As we are writing this, the living room looks like a war zone, as we’re doing some more wall and woodwork painting. We’ll post some before and after pictures on Facebook and Instagram when they’re done. If you don’t follow us there, you should!
But we’re taking a quick break from painting to write about travel toiletries. Anyone who has flown in the last 23 years knows the 3.4 ounce or 3-1-1- liquids rule. For full time travelers, this rule means that your checked bag needs to have room set aside for larger sized toiletry bottles. But space is everything is traveling, and any space saved is worth its weight in airline miles.
On my recent trip to New York, I traveled with only a carry-on bag (I was only there for 2 days) and I did not carry tiny travel sized bottles of shampoo and conditioner with me. I also didn’t use the hotel provided shampoo and conditioner.
Instead, we have both been trying out a new type of shampoo and conditioner that comes in bar form. It looks just like a bar of soap, but it is actually shampoo and conditioner. We’ve been trying them for a few months and thought we’d let you all know what we think.
The primary consideration for us was luggage space and the 3.4 ounce limitations on carry-on luggage. We’ll be traveling to places where access to toiletries will be limited. Not limited in a “third world living in the jungle” kind of way. More limited in a “goods come into the country sporadically and brand allegiance may be difficult” kind of way. If we’re going to be in a country for three months, we can’t logistically bring in enough shampoo and conditioner to last both of us without dedicating a decent amount of luggage space to transport it.
Enter the shampoo and conditioner bars.
I was scrolling Facebook one day when I saw an ad for shampoo bars – light bulb moment! I did some quick online review reading and bought a shampoo and conditioner bar from Amazon to try out.
Verdict – for me, they work just like liquid shampoo and conditioner, although the conditioner takes a little more work to get into the hair. It doesn’t lather like the shampoo bar, so you have to wipe it on your wet hair to deposit the conditioner. My hair looks and feels the same and styles the same. But to be fair, my hair is pretty pedestrian when it comes to care. I don’t use a lot of fancy products on it. The real test would be this guy’s hair:
The shampoo and conditioner bars that Gene bought were significantly pricier than mine, but he has curly dry hair that needs more attention. I honestly did not think he would be a fan, but after about a month of use so far, he is sold. Like my opinion, he feels like they work as well as liquids, but are just a little more work (see above re the conditioner).
Now that we know they work for our hair, the real benefit is the space they will save in the luggage. Here is what I used to use in the shower. Those bottles of shampoo and conditioner would last me about 6 weeks. I’ve been using the shampoo bars for about that long and they are still going strong, so I’m thinking I can get three months out of one bar.
What are your thoughts on shampoo and conditioner bars? Have you ever tried them? Would you try them? Let us know in the comments!
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