The shower is where a lot of people use the most plastic. In fact, every year Americans throw away 35 billion plastic bottles, including body wash, shampoo, face wash, and conditioner bottles.
So how do I scrub a dub dub, without dirtying the planet?
Shampoo
Solid shampoo bars eliminate the need for plastic bottles and packaging, plus they’re amazing for travel. I’ve personally found that natural, handmade shampoo bars work best for me because they have more glycerin in them, which helps moisturize my hair. I’ve been using the Meow Meow Tweet shampoo bars from Package Free for YEARS now and my hair has adjusted to it really well.
Keep in mind, it normally takes your hair a good couple of washes to get used to the shampoo bar. So if at first, you aren’t super happy with the texture or feeling of your hair, don’t give up just yet! Give your hair and scalp some time to get adjusted.
Conditioner
My hair does get a little thirsty sometimes, so I love doing a natural, DIY treatment with Aloe Vera (see how I do that in this video!) I also love the Plaine Products conditioner. They use the highest quality ingredients in their products, they smell amazing, and the coolest part is that they come in 100% recyclable aluminum bottles, which can be refillable! You send back your empty bottles and they’ll refill them for you. It’s an amazing closed-loop system that helps eliminate unnecessary waste from hair care products. For a more cost-effective option, the conditioner bars we have at Package Free are a great option!
Face Wash
I also like to use solid bars to wash my face. I’ve been using the Meow Meow Tweet Tea Tree Charcoal facial bar for many years, and the combination of charcoal and tea tree has helped keep my skin clear, without over-drying it. But everyone’s skin is different, so it might take trying out a few different bars until you find the one that works best for you.
Soap & Body Wash
To wash my body, I’ll either use bar soap or the Mind And Body Wash from Bathing Culture, which is packaged in glass and refillable!
Psst. When traveling, I’ll use my shampoo or facial bar for body soap! It’s a sneaky 2-for-1 trick that works perfectly and minimizes what I have to pack.
Stainless Steel Razor
Americans throw away 2 BILLION plastic razors are thrown away each year. I’ve ditch disposables for endlessly reusable, plastic free safety razors! These will last you a lifetime (which means you’ll never have to buy another one!), but can also be 100% recycled in metal recycling.
There are a few options for safety razor, including butterfly razors, 3-Piece razors, a Pivoting Head razor, so it boils down to personal preference! I personally use the Pivoting Head razor from Package Free because it looks and feels like a non-reusable razor, has three blades instead of one, and you can be a little bit less careful when using it. Check out my full Zero Waste shaving routine!
Exfoliating
Most loofahs and body brushes are made with non-recyclable synthetics and plastic. Pass! Instead, I like to use the natural, plant fiber loofahs from Package Free, which are fully biodegradable, free of pesticides and herbicides, and completely unprocessed. And for body brushes, the compostable wooden brush is my go to.
I’m also big fan of making my own DIY body scrub using my leftover coffee grounds (recipe here)! It smells amazing and leaves my skin feeling so smooth. If DIY isn’t your thing, I also love this Body Salt Scrub.
Bath Salts
Whenever I want to feel extra relaxed, I’ll take a bath. The Package Free bath products replace plastic containers and none are made with synthetic ingredients!
Body Lotion
After the shower, I use to hydrate my skin with my DIY lotion (recipe here) or the body oils that we have at Package Free.
