Natural Conditioner Bars with plastic free packaging

Following on from cleansing the hair in an eco friendly manner, it’s possible to condition your hair plastic free as well. Wherever you find a shampoo bar, you’ll find a suitable conditioner bar to use with it. Anyone with a very specific problem to solve should still be able to find a bar to suit their needs, especially from New Zealand Brand Ethique. The ranges aren’t as wide as a liquid conditioner or leave in, but each brand has either a matching conditioner or one generic conditioner bar to suit everyone. Look out for multi-tasking products called a Cowash, or conditioner wash. Much like using a natural dry shampoo for in between washes, a cowash is a quick and simple way to touch up in between a full cleanse.

How do you use a conditioner bar?

It’s easier than you think to use a conditioner bar instead of grabbing for a plastic bottle or tube to nourish and condition your hair. As with any conditioner, start with washed and rinsed hair and ensure your hair is still damp.

Wet the conditioner bar and then start from the middle of your hair and slide it down to the roots. Repeat until you feel there’s enough product in your hair and then work the conditioner evenly through your hair with your fingertips or a wide tooth comb. Leave the conditioner in your hair for 2 to 5 minutes, or as long as you can, before rinsing it out.

Using a conditioner bar as a leave in treatment

Cutting down on waste and multiple products, you can use a conditioner bar as a leave in treatment. Follow the steps above to condition your hair first. Squeeze out as much water from your hair as possible. Run the conditioner bar over your hair from the mid length to the tip, but not as much product as when conditioning wet hair. Work through your hair with your fingertips, leave in and style as usual. You will also get some anti-frizz and smoothing benefits from the leave in.

Using a conditioner bar as a shaving soap

If you’re travelling or have run out of shaving soap, your conditioner bar will double as a shaving soap. Wet the bar and your skin, apply the damp bar to the area you want to shave. Work it into your skin a little, then shave. You won’t get a foam, but you will get a nice glide and a smooth shave.

Use your conditioner bar as a body moisturiser

This is best done in the shower, but can be done with damp skin and a damp bar. Rub the wet bar on to wet skin and then massage it in with your hands. Less is more and it will go further on damp skin. You’ll be surprised at how little it will take to do the job. Like using a body oil in the shower, take care that it doesn’t make the tiles slippery as you get in and out.

Using a conditioner bar as a hair treatment mask

After shampooing your hair, while it’s still damp, apply a generous amount of conditioner bar from the roots to the tips. Use at least twice as much as you would when you do a regular condition. Work the conditioner through all your hair, paying closer attention to the ends. Do this with your fingertips first and then with a wide tooth comb to ensure it’s evenly distributed. Leave the mask on your hair for 1 to 2 hours then rinse well.