PFarnsworth
Camino Believer
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances July 2018 and July 2022?
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I concur, it's Dr. Bronner's bar soap for this pilgrim too.Yes. I have a Dr. Bronner bar of soap that’s great for shower, shampoo, and wash. It should last me from SJPP to Finesterre. Buen Camino.
Agreed. I used lush for my hair and body but take half of a Dr. Bronner’s bar for clothes. Lasted me 38 days with plenty left.I liked Dr Bonners Almond soap for body and clothes. I used Lush jojoba bar for hair - the Dr Bonners was too drying - but if you have short hair, it is probably fine.
I used a bar of African black soap on the Camino and found it excellent for all things. I use it at home with our hard water,and it still sundaes up well.Does anyone have a recommendation on a soap that will work for body/hair/clothes? I'm guessing that any soap will "work" but I'm looking for what works "best" and is easy to carry. What do pilgrims use?
We like this soap also.My personal favorite for body, hair and clothes (hand wash) is the locally sourced "Heno de Pravia." It is available in 4 and 5 oz bars. The most commonly seen is the 4.0 oz bar. I bring a supply home with me each time to to Spain.
Ironically, the soap is now produced in Mexico. However, it is far more expensive in the US, at least in FL (when I can find it) than it is in Spain.
This soap is an olive oil based soap with a clean non-fruity fragrance. As the label says, it has been a standard across Spain for more than 100 years. (See photo).
You can obtain it in just about every tienda and supermercado in Spain.
Hope this helps.
View attachment 42960
Does anyone have a recommendation on a soap that will work for body/hair/clothes? I'm guessing that any soap will "work" but I'm looking for what works "best" and is easy to carry. What do pilgrims use?
I agree with Campsuds. Comes in a small concentated bottle. You can use it for bathing, hair, clothes and even dishes.I use Campsuds.
I'd have no problem using Dawn dishwashing liquid. It's in my kitchen right now, but have always wondered if it might be a tad harsh on my hair.I used a bar of generic glycerin soap I found a store because I lost my bar of soap I brought over. It was fine for me, but not so good for my clothes.
I'm preparing for a wilderness hike this summer, and I've been reading up on camp soaps, Dr. Bronners, etc., and I've made up my mind. I'm going with a small bottle of regular Dawn dish soap. It's cheap, I can get it from the dollar store for... well, a dollar. It's powerful and a great cleaner, oilfield workers use it to get oil out of their clothes and off their skin. It's safe for you and the environment. It's what they use when they clean birds and animals after an oil spill.
I'd have no problem using Dawn dishwashing liquid. It's in my kitchen right now, but have always wondered if it might be a tad harsh on my hair.
Since I have no hair, it's not a factor for me!
I have been trying at home a new (to me!) shampoo bar to use on the camino and I like it.
Used to use Lush but I have gone off it.
This one is https://www.friendlysoap.co.uk/product-category/shampoo/
No obvious nasties in it and it feels like I have used conditioner. And it is cheaper
PS: I hasten to add I have no affiliation with this Company nor any other interest
I used a bar of generic glycerin soap I found a store because I lost my bar of soap I brought over. It was fine for me, but not so good for my clothes.
I'm preparing for a wilderness hike this summer, and I've been reading up on camp soaps, Dr. Bronners, etc., and I've made up my mind. I'm going with a small bottle of regular Dawn dish soap. It's cheap, I can get it from the dollar store for... well, a dollar. It's powerful and a great cleaner, oilfield workers use it to get oil out of their clothes and off their skin. It's safe for you and the environment. It's what they use when they clean birds and animals after an oil spill.
Yikes, no, I am not ignoring you! Back to the drawing board..The ingredients list from that company does not mention lye, which had to have been used to create a bar with those other ingredients. Lye is not bad.. almost all soaps are made with it. It means the company is dishonest, though, in my opinion. It also means that it is technically a soap, not a shampoo, which means the pH will be much higher and can cause hair damage. All that being said (as a soap and shampoo making nerd), if it works for you, you can ignore me.
Yikes, no, I am not ignoring you! Back to the drawing board..
Cleaning and conditioning/moisturizing are opposite properties in soap and sometimes it's hard to find a balance that works for your skin. Dawn is very cleansing, but you may find it very drying on your skin. Let us know.
With a completely shaved head, I spent more on sunscreen than I saved on shampoo. My low-maintenance preference is to have short hair rather than a shaved head. Of course, that's not an option for everyone.I'm thinking I'm just going to shave all my hair off and go bald to avoid having to wash or comb my hair. SIMPLIFY! That way I only have to worry about washing body and clothes!
FamPed. I walked from Oviedo to Muxia last september,and used a small bar of african black soap,for body wash,shampoo,and washing my clothes. Q 4 oz. bar lasted me all 18 days with some left over. I use it at home,and on the trail when hiking. I find it in my local health food store, but located it on Amazon; although they advertised mostly 1 lb. blocks which would have to be quartered. It is probably sold in Spain,as africa is right next door. Try it out at home and see if you like it. I mentioned it to some of my friends,and was surprized to hear that they all used it. If you have any more questions,feel free to ask. And by the way Buen Camino!@Beeman, I never heard of African black soap. Can you please tell me about it? I would like to learn more. ☺
I found the box the soap comes in and the website is: OUT OF AFRICASHEA.COM. This explains the humanitarian work they do. I hope that this helps you.FamPed. I walked from Oviedo to Muxia last september,and used a small bar of african black soap,for body wash,shampoo,and washing my clothes. Q 4 oz. bar lasted me all 18 days with some left over. I use it at home,and on the trail when hiking. I find it in my local health food store, but located it on Amazon; although they advertised mostly 1 lb. blocks which would have to be quartered. It is probably sold in Spain,as africa is right next door. Try it out at home and see if you like it. I mentioned it to some of my friends,and was surprized to hear that they all used it. If you have any more questions,feel free to ask. And by the way Buen Camino!
3Ivory soap and Dr. Bronner's soaps are both actually pretty harsh. I know this because I make soap and I look at the ingredients. I loved my own grapefruit scented soap on the Camino. That being said, even nice homemade soap does not work well for hair (altho some here said they use regular soap for all). The pH of soap is too high for hair and, especially with long hair like mine, really fries it. I made my own bar shampoo and conditioner which worked very well, but they are complicated to make. Many people like Lush bar shampoos, but I thought they disintegrated too quickly. I found this source of bar shampoos and conditioner that I highly recommend: https://www.etsy.com/shop/GetLathered
She makes great, long-lasting hard bar shampoos and conditioners and I think you can pick the scent. She's in the US.. not sure about shipping elsewhere.
http://outofafricashea.com/products/african-black-4oz/
Aha, it is a shea butter soap, sounds interesting.I love different soaps, so maybe I´ll try one out or bye one to my collection.I have to ask our soapmaking expert @JillGat , what do you think about this soap?
Edit: Trying to fix the broken link to @JillGat .
I have used it for years and it works just fine!That soap would be great for body and clothes. For hair, no. Natural soap is made with oils saponified with lye. The pH is too high, no matter what you do. It will fry your hair.
Carrying liquid shampoo on the Camino is a drag and I couldn't even find small bottles of hair conditioner in Spain. I have long hair. Being a clinical researcher, I played around with formulas and finally came up with formulas for bar shampoo and conditioner that are not only practical for travel, but are better than any liquid versions I have ever used. Small, solid bars of shampoo and conditioner last way longer than larger bottles of the liquid stuff, too.
PM me if you are headed out on the Camino soon and I will send you some bars at cost (for materials and shipping). I'm not trying to profit here, I'm just excited about this solution to a problem I've been dealing with, too.
The "best" IMO would be a block of lavender-scented Savon de Marseilles.
https://www.maison-du-savon-de-mars...es-essentielles-de-lavande-3700601504026.html
This can be bought in many ordinary supermarkets in France, though the "Casino" ones seem to do a better job than others of having it in stock.
The simple olive oil version is better just for clothes, and is also perfectly fine for your hair and your body, but the lavender is of course a lot more pleasant for the two latter.
Since those are single use pods the packaging probably weighs a lot more than the product.anyone ever use these....www.squeezepods.com ?
Actually talking about black african soap! My lady friend with long hair has also used it for years!I have used it for years and it works just fine!
@JillGat This is very interesting, I didn't know that! Just checked the Liggett's shampoo website and they saponify their shampoo bars with lye - does that explain why I thought it was awful? (Apologies to everyone who loves them, I know different stuff works for different people but this never worked for me.) The links you and others have posted are for US sellers, but I have now sent messages to a few shampoo bar makers and sellers asking outright if they use lye in the process, since you spotted that they don't always list it. Hopefully I'll find one that doesn't. I dislike having to use normal shampoo every day when I go for a long walk so have been looking for a good alternative. Thanks for the info.This is a soap that - like all soap - is saponified with lye and is bad for your hair. There are no soaps with a pH low enough for hair. Many soaps are mild and work great on skin, but you have to use a completely different process to make solid shampoo bars.
Me, too, regarding shampoo. Brought a three ounce container, filled up when I could, bought a big bottle to fill up with and leave at an albergue when I had to. Cleans everything!!!On my first Camino I took Dr. Bronner's liquid and put it in a 3 oz size plastic travel bottle. I used it for my hair, showering and laundry. It worked fine. For my next two Caminos I just filled my little travel bottle with super cheap Suave shampoo. Yep, I used it on my hair, showering and laundry. When it ran low, I filled it up with the leftovers laying around from others (like Tinky does) and probably ended up with a few brands in the same bottle. My hair, body, and clothes still got squeaky clean.
Cleans everything
I bought some of this and found it passable,but not as good as african black soap.My personal favorite for body, hair and clothes (hand wash) is the locally sourced "Heno de Pravia." It is available in 4 and 5 oz bars. The most commonly seen is the 4.0 oz bar. I bring a supply home with me each time to to Spain.
Ironically, the soap is now produced in Mexico. However, it is far more expensive in the US, at least in FL (when I can find it) than it is in Spain.
This soap is an olive oil based soap with a clean non-fruity fragrance. As the label says, it has been a standard across Spain for more than 100 years. (See photo).
You can obtain it in just about every tienda and supermercado in Spain.
Hope this helps.
View attachment 42960
I bought some of this and found it passable,but not as good as african black soap.
@JillGat This is very interesting, I didn't know that! Just checked the Liggett's shampoo website and they saponify their shampoo bars with lye - does that explain why I thought it was awful? (Apologies to everyone who loves them, I know different stuff works for different people but this never worked for me.) The links you and others have posted are for US sellers, but I have now sent messages to a few shampoo bar makers and sellers asking outright if they use lye in the process, since you spotted that they don't always list it. Hopefully I'll find one that doesn't. I dislike having to use normal shampoo every day when I go for a long walk so have been looking for a good alternative. Thanks for the info.
This is a soap that - like all soap - is saponified with lye and is bad for your hair.
The laundry detergent was always provided when I used a machine in an albergue. Sometimes it was automatically dispensed.Washing macines for laundry seem to be ever more prevalent in a albergues along the Camino Frances these days. Are pilgrims carrying laundry detergent or is it provided for the price of renting the machine?
Concur on the Lush soap. Buy the round tins they provide in their shops. Also they make a great toothpaste alternative, which which is in a chewable tablet form.Lush soap does top to bottom and cloths as well. Used it last year but do get the box for it,
I just brought a smallish bottle of my usual shampoo for all my cleaning needs. On the Frances I ran out of soap about 5 days in - travel size. Ended up buying a regular size bottle of shampoo and pouring 1/2 of it out to minimize weight. Only one alburgue I encountered carried 'travel' size sundries. Also just bring a regular size deodorant - travel size will only get you to Leon.Does anyone have a recommendation on a soap that will work for body/hair/clothes? I'm guessing that any soap will "work" but I'm looking for what works "best" and is easy to carry. What do pilgrims use?
Concur on the Lush soap. Buy the round tins they provide in their shops. Also they make a great toothpaste alternative, which which is in a chewable tablet form.
I use Dawn 4x Platinum Concentrate for hair, shower and laundry.
Used the laundry sheets o my 1st ...never again. Didn’t dissolve well and left a residueMy camino I used Dr Bonners for washing and bathing but I carried shampoo and conditioner as I have very long hair which tangles easily which requires a moisturizing conditioner and a sulfate free shampoo.
On the next camino 2019 Del Norte I will replace it with Travel on laundry sheets literally weighs nothing (less than a pack of gum) and bar soap for my hair . This will cut weight and provide a good option if I need conditioner I will buy along the way. Just another option for those looking. Ethique is a New Zealand product I found on Amazon. Soaps simular to Lush made with natural products and lasts longer than liquid.
I used 2-3 travel on sheets last year in the laundry machines last year with no issues.. but they were quite small for the large machines and I shared laundry with another pilgrim. This year I will try another brand. Trying out at home they work fine I don't use the entire sheet (3x5). I cut it into 3 pieces so it dissolves faster with no residue. If hand washing allow the sheet to dissolve first before putting the clothes in, in the machine wash on warm if you can. .Used the laundry sheets o my 1st ...never again. Didn’t dissolve well and left a residue
I cannot speak for Lush bars but with the Ethique it does not require a acidic rinse....I have very long hair almost to my waist which tangles easy. I am of mixed heritage. I found Ethique on Amazon and they also make a deep conditioner (tiny dissolvable bar).If using lye soap/shampoo bars, who uses an acidic hair rinse After. Often recommended is an Apple cider vinegar hair rinse, which Is supposed to balance the pH, and make your hair smoothier. That's what I use at home.
Who also takes with them some vinegar, or is correct that citric acid powder can work just as well?
Neither the Lush or Ethique bars are lye soap based, so wouldn't require the vinegar rinse.I cannot speak for Lush bars but with the Ethique it does not require a acidic rinse....I have very long hair almost to my waist which tangles easy. I am of mixed heritage. I found Ethique on Amazon and they also make a deep conditioner (tiny dissolvable bar).
If using lye soap/shampoo bars, who uses an acidic hair rinse After. Often recommended is an Apple cider vinegar hair rinse, which Is supposed to balance the pH, and make your hair smoothier. That's what I use at home.
Who also takes with them some vinegar, or is correct that citric acid powder can work just as well?
You can raid the albergue kitchens for a bit of vinegar.tried lush bar, it made my scalp more itchy than the average cheap liquid shampoo, wouldn't buy there again.
Ethique is okay though.
But currently liking my totally balmy shampoo bar for home use, with an acidic rinse and some oil to ends of hair.
wouldn't mind some ideas for travel friendly acidic hair rinse options.
I'm thinking I'm just going to shave all my hair off and go bald to avoid having to wash or comb my hair.
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