The modern world has seen a rise in the use of these little miracles known as the shampoo bar, and we’ve got you covered with our best shampoo bar for coloured hair!
Super nourishing, super kind to the planet and super gentle on your colour, that’s why we adore them.
They’re bursting with natural oils which help to condition your hair, and are totally free of the sulphates which are the paint strippers for your colour.
We’re here with the best bar money can buy to transform your hair care routine, and your locks!
We’ll discuss what to look out for when buying your next bar, and provide some examples of brands that offer great products.
It is important to note that not all of them are created equal and it’s important to find one tailored specifically for your needs. If you’re looking for a good place to start on this journey, then read on!
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Contents
- 1 What is a shampoo bar?
- 2 Why should I use a shampoo bar?
- 3 Is a shampoo bar good for coloured hair?
- 4 How do I use a shampoo bar?
- 5 What is the best shampoo bar for coloured hair?
- 6 Best shampoo bar for coloured hair at a glance.
- 7 TOP PICK!
- 8 J.R. Liggett Bar Shampoo, Virgin Coconut Argan Oil
- 9 #1 Faith in Nature Natural Dragon Fruit Shampoo Bar.
- 10 #2 Ethique Eco-Friendly Solid Shampoo Bar for Normal-Dry or Frizzy Hair.
- 11 #3 Shine On Shampoo Bar for dry and damaged hair.
- 12 #4 J.R. Liggett Bar Shampoo, Virgin Coconut Argan Oil
- 13 #5 PureChimp Natural Shampoo Bar – Banana/Vanilla
- 14 #6 Clovelly Soap Co Handmade Natural Shampoo Soap Bar, Eucalyptus Mint & Lemon.
- 15 Do I need to condition my hair too?
- 16 How do you store shampoo bars in the shower?
- 17 Parting words.
What is a shampoo bar?
Slowly but surely, an exciting new revolution in coloured hair care is creeping up on us. They’re firm, they’re pretty, they smell out of this world. AND it’s official, they can outlive your favourite coloured hair shampoos by three bottles!
They look like soap but are packed full of gorgeous-making ingredients for your hair and are not as drying for your skin as traditional soap bars can be.
They contain all-natural ingredients with no nasty chemicals or additives like sulphates that can dry your hair and damage your follicles. Their blend of natural ingredients are high quality, luxurious and smell amazing too.
Your hair needs some time to get used to using them, so you may find your hair feels ‘coated’ or waxy at first. But push on through and you’ll never look back.
If you feel inclined, you can also make them yourself!
Why should I use a shampoo bar?
There are lots of benefits for using them for dyed hair in place of your normal colour shampoo – at home or while travelling.
Pros
- They’re a compact size and handy to carry around to work, the gym and on your travels.
- They contain no nasty chemicals or additives.
- Some can be used on your body.
- They’re eco-friendly with no plastic packaging.
- They’re budget friendly too.
- They last so much longer than bottle shampoos.
Cons
- It can take some time for your hair to adjust to using it.
- Some have a waxy consistency which can build up in your hair.
- They can cause tangles in very long or fine hair.
- They can leave you hair with a ‘coated’ feeling.
Is a shampoo bar good for coloured hair?
Yes, actually. These all-natural products are great for all hair types and colours because they don’t contain any of the harsh chemicals that can damage your colour or dry out your locks.
They’re also eco-friendly and last much longer than liquid shampoos. However, there is one catch: it’s important to find a one with high-quality ingredients in order to prevent build-up on your scalp which can lead to dandruff and scalp issues!
We get asked a lot of questions about Lush shampoo bars which come in a variety of gorgeous scents and colours. Unfortunately, they also contain sulphates which strip your colour. So we won’t be featuring them here!
How do I use a shampoo bar?
Shampoo bars are easy to use! Just follow our quick guide below. You read more in How to use a shampoo bar for coloured hair.
What is the best shampoo bar for coloured hair?
They’re cheap, they’re eco-friendly and they last 3 x as long as bottle shampoo. We’ve searched and scrubbed the land to find the best one for coloured hair. These are the best of the best!
Best shampoo bar for coloured hair at a glance.
| Shampoo bar | Looks like | Best for | Buy it now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faith in Nature Natural Dragon Fruit Shampoo Bar. |   | Long-lasting bar. | |
| Ethique Eco-Friendly Solid Shampoo Bar for Normal-Dry or Frizzy Hair. |   | Soft, silky hair. | |
| Shine On Shampoo Bar for dry and damaged hair. |   | Clean, shiny glossy locks. | |
| J.R. Liggett Bar Shampoo, Virgin Coconut Argan Oil |   | Much-needed moisture. | |
| PureChimp Natural Shampoo Bar - Banana/Vanilla |   | Sensitive skin. | |
| Clovelly Soap Co Handmade Natural Shampoo Soap Bar, Eucalyptus Mint & Lemon. |   | Hard water and great value. |
TOP PICK!
J.R. Liggett Bar Shampoo, Virgin Coconut Argan Oil
Best for: Much-needed moisture
J.R Liggetts offering is a charmingly old fashioned looking bar that resembles a pack of butter! It smells good enough to eat too!
We found this one hard to get the quantity right so as not to leave a residue, but if you nail it, the results are fab. This bar is infused with argan oil which our stressed coloured tresses loved and left them feeling superbly soft and moisturised. There’s also a handy mini version for travelling too.
#1 Faith in Nature Natural Dragon Fruit Shampoo Bar.
They say:
- Leaves your hair incredibly soft, shiny and free from build-up.
- Suitable for normal, dry, curly and colour treated hair.
- SLS, SLES, Paraben Free
- Cruelty Free, No animal testing
- Works well in hard water
- They also condition your hair.
Reviewers say:
“I’ve tried other bars which have left my hair feeling greasy and waxy. I’d almost given up on the idea of shampoo soap bars until I came across Soul & Soap! I’ve liked these so much I’ve ordered more!”
“I live in a hard water area and washing other ones out was a nightmare. After the reading the reviews I thought I’d give these a try and so glad I did! It lathers up well, washes out easily and leaves the hair clean, all with a great smell.”
“I do need to use a little conditioner on my hair after using these, but I have colour treated hair so it’s always dry. The soaps do last ages so I should be set now for a long time, which is better for the environment too!”
We say:
These cleansing bars from Faith in Nature are gorgeous and come in a range of smells and rich formulas to suit every whim – from Lavender and Geranium, Shea and Argan, and Coconut and Shea butter.
It lathers really well compared to other bars and our hair felt soft afterwards and not at all waxy. The reviews all talk it lasting really well too. What’s not to love?
Best for: Long lasting bar.
#2 Ethique Eco-Friendly Solid Shampoo Bar for Normal-Dry or Frizzy Hair.
They say:
- For those of you with beautiful curly hair, or who abuse your hair with hot irons, curlers, hair dryers or bleach.
- 100% soap free, pH balanced and safe for colour treated hair.
- Perfect for very dry or frizzy hair.
- Equivalent to 3 bottles of liquid shampoo.
Reviewers say:
“After just one use of Ethique’s Frizz Wrangler, my mind and hair is blown. I will never use another brand now!! You know the feeling of having a fresh hair cut? Your hair is light and healthy feeling? That is the only way I can describe how my hair feels after using this bar. Love it!”
“This smells amazing and leaves my hair soft and silky!”
“I found this so soft and gentle on the bleached ends of my hair. I have no product build up anymore after using this and I love that it’s safe for the whole family to use too.”
We say:
What’s great about Ethique’s range is that you can choose the right bar for your hair type – from Oily to normal to dry and frizzy. We picked the one for frizzy, dry damaged hair as the best for coloured hair.
It smells amazing and the coconutty goodness felt super luxurious on our hair. It washed out great with no residue and left our hair feeling super soft and our scalp feeling moisturised. This is the best one for softness.
Best for: Soft, silky hair.
#3 Shine On Shampoo Bar for dry and damaged hair.
They say:
- No fuss, no mess.
- Simple, solid (SLS & SLES-free) shampoo
- Does away with over-packaging and environmental worries.
- Perfect for everyday use and ideal in the wash-bag for visits to the gym, at the swimming pool or to take on holiday!
Reviewers say:
“Having tried other products I’ve found this to be the best, leaves my hair soft and shiny, with no need for conditioner.”
“I adore this! It’s lasting really well. I bought ‘Bounty Hunter’ as I have highlighted hair, it leaves it super clean and shiny.”
“Smells so great and it’s really easy to use. Cleans my coloured hair without stripping the colour.”
We say:
The Shine on range comes in the most delicious range of scents for all types of hair – from mint to coconut to cinnamon to citrus.
There’s one for swimming, one for blondes and even one for all the family to share (although you might not want to!) Shine On have got it covered. Best of all, they really work! And that’s why the reviews are awesome too.
We chose Shine On Bounty Hunter for dry and damaged hair and the results were clean tresses with gallons of gloss.
The dinky bar contains lemon oil which smells amazing adds the shine and sleekness. Coconut oil nourished our hair so well, we only needed a light conditioner.
Best for: Clean, shiny glossy locks.
#4 J.R. Liggett Bar Shampoo, Virgin Coconut Argan Oil
They say:
- Gives new life to dry, tangled, flyaway hair and restores smoothness, strengthens, and gives your hair luster and shine.
- Vitamin E is also added and is excellent for colour treated hair.
- Organic, luscious, moisturizing, sweet-scented, delicious Virgin Coconut Oil.
- Retains hair moisture, and keeps hair soft and shiny.
Reviewers say:
“I have been using this shampoo for 3 months now. Absolutely love it. No conditioner required and leaves my hair clean and super soft. Stopped my hair fall completely.”
“I’ve been using these for about a year now. I’m still loving it. My hair is naturally clean without being stripped or gunked up with chemicals from typical shampoos. Love knowing this!”
“If you have dry hair or if you colour your hair or if you are out in the sun a lot, this is an amazing product. Nothing I have bought in a plastic bottle no matter what the cost has compared to this!”
We say:
J.R Liggetts offering is a charmingly old fashioned looking bar that resembles a pack of butter! It smells good enough to eat too!
We found this one hard to get the quantity right so as not to leave a residue, but if you nail it, the results are fab. This bar is infused with argan oil which our stressed coloured tresses loved and left them feeling superbly soft and moisturised. There’s also a handy mini version for travelling too.
Best for: Much-needed moisture
#5 PureChimp Natural Shampoo Bar – Banana/Vanilla
- A magical 100% natural shampoo.
- Vegan, pure & nourishing for your hair.
- With coconut oil, olive oil and avocado oil.
- Wrapped in recyclable paper + a biodegradable label.
- Can also be used as a soap.
Reviewers say:
“Has a really good lather and smells delicious. This is one of the better ones but still leaves my hair a little waxy.”
“My hairdresser noticed that my hair is in fabulous condition. Love this shampoo.”
“This is a completely natural, vegan product that comes wrapped in cool looking tissue paper, so you really can pat yourself on the back for using it.
We say:
PureChimp’s delicious smelling bar is like a solid smoothie packed with coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, banana and even beer! The beer added shine and bounce to our hair.
They say your hair may need 2-3 weeks to eliminate the chemical residue left by previous shampoos and that’s true. Our hair did feel a little coated afterwards but less dry than before. Our sensitive scalp from all the coloured hair treatments felt soothed and calm.
(Pure Chimp’s incredible Matcha Green Tea is also worth adding to your basket!)
Best for: Sensitive skin.
#6 Clovelly Soap Co Handmade Natural Shampoo Soap Bar, Eucalyptus Mint & Lemon.
They say:
- Gentle non drying soap bar with added castor oil.
- For normal – dry hair and scalp.
- Washing your Hair with our bars can help you reduce your plastic consumption.
- You may benefit from a vinegar rinse after each wash or your standard conditioners.
Reviewers say:
“Love the packaging, love the smell, love the shop! Love everything about this new bar and I’ll never switch to anything else now.”
“You have to push through the first few washes until your hair adjusts but I’m so glad that I did! It really lathers well and my husband keeps commenting on the smell. It’s so lovely!”
“This gave me a sticky residue on my hair at first but I loved the smell so kept on using it. After a while your hair becomes fluffier and starts to look and feel amazing. Well worth with it.”
We say:
This gorgeous, wholesome brand comes from Devon and they are real artisan masters of all things soap. We found some of the fragrances a little too ‘granny’ but this one smells lovely and fresh, with notes of citrus and mint.
Don’t be put off with advice of putting vinegar in your hair. This is a top tip to restore the ph balance in your hair. We didn’t need to but we used this on hair that wasn’t too dry or damaged. This is the best foamer of the bunch so is great for hard water areas. It’s bigger than other bars too so a little goes a long way and you get more to boot.
Best for: Hard water and great value.
Do I need to condition my hair too?
You’ll still need to condition your hair after you use the shampoo to keep your hair supple and your colour locked in.
Some people find that they can be quite drying until your hair gets used to them, so it’s important to give it some extra love.
Check out our top recommended conditioners for coloured hair to find the one for you.
Once a week, use a deep conditioner to restore any lost moisture and bounce.
How do you store shampoo bars in the shower?
We all know the struggle of trying to hold onto a slippery wet block in an awkward position with one hand while you’re lathering your hair with the other. It’s not easy!
It may be solid, but it’s not going to stay in one piece forever. It will eventually start to separate and you’ll need to mix up your bar with some oil or conditioner before using it again.
The question is: where do you keep it? When there are so many bottles of shampoo on the floor, can’t we just have a place for our soap?
Luckily, there’s a way to make it easier on yourself. We recommend a good old soap dish like this one from Amazon to protect your bar in between washes.
Ones with a lid make them handy to carry around too and take them with you easily when you travel.
Parting words.
So, there you have it! If you’re looking for a cruelty-free, natural hair care routine to nourish your locks and protect the planet, why not try these out?
With so many different products on offer now it’s never been easier. Regardless of your hair type or preference for natural products, we’ve found the best ones for coloured hair.
We hope this post has helped to answer some of your questions and given you a better understanding on how these bars can nourish your locks without stripping colour.
Now go get yourself some natural goodness and start feeling good about what’s in store for your gorgeous mane!