What is solid shampoo?
A solid shampoo is a concentrated, water-conscious alternative to traditional liquid shampoo. Instead of being diluted in a bottle, cleansing and conditioning ingredients are combined into a compact bar that is activated with water during use.
Because the formula is concentrated, a small amount is all you need to create a rich lather and effectively cleanse the hair and scalp.
Solid shampoo also offers a simple way to reduce bathroom waste: no plastic bottle, less bulky packaging, and a compact format that is easy to store and travel with.
Why choose solid shampoo?
Traditional liquid shampoos contain a significant amount of water and are typically packaged in plastic bottles. Solid shampoo removes the need for that bottle while concentrating the ingredients you actually use to cleanse and care for your hair.
At Wayward Chickadee, each shampoo bar is handcrafted in small batches in Maine and packaged without plastic.
With proper use and storage, one bar can replace up to three bottles of traditional liquid shampoo, making it both a practical and more resource-conscious choice.
Solid shampoo is also:
- Plastic-free
- Concentrated and long-lasting
- Compact and travel-friendly
- Easy to use
- Handcrafted in small batches in Maine
- Made without sulfates, silicones, or parabens
Our solid shampoo formula
Our current solid shampoo formula was developed to balance effective cleansing with conditioning and hair feel. Rather than simply removing oils from the hair, the formula combines gentle surfactants with conditioning agents, humectants, plant-derived ingredients, and targeted botanical additions.
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) - derived from coconut fatty acids found in coconut oil, is our primary cleanser. It produces the rich, creamy lather our shampoo bars are known for while providing gentle and effective cleansing.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine - a coconut-derived cleansing ingredient - complements SCI, supporting cleansing performance and helping create a soft, abundant lather.
BTMS-50 - a plant-derived conditioning ingredient made from rapeseed oil - helps improve softness, manageability, and the overall feel of the hair after washing.
Mango Butter provides nourishing emollients that help keep hair feeling soft and conditioned.
Botanical Powders, Ayurvedic Powders & Clays – carefully selected botanical and Ayurvedic powders, along with natural clays, are incorporated into our different shampoo varieties for their individual properties and hair-care benefits. Each formula features a different combination chosen to complement its intended purpose.
Hydrolyzed Quinoa Protein - derived from quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) helps improve the feel of strength, smoothness, and manageability.
Essential Oils – we use pure essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance to naturally scent our shampoo bars while also complementing the botanical character of each formula. Essential oils are carefully selected for each variety and used at appropriate concentrations in accordance with applicable IFRA safety guidelines.
Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) - a conditioning ingredient used to support moisture, softness and shine - helps improve the overall feel and appearance of the hair.
Glycerin - a plant-derived humectant produced form vegetable oils - helps attracts and retain moisture, conditioning to softer, more conditioned hair.
Propanediol - a plant-derived humectant produced through the fermentation of corn sugar - helps support moisture and contributes to a smooth, lightweight hair feel.
Inulin - a plant-derived prebiotic ingredient, obtained form chicory root - provides additional conditioning and contributes to a soft, smooth finish.
Citric Acid - an organic acid naturally found in citrus fruits and other plants – is used in our formula to help adjust and maintain the appropriate pH of the shampoo bar.
Geogard ECT - our broad-spectrum preservative system – helps protect the formula from microbial contamination and maintain product integrity. It is an ECOCERT/COSMOS-accepted preservative system commonly used in natural cosmetic formulations.
Each shampoo variety is then given its own character and targeted benefits through carefully selected botanical extracts, plant powders, clays and essential oils, depending on the formula.
The result is a concentrated shampoo bar designed to leave hair feeling clean, soft, refreshed, and manageable.
Less packaging. More purpose.
Choosing a solid shampoo isn't about perfection. It's about making a simple everyday product more thoughtful.
Our bars require no plastic bottle and are packaged in minimal, plastic-free packaging. Their concentrated format also makes them compact to store and easy to travel with.
And because each bar can replace up to three traditional shampoo bottles, a small change in your routine can help reduce the amount of packaging moving through your bathroom over time.
How to use your solid shampoo
Switching from liquid shampoo to a bar may feel different at first, but the process is simple.
Wet your hair, scalp, and shampoo bar thoroughly. Gently glide the bar over your wet hair a few times until a rich lather begins to form. Massage your scalp and hair with your hands, then rinse thoroughly.
After each use, place the bar somewhere it can drain and dry completely. Keeping your shampoo bar dry between washes will help it last significantly longer.