The Shampoo bar has many benefits. Choosing this format is part of a zero-waste beauty approach. Sensitive to consumers’ awareness, some brands offer recycled and/or recyclable bottles, but this is not yet the case for all. People buy about 300 shampoos every second or 476 00000 bottles per day in the world according to a study. The shampoo bar helps reduce this waste and protect the environment. It also contains fewer polluting ingredients and water. Do not be fooled by its small size, a single shampoo bottle can do 50 to 100 washes, the equivalent of 3 bottles of liquid shampoo. Finally, its mini size is easily carried everywhere and easily fits into a suitcase or sports bag.

Before going for an analysis of dry hair care, it is important to understand where the problem of dry hair comes from. For this, we must focus on the composition of the hair fiber. In its center is the material of the hair, called the cortex. It is covered with several layers of small scales (cemented together by lipids). This is called the cuticle. As Pascale Mora, Director of Scientific Communication Vichy explains, “dry hair has a damaged cuticle. The hair, poorly protected, loses its keratin and lipids. They become fragile and dry up.”

In the case of dry and brittle hair prefer dedicated shampoos (and conditioner), enriched in ceramides and without sulfates. Naturally present in the hair, ceramides help protect and nourish the hair fiber. It is the guarantee to find flexible lengths, shining and well hydrated.

The cause of dandruff is not yet fully understood, and there are different factors at play. “Simple” dandruff (what is referred to in medicine as pityriasis simplex or dry) is non-greasy, gray or yellowish in color and is easily detached.

In some cases, the dandruff is fatter, thicker, yellowish and associated with inflammation of the scalp (it is red or pink). In the question: dermatitis or seborrheic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin disorder, characterized by the presence of red patches covered with scales on the oily areas of the skin. And in cases of seborrheic dermatitis, lesions are often found elsewhere in the body, for example on the wings of the nose.

In both cases, it appears that a microscopic fungus called Malassezia is involved in excessive dehydration of the scalp and the appearance of dandruff. This fungus, or yeast, causes irritation of the scalp and fast renewal of scalp cells. Studies show that the amount of Malassezia is multiplied by 1.5 to 2 in the case of dandruff.

In other, rarer cases, the presence of dandruff is due to psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease that often affects the scalp.

In the majority of cases, the regular use (twice a week) of anti-dandruff shampoo bar, for oily hair or dry hair, solves the problem. These shampoo bars usually contain an antifungal (which acts on the fungus), a keratolytic (an exfoliant) and soothing agents to fight against itching.