Jumping Juniper! This stuff really works! (Lush Shampoo Bars)

Member Name: kittybuttons

Product:	Lush Shampoo Bars
Date:	03/11/09 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of washes from one little bar.

Disadvantages: Doesn't make your hair smell of anything.

Before coming on Dooyoo I never realised how popular Lush was, we have a store where I live but I'd only ever been in there once with some friends. Suddenly I was seeing review after positive review on here on Lush products.

Coincidentally I also saw one of their products in particular being brought up on the gapyear.com travel forums - the shampoo bars. I am going travelling next year and as somebody who has been backpacking before I know how much difference a little bit of weight and space can make and how heavy full shampoo bottles can be. (Not to mention the inevitable case of the bursting shampoo bottle and the expense of buying lots of shampoo bottles.) So....I thought, 'Why not?'

***ABOUT LUSH***

Lush are a British handmade cosmetics company that sell handmade products such as bath ballistics, soaps, lotions, masks and of course shampoo bars. They are an ethical company who strictly do not test on animals and use organic ingredients. Their shops also smell very nice.

***THE SHAMPOO BARS IN GENERAL***

Lush sell 11 different types of solid shampoo. These are:

Seanik - Softening sea salt shampoo scented with jasmine, mimosa and orange blossom. Ideal for those who want soft and shiny hair.

New Shampoo Bar - Made with bay, clove and cinnamon essential oils. Ideal for those suffering from stress related hair loss.

Ultimate Shine - Contains ylang ylang oil and violet leaf oil to create glossy shine.

Squeaky Green - Uses fresh rosemary, nettle and peppermint, powdered tea tree and chamomile essential oil to get rid of dandruff and keep your hair, well, squeaky clean!

Godiva - This golden yellow shampoo bar is a 2 in 1 and uses Jasmine oil to keep your hair lovely and soft.

Hard - Another 2 in 1 shampoo bar this time using soya lecithin, free range eggs and chunks of cocoa butter conditioner to combat the effects of hard water.

Soak and Float - Use it to get rid of your dandruff but it apparently smells like tar?!

Soft - Contains sea salt and citrus to give your hair body and bounce in soft water areas.

Trichomania - A coconut shampoo to combat dry locks by giving them an injection of moisture.

The Blonde - Contains chamomile and marigold to make blonde hair blonder. (I will try this one next).

Jumping Juniper - Contains Lavender and Juniper oil to combat greasy hair.

***JUMPING JUNIPER***

I chose Jumping Juniper as my hair tends to get greasy very easily. I am in absolute envy of the girls who can wash their hair once a week! It is also quite dry as I have highlights and use both hairdryer and straighteners.

Lush claim that it "cleans away oils and encourages your scalp to produce less sebum by using balancing lavender oil. Juniper oil sorts out an oily, congested scalp; lemon and lime make your hair clean and shiny and give it an extra fresh scent."

***INGREDIENTS***

Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Colour 18050 & 61585, Lavender Decoction, Rosemary Decoction, Juniperberry Oil, Lemon Oil, Lime Oil, Perfume.

***HOW TO USE**

To use you wet your hair as normal, get the shampoo bar wet, then rub it a few times over your scalp. Then massage your hair into a lather and rinse as you would do with a normal shampoo.

***MY EXPERIENCE***

I have to admit I was extremely sceptical about this product as I find hair products just 'don't work' for me. In fact if it wasn't for the fact that I am so desperate for room in my backpack/to save money, I wouldn't have tried it even if it does have lots of good reviews.

So into the shower I went with it, I wet it as per instructions and rubbed it onto my scalp a few times. When I had it out of the shower it smelt really nice, the juniper smelt lovely and perfumey whilst it had a hint of freshness about it. Rubbing it onto my hair it seemed to lose all smell.

My initial reaction was 'here we go, it's not lathering up, it's not going to work.' I was almost tempted to just shove some liquid shampoo on my head and finish the job! I tried massaging onto my hair a few more times but this made no difference so I just massaged my scalp and rinsed it out, then used my usual conditioner.

However after drying and straightening my hair it was nice and clean, maybe even a little softer than usual. If it had been any other shampoo I wouldn't have been particularly impressed especially as it didn't make my hair smell any different but writing from the point of view that it's a shampoo bar that's compact and easily transportable, I am very, very impressed!

I would like to try the conditioner next as I have been very surprised by this shampoo but as I seem to use a 1/4 of a bottle every time I wash my hair I somehow doubt it will do the job!

You can also buy a pretty little chrome tin embossed with 'Lush' which is ideal if you are taking it away like I am!

The only downside to this shampoo and I am once again talking from a travelling point of view, is what I was told by the lady in the shop and from reading other reviews. This is that if you don't leave it to dry properly (very hard when changing hostels daily) it will start to go soft and disintegrate. Obviously I have not taken it travelling yet so I cannot comment on this yet.

A bar costs around £4.55, expensive compared to some bottles of shampoo but it's meant to last months on end so I works out very cheap compared to liquid shampoo.

My verdict? Get some!

Summary: Lush Jumping Juniper Solid Shampoo Bar.