Why I Made Shampoo Bars.. Coming From Someone Who Created A Salon Grade Hair Line

I want to talk a little about why I even started making shampoo bars, because if you’ve spent any time on the internet, you’ve probably seen people argue hard about whether soap-based shampoo bars are “good” or “bad” for your hair.

And honestly? I get why there’s confusion.

When I first started experimenting with shampoo bars, it wasn’t because I wanted to jump on a trend. It was because I wanted something simpler — fewer ingredients, less plastic, and something that actually worked without wrecking my scalp.

That’s how Gaia came to be.

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The Big Debate: Saponified Shampoo Bars vs. “Shampoo” Bars

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room.

Gaia is a saponified shampoo bar, meaning it’s made the same way traditional soap is made — oils + lye, fully saponified, no free lye left behind. This is where people start saying, “Soap doesn’t belong on hair!”

And here’s the truth:
Some soap bars can be too harsh for hair. Especially ones that are heavy on coconut oil, poorly balanced, or not formulated with hair and scalp in mind.

But not all saponified bars are created equal.

I spent a long time formulating Gaia because I wanted a bar that:

• Cleans without stripping

• Doesn’t leave hair feeling crunchy or waxy

• Actually works for real people with real hair

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Why Babassu Oil Changed Everything

One of the biggest differences in Gaia is babassu oil.

Babassu behaves very differently than coconut oil. Where coconut can sometimes be too drying — especially for curly, textured, or color-treated hair — babassu tends to:

• Clean gently

• Leave hair feeling lighter

• Add volume instead of weighing hair down

This is something customers mention all the time. So many people with curls or waves tell me they were nervous to try a shampoo bar because they’d heard horror stories… and then Gaia surprised them.

Their hair felt soft.
Their curls weren’t stripped.
Their scalp felt clean, not angry.

That’s the goal.

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What Else Is in Gaia (and Why)

I don’t throw ingredients in just to make something sound fancy. Everything in Gaia has a reason.

• Babassu Oil – gentle cleansing + volume

• Jojoba Oil – helps balance the scalp because it’s similar to our natural oils

• Coconut Oil – adds cleansing power without being the star of the show

• Pasture-Raised Tallow – deeply nourishing, scalp-loving, and honestly underrated

• Chlorella & Turmeric – supportive botanicals that help calm and care for the scalp

The scent is earthy and grounding — rosemary, juniper, and a soft hint of vanilla — nothing overpowering, just clean and comforting.

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What People Tell Me After Using It

This is my favorite part.

I hear things like:

• “I didn’t even need an ACV rinse.”

• “My hair has more body than it ever did with liquid shampoo.”

• “This is the first shampoo bar that didn’t wreck my curls.”

• “My scalp finally feels balanced.”

And listen — not every product works for every person. I’ll never pretend that Gaia is the answer for everyone. Hair is personal.

But when something works for thousands of people across different hair types? That tells me the formulation matters.

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Why You Might Want to Try a Shampoo Bar

If you’re curious but hesitant, here’s why Gaia might be a good place to start:

• You want less plastic in your life

• You’re tired of shampoos that leave buildup or strip your hair

• You want something that lasts longer than a bottle

• You want ingredients you can actually recognize

There can be a short adjustment period when switching from conventional shampoo — that’s normal. But for many people, once their scalp settles in, they never go back.

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Final Thoughts (From Me to You)

I didn’t make Gaia to convince anyone of anything. I made it because I wanted something I’d actually use on my own hair — and on my kids’ hair — without overthinking it.

If you’ve been curious about shampoo bars, nervous because of what you’ve read online, or just wanting to simplify your routine, Gaia is a really gentle place to start.

And if you ever have questions? You know I’m always happy to talk hair 💚🌿