Rooted in Hair Health: A Blog by Diana, Founder of Color + Blow

What Is a Shampoo Bar?

A shampoo bar is a solid, waterless alternative to traditional liquid shampoo—created to cleanse your scalp and hair just as effectively, but with low-tox ingredients and zero plastic waste.

Instead of coming in a plastic bottle, a shampoo bar is compact, travel-friendly, and activated by water and friction. It lathers just like a liquid shampoo (honestly most times better) but with way less waste and way more intention.

What Makes It Low-Tox?

Shampoo bars skip the sulfates, silicones, and synthetic additives found in many traditional shampoos. Instead, they rely on gentle, biodegradable ingredients that clean without stripping your scalp’s natural balance.

So you’re getting a fresh, healthy scalp and soft, manageable hair—without the unnecessary chemicals.

🌿 How Does It Work?

When activated with warm water, shampoo bars release a rich lather that lifts buildup, excess oil, and impurities from the scalp, leaving your hair refreshed and your conscience clear.

Key ingredients often include:

• Plant-based surfactants (like our coconut-derived cleansers) to foam and cleanse gently

• Soothing botanicals (like chamomile or marshmallow root) to calm the scalp

• Natural powders (like rice protein) to detox and strengthen

• Essential oils to support scalp health and leave a clean, natural scent

At Color + Blow, we formulate our shampoo bars to make sure they would lather from the most dense texture all the way to fine hair, color treated, or even dry hair—so they lather richly, rinse cleanly, and leave your scalp feeling nourished, not squeaky.

✈️ Why People Love Shampoo Bars:

• Low-tox + sustainable: No harsh ingredients, no plastic bottles

• Perfect for travel: No spills, no TSA issues

• Long-lasting: One bar replaces 2–3 bottles of shampoo

• Minimal buildup: Formulated without fillers, so your hair stays lighter, longer

💡 How to Use a Shampoo Bar:

1. Wet your hair thoroughly and wet the bar.

2. Rub the bar between your hands to create lather, or swipe it directly onto your scalp.

3. Massage into your scalp and roots using fingertips.

4. Rinse well and follow with your Color + Blow conditioner bar.

5. Let the bar dry fully between uses by storing it in a well-draining container or soap dish.

Remember that when you make the switch from traditional liquid shampoos to a solid shampoo bar made with clean, low-tox ingredients, your hair and scalp go through an adjustment phase. This is completely normal and temporary.Your scalp starts to rebalance its natural oils, so it takes a few wash days for your hair to adjust. Stick with it, and you’ll soon notice: A more balanced scalp, softer, cleaner hair and less overall  product use.

Click here to shop our best-selling shampoo bar, and experience the clean beauty swap that your hair (and the planet) will love. 🌎

Have questions? DM us on Instagram or email us anytime—we love helping you on your low-tox hair care journey. 🌱

Wash & Go Routine: Defined, Moisturized, & Full of Volume ✨

📸 Swipe through each step of this easy wash & go for curly hair using my go-to combo of Color + Blow solid shampoo + conditioner bars and The Doux stylers.

Step 1:
Start with a clean slate using the Color + Blow Solid Shampoo Bar to gently cleanse your curls without stripping moisture. A great lather with clean, non-toxic ingredients that your scalp will love.

Step 2:
Follow up with the Color + Blow Solid Conditioner Bar to detangle and deeply hydrate. I melt a little into my hands and apply root to tip for smooth, bouncy curls.

Step 3:
Apply The Doux 808 Base Gel to soaking wet hair in sections to begin defining your curls and locking in moisture.

Step 4:
Layer in The Doux Mousse Def Mousse for extra hold, definition, and a frizz-free finish. Rake it through each section and let your curls clump naturally.

Step 5:
Diffuse on low/medium heat or air dry. I prefer diffusing for faster drying and extra volume!

Step 6:
Once fully dry, I gently pick at the roots to lift and fluff. The result? Shiny, soft, defined curls with movement and volume!

 Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Also known as: Marigold petals

🌿 What It Is:

Calendula is a bright golden-yellow flower in the marigold family, often used in herbal medicine and clean beauty products for its soothing, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties. It’s commonly found in skin salves, teas, and hair treatments due to its calming effects on irritated or sensitive skin.

 Why It’s Beneficial for Hair + Scalp:

• Soothes Scalp Inflammation: Ideal for dry, itchy, or flaky scalps—calendula helps calm irritation caused by product buildup, weather changes, or scalp sensitivity.

• Supports Healing: Naturally antibacterial and antifungal, it promotes a healthier scalp environment and may help reduce dandruff or mild scalp conditions.

• Moisture Retention: It helps support the scalp’s natural barrier and retain hydration, which in turn supports stronger, more resilient hair.

• Gentle for All Hair Types: Especially beneficial for sensitive, textured, or color-treated hair, since it doesn’t strip or overstimulate the scalp.

🧼 Why It’s Perfect in Shampoo Bars:

Calendula enhances the calming, low-tox profile of solid bars. It pairs well with gentle surfactants and plant oils to create a soothing, scalp-nourishing cleanse that feels more like a treatment than just a shampoo.

💙 Blue Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)

Also known as: Bachelor's button petals

🌿 What It Is:

Blue Cornflower is a delicate wildflower native to Europe. It’s often used in natural skincare for its toning, calming, and antioxidant-rich properties. It also adds a visually beautiful touch to herbal and beauty products.

 Why It’s Beneficial for Hair + Scalp:

• Soothes Sensitive Scalps: Cornflower contains natural compounds that help reduce scalp discomfort, redness, or inflammation—especially after heat styling or color treatment.

• Balances Oil Production: Its astringent-like properties can help refresh and tone the scalp without over-drying.

• Enhances Shine and Softness: By supporting scalp health, it indirectly promotes shinier, more manageable hair.

• Rich in Flavonoids: Antioxidants help protect the scalp and hair follicles from environmental stress.

🧼 Why It’s Perfect in Shampoo Bars:

Aside from its soothing properties, cornflower adds a visual storytelling element—creating a sensory, spa-like experience when using your bar. It reinforces your brand’s clean beauty positioning and draws attention to the ingredient-forward nature of your product.

🍄 Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes Versicolor)

Also known as: Cloud mushroom, multicolor polypore

🌿 What It Is:

Turkey Tail is a medicinal mushroom known for its powerful immune-boosting and antioxidant properties. Long used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and now popular in wellness, and supports skin and cellular health.

💆♀️ Why It’s Beneficial for Hair + Scalp:

• Scalp Microbiome Support: Turkey Tail helps promote a healthy balance of beneficial microbes on the scalp, which is essential for reducing inflammation and supporting long-term hair growth.

• Antioxidant Protection: Neutralizes stress that can damage scalp tissues and weaken hair follicles over time.

• Anti-Inflammatory Powerhouse: Especially valuable for those with itchy, flaky, or reactive scalps, it helps calm irritation and promote overall scalp comfort.

• Promotes Hair Resilience: By supporting scalp health at the cellular level, it helps create the ideal conditions for strong, thriving hair from the root.

🧼 Why It’s Perfect in Shampoo Bars:

Turkey Tail brings a functional, wellness-first edge to your bar. It signals that your formulation isn’t just about clean ingredients—it’s about scalp health from the inside out, aligning perfectly with your low-tox and wellness lifestyle message.

Your scalp deserves more than just a basic cleanse. That’s why we’ve packed Color + Blow’s solid shampoo bars with powerful botanicals that soothe, nourish, and protect. Discover the shampoo bar infused with these botanical powerhouses.

👉 [Shop the Botanical Shampoo and Conditioner Bars Here]