Product Spotlight Series #12 - Coconut Milk Shampoo Bar
One of my personal resolutions for 2018 is to continue with my endeavor to reduce plastic consumption but it can be difficult at times. If you remember, I tried the plastic free challenge for a week in 2017 but had a very hard time finding alternatives to every day plastic packaged products! It’s also a challenge to find inexpensive alternatives because many organic and/or natural products tend to get pricey. So I’m on the hunt for better and more sustainable products that fall within my budget!
Needless to say, I was happy to stumble across this Coconut Milk Shampoo Bar by NaturalViolet on Etsy!
I have yet to try this product for myself but I have high hopes for its’ success… and with good reason.
NaturalViolet, based in Charlottesville, Virginia, has made 1600+ sales and boasts a solid 5-star rating. This shampoo bar in particular has rave reviews vouching for its’ effectiveness, natural ingredients, and lathering capability.
I chose this soap over the multitude of others available on Etsy for a few reasons but first and most importantly, it is PALM OIL FREE. Even “organic” and “sustainably sourced” palm oil is known for having a devastating effect on our plant. I avoid it whenever possible. It is also made with vegan and mostly organic ingredients including:
*Organic Herbal Tea (Comfrey, Shavegrass, Nettle, Rosemary, Lavender, Dandelion leaf, Licorice Root, Dandelion Root, Peppermint, Burdock Root), *Organic Coconut Oil, *Organic Canola Oil, *Organic Soybean Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, *Organic Sunflower Oil, *Organic Coconut, Hemp Milk, Castor Oil, *Organic Raw Shea Butter, Raw Cocoa Butter, Babassu Oil, Candelilla Wax, *Certified Organic Ingredients
At only $4 for a full bar (4.25-4.75 oz), it is certainly one of the lesser expensive options I’ve come across.
Why a shampoo bar? It eliminates the need for a plastic bottle. The shop owner is also flexible with requests for plastic free shipping!
I’m excited to give it a try as soon as I can!
Have you tried a shampoo bar? Was it effective and did you enjoy the experience? Let me know in the comments below!
Product information, quote(s), and photo(s) from NaturalViolet on Etsy. Article contains affiliate links through ShopstyleCollective.
Join the HomesteadersOnline Discord community today!
Proud passenger of the Steemit EcoTrain!
So hard to avoid plastics. Not helpful that Proctor and Gamble insist on adding plastic "microbeads" to their liquid soaps and face washes...
I make soap too and love my 100% cocoanut Oil Shampoo bar. It took my hair a little while to acclimate to the lack of commercial chemicals. that was a trying couple of weeks to be honest. but, now I love how soft and silky smooth my hair is. I am in the process of formulating a conditioner to go along with it. I like the plastic free challenge. I might try and find ways to reduce my own plastic consumption here on the homestead too. Thank you for the inspiration!
My pleasure! Have you posted an article containing the method you use to make your soap?? I'd love to read it if you have!
I have not yet. its one of my planned articles for this new year. I have videoed a few times but never like how it turns out. my coconut shampoo bar is really easy to make - I will try and post that before the close of the month.
I just followed you too...I have done basic soap making, but one of my 2018 goals is to get serious about it, so would Love to read some experienced soap making posts :)
awesome! I love making soap. I have been doing it for over two years now and have easly made hundreds of batches of soap. As well, I make several other bath and body products. I only just recently started selling online and at craft fairs though. one of my favorite things to make are both bombs, whipped body butters and emulsified sugar scrubs.
I will be more than happy to share some of my favorite tried and true creations. One of my goals for the year is to venture into lotions. Those you have to be more carful with as they have a higher chance of becoming contaminated and spoiling due to the higher water content in them.
Excited to learn more about this!! We have so, so, so much coconut here.
I like your idea of reducing plastic consumption and never thought about how much plastic each shampoo bottles takes up.
Personally I don't use and soap or shampoo, I just shower every morning. It's something that I don't usually like to admit, but my hair and skin has never been healthier. A old roommate told me about going without shampoo (takes about a month for your hair to get used to it), but it's been about four years since then and it still works great. The hot water is probably worse for the environment than the soap production, but it's a bit more sustainable.
I no longer use body wash or soaps on my skin so I can totally relate! But my hair is used to being washed frequently so I am going to start with at least a better alternative to plastic bottle shampoo :)
i tried both a shampoo and a conditioner bar a couple of years ago, back when i had stopped colouring my hair. the shampoo bar was fine, but the conditioner bar did me no good! my hair got all sorts of tangled and unmanageable - i was so disappointed.
i've gone back to using stuff in plastic, but i wash my hair twice a week now (sometimes even just once) so it lasts forever - and everything else is purchased without plastic! it evens out in the end, right? ;)
It absolutely evens out! ;) My hair is used to being washed every day which is horrible so I hope to not only cut back but gradually switch to using bars! I wonder if I will have trouble with a conditioner bar as well... I'll definitely have to look into one that has a bunch of good reviews to try!
now is the time to start cutting back on the washing!
you've got darker-ish hair, right? have you ever done a rosemary hair rinse? it's great for those days in the summer where your hair is a bit sweatier than usual but you still don't wanna wash it.
I have dark / ashy blonde hair and no, I've never tried a rosemary hair rinse! What does that entail?
it's one of the easiest things ever! i stick a couple of sprigs of rosemary (maybe 4-6 inches long?) into a quart sized mason jar, fill it with water, and then let it sit in the fridge. i shake it up several times a day, and after about three days it's ready to use. some people swear by pouring hot water over the plant, or boiling it - but you lose your oils in the steam i think! then again you could just cover whatever vessel you're using until it cools down.
anyways, after you've removed the rosemary, then just slowly pour the infused water over your hair. you can massage your scalp as you apply the liquid, as it's supposed to be extra good for your scalp's skin & pores.
let it sit for a while, 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse your hair with warm (not hot) water. voila!
Sounds easy enough! Maybe I'll give it a try! Just have to wait till spring to grow some rosemary!
Yes, it works great :) Rosemary or Walnut shell for dark hair, Chamomile for light hair
That looks great. We have recently been sent some new bar soaps fro. my inlaws and we love it! I can't recall exactly what is in it, but the patchouli and frankincense is amazing...even in my beard!
I have never tried a shampoo bar, looking forward to hearing how you liked it! I also pick up artisan/local organic soap the difference is astounding. And Yeah! No friggen palm oil people!!!
Right?! Even the organic and sustainable palm oil is TERRIBLE!
Awful. ALL of it!
Really nice Etsy review, I hope you post on how well it works for you :)
Hi Karia, I hope it's ok I call you that as your name is long and hard to write without mistakes, ;-) Yes I've tried a coconut shampoo bar from "Lush" in holland a few years back. I have no idea if it was good or not, but I remember I finished it so it must have been doing the job. I am always looking for good cheap and environmentally friendly shampoo options, so thanks. In India they don't even bother putting lather agent in or making a bar of it. They powder soap nut and combine that with powdered hibiscus and lentil powder and wash their hair with that. Very environmentally friendly. It's a little hard to spread on your hair, but eventually you'll manage, it just takes a little more time. I usually enjoy my shower time so I don't mind if it takes a little longer. I'm sure there are recipees you can find online for this. The soapnut is called Shikakai in India. Hell maybe I'll make a post for you. I'l think about it and let you know,
Thanks! I would love to read your post about it if you do write one :D
Hi! I wrote a post on diy ecofriendly shikakai shampoo for you. You can find it at: https://steemit.com/diy/@clara-andriessen/diy-shikakai-shampoo-that-survived-the-test-of-time
I am going to make some soap for the first time this Saturday, if the weather will let me. I am so excited!!