
How To Store Shampoo Bars Correctly
No one likes soggy shampoo bars, that’s why I’ve put together this guide to show you how to store shampoo bars the correct way.
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It’s no secret that shampoo bars are becoming very popular. These bars are convenient, lightweight, travel-friendly, and they often work just as effectively as liquid shampoo.
As long as you find the right bar for your hair type, you could be on to a winner.
Do you know what’s not so great about shampoo bars? They can become soggy if they’re not stored correctly, which can ruin the user experience and shorter the lifespan of the bar. You need to avoid that if you want your shampoo bar to last as long as possible.
Here’s everything you need to know about storing your shampoo bars.
How Do You Store Shampoo Bars During Use?
During use, many people like to keep their shampoo bars in a dish or on a wire rack in the shower or beside the bath. Obviously, taking your shampoo bar into the shower with you without somewhere to store it in afterwards is a bad idea. If you have a wire rack like this one, you’ll want to make sure that it’s not directly in line with the shower head to avoid the bar getting soggy. The same applies with putting it on the side of your bath – it could easily fall back in and become too wet. Keep it in a dish or at least place it on a cotton cloth so it’s less likely to move around.
How Do You Store Shampoo Bars After Use?
The most important thing to remember about shampoo bars is they need air and correct drainage. If you place it in a dish without any holes in it with a lid on top, it’s going to get soggy and may start to smell. The type of dish you have can make all of the difference, but as a general rule of thumb, make sure that it has slats or holes in it to allow the water to drain out of it.
If you’re looking for a simple wooden design with slats at the bottom, I recommend this rack*. Or if you’re looking to add a splash of colour to your bathroom, I think this rainbow soap dish * will do the trick.

How Do You Store Multiple Bars Of Soap In A Shower?
If you have more than one shampoo bar, don’t stack them on top of one another, as they won’t dry out properly. In most cases, a wire rack is the most efficient way to hold multiple bars of soap in a shower. As it hangs on the wall, it’s a good space saver, as well. There are many options to choose from, but if you’re looking for a simple and easy solution, then a vacuum suction cup shower dish might be right for you.
What To Do with Them When You Go Travelling
Shampoo bars make it easier to travel seeing as they take up less space and they are much lighter than carrying a bottle of shampoo. However, you can’t really leave them in your bag loose. One option is to buy travel-size shampoo bars that come in a tin like this one * so you can have a fresh, new bar for your holiday. These bars are 60g and will last between 40 and 60 washes, depending on the length of your hair.
Or you can get a travel soap box * and take whichever shampoo bar you’re already using with you. This is a great option if you don’t want to buy a travel-size bar every time you go on holiday. If you take care of it, it should last you for years!
How Do You Keep Shampoo Bars From Getting Musty?
If you are placing your shampoo bars on a suitable rack or dish and it’s still getting musty or soggy, then there’s a couple of things to consider.
Firstly, are you placing a cloth or a flannel the dish or rack to capture the water? If you’re not, the water that is draining off the shampoo bars will be sitting there on the surface. This could potentially cause damp and unpleasant smells. It’s really important that the bar is kept dry in between uses.
Secondly, does your bathroom have a window or does it often get cold in there? That could be your problem. I recommend that when you’re not using your shampoo bar, to place it in a warm room or in direct sunlight to help it dry out more quickly. Just make sure that you remember to take it back to the bathroom afterwards!
What Is The Shelf Life Of A Shampoo Bar?
The shelf life of your shampoo bar depends on the size of the bar, how often you use it, the length of your hair and whether you have stored it correctly. A mini 25g shampoo bar will last most people between 7 to 10 washes, whereas an 85g bar like this one from ecoLiving * could last anywhere between 50 – 80 washes.
If you’re trying out a new shampoo bar brand or a specific scent for the first time, the mini/travel-size options are your best bet. They are very affordable and allows you to try it out without the fear of wasting too much money. However, if you’ve used it before or you’ve used a similar scent, always go for the bigger size as it works out more affordable in the long run.
How To Use a Shampoo Bar



Shampoo bars are very simple to use, even if you’ve never used one before.
Here’s how to use one:
- Get your hair wet by rinsing it in the shower or bath
- Either rub the bar over your scalp and massage it into the rest of your hair or rub the bar between your hands and spread the lather of soap through your hair
- Rinse the soap our of your hair with lukewarm water
- Optional: follow up with a conditioner bar on the ends of your hair
That’s all you need to know! Some people prefer to rub the bar of soap between their hands rather than rubbing the soap directly on their hair; this is because it can cause some friction and tangles. However, everyone has a preference, so work out which method works better for you.


11 Comments
Katherine
Love this post! I’ve had the metal storage tins for my shampoo bars before but hate that they always get stuck and stay slimy! I hadn’t thought of a dish with slats in!
Lisa's Notebook
I’ve never tried a shampoo bar, partly because I didn’t want it to get all soggy and claggy. But actually, storing them this way makes perfect sense, thank you!
Fadima Mooneira
I havenβt tried any shampoo bars yet. But all I know is that Lush also sells Tinks for users to keep their shampoo bars. But the Tinks doesnβt have holds. Do you think using Tinks to keep shampoo bars is a good idea? Btw, thank you for sharing this tips.
Eco Cozza
It’s always best to use a dish that has slats or holes in it after use to allow the water to drain out. I’ve seen that Lush sell some soap dishes with holes in them, which look good π
Fransic verso
I tried the shampoo bars before but didn’t store it like that. It’s good to know about it because now I know more about it. Thank you for sharing!
Caroline
Love these tips so much! I often find that people most complain about shampoo bars going funny rather than actually using one, so this is a great post to combat this π
crystalsandcurls
Super handy post! My boyfriend only uses shampoo bars so I’ll forward this link to him π
Lauren
I have a shampoo bar but I havenβt used it yet, this post will be really helpful. Thank you for sharing!
Lauren
Jenny in Neverland
Thanks for this! I have a couple of shampoo and conditioner bars that I haven’t opened yet but I wouldn’t have thought about how to store them once I did!
Em
Thanks for this post! I used a couple of shampoo bars already and I always kept them on the side of the bath and they got all stuck and it was a nightmare! It’s so sensible to use a soap dish with slats, thank you!
Em x
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