The first time I used solid shampoo and conditioner, it was the early 2010s and I was… not impressed.
Particularly, I felt like the formulas available at the time didn’t cater to my hair type: thick and wavy (curly on a good day). My hair needs ample moisture, and a formula that can be easily spread through the hair from root to tip, and over the scalp. After trying a few, I gave up the hunt thinking the zero waste hair care solution just didn’t work for me.
That is, until I decided to give the Kitsch Solid Shampoo and Conditioner bars a chance a couple months ago. I had heard so many rave reviews, I was hopeful that I could finally embrace this sustainable hair care option for my wavy hair.
Buy Kitsch Solid Shampoo & Conditioner on their website, Ulta Beauty, or Amazon.
Kitsch offers seven solid shampoos and nine different conditioner bars with various ingredients to address specific hair types or concerns. From argan oil to help heal damaged hair to tea tree for clarifying, there are options for nearly everyone– even an ultra sensitive version that’s color and fragrance free. Their formulas are color safe, pH balanced and vegan. They come in cardboard boxes, but the actual product is the bar itself with no outer packaging, just like a bar of soap! The brand claims one bar can last up to 100 washes and saves two plastic bottles each.
After reading customer reviews, I decided to purchase the Castor Oil Shampoo, which is supposed to hydrate, balance and calm scalp irritation while decreasing breakage and damage. This sounded like a fit for me because I often experience an irritated and itchy scalp, and also wanted the strengthening benefits after dealing with hair loss last year.
I paired the Castor Oil Shampoo bar with the Shea Butter Solid Conditioner. I’ve used hair care with shea butter before with great results on my waves. It usually delivers moisture and shine and helps control frizz.
I noticed right away how nicely the Kitsch solid shampoo lathered with water. This was a pleasant surprise, and the suds made it easy to spread through my hair. When I need more product, I rub it between my hands in the stream of water, then apply the bar directly to the top of my head while using my fingers to work the product into my scalp.
The conditioner doesn’t produce suds, but it does soften enough to spread over the hair. I typically coat my hair by running it directly down my strands, then use my fingers to comb and detangle.
After my first wash, it was clear that these are the best solid shampoo and conditioner bars I’ve tried. Others have left my hair flat and dry– these actually helped define my waves and boost volume.
On my first wash, I did feel like I was getting a bit more frizz than my go-to liquid products. I thought maybe it was just me getting used to the bars, and tried slathering on more conditioner the next few times I used them. With similar results every time, I thought maybe I’d need to use liquid conditioner while continuing with the solid shampoo, at least.
I then realized that when using liquid hair care, I usually use a deep conditioner instead of a “normal” one. This works best for me personally because 1) My waves need a lot of moisture, 2) I live in an extremely dry desert climate and 3) I only wash my hair only once a week.
And so, I went back to Kitsch and grabbed their solid hair mask, which has a formula aimed at bond repair with a vegan keratin alternative– baobab protein. Marula oil deeply nourishes and helps the hair retain moisture.
In the shower, this hair mask bar gets a lot creamier than the solid conditioner when wet, really glazing over the hair in a much richer layer. However, because of its softer texture I can see myself potentially using it up faster than the solid conditioner.
But… the results speak for themselves: you can see a lot more shine and noticeably less frizz when using the solid hair mask. I can also see more definition in my waves at the top of my head. My hair feels soft and nourished while also clean and light/bouncy.
IMPORTANT TIP: Because these are packaging-free, the shampoo and conditioner bars are exposed to their environment, which can affect their integrity. Don’t let the bars sit on a flat shelf or anywhere that water can pool around them— this will cause them to disintegrate more quickly. Place them somewhere they can dry out completely between uses. I have a wire shelf in my shower that allows them to drain, though the brand also sells their own shower caddy.
Now after nearly 3 months of using the Kitsch solid shampoo and conditioner bars, they definitely get my stamp of approval as a wavy girl: giving my hair what it needs without the bulk and waste of packaging. I’ve also traveled with them; they’re perfect for carry-ons as they allow me to pack lighter and not worry about extra liquids. Kitsch has a travel case for these that I just picked up for my next trip!
Buy Kitsch Solid Shampoo & Conditioner on their website, Ulta Beauty, or Amazon.
Have you tried solid shampoo and conditioner? What did you think?
– Miranda
