Calling All My Eco-Blondies
Breaking news! Breaking news! I have a new favorite purple shampoo bar!
One of my first posts was touting color-safe shampoo and conditioner bars by the brand HiBAR. This is a new blog and I’m not getting paid to promote anything, nor am I being sent any free stuff. (Although I am not at all opposed to this. Please send free stuff.) Hence, I’m completely objective in my recommendations and have no conflict of interest in saying something that the bigger blogs can’t: I’ve found a better product.
When I first started this plastic-free journey, replacing my shampoo was a top priority. In fact, it wasn’t until I finally opened my eyes and realized that my entire bathroom was completely overrun by plastics that I knew I had to make a change. I’m working on a pretty major post for you guys listing ALL my toiletry products with shocking before (pre-plastic) and after (post-plastic) pictures. In the meantime, I had to divulge just this one plastic-saving product because I simply can’t wait.
Ethique’s purple shampoo is good for bright blondes (or brunettes with blonde highlights, like me) and silver-haired foxes that need purple-toned shampoos to keep brass and frizz in check. It’s sulfate free, vegan, plant-based and 100% compostable. The brand Ethique is amazing and literally everything about the packaging is paper and/or compostable. Even the little sticker sealing the paper packaging around the bar of soap adorably says, “I’m a compostable sticker!” (Eco Fact Check: compostable means that something is organic and breaks down into beneficial matter for the environment. It’s better than biodegradable or recyclable and is the best of the best.)
But honestly, as great as the packaging is, ultimately the test is how good the shampoo is. And I’m telling you – it’s good. The lather is out of control, the smell is subtle but delectably fresh, and it leaves hair shiny, soft, tame, beautiful. It definitely blew the HiBAR out of the water. The main difference between the two that made this an easy switch was that the Ethique is super easy to lather (I just rub it back and forth across my scalp/hair – or – get that lather going with your hands then rub through your hair. It’s super easy to work with.) As opposed to the HiBAR which took some time to get going. Time is money, people. Best of all, the end result with my hair was amazing with Ethique. It leaves my hair feeling CLEAN and BETTER. Just as a shampoo should. This ain’t no downgrade, people.
I am still happy with the HiBAR conditioning hair bar and have been using it with my new Ethique shampoo. I don’t use a ton of conditioner in general, so just a few swipes along the bottom half of my locks gets the job done for me after I shampoo. I gotta tell ya, using a shampoo and a conditioner bar – and using beauty bars in general, even a bar of soap when washing hands – feels so luxurious to me. Like a day at a spa or fancy hotel. Almost a guilty pleasure – but it’s the exact opposite! It’s the right thing to do for the environment – and ourselves! (Read: Those microplastics seep into everything and I feel like they may as well be called microcancers, considering our overexposure to plastic has been linked to endless ailments, including cancer.) Anyway, this HiBAR conditioner is definitely going to last months (a solid bargain at merely $16.95). Once I finish it, I plan on trying the Ethique purple conditioner to match my new Ethique shampoo and will update accordingly!
A bit more on the brand Ethique, which if you don’t already know about, you should. Even if you’re not super into eco brands, this is one to keep on your radar. They’re cutting edge, their packaging is smart and sleek, they’re going places. They even recently collaborated with Bindi Irwin, the daughter of the late Steve Irwin – the Crocodile Hunter – who’s a celebrity and animal/environmental activist in her own right now, certainly living up to her father’s legacy.
Ethique’s mission is: “to rid the world of plastic waste while offering customers 100% sustainable, ethically sourced products, made from natural and effective ingredients. Better for you. Better for the planet.” If your little ole shampoo bottle doesn’t seem like a super pressing environmental issue, consider these facts: Over 40% of plastic comes from product packaging and 80 billion shampoo and conditioner plastic bottles are disposed of every year. 80 BILLION! Ethique is a New Zealand based company and has saved over 5 million plastic bottles so far. Now that’s a brand I can get behind. (I was sold at the compostable sticker seals.)
When buying Ethique’s shampoo bar, you’re saving 2.7 liters of water that would be needed to make a plastic-bottle equivalent. And, costing just $18, this shampoo bar is the equivalent of three shampoo bottles! It’s a money saver, guys! And a plastic saver. 🌎🙂 Being eco may seem costly at first, but you’ll actually be amazed at all the savings you’ll make when you switch to higher quality, less fuss, luxuriously cleanproducts – in every sense of the word – in your home and in your life.
Thank you for coming along with me on my eco journey. I have so many more finds I’m dying to share. Please do let me know your thoughts in the comments or on my Instagram! Just by reading this, you’re helping the planet by being a part of the movement. A rebellious movement against the status quo. Make the effort, question that purchase… Now that’s eco chic.