Lassëa Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Bars are a planet-friendly, hair nourishing way to condition your hair. Full of natural, organic ingredients, these bars are handmade and hand-poured in small batches, then lovingly sent to you in Zero-Waste packaging. Their name comes from the Tolkien Quenya Elvish word lassëa meaning “with leaves, leafy.” Making the jump from liquid shampoo and conditioner can be intimidating, so here’s some tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your Lassëa Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Bars!
What Makes Lassëa Detangling Shampoo & Solid Conditioner Bars Unique and Amazing?
Both what’s in it, and what isn’t! Most shampoo and conditioner bars are stuffed full of oils, but as we’ve discussed in the past, oils are not moisturizing. You’ll find truly moisturizing ingredients like Slippery ElmDescription Ulmus rubra is a species of elm that has a mucilaginous inner bark, and it is this that gives natural slip and hydration to Selkie. It also naturally softens hair, provide natural plant protein, adds shine, and soothes an itchy or dry scalp More and Aloe Vera GelWhile well-known for its benefits to skin, this mucilaginous ingredient provides deep moisturizing effects to the hair and scalp as well. In addition it helps restore pH levels and has both emollient and moisturizing properties, meaning that it smooths the cuticle and attracts and seals in moisture More, which you already know and love from Selkie Herbal Detangler. These bars also use paraben-free and formaldehyde-free preservatives and pure essential oils rather than fragrance oils.
Essentially, I took everything you love about Selkie Herbal Detangler and turned it into a pH balanced, moisturizing, naturally detangling shampoo and conditioner bar set, including the signature Eventide aroma of crisp sea-spray over alluring sun-basked vanilla and herbs.
Some of the benefits of Lassëa Solid Shampoo & Conditioner Bars include:
- Zero Waste / No Plastic- Lassëa Solid Shampoo & Conditioner Bars have no plastic packaging, and come in either a compostable pouch or brown kraft clamshell. The paper washi tape and instructions can be recycled.
- pH Balanced- Unlike “hair soaps” Lassëa Solid Shampoo & Conditioner Bars are pH balanced to keep your scalp and hair happy.
- Lower Carbon Footprint- Because there’s no excess water weight, the carbon cost to ship is much lower than that of a liquid shampoo.
- Preserving Color & Treatments- Lassëa Solid Shampoo & Conditioner Bars are immensely gentle, allowing hair colors and other treatments to last longer on your hair.
- Less water = more of the good stuff- Being formulated without water means more of all those fantastic ingredients. Even with adding water to activate the bar, it means your hair is getting a bigger dose of all the important ingredients.
- Longer product life- Like any product, the number of uses will depend greatly on how often you use it, how much you use each time, and how you store it in between uses. But generally speaking a Lassëa Bar will last a long time so long as you don’t leave it in a place that collects water, and, instead, allow it to drain and dry before the next use.
- Travel, gym & camping friendly- Liquid shampoos and conditioners have annoying restrictions when flying and the potential to leak. Lassëa Solid Shampoo & Conditioner Bars are hassle-free no matter how you’re traveling or where you’re stowing them.
But what’s a solid shampoo bar?
A shampoo bar is the solid form of the liquid version. Unlike “hair soaps” which are alkaline and can damage hair, shampoo bars are pH balanced, so your hair and scalp maintain a tight cuticle and healthy acid mantle. Lassëa Solid Shampoo Bars are much more gentle than traditional liquid shampoos, hair soaps, and even other shampoo bars. They’re packed with gentle cleansers, slippery herbs, and soothing oils, but still give a satisfying lather.
Lassëa Solid Shampoo Bar Ingredients
Sodium Cocoyl IsethionateCommonly known as Baby Foam due to its exceptional mildness, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate is a surfactant that is comprised of a type of sulphonic acid called Isethionic Acid as well as the fatty acid – or sodium salt ester – obtained from Coconut Oil. More, Sodium Coco SulfateSodium coco sulfate creates a rich foam and cleanses hair and skin. Its thorough action dissolves dirt and grease effectively. Made from the fatty acids of coconut oil, it's a good palm-free alternative to sodium lauryl sulfate. If we specifically look at SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) versus SCS (sodium coco sulphate); both ingredients are made in the same way, by treating fatty acids with... More, Cetearyl AlcoholA mixture of fatty alcohols consisting predominantly of cetyl and stearyl alcohols found in plants, like Coconut and Palm oils that keeps a product from separating and gives it structure. More, Refined Coconut OilOrganic, expeller-pressed and refined, this amazing oils is great for general moisturizing and serves as a protective layer, helping to retain the moisture in your skin. More, Cocoa ButterOrganic raw cocoa butter is a solid plant fat that is slowly pressed from the seeds of the cacao tree. A brittle butter, they give strength and structure to shampoo and conditioner bars. With a creamy, rich texture it is an ideal ingredient for body care products and culinary preparation. As a completely raw product, these wafers do not have... More, Kokum ButterA brittle butter, they give strength and structure to shampoo and conditioner bars. Derived from the garcinia tree and is expeller pressed and refined. More, Citric AcidOur citric acid is derived from 100% pure anhydrous citric acid from sugar cane. It serves help extend a product’s shelf life, adjust pH, retain a product’s texture, and guard against appearance loss. More, OptiphenA paraben and formaldehyde-free preservative system, which consists of Phenoxyethanol in an emollient base of Caprylyl Glycol. The combination of these ingredients provides optimized protection against microbial growth while imparting exceptional feel to the finished product. More, Slippery ElmDescription Ulmus rubra is a species of elm that has a mucilaginous inner bark, and it is this that gives natural slip and hydration to Selkie. It also naturally softens hair, provide natural plant protein, adds shine, and soothes an itchy or dry scalp More, Aloe Vera GelWhile well-known for its benefits to skin, this mucilaginous ingredient provides deep moisturizing effects to the hair and scalp as well. In addition it helps restore pH levels and has both emollient and moisturizing properties, meaning that it smooths the cuticle and attracts and seals in moisture More, Cedarwood Essential OilExcellent for both hair and skin care. It balances oily skin, soothes and helps to heal skin rashes, and reduces oil in hair and skin. More, Lavender Essential OilEnhances hair growth by stimulating the scalp. The name “lavender” is derived from the Latin lavare, meaning, “to wash” and was known as one of the seven polyvalents (effective against many toxins). More, Lime Essential OilA bright scent, lime is antiviral, astringent, and bactericidal. It is at once a cleansing and moisturizing oil, helping with dandruff and scalp buildup More, Petitgrain Essential OilMade from the leaves and twigs of this amazing tree, it is antiseptic, antispasmodic, a natural deodorant, and nervine. Use in a hair oil will leave hair and scalp fragrant (petitgrain has woody, citrus and floral notes all in one!), while soothing and preventing bacterial and fungal growth. More, Sage Essential OilA scalp soother and astringent, the herb is of ancient repute, valued as a culinary and medicinal plant – called herba sacra, ‘sacred herb’, by the Romans. More, Benzoin Essential OilBenzoin is a resin that is derived from the bark of several species of trees in the genus Styrax, it has a sweet, almost vanilla scent. It is used as a common ingredient in incense-making and perfumery, but also has antimicrobial properties and prevents moisture loss. More, Peru Balsam Essential OilSweet, rich, smooth, balsamic with honey, caramel and vanilla-like notes, this essential oil promotes dermal healing. More, and Vanilla Bourbon CO2 ExtractVanilla is not produced as pure essential oil, but as an absolute or CO2 extract. It is well advised to question the authenticity of Vanilla labeled pure essential oil. This soothing scent is perfect for relaxing and meditation. More
How to Use
You can either comb the bar through your hair and then massage it to a lather with your fingers, or lather the bar in your hands and then rub the lather onto your scalp and hair. Starting at the scalp, massage through hair until desired lather is reached then rinse thoroughly. Repeat if necessary.
Lassëa Solid Shampoo Bar Tips & Tricks
- Reuse the brown clameshell when traveling or on the go. Allow your bar to dry as much as possible first, but you can pop a damp bar back into the container it came in when on the go! It’s breathable enough short term to safely stash your bars in your luggage or gym bag. You can keep it closed with a rubber band or a hair elastic.
- You DON’T need an ACV rinse because the bars are pH balanced! Many “hair soap” shampoo bars say to follow up with an apple cider vinegarThe mildly acidic nature of this helps balance pH of hair and skin and also helps to remove buildup. ACV encourages the cuticle of the hair to lay closed, making hair shine and tangle less. More rinse because it “restores” the cuticle of the hair, but this is little more than wishful thinking; by that point the damage is already done.
- Instead, first use Alluvial Chelating Crystal Rinse to break up mineral deposits that make hair dull, dry, and tangly, and THEN use a Lassëa Shampoo bar to remove them from your hair. You’ll be shocked how soft, shining, and tangle-free your hair is!
- Lembas shampoo, Leaf conditioner. Many people find they go through the shampoo bar twice as fast as the conditioner (though not everyone!). If this is the case for you, get the Lembas-sized Lassëa shampoo bar, and the Leaf-sized Lassëa conditioner bar if you want them to run out at about the same time.
- Use the edge of the bar (the one the orange arrow is pointing to) rather than the big, flat surface. Eventually, every solid shampoo or conditioner bar will get thinner and thinner with use until it breaks. In the picture, that sliver of a bar is what’s left of my Lembas-sized bar after a few months. It’s about a thin as it can get without snapping, but by using the edge of the bar, I’ve used nearly all three inches of shampoo before that happens. If I’d used the big flat size, it’d have gotten thinner much faster and then broken.
- Make sure your hair and the bar are wet enough. You’ll want to start with soaking wet hair and then wet the bar, too. If you’re not getting as much later as you want, more warm water is the easiest way to get it!
- After generating enough lather, switch to your fingertips. By using your fingertips to work the lather through your hair and down to your scalp, you’re not using any more of the bar than you have to, and by not applying extra pressure to the bar, can use it much longer before it breaks.
- Let the bar dry out in between uses. Remember that these bars are activated by water, and the more water they’re exposed to, the faster they’ll be used up. Use a soap tray that has drainage and make sure it’s well out of the way of errant shower spray.
Surfacant Choices and pH Balancing
I started out making my own solid shampoo and conditioner bars because I wasn’t happy with what was out there, and thought I could do better. The two things I put the most research into were the importance of pH balancing and the surfacants I chose to use.
If you’re happy with your soap-based shampoo bar, godspeed. I’m not here to change your mind. That said, I’ve posted in the past about the importance of pH balancing in my article about how and why baking soda washes damage your hair, and it is literally impossible to pH balance a soap-based shampoo bar to the hair, scalp, and protective acid mantle. It’s simply the nature of the beast. I also noticed that the vast majority of the posts denouncing non-soap shampoo bars were… from the creators of soap-based shampoo bars. It seems very much a case of, to quote Upton Sinclair, ‘It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.’ I hadn’t built my entire empire on soap bars, I had no horse in this race, and so could have gone either which way–and I went the way I chose because both the research I did and my own personal testing bore it out.
In my quest to learn more about surfactants, I came across this post from Method which I’d highly recommend you read if you’re interested in the chemistry behind sulfates. It’s a great summary.
The tl:dr- I did an immense amount of research and personal testing to create what I feel is an effective shampoo bar that cleans gently and effectively, that’s a joy to use and is full of ingredients that you cannot find anywhere else (like the slippery elmDescription Ulmus rubra is a species of elm that has a mucilaginous inner bark, and it is this that gives natural slip and hydration to Selkie. It also naturally softens hair, provide natural plant protein, adds shine, and soothes an itchy or dry scalp More and aloe, I’m immensely proud of the creative way I found to include those normally water-based ingredients) and essential oils instead of fragrance oils.
Okay, so what’s a solid conditioner bar?
A conditioner bar is the solid form of the liquid version. Lassëa Solid Conditioner Bars are much more concentrated than traditional liquid conditioners, even other leave-in conditioners. They’re packed with restorative butters, slippery herbs, and soothing oils.
Lassëa Detangling Solid Conditioner Ingredients
BTMS Emulsifying ConditionerAn incredibly efficient self-emulsifying wax and conditioner for both hair and skin. Derived from natural Colza Oil, it provides elegant cationic emulsions that tend to resist wash off, leaving a soft, powdery feel on the skin and imparting excellent detangling properties to hair conditioners. More, Cetearyl AlcoholA mixture of fatty alcohols consisting predominantly of cetyl and stearyl alcohols found in plants, like Coconut and Palm oils that keeps a product from separating and gives it structure. More, Refined Coconut OilOrganic, expeller-pressed and refined, this amazing oils is great for general moisturizing and serves as a protective layer, helping to retain the moisture in your skin. More, Cocoa ButterOrganic raw cocoa butter is a solid plant fat that is slowly pressed from the seeds of the cacao tree. A brittle butter, they give strength and structure to shampoo and conditioner bars. With a creamy, rich texture it is an ideal ingredient for body care products and culinary preparation. As a completely raw product, these wafers do not have... More, Kokum ButterA brittle butter, they give strength and structure to shampoo and conditioner bars. Derived from the garcinia tree and is expeller pressed and refined. More, d-PanthenolA nutrient from the B vitamin family that penetrates skin and hair, imparting moisture and softness. More, Vitamin E OilPrevents rancidity and it acts as an anti-oxidant.Obtained by vacuum distillation of vegetable fats derived from non-GMO soy sources. More, OptiphenA paraben and formaldehyde-free preservative system, which consists of Phenoxyethanol in an emollient base of Caprylyl Glycol. The combination of these ingredients provides optimized protection against microbial growth while imparting exceptional feel to the finished product. More, Slippery ElmDescription Ulmus rubra is a species of elm that has a mucilaginous inner bark, and it is this that gives natural slip and hydration to Selkie. It also naturally softens hair, provide natural plant protein, adds shine, and soothes an itchy or dry scalp More, Aloe Vera GelWhile well-known for its benefits to skin, this mucilaginous ingredient provides deep moisturizing effects to the hair and scalp as well. In addition it helps restore pH levels and has both emollient and moisturizing properties, meaning that it smooths the cuticle and attracts and seals in moisture More, Cedarwood Essential OilExcellent for both hair and skin care. It balances oily skin, soothes and helps to heal skin rashes, and reduces oil in hair and skin. More, Lavender Essential OilEnhances hair growth by stimulating the scalp. The name “lavender” is derived from the Latin lavare, meaning, “to wash” and was known as one of the seven polyvalents (effective against many toxins). More, Lime Essential OilA bright scent, lime is antiviral, astringent, and bactericidal. It is at once a cleansing and moisturizing oil, helping with dandruff and scalp buildup More, Petitgrain Essential OilMade from the leaves and twigs of this amazing tree, it is antiseptic, antispasmodic, a natural deodorant, and nervine. Use in a hair oil will leave hair and scalp fragrant (petitgrain has woody, citrus and floral notes all in one!), while soothing and preventing bacterial and fungal growth. More, Sage Essential OilA scalp soother and astringent, the herb is of ancient repute, valued as a culinary and medicinal plant – called herba sacra, ‘sacred herb’, by the Romans. More, Benzoin Essential OilBenzoin is a resin that is derived from the bark of several species of trees in the genus Styrax, it has a sweet, almost vanilla scent. It is used as a common ingredient in incense-making and perfumery, but also has antimicrobial properties and prevents moisture loss. More, Peru Balsam Essential OilSweet, rich, smooth, balsamic with honey, caramel and vanilla-like notes, this essential oil promotes dermal healing. More, and Vanilla Bourbon CO2 ExtractVanilla is not produced as pure essential oil, but as an absolute or CO2 extract. It is well advised to question the authenticity of Vanilla labeled pure essential oil. This soothing scent is perfect for relaxing and meditation. More
How to Use
Start with sopping wet hair (many longhairs are used to wringing out their hair before applying a liquid conditioner–you need the water here to activate the conditioner bar). Gently comb the conditioner bar through the hair, then massage in with your fingers. You may choose to put your hair up at this point while you do the rest of your shower. Finally, rinse well; you’ll feel the natural slippery nature of the conditioner at this point. You can also reapply a little bit to the ends and leave it in as a detangler.
Lassëa Solid Shampoo Bar Tips & Tricks
- Use the Lassëa conditioner bar as a leave in. This is the easiest leave in you will ever use! Before you hop out of the shower, wring the excess water out of your hair, then give the ends another couple swipes with the bar.
- Refresh your curls! If your curls need a little extra smoothing you can mist them with Selkie Herbal Detangler, rub a bit of the Lassëa conditioner bar between your (wet) palms, and then smooth or scrunch your curls to your heart’s content.
- Keep it off metal. While it won’t hurt the bar, setting it on a metal rack can cause browning and give your bar what looks like grill-lines. Instead, set it on something nonmetallic, or even just atop the shampoo bar.
- Add some to your henna mud (or similar treatment). This is my favorite thing to do with the little broken bits left at the end of a bar that are hard to use up–melt it down over low heat / in a double boiler and add one tsp melted bar to your henna as you dye release it. It adds great conditioning properties and doesn’t affect dye uptake. I add Selkie Herbal Detangler to my Fire Genasi, but a bit of Lassëa bar really took it to the next level!
- Use the edge of the bar (the one the orange arrow is pointing to) rather than the big, flat surface. Yep, same as the shampoo bar! That brown sliver is what’s left of my Lembas-sized bar after a ELEVEN months (and I have three feet of hair!). The brown curing you see on the outside is something that can happen depending on the mineral content of your water, but it doesn’t hurt the bar at all.
- Lots of water! The conditioner bar takes a little longer to activate than the shampoo bar, but it will after some warm water and a few swipes against wet hair.
- Comb the bar through your hair. The curve to the sliver of my conditioner bar? That’s because I put one hand behind the length of my hair, use the other hand to press the conditioner bar to the first hand (with my hair in between the edge of the bar and my other palm) and gently slide the bar along sections of my hair.
- Use it on your skin, too! Normal “lotion bars” are just a bunch of butters and oils, and we already know oils are not moisturizing. The amazing conditioning properties of the Lassëa conditioner bar will leave a soft, moiturized, almost powdery finish to your skin. Just use a wet bar on damp skin (and especially your cuticles)!
Loving your Lassëa Shampoo & Conditioner Bars and have tips to share?
Some of these tips came from NightBlooming fans already loving their Lassëa! I’d love to hear all about your experience with the bars and any other ways you’ve found to use them–and of course leaving comments nets you bonus Moonseeds.
Since I’ve been using these in place of my liquid shampoo and conditioner, I have nothing but good things to say about my hair. I tried my old products out to see what my hair would do and it completely rebelled, it loves this combo so much more. It gives my wurls so much more body and bounce while keeping them well moisturized and free of frizz… and honestly, what more can you ask for? These helped me embrace my natural texture and learn to love my hair as it is—I don’t think I can ever look back at this point, they’re amazing and I’m completely hooked!
Thanks for sharing the tip about using the bars from the sides by the way. My large shampoo bar has been thinning out so you’ve saved me from premature crumbles!
You’re so welcome! It took me awhile to realize to use them on the edge, but my bars last much longer doing it that way!
Random question, where do you buy those compostable little clamshell boxes you ship the bars in? I’ve looked everywhere and cannot find that size and material.
On a related note, I love using these bars everywhere! I lather the shampoo bar on a loofah to use as body wash, rub the bar directly onto my legs to shave, and I run the conditioner bar all over myself in the shower as a moisturizer before rinsing off.
I get them here! https://s-packaging.com/product-category/greenkraft-clamshells/
They have a bunch of different sizes and options 🙂
And that’s awesome you use the bars everywhere! They are really good for that: I use the conditioner bar for shaving, too!
I’ve talked so much about how much I love the conditioner bar, since I got to try it two years ago. But here’s one thing that I don’t think that I have shared.
My hair is a picky diva. I was almost 20 when I for the first time, found a conditioner that worked. After this I’ve in total found four if count correctly + your bar. And your bar is by far the best for my lengths!
I have to try it in my henna next time I touch up my roots! I’m thinking about trying a small amount in my indigo too, since it’s more drying on its own than henna…. I am already mixing in all sorts of things in my henna and indigo :p
I so appreciate the tip about using it from the sides, but there’s nothing like the luxury of foaming up with the big side. 🥰
I have a plan for what to do with extras, since I have a nonverbal long hair in my life who needs more than a little help with tangles.
Brody’s bath featuring lassea conditioner 😆
https://youtu.be/7bL56Me9hG0