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Soap and solid shampoo have some differences, especially in pH, how harsh they can be to your scalp and hair, and how well they lather. Could you address the sort of points I've made about the Lush products in relation to your experiences with Dr Bronner?Dr. Bronner's bar soap worked for me and much less expensive!
Lush is ~$12 for 2 oz.
Dr. Bronner' is ~$5 for 5 oz.
That's $24/ounce vs. $1/ounce.
-Paul
My Lush shampoo bar favourites are the Brazilliant (the orange one) and Karma Komba (the green one), both work well for my hair as well as body and clothes and have pleasant and not too overwhelming smells. Both are pretty unisex too as they smell of oranges (Brazilliant) and orange and fresh patchouli (KK). I use both a lot at home too and so far haven't found anything better, though I have tried. I would recommend these two.
Breaking the OPs rules here, of course, but you can get better shampoo bars than Lush: made without sodium laurel sulfate, harder and longer lasting, but NOT soap (which damages hair) Shampoo bars, including Lush, are made with ingredients specifically for shampoo.
@H Richards - actually I took the Seanik too when I walked from St Jean to Santiago, and gave up on it in Santo Domingo because it had turned into goo. The Brazilliant seems better, and I have started cutting them in half or even quarters now so there is less to get wet and gloopy on the way. Works for me. The one that seems to stick together best, is Karma Komba, and I know for a fact the Jason and the Argan oil tends to crumble rather than dissolve.
@JillGat - I have tried to find other shampoo bars but so far none of them have worked for me. That's solid shampoo, not the soap ones, which definitely don't work. And I saw the pic of the bar drying, and have copied it at home! I put normal elastic bands horizontally around the tub, then put them vertically/across the tub afterwards to stand the bar up - brilliant!
The Karma Komba is available in shops again so you can see it, smell it and even take the tester one and wash your hands with it in store to see how it works and feels. The Brazilliant is online only, so is more of a risk. Try a few if you have the opportunity, like the Honey one which I haven't tried but should be milder than the lemony one. Good luck!sounds like the Karma one will be worth testing out. Of your two recommendations, which of the two strips oil from the hair less? I have quite frizz-prone dry curly hair!
I'm not so sure, Jill.. The two I tried were completely different to each other in many ways. One was great, one was useless. Perhaps I just found by chance the two most different!My guess is that all of the Lush shampoo bars are very, very similar to each other, ingredients-wise, and there are a lot of them mostly for marketing purposes. I recommend finding a shampoo bar in which the ingredients are melted together instead of just pressed (you can tell by the visible noodles in the Lush bar). It is a better way to get the benefits of all the ingredients and the bar will be harder and lasts longer.
My favourite is 'Honey I washed my hair'. It is a neutral cream colour and smells nice but not overpowering. I was given a deep berry coloured lush shampoo bar recently and would not recommend any dark coloured bars as they leave dye behind - not in the hair but on any surface where it is put down.
I recommend finding a shampoo bar in which the ingredients are melted together instead of just pressed
There are many small cottage makers of shampoo bars on Etsy. Look for "syndet" bars. I have bought from GetLathered that Jill linked to above. My current favorite is from Qua Organics on Etsy. I only use bar shampoo now, and my hair looks better than ever.
I have actually been melting down my shampoo bars in order to fit into small plastic containers that I have bought. I just kind of break it up and put it into the container then microwave it until it melts, then let it re-solidify. And when my bar is down to a little sliver I can just melt it onto a new bar.View attachment 50935 Qua sells a really big bar that I cut up and melted into smaller bars. It should last me forever!
I'm sure that there are Etsy sellers in Europe with similar bars.
Here's some pictures of the type of container that I use, and also showing the hair elastic drying method mentioned above.
I've never made my own like you have so I don't know the chemistry, but so far it's worked fine for me.Looks good! The only problem I can see is that there is a heated stage and a cooled stage in making syndet shampoo. If you heat it all, this may cause problems with some of the ingredients.
Yes, used the honey one for all purposes, but I found it was disappearing too fast so stopped washing clothes about half way through (there almost always seemed to be bits of soap available for use at albergues). Now I always take two bars, but then I always walk longer caminos. Wouldn’t wash light coloured clothes with the deeply coloured bars.Thanks for the review Magwood. Did you try them on clothes, body or for shaving as well?
I put my wet Lush (the citrus one) soap bar in that little mesh bag that you buy 3 heads of garlic in. Then i safety pinned that to my travel towel when I hung the travel towel over the end of the bunk to dry. Dried nicely. After drying, I put it in the metal container. I would not use this soap again as the bar fell apart and did not last more than 3 weeks. It was only used for hair and body washing. My husband’s lasted even less time.Re. the tins, a guy here once posted a genius picture of how he dried his shampoo bar. He used rubber bands or bungies to hold the round shampoo bar perpendicular to the square tin and hung it from his bed. Hard to describe, but great idea.
JillGat
Have heard nothing about JR Liggett bars. This is all my husband and I use on a regular basis. I have very thick hair and I don't need to use a conditioner at all. My hair is shiny and clean and as I am very allergic to scents, the original bar works best for me. Slight rose smell that does not linger at all and I am not smelling it all day. Would never use anything else now. Love the idea that I am not putting all those chemicals and fragrances on my hair and not having to mess with a conditioner. I think if people try it, they will never go back to anything else. Great idea to quarter the bar so that it does not get goopey while travelling.
Bubble wrap - great idea!I tried the JR Liggett bar after having it recommended, and loved it. I had previously tried the Lush bar, and it just didn't work for me. I have lots of allergies, and find the Lush products have too much fragrance and chemicals. I have to order the JR Liggett bar online (too bad I can't find it in a store) and it's pricey, but it last a long time and is well worth the convenience. I like the elastic idea for drying the bar. I put my JR Liggett bar (it's a small square shape) into a small plastic container with a snap-on lid, with a piece of bubble wrap in the bottom, and that worked well. It was easy to peel the soap off of the bubble wrap.
For my upcoming VDLP in March I have decided to try 'Heno de Pravia' Spanish soap which I understand is readily available in Spansih shops. Has anybody used it and have a viewpoint?Like many pilgrims here I’ve become a fond user of the Lush shampoo bars on the Camino since being introduced to them via Lindsey Cowie‘s YouTube channel [links below]
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCigYNejORbBd55GkidyBByw
https://www.lushusa.com/hair/shampoo-bars/
The problem is there’s about 15 different types of bar and their suitability for use on the Camino varies greatly. With so many different bars to choose from it’s very difficult and expensive to try them all out, so i’m starting this thread to collect reviews specifically of this Lush range.
I’ll post two of my reviews to get you started. Please follow the same format more or less if you post a reviews too - thanks!
Also - please - no generic posts about why these products suck or why I shouldn’t be washing my hair at all, or why don't I use bottle shampoo, or any other such tangents. I’m hoping to collect reviews of a product line, here not start a discussion about the pros and cons of shampoo bars ;-)
Big thanks in advance!
Re. the tins, a guy here once posted a genius picture of how he dried his shampoo bar. He used rubber bands or bungies to hold the round shampoo bar perpendicular to the square tin and hung it from his bed. Hard to describe, but great idea.
Seanik (blue seaweed) bar
...Transportability: 2/10 - terrible. Gives off goo and seaweed pieces go rancid if left wet for too long.
MISS! Although promising as a body and hair solution, it's impracticality if you can't keep the thing dry means it's useless for the camino
Montalbano (yellow citrus) bar
Hair: best for greasy hair, but fairly gentle. Has a light conditioning action too.
Body: 4/10 - could be used at a pinch for body washing, but does leave a bit of a greasy film behind, which is hard to wash off.
Clothes: 8/10 - worked brilliantly on my t-shirts and socks. Smelled good too.
Shaving: 8/10 - lathers and lubricates excellently as a shaving soap
Transportability: 7/10 - keeps its form well and doesn't leave goo.
HIT! All in all a great compromise if you need one bar for everything,
I think you mean $6/oz vs $1/oz. #mathDr. Bronner's bar soap worked for me and much less expensive!
Lush is ~$12 for 2 oz.
Dr. Bronner' is ~$5 for 5 oz.
That's $24/ounce vs. $1/ounce.
-Paul
The GoTubb containers are perfect for the Lush shampoo - a little bigger than their metal container and lightweight. https://www.rei.com/product/840792/humangear-gotubb-53-cu-in-container-package-of-3My Lush shampoo bar favourites are the Brazilliant (the orange one) and Karma Komba (the green one), both work well for my hair as well as body and clothes and have pleasant and not too overwhelming smells. Both are pretty unisex too as they smell of oranges (Brazilliant) and orange and fresh patchouli (KK). I use both a lot at home too and so far haven't found anything better, though I have tried. I would recommend these two.
The Montalbano (yellow lemony one) is my favourite smelling shampoo bar and works well, but over time it, Seanik (blue one) and Jumping Juniper (purple one) are too drying for my hair, especially when washing every day. They are heavy on lemon which is good for cleaning greasy hair, which I rarely have and never on the camino. Jason and the Argan oil (dark pink one) sounds a lot more conditioning than it is! I also found it tends to crumble easily, which isn't ideal when you are travelling. All these are fine though I personally won't buy again.
Copperhead smells of coffee and has coffee in it - not good for washing clothes I would have thought?
I once bought the Godiva (the one with conditioner blobs in it) but that didn't work at all, and wouldn't be great for washing clothes! Also it has a very strong smell, so I would definitely avoid that one and New (reddish one) and Soak and Float, which both have very strong smells and wouldn't make you any friends. Would advise against these.
I would suggest you don't buy the round tin as they can tend to get stuck in them and they are not leak proof. Lush do however sell creams in shallow black tubs with screw lids which fit perfectly! Ask nicely for one if you are in a shop? Body Shop small body butter tubs also work very well. Take a bit of neoprene, bubble wrap or something to put in the bottom to stop it sticking. They also sell solid conditioners which I have never used.
Oh and try them at home a good few times before you go!
This is the only one I've tried and, because it meets all my needs and I love it, I've stuck with it. My only wish is that it would last longer! Thanks for the thread...very usefulMontalbano (yellow citrus) bar
Hair: best for greasy hair, but fairly gentle. Has a light conditioning action too.
Body: 4/10 - could be used at a pinch for body washing, but does leave a bit of a greasy film behind, which is hard to wash off.
Clothes: 8/10 - worked brilliantly on my t-shirts and socks. Smelled good too.
Shaving: 8/10 - lathers and lubricates excellently as a shaving soap
Transportability: 7/10 - keeps its form well and doesn't leave goo.
HIT! All in all a great compromise if you need one bar for everything,
I have used the camomile shampoo for many caminos. It is a small puck made to fit in the round tins. No problem with mushyness, unlike other lush soaps. I never take it out of the tin. I only brush my wet fingers over the top to get the lather that I need. Great for hair, face and body.Like many pilgrims here I’ve become a fond user of the Lush shampoo bars on the Camino since being introduced to them via Lindsey Cowie‘s YouTube channel [links below]
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCigYNejORbBd55GkidyBByw
https://www.lushusa.com/hair/shampoo-bars/
The problem is there’s about 15 different types of bar and their suitability for use on the Camino varies greatly. With so many different bars to choose from it’s very difficult and expensive to try them all out, so i’m starting this thread to collect reviews specifically of this Lush range.
I’ll post two of my reviews to get you started. Please follow the same format more or less if you post a reviews too - thanks!
Also - please - no generic posts about why these products suck or why I shouldn’t be washing my hair at all, or why don't I use bottle shampoo, or any other such tangents. I’m hoping to collect reviews of a product line, here not start a discussion about the pros and cons of shampoo bars ;-)
Big thanks in advance!
My favorite is the Orange bar. I've used it on 5 or 6 Caminos. I use it as soap, shampoo and for hand laundry. One bar lasts the whole time.Like many pilgrims here I’ve become a fond user of the Lush shampoo bars on the Camino since being introduced to them via Lindsey Cowie‘s YouTube channel [links below]
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCigYNejORbBd55GkidyBByw
https://www.lushusa.com/hair/shampoo-bars/
The problem is there’s about 15 different types of bar and their suitability for use on the Camino varies greatly. With so many different bars to choose from it’s very difficult and expensive to try them all out, so i’m starting this thread to collect reviews specifically of this Lush range.
I’ll post two of my reviews to get you started. Please follow the same format more or less if you post a reviews too - thanks!
Also - please - no generic posts about why these products suck or why I shouldn’t be washing my hair at all, or why don't I use bottle shampoo, or any other such tangents. I’m hoping to collect reviews of a product line, here not start a discussion about the pros and cons of shampoo bars ;-)
Big thanks in advance!
Thanks for the information. Been thinking about making my own for the next stage of the Camino. Most likely better value for money.saponification is the chemical reaction combining lye and oil/fat to make soap.
I've been making soaps for 15 years.
If a soap has unsaponified oil/fat in it, then it will be more of a moisturizing/conditioning bar. It would be called a superfatted soap. Most soap is slightly superfatted.
Soap made with lard or tallow, and 10% coconut oil, will be a hard soap, slow to melt, stays hard in the shower, lathers well.
Soap made with vegetable oils/shortenings will be a softer bar, faster to melt, goes mushy over time in the shower.
Combining animal fat and vegetable fats with 10% coconut oil, will give you something in the middle, not too hard or soft, not too much goo. I hope that helps.
My personal favorite is animal fats/oils with coconut oil in a soap, I use it daily. It is 5% superfatted.
JillGat
I used the GetLathered conditioner bars across the CF. I don’t shampoo.
Do you have a recipe for your bars that you would share. Any chance that you make conditioner bars?
While the Get Lathered bars are very good, I have used shampoo bars from other Etsy sellers that are just as good. I'm sure that there are Etsy sellers in Canada making these types of shampoo bars. You need to make sure that they are "syndet" bars - not soap made with lye shampoo bars. Here's one in Calgary https://www.etsy.com/shop/EmElleEmSoaps?ref=l2-shopheader-name§ion_id=25297795Sadly, these ship from the US and even though these bars can be purchased as a pair for $34, the shipping cost is $50 to Canada, so $85US is quite steep for one shampoo and one conditioner bar.
While the Get Lathered bars are very good, I have used shampoo bars from other Etsy sellers that are just as good. I'm sure that there are Etsy sellers in Canada making these types of shampoo bars. You need to make sure that they are "syndet" bars - not soap made with lye shampoo bars. Here's one in Calgary https://www.etsy.com/shop/EmElleEmSoaps?ref=l2-shopheader-name§ion_id=25297795
The problem is there’s about 15 different types of bar and their suitability for use on the Camino varies greatly. With so many different bars to choose from it’s very difficult and expensive to try them all out, so i’m starting this thread to collect reviews specifically of this Lush range.
I’ll post two of my reviews to get you started. Please follow the same format more or less if you post a reviews too - thanks!
I find the smell from Lush overpowering too even just walking past it. My friends love it and every time we met in Glasgow they would spend ages in there. I used to go to the bookshop across the road and tell them to come and find me when they were finished in Lush.Am I the only person that has to cross the street when going past a Lush store because the smell makes me gag?
I see that not one of these 50+ replies have followed your format... And I have only used Lush shampoo bars for my hair so there is not much point in following your format, sorry!.
I was born down the road from the Kennington Oval cricket ground in south London. You'd see people have the a similar reaction to the Marmite factory and cross the road to avoid it.I find the smell from Lush overpowering too even just walking past it. My friends love it and every time we met in Glasgow they would spend ages in there. I used to go to the bookshop across the road and tell them to come and find me when they were finished in Lush.
Thanks for that tip! I've got myself some now and it's like they were made for Lush bars. Perfect! Medium size is the one people need.The GoTubb containers are perfect for the Lush shampoo - a little bigger than their metal container and lightweight. https://www.rei.com/product/840792/humangear-gotubb-53-cu-in-container-package-of-3
I can only answer as far as my Lush bar research goes - the Jason and the Argon-oil one supposedly has the least sulphates. The green SOS bar also uses non-palm-oil derived sulphates instead, which might treat your hair better. I've found the Honey I've Washed My Hair one to be gentle on my curly hair too, but no long-term test results yet.Sorry to be THAT person, but can any European recommend a shampoo bar that is curly girl approved (or at least that doesn't contain sulphates)?
I used Godiva by Lush last time and I LOVED a bar shampoo for the weight reduction but found that it wrecked my hair. Two washes with normal shampoo after getting home made it all better but I figured the Godiva, as a shampoo+conditioner, would have been my best option. Not so.
I just bought the Karma Komba and the Brazilliant. I find the smell overwhelming. I hope it fades or I will have to leave it outside on the deck. I won't be able to carry it in a backpack.My Lush shampoo bar favourites are the Brazilliant (the orange one) and Karma Komba (the green one), both work well for my hair as well as body and clothes and have pleasant and not too overwhelming smells. Both are pretty unisex too as they smell of oranges (Brazilliant) and orange and fresh patchouli (KK). I use both a lot at home too and so far haven't found anything better, though I have tried. I would recommend these two.
The Montalbano (yellow lemony one) is my favourite smelling shampoo bar and works well, but over time it, Seanik (blue one) and Jumping Juniper (purple one) are too drying for my hair, especially when washing every day. They are heavy on lemon which is good for cleaning greasy hair, which I rarely have and never on the camino. Jason and the Argan oil (dark pink one) sounds a lot more conditioning than it is! I also found it tends to crumble easily, which isn't ideal when you are travelling. All these are fine though I personally won't buy again.
Copperhead smells of coffee and has coffee in it - not good for washing clothes I would have thought?
I once bought the Godiva (the one with conditioner blobs in it) but that didn't work at all, and wouldn't be great for washing clothes! Also it has a very strong smell, so I would definitely avoid that one and New (reddish one) and Soak and Float, which both have very strong smells and wouldn't make you any friends. Would advise against these.
I would suggest you don't buy the round tin as they can tend to get stuck in them and they are not leak proof. Lush do however sell creams in shallow black tubs with screw lids which fit perfectly! Ask nicely for one if you are in a shop? Body Shop small body butter tubs also work very well. Take a bit of neoprene, bubble wrap or something to put in the bottom to stop it sticking. They also sell solid conditioners which I have never used.
Oh and try them at home a good few times before you go!
I just bought the Karma Komba and the Brazilliant. I find the smell overwhelming. I hope it fades or I will have to leave it outside on the deck. I won't be able to carry it in a backpack.
I checked out the Matador, and almost bought it, but it just looked too small for my shampoo bar (not a Lush bar) And it's very expensive. I wrap my shampoo bar in a small piece of microfiber towel, and keep it in a zip lock baggie.I just looked at Matador Flat Pak or the JR Liggetts carrycases for soap/shampoo bars and thought I'd share. It looks like the Matador might be an interesting option because it closes at the top and the JR Liggett one looks like it doesn't. I might spring for the Matador and try it.
Brilliant minds think alike"I wrap my shampoo bar in a small piece of microfiber towel, and keep it in a zip lock baggie".
That is exactly what I do too!
Seems like "Jill" would be a common name...but I've only met a few in my life..Hey *another* Jill?? There's like five of us here now.
I know. An under-appreciated name. But apparently most of us walk the Camino.Seems like "Jill" would be a common name...but I've only met a few in my life..
You didn't link to the product.
I love the French Lavender scent. Pleased with how clean my hair felt, did not leave a residue. Works well on skin also.
I have used Get Lathered shampoo bars - they are great.@trecile
trying that again...
Shampoo Bar French Lavender Shampoo That Rocks Essential Oil - Etsy
This Shampoos item by GetLathered has 92 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Indianapolis, IN. Listed on Jul 13, 2023www.etsy.com
JillGat
I used the GetLathered conditioner bars across the CF. I don’t shampoo.
Do you have a recipe for your bars that you would share. Any chance that you make conditioner bars?
The Karma Komba is available in shops again so you can see it, smell it and even take the tester one and wash your hands with it in store to see how it works and feels. The Brazilliant is online only, so is more of a risk. Try a few if you have the opportunity, like the Honey one which I haven't tried but should be milder than the lemony one. Good luck!
Hi nidarosa,@Cookiedave Did you not see or smell another one you liked? The lemony Montalbano is fresh and unisex, and a lot of people like the sweet vanilla scented Honey I washed (something). Seanik and the coconut have bits in them and some of the others are way too strongly scented in my opinion.
Have you looked at EU Etsy sellers?and the US Etsy products are just too expensive with postage.
Get Lathered has a separate conditioner bar. I haven't used theirs, but I use one from another etsy seller, and it lasts forever! I cut it in half because I need to use so little.I'm also looking at the Get Lathered line but none say "shampoo + conditioner."
Hi nidarosa,
No if i'm honest.... I was reading all the reviews before i go and buy one.... lol
It is also interesting that i saw a guy online talk about lush soap and also the chewable tablets for toothpaste... So thinking about 2 products from lush....
Do you know about the tablets ?
regards
This ^^^^ same experience with Liggets, used it for 2 Camino's and at home.Have heard nothing about JR Liggett bars. This is all my husband and I use on a regular basis. I have very thick hair and I don't need to use a conditioner at all. My hair is shiny and clean and as I am very allergic to scents, the original bar works best for me. Slight rose smell that does not linger at all and I am not smelling it all day. Would never use anything else now. Love the idea that I am not putting all those chemicals and fragrances on my hair and not having to mess with a conditioner. I think if people try it, they will never go back to anything else. Great idea to quarter the bar so that it does not get goopey while travelling.
I have very thick hair and I don't need to use a conditioner at all.
I have long oily hair and I got on very well with the Jumping Juniper and no conditioning. The smell is very refreshing with lavender, rosemary and lemon.Hi, ive just checked in London shops and one like u say is online only the other karma out of stock.... Any other sugestions as I leave in 2 weeks
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