In a world where people are trying to be evermore sustainable, traditional shampoo bottles filled with liquid formulas are being replaced with solid solutions to cleanse and hydrate hair. A bar is good to the last sliver and without bulky packaging, there's no confusion about recycling versus garbage when you're done. Plus, their petite size makes them more eco-friendly to produce and ship.

While all that is well and good, you still need the product to work to fully make a sustainable swap, well, sustainable. That’s where we come in: We tested 21 top-rated shampoo bars to determine the best of the category. When testing the shampoo bars, our team of testers paid close attention to how convenient the bars were to hold, how easily they lathered, how well they worked to clean hair, how they smelled, and how they held up with weeks of use. Throughout the testing process, we were able to weed out the less stellar products to determine the 12 best shampoo bars.

Best Overall

J.R. Liggett's All-Natural Shampoo Bar

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Performance

  5/5

• Comfort

  5/5

• Durability

  5/5

From the softening and moisturizing benefits to its affordable price and old-school packaging, we completely fell in love with J.R. Liggett's Moisturizing Formula Shampoo Bar. Where many shampoo bars are round, this bar is squared off which makes it particularly easy to hold and maneuver through the hair. “I have a lot of fine hair which generally means it's hard to get shampoo all the way to my scalp,” our tester reveals. “This bar solved that problem beautifully — not only is it easy to use, but rubbing it directly into my hair produces an impressive lather.”

Beyond its ease of use, we love the results this bar delivers. “My scalp is so much happier when using this — more so than anything I have ever tried before. I find myself loving my second-day hair as much as I love my first-day hair, which is rare,” our tester shares, noting that the bar works well to hydrate her dry, flaky scalp while keeping greasy-looking strands at bay.

What’s more, the value of this bar is undeniable. “The bar is durable and still very much intact after two weeks of use,” our tester adds. “I washed my hair seven times during the testing period. Based on the lather and how the bar barely looks used after seven washes, I think this will not only replace my shampoo bottles and ultimately last longer, too.”

Hair Type: All | Scents: 6 | Size: 3.5 oz.

Best for Curly Hair

Ethique Curl-Defining Solid Shampoo Bar

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Performance

  4/5

• Comfort

  4/5

• Durability

  5/5

Ethique Professor Curl Curl-Defining Solid Shampoo Bar is a fan favorite for its easy-to-use block shape that smells delightfully (but subtly) of citrus. Shape and scent aside, this shampoo bar is easy to use, works well to deeply clean hair, and helps define curls. “It easily creates a rich lather that gets my oily scalp and hair clean without drying it out,” our tester reveals. “After using, my hair feels soft and manageable, and it makes my waves and curls pop.”

As much as we enjoy the shape, scent, and ease of use of this shampoo bar, the one thing we would change is how clarifying it is. “Since I have curly hair, I use a lot of [styling] products, and I typically need a shampoo that will clarify to get all of the product out without stripping my hair,” our tester explains. “All things considered, though, I definitely recommend this to friends and family with curly or wavy hair. It's easy to use, eco-friendly, and keeps hair clean and healthy!"

Hair Type: Curly | Scent: Coconut Lemongrass | Size: 3.8 oz.

Best for Thick Hair

Kitsch Castor Oil Nourishing Shampoo Bar

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Performance

  4/5

• Comfort

  5/5

• Durability

  5/5

Kitsch Castor Oil Nourishing Shampoo Bar has earned high praise for its ultra-hydrating, velvety lather that gets hair squeaky clean without drying it out. Plus, even after months of use it looks like new, so you can count on it lasting through countless wash routines.

Aside from being a bit difficult to hold because of its round shape, the only other downside of this shampoo bar is that it sometimes takes a few lathers to really cleanse hair. “Sometimes after a particularly sweaty day, I find I have to lather, rinse, and repeat to get to my scalp,” our tester explains. Still, she says that she recommends it — especially in unison with the Conditioner Bar — as it leaves hair looking and feeling ultra soft and fresh.

Hair Type: All | Scent: Sugared amber and shea | Size: 3.2 oz.

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  InStyle / Sophia Noulas

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  InStyle / Sophia Noulas

Best for Fine Hair

Bar None Hydrating Shampoo Bar

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Performance

  5/5

• Comfort

  5/5

• Durability

  5/5

Bar None Hydrating Shampoo Bar may not look like much, but our tester swears it’s the best haircare product she’s ever used. “I was a little skeptical on how this product would work, but it ended up being my own personal ER room — it gave my hair new life,” she exclaims. “After using this, someone said I should be a hair model!”

When used on fine hair, we find that this shampoo bar works well to maintain an every-other-day wash cycle. “I use the bar about three to four times a week, and it looks like it's never been touched before,” our tester marvels, applauding its durability. “The box notes say it lasts two times longer than regular shampoo bottles, and I believe it!”

The only thing she’d change? Its appearance. Without a logo or any engravings, it’s easy to mistake for a ho-hum bar of soap.

Hair Type: All | Scent: Coconut and shea butter | Size: 3.52 oz.

Best for Oily Hair

Lush Cosmetics Montalbano Shampoo Bar

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Performance

  3.5/5

• Comfort

  4/5

• Durability

  5/5

Lush was a pioneer in shampoo bars, so it makes sense that the brand’s Montalbano Shampoo Bar is a top pick among shoppers and our testers alike. The yellow puck has a slightly textured feel that makes it easier to hold despite its round shape. Ease of use aside, the bar naturally exfoliates the scalp with rosemary (which also adds to the scent), and leads to less oil production, so hair still looks fresh on day two (and three!). That said, our tester admits that the slightly clarifying nature of the bar also means that her hair feels less hydrated than it does when using her normal shampoo.

Still, if your goal is to cut down on a greasy-looking mane, this bar can help. Plus, it will smell like a Mediterranean getaway in the process. (Of course, if strong citrus scents aren’t your thing, this bar may not be a good pick for you.)

Hair Type: All | Scent: Citrus | Size: 1.9 oz.

Best for Frizzy Hair

Davines LOVE Shampoo Bar

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Performance

  5/5

• Comfort

  5/5

• Durability

  5/5

Davines LOVE Shampoo Bar happens to be the bar version of the brand’s cult favorite bottled shampoo. It’s an ultra-gentle, super-hydrating formula designed to tame coarse, frizzy hair. “The shampoo bar is gentle on my strands and scalp, and my hair feels soft and clean after each use,” our tester assures us, remarking on how durable the bar feels after two weeks of use.

Our only gripe with this bar is that it doesn’t come with instructions on the packaging. Since shampoo bars are still rather new-fangled, some shoppers may not know how to properly use them and thus misjudge them based on misuse. “It took me a couple of washes to get used to the bar and ensure I distributed product evenly throughout my scalp and hair, but after that, it was smooth sailing,” our tester admits.

Hair Type: Coarse, frizzy | Scent: Subtle Herbal | Size: 3.53 oz.

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  InStyle / Allison Vancura

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  InStyle / Allison Vancura

Best for Damaged Hair

Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo Bar

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  4.5/5

• Performance

  4/5

• Comfort

  5/5

• Durability

  5/5

The Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo Bar, which is infused with aloe vera, coconut oil, and olive oil, is renowned for its deeply hydrating benefits. While it was a bit overwhelming for one of our testers with finer, oilier hair, she assures us that it’s her new go-to recommendation for friends with thick, dry, and damaged hair because of the ultra-nourishing ingredients.

Her one complaint? It’s not the easiest to lather. “At first, I found this shampoo bar hard to lather, but as soon as I started putting the bar directly on my head, it lathered very easily and I felt comfortable using it,” she shares. “It isn't difficult to grip, but it did take me a few washes to feel like I got enough product in my hair with a proper lather.”

Hair Type: Dry, damaged | Scent: Citrus | Size: 3.3 oz.

Best for Color-Treated Hair

ODACITÉ 552M Soap Free Shampoo Bar

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  5/5

• Performance

  4/5

• Comfort

  3.5/5

• Durability

  5/5

The Odacite 552M Soap Free Shampoo Bar is powered by argan and castor oil to leave hair feeling extra soft and clean and looking shiny. According to our tester, it’s easy to lather up strands for a squeaky-clean rinse. In fact, it leaves hair feeling so clean, that her hair maintained its refreshed luster until the fourth day. That said, she admits that part of why the effects last so long is because this bar isn’t the most hydrating. As such, we recommend following up with a hydrating conditioner post-rinse.

Hair Type: All | Scent: Subtle Citrus | Size: 3.7 oz.

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  InStyle / Lindsey Reynolds

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  InStyle / Lindsey Reynolds

Best Natural

Aari & Co. Loretta Herbal Shampoo Bar

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use

  4/5

• Performance

  3.8/5

• Comfort

  4.5/5

• Durability

  4.5/5

If you like to only use natural products in your beauty and haircare routines, Aari & Co Loretta Herbal Bar is a great option. The plant-based shampoo bar is made with organic shea butter, saponified oil, organic plantain, and organic honey to leave hair feeling, looking, and smelling fresh.

Despite being infused with shea butter and other hydrating ingredients, we found that this bar, while effective for cleansing strands, doesn’t moisturize them as much as we’d like. That said, our tester points out that it’s advertised for use with the coordinating conditioner bar. “Overall, this shampoo bar works well and cleans my hair, but more moisture could be added to the bar if they want this shampoo to be a one-stop shop,” she says. “Still, it works great and I will continue to use it."

Hair Type: All | Scent: Natural | Size: 4 oz.

Other Options You Might Like

Superzero Hydrating Repair Shampoo Bar

We got a really nice, deep clean feeling on our hair, as expected, plus it left our strands softer. We estimate one bar is the equivalent of two or three bottles of shampoos, since it looked barely touched at the end of our testing period. We do wish it had a bit more of a milky lather to really suds up and cleanse dirty hair.

Lush Honey I Washed My Hair

The fragrance of this bar can't be beat—honey, of course, but there's another sweet element. If they could bathe in this scent, we would. The bar claims to last 80 shampoos and since we experienced no crumbling or issues with the bar disintegrating, we believe it. It really lathered to distribute through our long, thick hair and gave us a good level of clean. We did dock a few points because of the texture of the bar: The nubby texture sometimes got caught in our hair and tugged. It wasn't painful, but was an annoyance to the washing process.

Garnier Whole Blends Honey Treasures Restoring Shampoo Bar

For a budget-friendly price and available at your local drugstore, this is great pick. The bar was comfortable to hold, easy to use, and it lathered better than some other options on our list. It would be nice if the formula was a little more moisturizing; we found our thick hair felt a bit dry after using. We followed up with a conditioning mask to counteract those effects and that helped.

Our Testing Process

While the category may be newer and less common than liquid shampoo, there are still an overwhelming number of products on the market. We took 21 of the most popular shampoo bars and had our most knowledgeable editors and beauty obsessives put them to the test. Each product was sent to a different person and incorporated into their hair care routine for a minimum of two weeks (many kept using for nearly two months of insights before this article was completed).

After the trial period, our testers reported back with every last detail of their findings; keeping ease of use (how it felt in their hands, how well it lathered), performance (was their hair clean, but not stripped, how did hair look and feel after), comfort (was it scented), and durability (how long did a bar last, did it crumble or stay whole) top of mind. We gathered the details insights, making notes of any pros/cons or hair type specific comments to make our selections. From there, we settled on the 9 best-performing shampoo bars.

What to Keep in Mind

Hair Type

Just like traditional shampoo, your hair type matters when shopping for a shampoo bar. Where more hydrating, oil-based formulas (like Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo Bar) will work well for drier, curlier, and color-treated hair types, they can overwhelm fine and thin hair. With this in mind, be sure to consider the specific hair type listed on the bar while shopping. If it says it’s great for all hair types, take note of how many butters and oils are present, as those can be too heavy for finer hair types. Try the Bright Organix Bar None Hydrating Shampoo Bar if you have fine hair.

Size and Shape

Even though shampoo bars are significantly smaller than bottles of shampoo, they’re more concentrated: Made with less (or zero water) to make the formula more potent. The water from your shower hits the bar, causing it to lather, so minimal water is needed in the actual formula. Because of this, they’re designed to last longer than most liquid formulas.

When shopping for a shampoo bar, think about what will be most comfortable to hold. Typically, square bars give you more grip, but if you don’t have a preference, you’ll have a world of options before you.

Your Questions, Answered

How do you use a shampoo bar?

Much like a bar of soap! According to Isfahan Chambers-Harris, M.D., trichologist and founder of Alodia Hair Care, you can either lather it in your hands and transfer the lather to your strands, or directly lather the bar in your hair, against your scalp, and down your strands. Obviously, you’ll want to do this while your hair is wet. Otherwise, the solid shampoo bar won’t be able to lather at all.

If you’re not sure which method is best for your hair type, know this: “If your roots are very oily, rub the shampoo bar directly on your hair,” says LA-based celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos, who works with A-listers like Megan Fox and Camila Cabello.

How should you store shampoo bars?

Like bars of soap, shampoo bars can get slimy if not properly stored. For the longest-lasting use, Dr. Chambers-Harris says to store your shampoo bar in a cool, dry place when not in use. (AKA, don’t leave it in a puddle on your shower shelf.) Another option, Giannetos says, is to plop it in a mesh bag and hang it from a hook in your shower to dry.

How long do shampoo bars last?

Shampoo bars can last surprisingly long. When used a few times a week, you can expect your bar to last around three months, Dr. Chambers-Harris says. Though, some of our testers report that their bars became more crack-prone around the 2-month mark.

Are shampoo bars better for your hair than traditional shampoo?

From a sustainability stance? Yes. From a results perspective? It’s a personal preference. “One of the major pros is that shampoo bars contain less harsh ingredients, however, a con is that the pH of shampoo bars tend to be a bit higher than traditional shampoos — which can cause dryness and frizz,” Dr. Chambers-Harris reveals. It depends how your hair reacts to the individual formulas, but if you find a hydrating formula that cleanses to your liking, you can still achieve great results.

Do shampoo bars dry out your hair?

It depends on the bar. That said, because shampoo bars tend to contain fewer chemicals, Giannetos says that they’re known for being quite hydrating. If you really need a boost of hydration, try our best overall pick J.R. Liggett's Moisturizing Formula Shampoo Bar.

What Is InStyle Picks?

Did you notice the InStyle Picks seal of approval at the top of this story? That means our team of testers has reviewed every product on this list using a unique methodology to ensure it's really worth your time, money, and attention. We may get samples for free to try but we never promise positive (or any!) coverage in exchange. Put simply: InStyle Picks are products we love, and we've put them to the test to be sure you will too.

Why Shop With Us

Rebecca Norris has covered beauty for nearly 10 years. For this story, she compiled the insights and reviews of 21 InStyle testers to determine the best shampoo bars of 2024. She also spoke with trichologist Dr. Isfahan Chambers-Harris, and LA-based Celebrity Hairstylist, Dimitris Giannetos to learn the top benefits and drawbacks of shampoo bars.

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