Shampoo bars have been around for a while, however recently they have gained immense popularity as people are becoming more and more aware of the environmental issues surrounding shampoo bottles.
Currently, about nine million tons of plastic get thrown into the ocean annually, which breaks down to one garbage truck full of plastic being dumped into the sea every minute. (1)
It seems innocent enough – a product designed to clean your hair that removes the dirt and oil, leaving your hair glossy and bouncy. However, is that all a liquid shampoo does?
Well, noticing the ingredients on the back of a shampoo bottle, one might be surprised. The names which are too hard to even pronounce, research shows that these chemicals lurking inside shampoos may tempt serious health risks like memory loss, eye and skin irritation, hair follicle damage that can lead to hair loss, and even cancer
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These chemicals are not only harmful to us, but they can also cause extreme damage to the environment. As the shampoo leaves our hair, the chemicals are sent down the drain, out into the water supply and thus polluting them. These chemicals can harm both aquatic life and the animals that drink from these water bodies. When entering aquatic organisms’ bodies their hormones get disturbed which further leads to affecting their reproducing abilities.
Shampoos are often sold in plastic bottles which are mostly unrecyclable. They’re dumped in our landfills and oceans, harming our atmosphere and our wildlife while they take thousands of years to decompose.
Alternative to liquid shampoo, a shampoo bar was introduced:
Shampoo bars are not only eco-friendly but are also economical.
Shampoo bars save water. Being formulated with less water means that there’s a higher concentration of other ingredients in the bar. Cleansers and conditioners can work in their most potent form without being diluted. In the long run, this means that your hair is getting a powerful dose of the important stuff that your hair needs.
Shampoo bars also cut down on plastic usage. As these are mere solid bars, they can be wrapped in recyclable cardboard papers as well.
The life of these products highly depends on how often you wash your hair, how much you’re slathering on with each wash, and how you store your bar in between uses. Allowing bars to drain and dry before your next use can increase their lifespan.
Shampoo bars are travel-friendly as well. Being much smaller and more lightweight than their bottled counterparts, these are handy in a variety of situations, from keeping your bathroom cabinets decluttered, to packing for an upcoming trip.
Thus, shampoo bars are the need of the hour. It’s high time that we can be responsible citizens and change our lifestyle in a more eco-friendly manner. Once you’ve settled into a new routine and are both confident and comfortable with your environmental efforts, share your strategy with others. Your friends and family may not be aware of the simple things they can do to help save the planet. One person’s effort can multiply, making a large impact on our environment.
Poosa Ramesh