If you want your hair to be soft, silky, and shiny, you need to invest in a great conditioner. Unlike shampoo, which cleanses, conditioner smooths and detangles your hair. And instead of opting for the standard bottle of conditioner, you might want to consider a conditioner bar.
Although they might look like the regular old bar soap your mom has sitting in a soap dish in the bathroom, conditioner bars pack a punch for your hair. And for some people, they might be the best way to go.
So how do you go about finding a conditioner bar? Don’t worry — we’ve done the work for you. We’ve put together a little guide to some of the best conditioner bars out there.
How do you use a conditioner bar?
It’s super easy! You just wet the conditioner bar and then glide it over your wet hair from scalp to tip until your hair is fully coated (you can focus more on the ends than the roots if you’d like).
Give it a few minutes to absorb, and then use your fingers to gently rub the product into your hair. Let it sit for a moment or two before rinsing out.
The advantages of a conditioner bar
Why should you make the switch from liquid to solid? Conditioner bars have a few perks that make them a bit more appealing.
They’re more eco-friendly
If you’re on a mission to ditch unnecessary plastics, conditioner bars are for you. Since they’re all bar and no bottle, they have much less packaging, if any.
Many are all-natural
Most conditioner bars are made with natural ingredients and skip out on potentially harmful chemicals like formaldehyde (of course, always check the ingredients to be sure of that). Most also don’t contain artificial fragrances and are very gentle on your hair.
They’re more convenient to use
You know when you reach for a bottle of conditioner in the shower but struggle to get it open because everything is wet and slippery? Or when you go to squeeze out some conditioner toward the end of the bottle and can barely manage to get anything?
Those things doesn’t happen with a solid conditioner bar. There’s nothing to open, and you don’t have to worry about missing out on any product, because there’s no packaging for it to hide in. A bar is also easier to store, since it’s smaller than a bulky bottle.
They’re more travel-friendly
That compact size also makes a conditioner bar much easier to travel with. Simply put your solid conditioner into a zip-top bag and toss it in your toiletries bag instead of lugging around a bottle and worrying about it leaking.
How we chose
Conditioners will work differently for each person depending on their hair type. We chose these bars based on their effective ingredients and great reviews from users.
We also looked for bars made with natural ingredients and without potentially harmful chemicals.
All these bars are plastic-free and come in zero-waste packaging.
14 conditioner bars for silky hair
1. Ethique Eco-Friendly Solid Conditioner Bar for Normal-Dry Hair, Guardian
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This bar is packed with hydrating ingredients that will instantly leave your hair feeling smoother and softer. It’s a great size, with one bar equaling about five standard-size conditioner bottles (so you’re definitely getting your money’s worth!).
It’s also a multitasker: You can use it as a shaving bar or an in-shower body moisturizer.
Price: $$
Key ingredients: Coca butter, coconut oil, vitamin B5, lime zest
Buy Ethique Eco-Friendly Solid Conditioner online.
2. by Humankind Conditioner
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Made with all-natural ingredients, this bar is effective and long-lasting and has a lovely scent. It doesn’t discriminate, working well on all hair types. And it detangles and moisturizes easily.
It also comes with an absorbent soap dish made from Diatomite, which not only gives your bar a place to live in the shower but also helps it dry quickly so it lasts longer.
Price: $$
Key ingredients: Behentrimonium methosulfate (derived from canola oil, this eliminates buildup while nourishing your hair), cocoa butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, extra virgin olive oil
Buy by Humankind Conditioner online.
3. Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Water Shampoo + Conditioner Bar
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Conditioners can sometimes be heavy enough to weigh down thin hair, but this hybrid shampoo and conditioner bar promises volume and was made with fine, flat hair in mind. (Don’t worry — that doesn’t mean it’s any less hydrating.)
It’s free of silicones, sulfates, parabens, and dyes and comes in at a significantly lower price point considering it’s a two-in-one product.
Price: $
Key ingredients: Coconut water, mimosa flower
Buy Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Water Shampoo + Conditioner bar online.
4. Lush American Cream
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Reviewers rave about the “wonderful” scent this conditioner has thanks to a sweet mix of lavender, vanilla, and clary sage. It melts easily in warm water and delivers a ton of much-needed hydration.
One bar is the equivalent of two 500-milliliter bottles of liquid conditioner, so this one will last a long time. Plus, who can deny the aesthetically pleasing bright pink shade it comes in?
Price: $$
Key ingredients: Fresh strawberry juice, lavender oil, clary sage oil, vanilla, fresh orange juice, organic agave syrup
Buy Lush American Cream online.
5. Brite Organix Bar None Hydrating Conditioner Bar
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This super hydrating conditioner bar is so popular that it’s often sold out on the brand’s official website. It’s made with naturally derived ingredients and without sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or parabens.
Reviewers call it a “game-changer” and say it’s the best conditioner they’ve ever tried.
Price: $$
Key ingredients: Coconut butter, shea butter, castor oil
Buy Brite Organix Bar None Hydrating Conditioner Bar online.
6. Viori Citrus Yao Conditioner Bar
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This bar’s fresh citrus scent is enough to wake up even those who are decidedly not morning people.
Viori products are inspired by ancient hair care rituals of the Red Yao tribe, who live in the mountains of Longsheng, China. The key ingredient is Longsheng rice, which helps moisturize, strengthen, volumize, and repair hair while reducing scalp irritation and increasing shine.
Price: $$
Key ingredients: Longsheng rice water, shea butter, bamboo extract, broccoli seed oil, aloe vera, vitamins B8, B5, and E
Buy Viori Citrus Yao Conditioner Bar online.
7. The Earthling Co. Conditioner Bar
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Made without SLS, fillers, silicones, parabens, preservatives, and palm oil, these bars can basically guarantee a feel-good hair-washing experience.
These are also a great option for anyone who likes, well, options: There are seven scents to choose from (including unscented), and four of those are available gluten-free.
Price: $$
Key ingredients: Cocoa butter, coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E
Buy The Earthling Co. Conditioner Bar online.
8. Basin Good Hair Day Conditioner Bar
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The star ingredient here is wheat germ oil, which is rich in vitamin E and linoleic acid to condition, moisturize, and nourish hair and repair damage from heat styling and dyes. This bar also has a refreshing pink grapefruit scent.
Price: $
Key ingredients: Wheat germ oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil
Buy Basin Good Hair Day Conditioner Bar online.
9. Eco Roots Moroccan Oil Zero Waste Conditioner Bar
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This vegan bar is made with natural ingredients that won’t strip your hair or leave it feeling heavy and can also work to repair damage. It contains Moroccan oil, which gives it a nice musky scent and intensely hydrates your hair.
Just keep in mind that this bar is smaller than many others: It’s good for 55+ washes instead of the more typical 80.
Price: $$
Key ingredients: Moroccan oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, Argan oil, apricot seed oil, wheat germ oil, quinoa protein, vitamin E
Buy Eco Roots Moroccan Oil Zero Waste Conditioner Bar online.
10. Package Free Round Conditioner Bar
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This bar comes in five varieties, so you can pick the one that works best for your hair needs: The Fixer repairs chemically treated hair, the Hydrator is ideal for dry and damaged hair, the Detoxifier is for blonde hair, the Stimulator is for thinning hair, and the Balancer is calming and is best for normal hair.
All the ingredients are naturally derived and on point, and all the bars are incredibly hydrating.
Price: $$
Key ingredients: Colloidal oil, amla oil, vitamin B, shea butter, cocoa butter, olive oil
Buy Package Free Round Conditioner Bar online.
11. Coconut Milk Solid Bar Conditioner
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Coconut milk is the star in this bar — the manufacturer claims that it can help hair grow (although this hasn’t been scientifically proven). This bar softens, detangles, and repairs all at the same time and leaves hair with a sweet scent.
One reviewer notes that, with help from this conditioner, their hair has “never, ever looked this good.”
Price: $$$
Key ingredients: Coconut milk, sweet almond oil, vitamins C, E, B1, B3, B5, and B6
Buy Coconut Milk Solid Bar Conditioner online.
12. Nourish Tea Tree + Green Clay Conditioner Bar
While conditioners are generally just for hydration, this one also cleanses hair, thanks to the tea tree oil it contains. The other big ingredient here, French green clay, helps repair any damage.
This conditioner feels soothing on your scalp and will leave strands noticeably shinier. It should last 60 to 100 washes.
Price: $
Key ingredients: Tea tree essential oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, French green clay
Buy Nourish Tea Tree + Green Clay Conditioner Bar online.
13. Aspen Kay Naturals Solid Conditioner Bar
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Made with organic ingredients, this bar is also free of sulfates, silicones, parabens, synthetic fragrances, and synthetic dyes. It contains oils and herbs that are soothing and restorative, so your hair feels and looks much more hydrated.
Reviewers say they’re impressed with the quality and how long the bar lasts and that it leaves their hair “super smooth.”
Price: $$
Key ingredients: Organic cocoa butter, organic sunflower oil, organic Argan oil, organic nettle extract, lemongrass essential oil, vitamin E
Buy Aspen Kay Naturals Solid Conditioner Bar online.
14. The Sudsy Soapery Solid Hair Conditioner Bar
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Hydrating ingredients like jojoba oil and hemp seed oil make hair shiny and soft while lemon oils help add shine and reduce the appearance of split ends.
Reviewers call out the “softness and smell” they love from this product, and some say it’s particularly great for fine hair.
Price: $
Key ingredients: Mango butter, jojoba oil, hemp seed oil, honey