Shampoo and conditioner bar: do you need both?
Whether you need both a shampoo and a conditioner bar depends mainly on your hair type. With normal hair, a shampoo bar is often enough on its own. Do you have dry, damaged, curly or coloured hair? Then a conditioner bar makes a noticeable difference: more hydration, more shine and easier detangling.
What does a shampoo bar do, and what does a conditioner bar do?
A shampoo bar thoroughly cleanses your scalp and hair of dirt, sebum and product residue. A conditioner bar focuses mainly on the lengths and ends: it detangles, hydrates and lays a protective layer over your hair.
So the two complement each other rather than one replacing the other. Where the shampoo bar provides a clean base, the conditioner bar provides softness and shine in the lengths.
Which hair type benefits most from the combination?
Do you have normal hair without much damage or colour treatment? Then a shampoo bar is often enough on its own. For dry, damaged, curly or coloured hair, a conditioner bar does add noticeable value, because these hair types need extra hydration and protection.
Not sure which bar suits your hair? Feel free to browse our shampoo bars and conditioner bars and shop by hair type.
How to use them together in the right order
The order makes the difference between a good and a less good result. Here's how to go about it:
- Wash with the shampoo bar. Massage it well into your scalp and rinse out completely.
- Towel-dry your hair. A conditioner bar works best on damp, not dripping, hair.
- Activate the conditioner bar. Hold it under warm water for a few seconds until it becomes soft and creamy.
- Apply to the lengths and ends. Avoid your scalp, as it doesn't need the conditioner.
Want to master it completely? Then read our detailed guide on how to use a shampoo bar.
1 bar = 3 fewer bottles: still more sustainable together
One bar replaces 3 plastic bottles on average. If you use both a shampoo and a conditioner bar, you still throw away considerably less plastic than with two liquid bottles combined.
A shampoo bar lasts 30 to 40 washes on average, a conditioner bar even 50 to 80 washes. Convert that into bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and the difference in plastic use immediately becomes concrete.
Trying the combination affordably
Want to try a shampoo and conditioner bar together without going all in straight away? With Pick & Mix you put together an affordable combination yourself and discover which bars suit your hair best.
