The Shampoo Bar Trend: Will Guests Follow it?

Even before your days as a host, you were aware of both bar and liquid soap. Many have a preference as to which is better, hence why Modern Innkeeper had to enter the debate by settling the type you should have available.

But now, you have to keep an eye on the shampoo bar trend because it may help you to continue delivering travelers a quality guest experience.

We have become accustomed to shampoo coming in a bottle, and anything else, like a shampoo bar, seems so out there. That is, however, until you consider the benefits.

Here is a deeper dive into one of the latest trends you will be happy you learned about.

 

How Did This Start?

Close to 25 percent of the world’s population lives in areas where water is a scarce resource, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). To understand how significant this figure is, that accounts for 1.6 billion people.

This statistic is a representation of how big of a problem water scarcity is around the world, leading us to why shampoo bars’ popularity is increasing: they conserve water!

Every bottle of shampoo is 75 to 85 percent water, according to Kind2, so, by choosing to make the switch to shampoo bars, you are doing the world a solid and showing your guests their host cares.

 

Educate Guests

Keep in mind this is a trend that is picking up steam, so some guests may come to your place either expecting you to already have one or already know about shampoo bars.

Emphasis on “some guests.”

For others, staying at your place may be the first time they are seeing it, opening the door for you to educate them how much the environment appreciates shampoo bars over bottled shampoo.

Utilize this opportunity to teach guests about how bars better the planet, such as addressing the aforementioned water scarcity issue, in addition to not polluting the ocean and killing marine life like shampoo bottles do. Ways you can do this are:

●     Detailing why you prefer shampoo bars over bottled shampoo in your rental’s description

●     Leaving a handwritten note describing the benefits of it in the bathroom

●     Reminding them about the eco-friendly bathroom amenity in the welcome letter

People have been using bottled shampoo for decades without knowing the consequences, but you have the power to change that.

 

Answering Any Questions

Changing an everyday item that has been “the norm” for so long often comes with its fair share of questions, and rightfully so. Thanks to Sense Scoop, we answered a few you may have or guests will ask.

 

Will a Shampoo Bar Clean Your Hair Thoroughly?

It will, and it will not potentially lead to further damage like some liquid shampoos do. Bottled shampoos may do this because they contain Sodium Laureth Sulphate or Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, an ingredient that strips your hair of its natural oils.

A shampoo bar’s natural ingredients, ones that often come from sunflower oil, do a great job of cleaning hair and keeping it healthy.

If guests are hesitant to try it, letting them know, nicely, of course, their usual stuff may be harmful could motivate them to make a change.

 

Can a Shampoo Bar Clean Any Type of Hair?

Guests will come in all different shapes and sizes, and they will have different types of hair, too.

Thick, thin, curvy, straight, wavy, short, long.

Whichever they have, guests can count on a shampoo bar to get the job done.

 

Will You Get Your Money’s Worth?

One of the reasons bar soap beat out liquid soap in our debate was because less goes to waste.

The same goes for a shampoo bar.

Squeezing too much shampoo out of a bottle is an easy mistake to make, but with a bar, using the proper amount is more manageable. This means you will not have to restock your rental’s bathrooms as often.

If a concern of yours is guests will continue to elect bottled shampoo over your new shampoo bar, effectively wasting the green alternative, do not worry!

An unopened shampoo bar can last for over two years, and an opened one can last for a year, qualifying it as a worthwhile investment.

 

Clean Hair, Clean Planet

Following the shampoo bar trend will show your guests you are doing your part to preserve our planet, and, of course, help them keep their hair clean during their stay.