My Sustainable Shower Routine & Six Things I Don’t Miss About Bottled Products
My Shower routine used to look a lot like what I assume is the average shower routine…. bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a can of shaving cream. Those were the basics, at least. In January 2020 I started using unwrapped products. I love my new unwrapped shower products, and there is actually nothing I miss about bottled shower products... BUT I have compiled a list of six specific ways I am more satisfied with waste free shower products.
My Sustainable Shower Routine
Package free shampoo and conditioner
Shampoo & Conditioner
My first stumbling block with unwrapped products happened when I couldn’t remember which bar was shampoo and which one was conditioner. They are easily discernible from each other, but I just couldn’t remember which was which. I accidentally used the conditioner first, thinking it was the shampoo. It didn’t sudz up, which I attributed to the fact that it was a more natural product. When I began using the “conditioner” I quickly realized it was the shampoo because it did sudz up (which I was very pleased about!).
At first I tried to lather up the soap bars on my hands and then apply it to my hair. This worked okay with the shampoo but did not work with the conditioner. I tried rubbing the bar of the conditioner right onto my hair, and this method worked. As it turns out, rubbing the bar of soap directly on to your hair is how you’re SUPPOSED to use it, so I was on to something!
I highly recommend switching to unwrapped shampoo and conditioner. These products are equivalent to or better than any bottled products I’ve used in the past. They last about twenty-five washes for me (three months). They’re reasonably priced and buying from a local store feels GREAT.
Shaving Soap
If you haven’t made this switch already, do it! It provides the same quality shave as other shaving creams I’ve used. It is easy to store with my other soap bars, and lasts forever. Fair warning, if you’re a “shave everyday” type of person then you’ll go through the shaving soap faster than me. My best guess is that it lasts for 100+ shaves. I cut the bar in half, so half is in use and half is still new in the cupboard.
Body Soap
Most of us are familiar with using a bar of soap to clean our bodies. The main difference is that when you buy soap from the drugstore it is usually wrapped in plastic and/or a box. We have at least one local soap maker in our area, which is a great option for unwrapped soap. If they wrap their products, you can likely request to have yours remain unwrapped. Our local refill store is a one-stop-shop for most of your average sustainable products, including unwrapped body soap.
Waste Confession
There is one item in my shower routine that is disposable, and that is my razor. I bought a package of razors a while ago… maybe a year or more. One razor lasts me about six months and for that reason I’m still working away at my disposable package. I plan to buy a zero waste option when the time comes.
Six Things I Don’t Miss About Bottled Products
Clutter
Our shower does not have much space to store anything, so most of my bottled products were in a basket next to the shower. This system worked okay, and didn’t look as cluttered as some of my showers in the past, but inevitably the bottles accumulate. Now, my shower routine fits in a small white dish. I do not miss managing a bunch of bottles in the shower!
Waste
There is a lot of waste associated with bottled products. It’s hard to get all of the contents out of the bottle and some is wasted. If you like to try new products, or buy things on sale then bottles build up quickly. Baskets and showers fill up and then you have to declutter. Products expire, or don’t perform well, or cause irritation… I do not miss throwing out a bunch of useless products/bottles every year.
Recycling
I’m sure that most of the bottles used for shower products can be recycled… but are they really recycled? And what do they get recycled into? The world needs less plastic around… creating less waste is much better than recycling it. I do not miss rinsing out the bottles, and I do not miss wondering if they were really recycled.
Health Concerns
Companies that care about the environment (less/no packaging) often seem to care about health as well. Just like with food, I prefer that my shower products have recognizable ingredients. The brand Unwrapped Life uses ingredients I’m familiar with. Most bottled products I’ve used have several ingredients that I don’t recognize AND I do not miss worrying about additives in my shower soaps.
Overwhelm
There is a psychology phenomenon that causes people to feel less satisfied with a purchase if they have TOO MUCH choice. It seems strange... if you have all the choice in the world, then you can pick something exactly right for you, right? Wrong. People are more satisfied when they pick between a couple of options versus several options. When you’re shopping for bottled products not only are there several brands to choose from but there are also several options within each brand. At my local refill store there is one brand of shampoo/conditioner and five lines to pick from. It is easy to choose the right one for me, and I feel satisfied with my choice. I do not miss staring at racks of bottles… trying to figure out which brand/line to buy.
Supporting Big Box Stores
I’m able to buy my unwrapped shower products from a local refill store, run by two women (I might add!), and I feel good paying a fair price for the items. I do not miss using my consumer power to support big box stores.
Your Turn!
If you haven’t tried unwrapped shower products, then start today. Start with unwrapped body soap or shaving cream (to ease into the process) or go all in and change your shampoo/conditioner as well. It’s good for your hair/body, your health, the earth and the local economy!
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