Review and information about the solid shampoos available from LUSH Cosmetics. This shampoo cuts down on waste because there is no packaging at all.

Solid shampoo is an alternative to traditional shampoo bottled in a plastic container and sold as a liquid. With solid shampoo from the LUSH company, there is no waste packaging. The shampoo is sold "naked" and like any bar of soap, is completely used up through normal washing.

The LUSH Company

LUSH brand cosmetics have an ethos similar to the Body Shop. Ethical production, no animal testing, and hand-made products are key elements of the company's philosophy.

As described on the company's website, LUSH is the reincarnation of an earlier company, Cosmetics to Go in Poole, England. Cosmetics to Go's first customer was the Body Shop.

Shampoo in Solid Form

LUSH solid shampoos are sold in round bars like slightly small hockey pucks, and in pieces chipped from a larger block, similar to some of LUSH's other soaps.

There are currently nine "flavours" of shampoo available, of which seven are in bar form, and two are chunks. Six of the flavours are made without SLS, sodium lauryl sulphate, substituting sodium coco-sulphate, derived from coconut oil.

Bars (all are without SLS unless marked):

• Godiva (jasmine) - still uses SLS
• Hybrid (lemon, fennel) - still uses SLS
• Karma Komba (citrus, patchouli)
• NEW! (cinnamon)
• Seanik (orange blossom)
• Soak and Float (eliminates dandruff)
• Squeaky Green (herbal)
• Ultimate Shine (floral)

In chunk form, contains SLS:

• The Blonde (citrus)
• Trichomania (coconut cream pie).

Mild Shampoo

The reformulated shampoos (with the coconut oil product) are milder than the mildest baby shampoo, according to LUSH.

How to Use

LUSH says to wet the hair, rub the bar on the hair, then create a lather, wash and rinse.

Experience shows that with long, thick hair, the solid shampoo works best when the hair is wetted thoroughly. Make a lather in the hands, then work it through the hair as with any shampoo. Rinse completely.

This may be one of those personal preferences – whether to make the lather in the hands or not. Both ways work, depending upon the hair.

Probably because the shampoo is a soap rather than a detergent, it does have a different feel and users may want to experiment with the different bars to find the one they prefer. LUSH staff and the website can be a further source of information.

The scent from the bar does not tend to linger in the hair.

Travelling

As an all-purpose soap, the LUSH shampoo bars are excellent. Except for Godiva and Hybrid, which contain cocoa butter, LUSH says all the shampoos can be used to wash clothes. They foam nicely and make a good all-purpose body wash. The lather is thick enough to use as shaving cream.

LUSH sells a little metal carrying case, and gives one free with the purchase of two shampoo bars when supplies are on hand.

The shampoo last longer when it is kept dry between uses. It dissolves very fast in water and should not be left standing in a puddle. Apart from that, the shampoo is long-lasting and does not need to be stored in any special way.

Purchasing LUSH Solid Shampoo

The bars are 55 grams new, or about 1.9 oz per bar. They sell for $9.95 Canadian, $9.25 US, $9.95 AUS, and 4.25 GBP at present. The bars are very long-lasting and economical (cost per use is typically less than bottled shampoo, depending upon the brand).

The Australian and UK LUSH websites list a hard water version of the bar that is not currently shown in Canada.

LUSH has websites and stores in many countries.