Sustainably is supported by readers like you. When you buy through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links on our “About” page.
Introduction & Overview
Shampoo bars are one of the most popular sustainable swap recommendations out there! They’re great for travel, reducing plastic, they often come with better ingredients than bottles, and so much more!
You’ll find them on every bathroom swap list, and almost any beginner swap list (even mine, see here). That’s because they’re pretty easy and super straightforward. You know what isn’t super straightforward though? Figuring out if they work for you. And, figuring out how much it will cost.
Spoiler, the price tag on your bar isn’t exactly what you’ll use to compare cost with a shampoo bottle. More on that in the cost section of this review.
So let’s just dive right in, and see how Spring & Vine worked for me, whether or not I recommend it, and if it could be the right fit for you.
Spring & Vine Ratings
Overall Score
Function
Durability
Ease of Use
Appearance
Do I recommend Spring & Vine Bar Shampoo?
The overall combined rating is a 4 and that’s typically the bar I set just on a numbers basis in order to recommend a product. I’m giving the Spring & Vine shampoo bar Andrew Approval but before you hit add-to-cart and checkout I think you should read the full review to see if this is the best choice for you.
I’m undecided on whether or not this bar is going to be my everyday choice, but I still think you should consider giving it a shot. Everyone’s hair and skin work differently with different products.
Does it get the job done? (Function)
I just tend to be an oily person. My skin is very oily, and my hair seems to fluctuate. If I use an oil-stripping shampoo like Head & Shoulders I could go 2-3 days without needing to wash again (variable with activity).
With the Spring and Vine Balanced Clean bar, have to wash it every day. My hair does feel clean after using it, but I find that my hair is ready for a wash much sooner than with traditional shampoos. Sometimes, it’s even oily before the end of the day.
But, I’ve had much better results with the Scalp Soothing bar. My hair doesn’t feel oily the same day, but it won’t always get me through 2 days+.
As someone who struggles with acne a lot, increased oil on my skin = breaking out. And, that includes my scalp. So for that reason, I’m still going to be searching for other options that will help me control oil for longer, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work well for your hair type and skin type!
I very well may come back to the scalp smoothing option just because I can buy it in person easily, I’m a really bad online shopper.
Is it durable?
It holds up well over time, and it seems to clean just the same on day one as it does when the bar is almost gone. The fragrance seems to be present throughout its lifespan as well, even though it’s not a strong fragrance overall.
I took a star here because they claim that it will last the same length as a shampoo bottle and it did not last that long for me. I’m not sure what size shampoo bottle they’re comparing the bar to, but I found that even though it did last a long time (maybe 1-2 months), the shampoo bar did not last nearly as long as my shampoo bottles. And I have very little hair compared to most people (basically have a buzz cut), so your usage is likely to vary from my experience.
Ease of use?
There’s nothing special to it, in my opinion (that’s a good thing here). I would actually lather directly on my head, rinse it, place it back on my soap saver, and then lather more into my scalp. I will finish with a rinse and move on with my shower…scrub-a-dub-dub. It doesn’t get easier.
Do I want to show it off? (Appearance)
As my first shampoo bar, of course! Like I said before, I’m just not an online shopper. I was patiently waiting for the day that Target started stocking shampoo bars and I was so excited when I found this one.
It’s a proud moment switching from a plastic shampoo bottle to a shampoo bar, but I wouldn’t be as “proud” of it today as I am with other sustainable swaps like Stasher bags and Blueland hand soap. I would prefer a more sustainable brand and absolutely zero plastic packaging, but it’s still a solid choice.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Uses significantly less plastic
- Offers fair variety
- Traveling is much easier than with a bottle because bars don’t spill
Cons
- The bar comes in plastic wrap (inside its box)
- Parent company is P&G
What is Spring & Vine?
Spring and Vine considers themselves a beauty company. The only products they have listed at the time of publishing are 4 shampoo bars. Their mission is centered around ingredient transparency and they strive to make products with clean and easily understood ingredients.
I think it’s worth noting that Spring and Vine is a P&G brand. P&G brands include Dawn, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Febreeze, Gain, and so many more. This is one of those scenarios where that may be a dealbreaker for you.
If the parent company isn’t a dealbreaker for you here, then I still think it’s worth a try. Especially because it’s the first easily accessible shampoo bar I’ve found in my area (excluding online shopping). If the same is true for you, then this is likely a great option for reducing plastic.
Spring & Vine also claims they are PETA Certified but I wasn’t able to find them with the certification search tool on PETA’s website (as of 10/10/21). That doesn’t mean they’re not certified, but I thought it was worth noting.
What Options Do You Have To Buy?
Of the 4 bars they offer, they have the following fragrance/bar options:
- Scalp Soothing – Tea Tree and Mint
- Scalp Volumizing – Grapefruit and Rosemary
- Moisturizing – Oatmeal
- Balanced Clean – Lavender and Orange Blossom
Cost and Comparability
I like to put tables in this section, but unlike with dish detergent or hand wash, the shampoo you use at home is likely very unique to you. Some people will have a massive $30 bottle, others might have a small bottle that also cost $30. Your shampoo might also be a very popular brand name at only $4 a bottle. I just don’t know, and there’s so much variety that no set of 5 shampoos in a table is going to capture what I want it to
.
So let’s just talk about price. The shampoo bar is $9.99 at Target. I don’t believe you can find it elsewhere, as their website says, “Available at Target.”
In my use, Spring & Vine’s shampoo bar does not last as long as shampoo bottles. So, I can’t give you a definitive answer here as to how much it is going to cost you to make the switch. The best thing for you to do, if you’re interested, is buy a bar. Take note of when you bought it and when it runs out.
If it lasts 2 months and a normal bottle or bar of shampoo lasts you 4 months, then you’ll need to do the math. Multiply $9.99 by 2, to get about $20 for the total cost over 4 months. The cost of the other bottle is your cost per 4 months, no multiplication needed. If the $20 is less than your normal shampoo, then you’ll save money. If it’s more, then it costs you more money.
Again, it’s up to you here to make the switch. Let’s say you find out that this bar would cost you $15 more dollars compared to your current shampoo. That might be worth it if you’ve been dying to find a shampoo bar. Or, you might prefer to put that $15 toward a Stasher bag. Ultimately, the cost difference is what you’ll have to figure out and then consider. You know your shampoo costs better than I do.
What makes Spring & Vine a sustainable choice?
The most sustainable thing about this, in my opinion, is the significantly lower use of plastic. Yes it comes in plastic wrap, but if you’re switching from a shampoo bottle then you’re still saving so much plastic. And if you’re someone that has really expensive shampoo, and you like the bar, then you could be saving money as well.
Thanks for joining me today! If you liked this content and want to see more, please subscribe to my newsletter. You can do that here!
In case you didn’t catch my posts about sustainable things coming in plastic packaging, you can check it out here.
Sustainably is supported by readers like you. When you buy through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links on our “Affiliate Marketing…” page.
Pingback: Dr. Bronner's Bar Soap Review: Is It Good? - Sustainably