Travel Product Review: Shampoo Bars

Not only do I love telling you about the places I love to travel, I also love introducing you to products that help make those travels easier and more enjoyable. That's why I was so excited to partner with Chagrin Valley Soap on my recent trip to Nashville to try out their shampoo bars. They are a Midwest family-owned company, located in Cleveland, Ohio that got their start in the kitchen while trying to find a more natural solution for how many chemicals were present in their family's skin care products. Today, they offer a wide range of products including handmade soap, shampoo bars, lotion bars, and more. All of their bars are made with natural and organic ingredients and contain no artificial fragrance, color, preservatives, or detergents. They are also scented with natural essential oils and are very fragrant - I could smell them before I even opened the box that came in the mail! 

So let's face it, there's no easy way to travel with shampoo and conditioner - or any liquid for that matter. Even with the convenient travel bottles you're still faced with the hassle of removing them from your luggage to go through TSA security. And I can't be the only one whose had the dreaded bottle open or explode all over everything?! Seriously my purple shampoo for color-treated hair once leaked all over my duffle bag on our anniversary trip to northern Michigan - talk about a mess! 

Shampoo bars eliminate both of those problems and instead, everything you need is right there in one solid bar. The bars are also a more environmentally friendly option as there is no plastic bottle to throw away when you're done. How long the bars last will depend on how often you wash your hair, but on average, since they are so concentrated, shampoo bar can do the job of 4 to 5 bottles of your typical commercial shampoo.

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One thing I was impressed with the first time I used the bars was how easy they create a fluffy lather. This is because of the lathering oils they contain such as coconut, babassu and castor bean each batch contains. While a lather isn't required for clean hair, I still think it's essential for a good shampoo experience so I was happy to see that I didn't lose this effect with the bars. I'll admit the first time I tried them it was a bit different and I wasn't exactly sure what to do. Thankfully, each bar contains a small instruction card with helpful tips. When you're in the shower after wetting your hair like you normally would, you can either use the bar directly on your scalp and rub it in a combing motion, or create the later in your hands first and then apply to your scalp. When you're done showering be sure to store your bar in a dry place - don't let it sit in a puddle of water in the shower and give it plenty of fresh air before the next use. 

It's important to know there will likely be an adjustment period when you begin using the bars - at least there was from me. The first time I used the Summer Sunshine bar it left my hair feeling coated and waxy. This is because Chagrin Valley only uses natural ingredients in their shampoo bars so your hair is going through a sort of detox as all the buildup and chemicals from your normal commercial shampoos have to be stripped out. If you plan to take these on an upcoming trip, I would recommend starting to use them a couple weeks before you leave to help your hair adjust. It may take some time and patience, but once I used them regularly I could definitely tell the difference and was left with healthy, soft and silky hair. 

Still not sure where to begin? I've included three of my favorite shampoo bars below. Chagrin Valley also offers a guide to help you choose by product type or condition. **Product descriptions below provided by Chagrin Valley website

Get $5 Off Your First Order

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Summer Sunshine

A natural shampoo specially formulated for summertime hair when the scalp becomes more oily, but the hair becomes drier as it is exposed to sun and wind--but we love it all year round! With a refreshing fragrance that is energizing and uplifting, yet soothing and relaxing. Imagine the crisp clean citrus floral scent of a wispy breeze passing through a citrus grove and a field of herbs and flowers.

• Extra moisturizing wheat germ oil, rich in antioxidants, helps improve circulation
• Enriched with moisturizing organic coconut milk that condition and strengthen the hair shaft
• Coconut milk soothes dry scalps and has anti-frizz properties that help with manageablilty
• We’ve captured a perfect citrus and floral--warm and refreshing summer fragrance
• Good for all hair types

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Rosemary Lavender

A natural shampoo bar formulated with organic aloe vera and deep cleansing and stimulating essential oils that nourish the hair shaft, encourage strong, healthy hair and increase manageability and shine.

• Aloe vera nourishes the hair shaft and scalp and promotes shiny, healthy hair
• Organic jojoba oil adds shine, promotes hair growth and improves the health of the scalp and hair
• Organic mango butter penetrates to re-moisturize, revive and repair
• Rosemary is invigorating to the hair and scalp, encourages strong, healthy hair, stimulates growth and increases manageability and shine
• Lavender, a cleansing, balancing herb, will balance oily or dry hair and scalp
• Tea tree oil refreshes stimulates and deep cleans the scalp
• Good for all hair types

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Honey Beer & Egg

Beer and egg yolks create a mild, protein-rich natural shampoo with loads of rich, creamy, bubbly lather, that adds shine, bounce, and body to hair. The well-known conditioning properties of beer and egg add to the cocoa butter to provide a moisturizing shampoo bar. This shampoo does not smell like beer! The honey and the hops give this bar a nice clean smell with a hint of sweetness.

• The proteins from malt and hops condition hair and help repair damage
• Vitamin B complex and natural sugars in beer add body and shine
• Vitamin-rich eggs revitalize dull and dry hair and improve texture
• Egg yolk works as a natural moisturizer and conditioner for dry hair
• Organic cocoa butter provides moisture and deep nourishment
• Organic honey imparts a lustrous shine to dull, dry hair
• Good for normal to dry hair

Get $5 Off Your First Order

**Disclosure - this post was sponsored by Chagrin Valley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.