Lush Shampoo Bar

I bought one years ago (like 20+ years!) along with the little metal case. I tested it on my hair and liked the way it lathers and how soft it left my hair, which was shoulder-length at the time. But I keep forgetting to pack it on trips, so I still have it!

I mostly use whatever shampoo is provided by my hotels, but I travel with solid conditioner made by Dirty Diva, which also makes solid shampoo. The products are available online. I haven't had any trouble rinsing out the conditioner, but my hair is short and fine.

I have been using a Lush shampoo bar for the past several years whenever I travel and I love it. It's so convenient and the little metal travel case makes it easy to use and then pack up right away if you need to. My favorite is the Seanik and it doesn't disintegrate or melt in the container even when you pack it up while it's wet the way I've read that some of the other ones can. The nice thing is that they have lots of different ones depending on your hair type/needs.

A little hint: it helps to open the metal tin before you get in the shower, they can be really tricky to open once your hands are wet. I've made that mistake more than once.

I got seduced in to buying the Lush Shampoo and Conditioner bars when I went in to their store in Bath. One of the shop assistants helped me with a selection based on my hair. Yuck. I hated how my hair felt - gave it 4-5 days and my hair just felt like straw and yes, felt tacky even with lots of rinsing. I have short, straight hair, wash it every day, tends toward dry, I don't blow dry or use anything hot to style it.

If you decide to give them a try, do it at home before you go.

I've also tried a couple of products from local Farmers Market soap makers. No go.

I'm just resigned to using part of my 3-1-1 space for shampoo and conditioner I know works for me.

Good luck!

I used to use them exclusively over liquid shampoo and loved them. I haven't tried them since I've grown my hair to a long length - thanks for the reminder of the product. Perhaps I'll try them again.

I have used then for 4 or 5 years both for travel and i termittent home use....particularly after water aerobics....I can never keep my hair dry in the class. I have shortish straight fine hair and rarely use conditioner so steer away from the more conditioning shampoo bars. Have tried the purple one, lemon kne, and Seanik blue. Lemon was a little disappointing. Purple worled well in Africa on dusty shampoo everyday safaris. Seaniki adds more volume and seems my current favourite.
They last a long time and are my shampoo, shower soap and often laundry soap.
I always recommend them for carry on travel, but just like anything else you need to try it yourself. The salesperson should recommend for your hair needs, and I believe they have a money back no quibble policy. I haven't returned shampoo, but have returned makeup.

I have used several through the years and have (in general) been quite happy with them. I had a bad allergic reaction to the Seanik. The Karma Komba has a very strong Patchouli scent, but my hair looked great. I have also tried copperhead, which I like.

Lush also makes a solid conditioner called “Jungle”. I like it.

The bars a quite compact and will last for weeks. They’re great for longer trips.

I hate the tins for them. They are large, bulky, heavy, and trap the moisture. This can result in a container of goo. I prefer to use snack size zip lock baggies. I puncture the baggies with scissors to assist in drying out the bars. I also set the wet bar on top of the baggies to let it dry out some before storing it. I usually do this while styling my hair. This preserves the bar and keeps it from adding excess moisture to my toiletry kit.

Another point - i usually cut both the shampoo bars and the conditioner bars in half for shorter trips. I’m not sure this is necessary as both bars are fairly small and light. I usually chop up full sized soap bars instead.

I strongly recommend testing the bars ahead of time. One reason I bring my own toiletries is because of my allergies. I’ve had mixed success with lush products. Some were great. With others I was taking Benadryl and smearing hydrocortisone cream over my face. Test at home!!!

I’ve had good results for about 10 years with two Lush solid shampoos: Seanik and Karma Komba. My late husband loved Seanik too! I like the round metal tin for storage & travel, but take the bar out of the tin before I get it the shower and then let it dry as much as possible (in the shower if there’s a place, or on the bathroom counter if not) before putting it back in the tin. Avoids mush. FWIW, I have relatively short grey-to-white hair and rarely use conditioner. I do use a blonde/grey hair shampoo about once a week at home, but when traveling ofter forego that for the ease of a Lush shampoo bar.

Thanks everyone for your input. It looks like it probably works better for shorter hair. I color my hair too, and was given a recommendation of 2 bars to use. Oh well, if I decide to try it, I can always use it as a bath bar if it doesn’t work for me.

I also colour my hair and have had no issues. As said, give it a try while at home. The other thing is to not use too much. I sweep it around my head 3-5 times, then pile my hair up and then rub to start to foam and wash hair. Really, it is usually our scalp that needs more cleaning than the ends.

I color my hair and have thick hair that is a few inches past my shoulders. I bought the Jason and the Argan Oil Lush bar for a trip, and started to use it for everyday use. I really like it and it works well with my hair. If you use it I just recommend letting it dry for a couple hours before putting it in a tin. Whatever you find, I absolutely loved not having to fit shampoo in my liquids bag. I’m always jamming that to the max, and I carry on only, so a shampoo bar really helped with that. I went conditionerless on my last trip, but since have started using the Lush Jungle conditioner bar. I will probably take that along on my next trip.

I bought j r liggets soap for our trip to Mexico. I also ordered the E Z pouch which is designed perfectly to allow it to finish drying in the suitcase if need be. I have "normal" hair texture and I do dye my hair.... but the original formula that I used did not seem to impact my color at all. I did try it out at home before I left.... (( I had a miserable early experience w natural deodorant when my skin did not make an easy transition to a new ph so i exercise an abundance of caution now)) anyway, i was really happy w Jr liggets and a bar is lasting quite awhile

I use a bar shampoo and a bar soap that are handmade locally and free of dyes and perfumes --- the person who made them told me to let the bars dry out really well long before the trip and that would make them last longer. Presumably, that works for any bars.

At home, I tested how many days a bar lasts so that for a trip I can cut the bar and just pack a third of it or a half or whatever.

My hair feels normal using a bar shampoo, but I have fine, short, straight, "virgin" (never been dyed or permed) hair, so maybe that makes a difference.

I also use J R Liggets bar shampoo (I use this one, they even sell a travel pack). I have sensitive skin, so it took awhile to find something that doesn't irritate my skin (Lush bars don't work for me). It does take awhile to get used to the texture change (I have short curly hair) but I transition over a week before I travel and by then I am used to it. I also recommend cutting the bar in half or thirds - they last a very long time. The biggest challenge is keeping the bar from getting goopy because it does help to dry out a bit before you store it. My current improvised solution is storing 1/3 of a bar in a small (1.5 x 1.5 inch) plastic storage container with part of a plastic comb on the bottom acting as a drain of sorts.

I tried one made in my home state of MN, too, but It still had a bit of that tacky feel. I used the Chagrin Valley one for 2 weeks, without much improvement. So I have decide to try the Lush bar that was recommended to me for color treated hair. Hopefully, I will like it. I have plenty of time as I don't leave until Sept. 3. Thanks everyone.

I forgot to mention that I have a case that I bought from DHC that has drainage holes on the bottom. I will cut the bar to fit it.

Just. A note I went to the dollar store and bought a cheap mesh dishmat. Cut out a piece and put it in my Lush tin. Worked great to prevent the mushy mess the bar used to make.

Update. I tried the Lush shampoo bar and it definitely works better for me. I don't have that tacky feel to my hair. So now I can subtract one more liquid from my bag!

Diane, which Lush bar was recommended for color treated hair? I also have color treated and, while I love all other Chagrin Valley products (particularly their Pomegranate Facial Oil), the shampoos bars leave my long, color-treated hair tacky, too. Now, my hubby has no trouble using the CV Shampoo Bars and certain ones are great on his oily hair (but his hair is not color treated).

I have very long hair, down to my rear end, and I use the Lush solid shampoo bars a lot. I rub some on the top of my head and then a pass on the back of my head as I hold my hair up. I love the New bar for traveling. I usually don't need conditioner with that one and in a pinch I can use it as soap, or even to wash clothes. I have tried Jason and the Argan Oil. That one seems to have more oil in it, and is not the best for everyday use for me. It always depends on how you care for your hair and what you need. The nice thing about Lush is the variety of bars. Go into a shop and see if they can demonstrate one or two that interest you.

ukkrazy, the top 2 picks that were recommended were Trichomania, and Godiva. I am using the Trichomania. It was recommended to avoid products with ingredients like sea salt and citrus as they can be very stripping for the hair.

Thanks, Diane!