Travel Tips: Solid Shampoo

Today's travel tip comes courtesy of a summer I spent backpacking in Africa several years ago.  I had been burned by past experiences with exploding/leaking/oozing shampoo bottles, so I sought out and purchased a solid shampoo bar for this lengthy trip.  Not only was I spared the worry of finding a mess in my backpack, but I also found it easier to use in 'unusual' bush showers and discovered that it could also double as a body bar or laundry soap in a pinch.

In these days of ever-increasing air travel restrictions, a solid shampoo can also save you time in airport security.  Many varieties last longer than their bottled brethren and, because of their minimal packaging, are easier on the environment.  Just be sure to keep your bar in a sealable soap dish and allow it to dry out between uses or you might end up with a soggy mess.

You can find several different varieties on Amazon.com or check out LUSH - a British-based, fresh, handmade and natural cosmetics company where I purchased the original solid shampoo that accompanied me to Africa.

NEWS FLASH! In checking out the LUSH website for this post, I discovered that they now make solid conditioner as well.  I haven't tried them but I can't wait to - one step closer to bottle-free, hassle-free travel!