This post contains affiliate links. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In an effort to make consistent progress with my zero waste journey, I have started using package-free haircare products, which include: bar shampoo, conditioner, DIY dry shampoo and an oil to tame frizz. This post will be the low-down on my experience with Unwrapped Life’s Shampoo and Conditioner bars.
Short and simple: my low-waste haircare routine
In my 24 short revolutions around the sun I have always been one to slack on my haircare routine. Regularly leaving my hair to air-dry and remain un-styled throughout much of my life. When I was thirteen, I received a hair straightener from my parents－a gift one can assume meant that I needed to do something with the mess that was my head.
It is safe to say that I am very relaxed with my haircare routine and opt out of styling 85% of the time. Regardless, my hair tends to be quite frizzy in the bad wavy way. Thus, finding a product that is moisturizing and hydrating is key.
Enter Unwrapped Life’s “The Balancer” Shampoo and Conditoner bars
It is nearly impossible to find a shampoo and conditioner in bar format at the drugstore. Bulk barn has been carrying a shampoo bar for a while, but I couldn’t seem to find a matching conditioner. Thus, I set out on my online mission to find a low-waste haircare option and stumbled upon Unwrapped Life Shampoo and Conditioner bars.
Behind the Brand
Unwrapped Life is a Canadian brand, created by two female best friends fuelled with “eco-anxiety” and the ever-growing problem of plastic packaging. Their focus is to provide luxury, waste-free haircare products. With a wide selection of scents and formulations for different hair types they have something for everyone.
The Balancer Shampoo + Conditioner $35
Unwrapped Life “The Balancer Travel Kit” $39.99
The Balancer collection is formulated for normal hair types to help maintain smooth and luscious locks. It has a blend of essential oils to provide a light somewhat citrusy scent as well as preventing dandruff and stimulating cell renewal to improve hair growth.
Unwrapped Life’s website states that this shampoo and conditioner bar will last roughly 50-75 washes. So far, I have used the bars for roughly 45 washes and there is still plenty of product left which will easily bring me to the 75 wash mark.
Ingredients
Ingredient Safety Key
Safe Ingredient
Ingredient to use with Caution
Unsafe Ingredient
Limited Data
Certified Organic
The ingredients for the shampoo and conditioner bars are both short and sweet. Each contain a mix of coconut oils, cocoa butter and moisturizing oils. This list is directly from Unwrapped Life’s website:
Shampoo bar: sodium coco sulfate, coconut oil, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, calendula, shea oil, hemp seed oil, apricot seed oil, (essential oils of: neroli and sweet orange), d-panthenol, turmeric, and hydrolyzed quinoa protein
Conditioner bar: behentrimonium methosulfate (from rapeseed oil), cetearyl (natural emulsifier and conditioner), cocoa butter, cetyl, coconut oil, glycerin, olive oil, jojoba oil, wheat germ oil, castor oil, (essential oils of: neroli and sweet orange), d-panthenol, vitamin E, aloe, avocado oil, and hydrolyzed quinoa protein
*essential oils are highlighted as an ingredient to use with caution based on certain skin sensitivities.
My personal experience switching to the bar
Unwrapped Life’s Balancer bar set is my first experience using both shampoo and conditioner in a bar format. I was expecting that the shampoo would have a difficult time creating a lather and that the conditioner bar would be sub-par at moisturizing.
Unlike my low expectations though, the Balancer set from Unwrapped life does not disappoint. The shampoo creates an amazing lather and thoroughly cleanses my hair. I have absolutely no issue using this product.
The conditioner bar left something to be desired, though. It does create a slip once applied to the hair, but I find that after it is rinsed out, the hair tends to remain tangled and difficult to brush. This problem does not arise if you comb through your hair with the conditioner applied whilst showering.
The scent of these bars is indiscernible and light, with a very slight hint of citrus. My spouse describes my hair as smelling lightly fresh.
Packaging
As one would expect, Unwrapped Life mails their products with a minimal amount of packaging. The Shampoo and Conditioner bars arrived in a cardboard package with a very limited amount of tape. The bars themselves were wrapped in paper and stamped to differentiate the two. All of the packaging was able to be recycled/ composted.
What about the price!?
The $35 price tag seems extremely high, especially if you are accustomed to purchasing a bottle of shampoo and conditioner for under $10. However, based on my experience these bars should last roughly 5 months. Therefore the total cost works out to be roughly $3.5 per bar each month.
Final thoughts on shampoo and conditioner bars
I am truly impressed with these products from Unwrapped Life; I was not expecting the switch from conventional plastic-bottled, liquid shampoo and conditioner to be so easy. I was most surprised with the conditioner. Besides the small hitch of detangling post-shower, it does an amazing job at moisturizing and preventing frizz.
Next on my list is the Hydrator set from Unwrapped Life!
Have you used a Shampoo + Conditioner bar before?
