With possible plans for some more extensive travels in the coming months I need ideas to reduce weight. Decanting products into travel sized bottles is adequate for a couple of weeks but this doesn’t work for longer trips. I wanted to give a solid shampoo bar another try having been impressed by the lifespan of these little ‘pucks’ previously. Particularly as Lush now have a solid conditioner bar as well, and my hair dries out in the heat when travelling for longer periods.
There are definitely some pros and cons to these products, which leaves me debating whether the extra weight of liquid alternatives or a combination of the solid and liquid options might be my best approach:
Lush solid shampoo bar (Seanik)
Pros
– Lathers up very easily and you don’t need much product.
– Lasts for ages, definitely outweighing the lifespan of a small bottle of liquid shampoo.
– Smells great, and the smell is retained in your hair for longer compared to most shampoos I have used.
– Is lightweight and ideal for travel.
– There are plenty of different choices for different hair types.
Cons
– Initially didn’t fit in the ‘purpose built’ tin – disappointing but soon overcome once used a few times.
– Used alone, did leave my hair dry albeit ‘squeaky’ clean.
– Can disintegrate if left wet or not dried before storing. Tends to stick to the container and would become messy if left in the shower and not dried out properly.
Lush conditioner bar
Pros
– Fabulous smell.
– Leaves hair reasonably well conditioned, although drier than other products, which may be due to my hair being very fine.
– Is lightweight and ideal for travel.
Cons
– Issue fitting in tin and still doesn’t fit after over a week of use.
– Created a flyaway/static feel to my hair unless I used other products when styling afterwards.
– It is necessary to use liquid conditioner intermittently – may be a consequence of my hair type.
– Like with the shampoo bar it needs to be dried fully before storage.
So in conclusion I would say that as long as you are not moving from location to location and have time to let these bars dry out properly they do provide a lightweight alternative to liquid shampoo/conditioner. I personally find that a few days use whilst in one location can be alternated with liquid products when you don’t have time for the bars to dry and this also allows the drying effects of the products on your hair, which became evident after 3/4 days of use, to be controlled.
The frustrations of these products not fitting in the tins can easily be overcome by finding an alternative container, which also means it doesn’t end up stuck to the inside of the tin – I recommend something plastic instead.
There is some value in taking these bars along on a extended trip, but you can’t beat the liquid alternative. I highly recommend the Ickle Bockles range of shampoo and conditioners as they really are luxury and left my hair feeling completely replenished.
My travels
I finish work at the end of this week and then will be looking to recuperate for a bit and get a few things done for myself that I have neglected these past months. After that my plans are to get away and take a break – call it a career break of sorts.
Check back for more on this soon, or if you have any suggestions of where I should go for Christmas (bearing in mind I am not planning to celebrate this year) I would love to hear them.
