Try out bar shampoos, they're making a comeback for various reasons

For coarse or frizzy hair, this bar shampoo's solid texture develops into a rich creamy foam during application. Photo: Davines

For many of us, liquid shampoo has been the hair cleanser of choice our entire lives, and we’ve never known anything else.

Bar shampoos were what was used until 1903, while Hans Schwarzkopf (German chemist, entrepreneur and founder of the Schwarzkopf haircare brand) invented a lavender powder shampoo in 1927.

The use of shampoos dates to 1762 in England, when hair stylists boiled shaved soap in water and added herbs to give the hair shine and fragrance, according to the Prospector Knowledge Center.

Shampoo would evolve from fatty acid soaps to synthetic surfactants created after World War 2, and the next major shampoo development occurred in 1987 when Procter and Gamble released the first conditioning and cleansing shampoo, also known as the original 2-in-1 shampoo.

Read more: You can travel lighter and 'greener' if you switch to solid beauty products

Return of the bar

Liquid shampoo has remained the norm for almost 100 years and remains a favourite for most, but bar shampoos (also known as solid shampoos) are making a comeback for various reasons.

First, bar shampoos are a sustainable solution with reduced impact on the environment.

Around 40% of plastic waste worldwide comes from discarded packaging, and according to Johnson & Johnson, some 552 million shampoo bottles end up in landfills each year, in the United States alone.

As most shampoo bars come wrapped in paper, which is recyclable and biodegradable, using this method could help reduce plastic pollution in the long run.

Bar shampoos also give you more bang for your buck. According to National Geographic, most shampoos are 80% water and conditioners can be even more: up to 95% water and on average, a shampoo bar will outlast two to three bottles of liquid shampoo.

Bar shampoos have also proven to be gentler on hair, as many contain essential oils and natural ingredients and are cruelty free. Photo: Briogeo

The Montalbano bar shampoo is made with brightening sicilian lemon oil, lemon juice and fresh olives. Photo: Lush

They are also proven to be gentler on hair, as many bars contain essential oils and natural ingredients, and are cruelty-free.

Byrdie.com points out that bar shampoos have been praised for being gentler on the hair, and are typically made without sulfates and other harsh detergents that are common in liquid formulas.

According to the site, while there isn’t a simple yes or no answer when it comes to shampoo bars being the cleaner option for hair, it’s worth noting that many shampoo bars contain no parabens, sulfates, phthalates, silicone or synthetic fragrances.

These make them less drying on your hair than liquid shampoos that contain these ingredients.

Read more: Using the right hairdryer or straightener, you can get salon-worthy hair at home

Options galore

More brands have begun rolling out bar shampoos in recent years, and there are plenty of choices out there if you’re thinking of experimenting with solid shampoos.

The Love shampoo bar from Davines is marketed for coarse or frizzy hair. Its solid texture develops into a rich creamy foam during application that results in hair that’s silky and soft.

Enriched with olive extract, it is packed in a 100% FSC paper wrapper and is recyclable, with ingredients that are 97.4% biodegradable.

Lush’s Montalbano bar shampoo is made with brightening Sicilian lemon oil, lemon juice and fresh olives, which results in shiny, luscious hair.

Rosemary helps keep irritated scalps soothed; while leaving hair smelling like a fresh citrusy grove with an herbal edge.

You can work the bar between your hands or directly onto wet hair to create a lather; and massage through your scalp and hair before rinsing and applying conditioner.

Briogeo’s Be Gentle, Be Kind 3-in-1 Cleansing Bar is a dermatologist-tested product formulated with hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and pH-friendly ingredients to soothe and nourish hair, face and body.

Formulated with 2% colloidal oatmeal and other nutrients, it washes away impurities while soothing skin and scalp sensitivities, specially formulated for those with ingredient, fragrance, and essential oil sensitivities.