Product test

No more liquid shampoo

26.2.2019

Translation: Eva Francis

After visiting Carla Opetnik, who’s devoted to a zero waste and lifestyle, I made a decision: I’m going to make more (environmentally) conscious decisions when it comes to care and beauty products. My next stop: plastic-free shampoo.

In the meantime, the inventory in my bathroom has changed quite a bit. I've expelled beauty products with microplastics, have exchanged my disposable razors for a safety razor and use my homemade deodorant instead of all the shop-bought predecessors. After I recently exchanged my bottle of shower gel for a piece of soap, I’m now turning to shampoo.

Shampoo bars have several advantages: They’re economical, plastic-free and aren’t classified as liquid nor likely to leak when you’re travelling. Besides, I find washing my hair much more fun with a shampoo bar than with the liquid version. Unfortunately, the selection of plastic-free shampoos is quite limited: as a beauty lover, I find the available options an absolute disaster, leaving very little room for personal (fragrance) preferences and special hair needs. I got my first shampoo bar at «Lush» and I liked them. But after a while, I just wanted something new. To cut a long story short: our shop can’t offer you a selection of shampoo bars either. I ordered and tried out the only one we stock.

Shampoo

Christophe Robin Hydrating shampoo bar

100 ml, Solid shampoo

According to the manufacturer, this shampoo has the following properties:

composed with aloe vera extract, castor oil and natural glycerine
cleanses without weakening the skin's protective barrier
hydrates hair and skin
alkaline pH
100% natural
vegan

Scrub-a-dub-dub

After the first time I use my new shampoo, I realise: I can’t stand its smell. It smells like a mixture of a herbal shop and a piece of curd soap. I just don’t like natural fragrances. Too bad. What’s even worse, after I’d used this shampoo, not only my hair but the entire bathroom smelled of herbs for days. Whether this is due to poor ventilation or whether the piece of soap sitting on the edge of the bathtub acts as a kind of room scent, I don’t know. After blow-drying my hair, I notice that it has more volume. But it seems to be covered with a film, which I can feel when I run my fingers through my hair. According to Christophe Robin, hair needs some time to adapt to this new synthetic agent-free formula. Is that why my hair feels strange? Unfortunately, the smell alone is reason enough for me not to buy this shampoo again. But I’m going to finish it. I need to continue my search for an alternative plastic-free shampoo.

UPDATE (27 February 2019): My colleague Manuel Wenk just let me know that we have the following product in our range: [[productlist:10040386]]

I changed my mind about cosmetic products after I visited Carla Opetnik. Her philosophy of life is to produce less waste and use natural alternatives wherever possible. Find out more here:

Background information
Make-up that’s good enough to eat – literally
by Natalie Hemengül

If you’d like to accompany me on my way to making more environmentally friendly decisions when it comes to care and beauty products, click the «Follow author» button next to my profile.

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Natalie Hemengül

Senior Editor

Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.ch

As a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.

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