8 shampoo bars for travel-friendly, eco-conscious hair care

Photo collage of a woman washing her hair, a display of shampoo bars, and product shots of shampoo bars. — Oily hair; sensitive scalps; thick tresses: a tool for every hair type

(Image credit: Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images)

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Environmentally friendly and easy to toss in a toiletry bag, shampoo bars are a conscientious choice for travelers. Plastic-free packaging cuts down on waste, and by ditching the liquid shampoo, you can also sail through the TSA line. These eight bars target different hair types and concerns, but all share a common goal of helping the planet.

Easy on sensitive scalps: Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Aloe + Oat Milk bar

A Be Gentle, Be Kind Briogeo shampoo bar next to its container — Save space in your luggage by packing this hair, face and body bar

This hypoallergenic 3-in-1 bar, made with soothing oat milk and aloe, works on your hair, face and body, and "actually performs well in all three categories," Condé Nast Traveler said. The formula "naturally calms scalp irritation" and keeps hair from feeling "dry or frizzy" after spending hours in the sun and salt water. ($19, £15.14, Amazon)

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Combats frizz: Davines Love shampoo bar

A Davines Love shampoo bar in its original packaging — Say goodbye to frizz with the Love shampoo bar

This is the bar version of Davines' "cult favorite bottled shampoo," InStyle said, an "ultra-gentle" and "super-hydrating formula designed to tame coarse, frizzy hair." Its herbal scent is "subtle" but there, lingering on your locks. The bar feels substantial in your hand even after weeks of daily use. ($27, £21.50, Amazon)

Works for all: Earthling Co. shampoo bar

A shampoo bar by The Earthling Co. next to its box — The Earthling Co. bars come in six scents, plus fragrance-free

All hair types can lather up with Earthling Co.'s strengthening shampoo bar. Cocoa seed butter, marshmallow root and panthenol "condition and protect the hair," Cosmopolitan said, and help keep it "hydrated and smooth." A fragrance-free version is available and great for people with dry scalps, otherwise there are six pleasant scents that include wild lavender and sweet sandalwood. ($16, £12.75, Earthling Co.)

Cleanses thick tresses: HiBar Moisturize shampoo bar

A HiBAR Moisturize solid shampoo bar next to its original packaging — The untraditional shape of this bar ensures it reaches hair roots

The HiBar Moisturize bar's asymmetric bullet shape is a big part of its strength. This "allows for easy lathering and reaching the roots of thick strands," Good Housekeeping said, while the coconut oil and rice protein deeply hydrates. If you wash your hair in the morning, the bar's invigorating orange and ginger scent is like a soapy coffee jolt. ($10, £8, Amazon)

Boosts volume: Lush Seanik shampoo bar

A blue Lush Seanik shampoo bar — Seaweed and sea salt add texture to Lush's Seanik shampoo bar

Give your hair some va-va-voom with this volumizing shampoo bar, made with shine-enhancing lemon oil, Irish moss and Japanese nori. These seaweed bits and exfoliating sea salt granules help "refresh" oily hair as well, Good Housekeeping said, and the bar's ocean scent "brings the beach to your bathroom." ($15, £12, Lush)

Protects color-treated hair: Odacité 552M soap free shampoo bar

An Odacit&eacute; shampoo bar with oranges and coconuts behind it — The citrus scent from Odacité is an invigorating option

Prepare for a professional-quality wash away from the salon. The Odacité 552M bar is made with argan and castor oils and cupuacu butter, which creates a "creamy lather," Condé Nast Traveler said. The "refreshing" citrus scent also ensures a "pleasant in-shower experience."

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After rinsing, expect "bouncy, silky-soft locks" that do not feel "stripped of their natural oils." The formula's name, 552M, refers to the 552 million plastic shampoo bottles that are thrown away every year in the U.S. ($29, £23.11, Amazon)

Treats oily hair: StarBars Clarity shampoo bar

A green Clarity StarBars shampoo bar — All Star Bars products are stamped with the brand's cute logo

StarBars' Clarity shines when it comes to cleansing oily hair. Apricot kernel oil guarantees hair is soft without being greasy, while blueberry extract repairs damage and averts breakage. Safe for color-treated hair, Clarity does not weigh down curls and smells fresh, with a rich herbal fragrance featuring notes of cypress and juniper. Bars are handcrafted in small batches, then packaged in a recyclable paper container. ($22, £17.50, StarBars)

Strengthens locks: Viori Hair shampoo bar

A Viori shampoo bar next to its sustainable packaging — Viori designed its bar around Longsheng rice water

Nourishing Longsheng rice water is a key ingredient in Viori's shampoo bar, resulting in "strands that shine, have more volume and break less frequently," Marie Claire said. The formula was inspired by the Red Yao women of China, who use Longsheng to clean their silky hair, and reviewers "rave" that Viori's bar "reduces hair shedding" and "makes hair more manageable." ($18, £14.34, Sephora)

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.