice a difference in my hair: it stays cleaner for longer (before I used to wash my hair every 3 days) and I don’t have neither as much split ends. I notice my hair is shiner and styles easier (probably thanks to the oil repairing products in it). I noticed it did in fact boost my hair growth. I also love that they’re more eco-friendly, since they don’t require a plastic bottle. You can buy for an affordable price the little metallic and keep it for you next purchases in the shop. I was highly impressed, that’s why I bought a new one two weeks ago!
That’s awesome to hear, Monica! Wow, I can’t believe it lasted you so long — I guess my hear is ridiculously lengthy so so it’s no surprise I go through them pretty quick 🙂 I can’t imagine my life without solid shampoo anymore.
I hear that this can cause hair to have more split ends and need trimmed more often. Do you have any idea with that happening?
Hm, I’ve never heard that and haven’t experienced it myself. Sounds like a rumor 🙂
Okay, thanks Alex.
Great post! Greetings from the UK x
Thanks Josie! Are you a solid shampoo fan?
Not yet but my mum loves it (the Lush ones) and after reading this I feel I should give it a go! 🙂
Totally! Changed my toiletry bag forever 😛
I am excited about trying these solid shampoos. They look delicious and since we do travel a lot I love the idea of one less heavy liquid in my bag. We have a beach trip to Mexico coming right up and I will try a Lush bar out on that trip. I have wavy/curly hair and like to keep it as curly as possible, so I will be curious how it works. I think, like you, I will stick with my regular conditioner though. Just starting to read your blog and loving it!
Hey Emily! I actually did find a solid conditioner I love — check out my review of it here!
Awesome! Thanks for pointing that out. Looking forward to going solid.
Hope you love it as much as I have!
Hi Alex, I travel loads too and mainly for diving breaks too (kindred spirits!) so I find that my hair can get tired out from the sea, salt and the sun – so it hasn’t been just solid shampoos that I’ve needed but also a good conditioner. A few months ago I found these amazing award winning 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner Bars which are not only small and convenient for me to carry but also do the job in conditioning my hair! They’re available on both sides of the Atlantic and I thoroughly recommend them: https://thesolidbarcompanyusa.com/collections/hair-care/products/2-in-1-shampoo-conditioner-bar-frankincense
Best wishes, Maddie x
Hey Maddie! Coming back to blogging after a hiatus and catching up on comments! Thank you so much for this recommendation. Do you use liquid shampoo conditioner combos? I’ve never found one that worked for my hair so hesitant to try this but if you say it’s worth it, maybe I need to!
Hi Alex – Welcome back! I’ve been away for a while too! But in answer to your question, no – I haven’t tried liquid ones, for many reasons but first and foremost because that would mean a plastic bottle purchase and, secondly, liquid shampoos/conditioners are up to 80% water!
See here: https://www.newsweek.com/science-shampoo-what-ingredients-mean-222524
Which is pretty shameful.
Anyway – great to see you back!
Best,
Maddie
I agree — I don’t use liquids either! Was just wondering if you had experience with a combo product from the past as then I could gauge if maybe I’d have a different experience with a solid combo than I’ve had with those. Hate to waste even one bar, ha! Though I suppose I could always layer with a conditioner bar if it didn’t work for me.