Last year I tried Hairstory’s New Wash Shampoo after seeing some Facebook ads for it, and whoa, our review really resonated with our readers! So when I saw ads for The Earthling Co. bar shampoo, I knew I wanted to buy it and give it a try too.
Note: The Earthling Co has added sulfate-free shampoo bars, however I tested the standard bars for this review.
This post is from our Damn You, Social Media Ads series, in which we buy and try the products showing up in our social feeds. Some purchases may generate a small affiliate commission to support our team at no additional cost to you, so thank you!
Our honest review of The Earthling Co Bar Shampoos
What’s special about Earthling Co Bar Shampoos?
The primary appeal is the fact that there is no packaging — other than the 100% compostable box and paper bag it ships in. As someone who’s trying to make more eco-friendly choices for my family, this is a big benefit. The next one: the ingredients. Like the “safer” ingredients I was looking for in Hairstory shampoo, these Earthling Co’s bar shampoos tout no SLS, fillers, silicones, parabens or preservatives. They’re vegan, cruelty free and palm-oil free.
On top of all that, one bar (about 3 oz) is supposed to last up to 80 washes and (bonus!) can travel with you through TSA checks.
But how does it work? I tried it for a week, and here’s what I found after a few washes.
First, about my hair…
First, let me tell you a little bit about my normal hair routine, so you can get a good basis for comparison to your own hair.
My hair is just below shoulder-length and falls somewhere between wavy and curly, tending toward frizzy. It’s about as natural as it gets — it’s never been dyed and I use very few products on it besides the occasional spritz of hairspray or dry shampoo.
Recently I’ve been using Pantene shampoo 3-4 times per week, and I’ll use conditioner about once a week. I usually let my hair air dry, and once a week or so I use my straightening iron to get out the frizz. Lately it’s been feeling a little more greasy than usual, so I’ve been supplementing with dry shampoo about twice a week between washes.
Photo © Kate Etue for Cool Mom Picks
Related: Is The Ordinary skincare and makeup good, considering it’s so cheap? We tried it to see.
What is a bar shampoo and how do you use it?
If you’ve never tried a bar shampoo, it looks kind of like a soap, as you might imagine.
The Earthling Co. shampoo bars use lemon juice, lemon powder, essential oils, cocoa butter and coconut oil to clean and moisturize your hair, and you can choose from seven different scents, ranging from a woodsy “sweet sandalwood” scent to bright “citrus sun,” and a light and airy “simple fresh” scent.
When I hopped in the shower for my first shampoo, I was doubtful about how well it would lather up and wash, but OMG. That lather! I rubbed the bar directly on my wet hair a few times, then lathered it in my hands for a few seconds and used them to gave my hair a vigorous wash. My hair was full of soapy lather. Like, the kind where you can create sculptures out of your hair.
Two thumbs up for lather.
When I rinsed it out, my hair had that squeaky clean feel. I’d equate it to how my hair feels after using a deep clean shampoo that’s meant to strip your hair of product buildup.
After I washed it, I used The Earthling Co conditioner bar, but only on my ends. (That’s how I use my regular conditioner as well.) I held the ends of my hair in one hand, rubbed the bar on with the other, then ran my fingers through. It felt creamy and rich and washed out easily.
On first use, I was 100% satisfied with how well The Eartling Co. soap lathered up and how clean my hair felt after washing. It smelled fresh but not fragrant — I bought the Citrus Sun scent and it was mild during the shampoo, but really has no scent to it after I rinsed it out.
Related: An honest review of Function of Beauty custom shampoo and conditioner
How my hair looked after using Earthling Co. bar shampoo
After One Day…
After the first wash with the bar I just towel-dried my hair and let it air dry the rest of the way. My hair has a tendency to have a lot of big volume when it air dries, and this wash was no different. It wasn’t heavy or dirty feeling.
The next morning, my hair still felt clean and full — not weighed down. I was able to go without washing my hair that morning, and it still looked fresh. I styled it with a flat iron mid-morning, and it took the heat well without losing body.
After One Week….
After one week, my hair still felt clean and bouncy, without too much buildup. It didn’t feel like any heavy products were weighing it down or making it greasy. In fact, while sick with the flu that week, I felt like my hair actually looked good! (That was a win, considering how I felt that week, ugh.) And while it does seem maybe a tiny bit frizzier than normal, I’m chalking that up to the endless rain and humidity we’re experiencing right now around Nashville.
However, If your hair frizzes with it, please let us know! (In which case you might need the Color WOW Dream Coat anti-frizz treatment that I tested. You should see the before-and-after pics!)
The verdict on Earthling Co. bar shampoo
I am now a 100% convert. The promise above? Absolutely accurate.
In fact, I just went back and ordered 3 more bars. That way, I can stock up for the future and save on shipping. (Tip: they offer some great discounts on bundles at Amazon, or when you sign up for their emails on their site.)
I love that the shampoo is bottle-free, not only because it helps the environment, but because it’s just simpler to use. Also — and this isn’t a big thing but I like it — my shower itself feels more minimalist and streamlined, with just three bars of soap along the shelf, and no bottles to tip over into the shower or out on the floor.
but most of all, I love what it did for my hair. Hey, I bought it again, right?
You can find a variety of scents of The Earthling Co. bar shampoo on Amazon for around $15.99/bar on sale, plus discounts for multiple purchases.
Compare this with my experience trying Green Ablutions bar shampoo
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Also from our Damn You, Social Media Ads series, in which we buy and try the products showing up in our social feeds:
Hairstory New Wash shampoo
Function of Beauty shampoo and conditioner
Ohora at-home gel manicure kit
The Original Makeup Erasers
Bombas socks
Glossier Balm Dot Com
THINX period underwear
Ruggable rugs
Inkbox Semi-Permanent Tattoos
Etee reusable food wraps
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