Published: 7/05/2025
Waste-free hair care bars
As interest in plastic reduction grows and grows, people are ditching plastic bottles and moving towards eco-friendly bars. So, it was only natural that hair care bars would form part of our ALTER/NATIVE by Suma body & hair care range.
Made in the UK from essential oils, our bars come in two different varieties and a range of gorgeous fragrances. Created to naturally cleanse the hair whilst enveloping your senses with truly wonderful aromas, they’re vegan, cruelty-free and bursting with the goodness of essential oils.
Things to know about our shampoo bars
Though our shampoo bars are suitable for many hair types, they have not been formulated to be suitable for dyed or treated hair. Many of today’s hair treatments contain harsh chemicals and dyes which upset the hairs natural balance and can strip the hair of its natural oils. Our bars may not be suitable for your hair if this is the case, as some colour fading may occur and it may take longer for you to transition to using our shampoo bars.
There are also some areas within the UK that have hard water. This is water which is high in dissolved minerals, predominantly calcium and magnesium. This type of water can also affect the performance of our bars and may lengthen the transition period and performance of our natural shampoo bars. Check online to see if you live in one of these areas. Some previously soft water areas are now listed as hard water areas, so it’s a good idea to check.
The shampoo bar transition
We’ve had so many glowing reviews about our shampoo and conditioner bars, but it can take some hair types time to get used to the change from bottle to bar, anything from a few washes to a few weeks. It can be a challenge going from liquids containing silicone and plastic beads to a natural product. Hair can protest at first and may feel dry and frizzy, or it may go the other way and feel greasy.
DO NOT PANIC! This is normal – it’s your hair’s way of adjusting and rest assured, it does get better.
All of our shampoo bars are suitable for all hair types. However, you may find one type suits your hair better than another. Try different ones to see which works best for you.
If you have a lot of product buildup on your hair, we suggest you start by applying a clarifying natural baking soda rinse. You can make it by adding 1 tablespoon of baking soda to 1-2 cups of warm water to make a solution. Work it through your hair and rinse really well.
Now you are ready to start using your bar. Run the bar over your hair a couple of times from root to tip to avoid tangling. Use a little amount of the product for the first wash, rinse really well and then repeat, making sure you get a really good lather. Then rinse, rinse and rinse some more!
A rinse with an apple cider vinegar solution can help remove any excess soap buildup. It’s really nourishing and adds amazing shine too. The apple cider rinse is made by adding 1 part apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water. You can add a few drops of essential oil too if you like. Rest assured, the vinegar smell is very faint and it disappears as your hair dries. You can even use the rinse instead of the conditioner bar if that feels too heavy for your hair.
Brush your hair regularly to redistribute the natural oils that are no longer being stripped out by less natural products. Give your hair a few days off between washes. If it’s feeling greasy, a little cornstarch applied to the roots will absorb any excess oil. Or if it’s dry, a little argan oil will moisturise and tame any frizz.
So, there you go, that’s the Suma ALTER/NATIVE bottle-to-bar shampoo guide. Let us know how you get on!
Want to know more about what’s in our shampoo bars? Get the lowdown here.
Not found what you’re looking for and want to know more about our hair and body care range? Get in touch – [email protected]