re-molding shampoo bars

Thanks for sharing, that's a great idea. You might be interested in an organization based in Orlando FL called "Clean the World". I had a chance to volunteer there last summer. They collect and recycle used soaps etc from hotels in the US and abroad transforming the waste into new bars. They donate the bars to needy countries all over the world( To date. 70 million bars of soap in 127 countries). Its a fascinating process and mission. An episode of the series "Dirty Jobs" with Mike Rowe featured it. They also have, appropriately enough, a soap museum at their Orlando location.

Ceratez, what brand do you use? I haven’t been able to find one that isn’t over-perfumed (Lush) or makes my hair feel funky. I bring a tiny (smaller than dentist toothpaste) very concentrated tube of conditioner when I travel.

I used to bring home a few of the hotel bars of soap as a souvenir years ago if they had the name of the hotel on them, or they were excellent ones made of olive oil, or all natural ingredients. I used those sparingly, and the scent or location would remind me of a wonderful trip! Now most hotels have the refillable dispensers.

I have been using Kitsch. It is heavily perfumed. I think it smells good, but it is not for the scent-sensitive. The conditioner is fantastic, but I am not in love with the shampoo. My hair is greasy after one day, so it would be better for dry hair. I have also used TERRAFIQUE shampoo. One shampoo and my hair stays clean and fluffy for days.

I've been using Chagrin Soap & Salve shampoo bars for many years. They're are not heavily perfumed at all, but very light and natural smelling. Big selection. Sometimes there are new soaps and shampoo bars depending on the season. The shampoo bars clean thoroughly without drying out my hair. And their Face Mousse moisturizer is wonderful too!

If you are looking for low fragrance bars, as well as some that are fragranced, check out JR Liggett

I am very sensitive to scent and found their original formula to be fine. You can even order a selection of minibars to try and a travel case.

I visited their factory (?) in New Hampshire. It's actualy a converted farm where the barn is where they make the bars. No signage and I passed the place twice before realizing where it was. This is definitely not some big commercial operation. They gave me a tour when I stopped by to buy some bars.

They are also available on Amazon.

I've been wanting to try bar shampoo and conditioner, but for some reason haven't yet. I double bag my liquid containers because I have had them spill out despite being screwed on tight, but having less to fool with would be a relief. I tend to slather on the moisturizer though, so not sure what to do about that. I like this idea to decrease waste, so thank you!

Great idea. I have melted candle wax, but not bar soap. When I melt candle wax, I boil water in a small pot on top of stove. Place a few paper towels in water; this stabilizes the glass jar. Then, chop up small pieces of wax/soap and place in a clean glass ( pasta sauce) jar. Set jar in pot of boiling water. Wax melts quickly. I bet soap would, too. Then, pour or spoon in to mold.

This would be an alternative to the microwave.

Wow, I hadn't thought of doing this great idea! I typically just slice my shampoo bar down to the size I need for a trip, but now I will save the last bits and reorganize them when I get home. I also slice off a piece of my bar soap (Dr. Bronners) and keep it and the shampoo in a Matador flat pack container (available in the RS store) fitted with a small piece of PVC soap saver that I got at the dollar store. Definitely lightens the load.

Jean I also use JR Liggett bar shampoo - there are different formulations but none are heavily scented. I like that it is sudsy and works on my fine curly hair. I haven't yet found a conditioner bar that suits me but I don't ordinarily use conditioner so I've stopped the search.

That is a great idea Cerastez!

I've mentioned this before, but if you bring hand and body lotions with you, you might be interested in this. I make my own lotion bars, and it is so easy. You just heat equal parts of beeswax, coconut oil and olive oil (I've also used shea butter rather than olive oil), but it's more expensive), heat it until it's melted, then pour it into silicone candy molds (about 2" in diameter - something like this) until they harden. If you want some scent, just add some essential oils.

I love them because there are no chemicals or weird ingredients, and it makes it so easy to carry when traveling since it's not considered a liquid. Plus you can use them on any part of your body—hands, lips, skin, whatever. I get really dry hands and use them a lot and they actually work much better than lotions. They don't leave a greasy feel, and they work much better, imo, at moisturizing.

@CL, thanks for the reminder to stop into the RS Edmonds store while I am at the Sketchfest in Edmonds this month! Time to do a little travel shopping!

Jean, hopefully you're in town on Saturday. That's the only day their storefront is open (bummer.)

Mardee's response makes me think. I have seen solid lotions sold in large-chap-stick type containers. Ones that have a wheel at the bottom to move the product up, out the top. That seems like an ideal way to travel with a solid lotion. It might also work for shampoo and conditioner! I will try ordering some containers and see if I can get it to work.

I have seen solid lotions sold in large-chap-stick type containers.
Ones that have a wheel at the bottom to move the product up, out the
top.

I repurposed a mini chapstick tube and re-filled it with solid Spray and Wash stain stick. It doesn't roll up perfectly but it is a space saver for my hand washing laundry kit. I'm sure the shampoo/conditioner would work similarly - worth a shot anyway!

Hi KC, yes, I will be attending some of the artist talks on the Saturday of the Sketchfest, so I can stop into the store afterwards. I haven’t been to the RS store for five years now since moving, but I heard their hours were cut way back. Thanks for the warning.

I've tried other solid shampoo and conditioner brands that cost way more, but I like this one best.
https://nourishsavannah.com/
It's local-ish to me and I first bought in a store where they advised me what might be best for my hair. If you read the descriptions, you should be able to figure it out. There are quite a few choices. I have fine, wavy hair, somewhat dry, and I like the driftwood/seaweed one. It's lightly scented and the scent doesn't seem to linger.
I have a couple others on order that are actually being delivered today so I can let you know how I like those.

I have a soap cutter I use for soap making. Cutting up the shampoo and conditioner bars into small pieces for travel is easy. A one inch by 2 inch piece is good for a three week trip.

My husband has many (many ……. :O ) tools in his workshop, so he slices up big soap bars into little ones for me.
I tried solid shampoo bars in Italy, but found I got no lather, so went back to liquid.
I don’t melt soap bars down, but just save the very ends of the bars and take enough to have one in each place I stay, so as not to pack them all wet.