Switching from liquid to solid hair products can be challenging and sometimes overwhelming, but you’re in luck! We’ve created a one-stop shop for everything you need to know about picking your first bars, how to use them and a few little tips and tricks for along the way. Most importantly, know that we're always here to help you find your favourite solid Ethique hair bars! Expect clean, soft and manageable hair when you’ve been using our solid haircare range. There’s currently over 10 different Ethique shampoo bars and 7 conditioner bars in total, including specifically formulated products for curly, colour-treated, oily, dry, flat or irritated hair and scalps. Our bars are full of cleansing, deliciously hydrating ingredients that smell incredible – we’ve even created unscented bars for those who have delicate scalps or are sensitive to fragrance. The creamy soap-free lather from Ethique shampoo bars mean the product glides easily and you can get the bubbles right where you need them most, while our conditioners are power-packed with nourishing ingredients to smooth and add softness. Ethique hair care bars are just as effective as any salon-quality products - just say bye-bye to added water and plastic packaging and hello to shiny, happy hair and scalps! There’s more to our bars than you think When you purchase an Ethique bar, you’re not just buying cruelty-free, pH-balanced shampoo and conditioner. You’re also saving single-use plastics from heading to landfill, using less water, planting a tree with each order made on our website - all while supporting local indigenous communities who help produce the fair-trade ingredients like babassu and cupuacu oils we love to include. Each bar of shampoo is the equivalent of 3 bottles of 350ml liquid shampoo, and our conditioner bars are the equivalent of 5 bottles of 350ml liquid conditioner – when we say concentrated ingredients, we mean it! How to use your solid hair care We recommend soaking your hair from root to tip, then picking up your Ethique bar and wetting this too. For shampoo bars, you’ll want to gently swipe the bar directly on your scalp and roots (not your hands) - about 5 times should be enough, then pop your bar down. It’s really important to swipe the bar on your hair and not your hands because it won’t be as effective and you’ll be essentially washing your hands with the bubbles, rather than your head. What goes hand in hand with Ethique shampoo bars? Head massages of course! Now is prime time to get foamy and lather up your scalp, giving yourself a luxurious massage at the same time. Rinse out the bubbles, and then it’s time to condition! Our conditioner bars can be a little trickier to get used to, and that’s because we're ‘conditioned’ to expect a thicker, slippery feeling product that bottled conditioners give hair instantly (that’s usually all the silicone FYI, and they’re also full of water!). Our conditioners may feel a little different but the end result is exactly the same – lush conditioned hair. To apply, swipe the bar directly on your hair from root to tip 4-5 times. If you have thick hair, to make applying product on easier, we recommend sectioning hair into two or four and applying the bars on each section to make sure there is enough product distributed. Then for the most important part – let it soak in for a couple of minutes. The longer you leave the conditioner in for, the more nourished your hair will feel. It may feel like there’s not a lot happening, but once you rinse it out, you’ll begin to feel the silky magic. Don’t forget, our bars are super concentrated, so you need less product than you are used to with a liquid! Keeping your solid bars... solid It’s really important to keep your shampoo and conditioner nice and dry in between washes – whether you’re storing them in one of our compostable in-shower containers, a wire rack, bamboo caddy, or on a cute ceramic plate in your bathroom windowsill. Whichever way you’re doing it, just make sure there’s water drainage. Fresh air and a dry space will do wonders for the longevity of your bars - no one wants a mushy bar! From homemade bamboo toothbrush holders to recycled driftwood shelves,our customers come up with some seriously creative DIY ways to store their clever little bars. See for yourself by checking out the #ethiqueshelfie hashtag on Instagram! Found your bars have unfortunately turned a little mushy? Read our top tips on how to save a wet Ethique bar. What can you do with little pieces of Ethique bars There will come a time when your full-size bar slowly becomes a thin slice and then, very small pieces. Luckily, there's a bunch of different ways you can re-purpose your little pieces so they’re not constantly crumbling into the shower floor and getting stuck near the plug. One of our favourites is the tried and true ‘squish and combine’ method. Simply take your little leftover pieces and squish them firmly into your new shampoo or conditioner bar. Just like that, you’re using all the little bits, and nothing goes to waste. Another awesome trick is to save the little pieces for travelling bags or taking them to the gym, or simply melt them down and remould them into new shapes which are easier to use. We created a whole blog post on this very topic because it’s so handy for getting the very last washes from your Ethique bars. If in doubt, get in touch with our Miracle Workers! Hopefully, this has cleared up a few key points, but what are the next steps? Well, if you're an Ethique newbie we recommend grabbing yourself a trial pack, sampler or mini first which means you have the opportunity to sample a few smaller, cheaper options before grabbing your new favourite full-size bars. We love helping our customers find the perfect bars, and we understand navigating the world of solid cosmetics can be tricky. Because of this, every bar has a product guarantee which means if you’re not loving it – just let us know! We'll help you find a clever little solution that works for you. . Pretty cool right? As always, feel free to reach out to our Miracle Workers on email or social media who can help make some personalised recommendations before you order your first bars. Discover more: Tips and tricks to help you get the most out of our Curly Duo The beginners’ guide to Ethique Four different ways you can use a conditioner bar Out of the box multi-use product tips