How to store your shampoo bar properly: 4 tips to double its lifespan
A shampoo bar lasts for 60-80 washes if you let it dry properly between uses. The most common mistake is leaving the bar in standing water, which halves its lifespan. With proper storage, one bar can replace up to three regular bottles of shampoo.
A shampoo bar is water-free and concentrated, which is exactly why it’s so long-lasting. But that same quality makes it vulnerable to standing water: the bar activates and dissolves as long as it’s in contact with moisture. Let it dry thoroughly after every wash to preserve its shape and concentration. Want to know more about why solid shampoo is more sustainable than liquid shampoo? Read our guide to the best shampoo bar.
1. Use an airy soap dish with drainage
The most common mistake is putting the bar on a flat surface without drainage. It then sits in a pool of water and melts from underneath. Use a soap dish with a ridged surface or clear drainage holes so air can circulate around the entire bar, including underneath.
2. Hang the bar in a shampoo bag
A shampoo bag gives the bar 360-degree air circulation and dries it in the shortest possible time. You can wash your hair with the bar in the bag for extra lather, and gather up the last little pieces so nothing goes to waste.
3. Move the bar out of the shower stream
Don’t place the soap dish directly under the shower stream. The bar shouldn’t get wet between washes; only use it while washing, then let it dry undisturbed.
4. Dry the bar before traveling
If you seal a damp bar in an airtight container or toiletry bag, it will become soft. Let the bar dry completely, or pat it dry with a towel, before packing it.
The Editor’s Note: A properly stored bar lasts twice as long as one left sitting in water. This is by far the biggest factor in making your money go further.
Proper vs. improper storage
| Method | Result | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| Soap dish with drainage | Dries quickly, keeps its shape | Maximized, 60-80 washes |
| Shampoo bag | 360-degree air circulation | Maximized, 60-80 washes |
| Flat surface without drainage | Sits in water, melts from underneath | Halved |
| Damp, airtight container | Soft and sticky | Loses its structure |
| Directly under the shower stream | Dissolves continuously | Dramatically shortened |
FOAM’s shampoo bars are handmade in Sweden with botanical ingredients. With proper storage, you get every bit of what you paid for. Learn more about choosing the right bar for your hair type in our guide to choosing a shampoo bar.