Really...it's true - this solid bar is what we call the All-In-One...now you can experience a head to toe clean in a single bar. Travel just got easier (no plastic bottles), and so did the gym and yoga studio! And even better yet, camping just got cleaner too because our bars are river and ocean friendly.
But...you can wash your hair with this?? YES...you can! This is not just a soap, we've formulated it to include nine (yes, we said 9) different oils that are great -specifically for your scalp.
And why would we do that? Well here's the deal...simply put, the secret to healthy hair is a healthy scalp. Our scalps can actually be quite sensitive and need extra care because they are responsible for producing sebum (natural skin oils) for hair follicles. Our bodies also constantly produce a structural protein called Keratin - your hair is actually 95% Keratin.
Like the skin, our scalp also needs to be moisturized. (check out our blog on skin moisturizing here) And just as dry skin will show irritation, a dry scalp causes itchiness as well as flaking - essentially, dandruff is skin cells that have been encrusted with Keratin. So it is most beneficial when we use hair products containing naturally occurring Keratin because the help nourish and rebuild damaged hair which will naturally increase your hair's vitality.
So how is this a "shampoo" and not just soap? Well, what makes this bar so wonderful is our unique formulation that combines those nine all natural oils known for their incredibly beneficial properties for the hair and scalp. These oils gently clean your hair, support a healthy scalp (which supports healthy hair!), and because there are no harsh chemicals or fragrances, your hair, body and environment get a lovely Neitra "KISS" (Keep It Simple & Safe). Another beautiful bonus we've seen - a lot of our customers that shampoo with these bars, find they no longer use a separate conditioner because our All-In-One bar is so rich and moisturizing.
We chose to use these oils for the incredible properties they have. Here is more information about what those oils are and why they are so important to scalp and hair health.
Organic Castor Oil (Ricinus communis) is unique because it contains a high percentage of ricinoleic acid, giving it a very high viscosity. Like olive oil and jojoba, castor oil is known as a humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture. These attributes make it well suited for shampoo as it benefits both the hair and scalp.
Sweet Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis) has been used since Ancient Egyptian times for improving hair sheen and giving it a silky texture. Being a rich source of protein, some also link it to stimulating hair’s natural growth pattern since hair itself is primarily made of protein as well. Many scalp treatments suggest combining it with castor, jojoba and essential oils to stimulate follicles - promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss. Sweet Almond Oil promotes shinier hair and provides deep conditioning naturally without harmful chemicals.
Golden Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is another rich addition with distinct benefits to condition the hair and scalp. Jojoba helps unclog pores and allow the flow of sebum promoting a healthy scalp and hair. Likewise, if there is too much sebum being produced, jojoba can dissolve it; allowing the hair to be fully cleansed. It is an effective and natural deep conditioner that moisturizes the scalp and prevents hair from being dull and brittle.
Macadamia Nut Oil (Macadamia ternifolia) is known as a luxury oil for a real soapmaker and is used because it is so easily absorbed into the skin. It also contains the highest amount of palmitoleic acid (an omega 7 fatty acid) of any plant on earth. While palmitoleic acid is abundant in the body at birth, as we age it decreases leading to dehydrated, coarse and brittle hair. By including it in this bar we help replenish a critical building block of natural sebum which softens and protects hair protein structures - leaving hair healthy and shiny.
Unrefined Organic Hemp Seed Oil (Cannabis sativa) is widely known for it’s amazing 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids. The body most easily absorbs this ratio, and being 80% essential fatty acid (higher than any other plant) Hemp Seed Oil is a great source of nutrients for the skin and scalp. Hemp Seed Oil helps also helps to develop Keratin, the key structural material composing the outer layer of human skin - and as mentioned before - a key structural component of your nails and hair. Hemp Seed Oil is invaluable in helping the entire body naturally maintain it’s balance.
Last but certainly not least in importance in this bar is Neem Oil (Azadirachta indica). Used for centuries because it has anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties which make it extremely effective in treating dandruff, lice and hair loss. Known in Ayurvedic medicine for being beneficial in relieving dry and itchy scalp as well as effectively treating scalp psoriasis, it is also known to prevent hair from greying prematurely.