Conditioner bars

The Complete Guide to Solid Conditioner Bars

Are you ready for a new experience? Conditioner bars will transform the way you think about hair care. From application, to storage and durability, solid format might make you fall in love with your washing routine. The best part is, once your start loving them, you won’t be able to go back to liquid format.

What differentiates solid from liquid?

WATER! Solid bars contain zero to very little water (typically not more than 5%). If water is in the formula, it is typically because it is part of raw materials. Liquid conditioner on the other end is mainly water. A typical formula will contain anywhere between 80-90% water. Hence, liquid conditioner needs to be transported into a bottle because it is, well, liquid.

Do solid conditioners contain the same ingredients than liquid shampoos?

Yes, they CAN contain the same ingredients. BUT, most of the time, the bars will contain a solid form of the same liquid ingredient. For example, liquid lecithin vs powder lecithin. Or solid surfactant vs liquid surfactant. If your concern is whether the bar format can contain the same actives as a liquid format, unequivocally, the answer is yes.

What performs better? Solid or liquid?

Well, it depends on the formula. In fact, neither format performs better than the other. They can both deliver very targeted solutions or have a mediocre performance. It rather depends on the formula. A good conditioner will:

Apply and rinse easily

Deposit the conditioning system on the hair

Reduce friction during wet and dry combing

Soften hair without making them feel heavy

This can be achieve, independently of the product format. However, because liquid conditioner has been on the market for a few decades longer than its solid companion, a lot of formulators are more comfortable with that format.

What is more sustainable? Solid or liquid?

Unequivocally, the solid format is more sustainable. Let’s start with the packaging: no need for a plastic bottle. The bar can be wrapped in paper or placed in a carton box. So the packaging is biodegradable and can be recycled. That’s a good start. Another big advantage is that the bar format is concentrated and weighs 10X less than a shampoo bottle. This means you can ship 10X more product with the same amount of transport energy. Just here, the bar wins.

Then we have to look at the formula, and this is where neither has a big advantage. Both formats allow for the use of eco-friendly ingredients. So a liquid formula can be sustainable, but the packaging remains a big hurdle.