Are you reading this in the shower? Put your phone down. That's weird. Now, count the number of plastic bottles in there. If it's more than zero, then you might want to keep reading.
You might not know this but small businesses like Leaf Shave keep in touch with other small businesses that are our peers. Why? Because sometimes being your friendly neighborhood razor company gets lonely. Every now and then, we want to share the good work that our buddies are doing. Have you met HiBar?
We swapped product with their team and put their beautiful bars to work.
Laura (Team Leaf): HiBar Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
Upon receiving the Shampoo and Conditioner bars, I immediately appreciated the fragrance—light, clean, and fresh–a refreshing change from some of the more fragrant heavy hair care products I've used in the past.
When it came time to put these bars to the test, I was caught off-guard to discover that a little goes a very long way. Within seconds of gently applying the Shampoo Bar to my hair, I was able to get a super rich lather.
The long, oval shape allowed me to get a grip on the bar without it slipping out of my hands, and the flattened, angled edge made the application simple yet effective. After using my Moisturizing Shampoo Conditioner Bar, I towel dried my hair, brushed it out, and let it air dry to finish. On an average day, I usually find my hair post-shower to be frizzy, poufy, and lacking the defined waves I hope for.
While applying the cleanser, it felt creamy and smooth as I lathered it in my hands and super hydrating on my skin. As I washed away pollutants from the day, I could tell this product was made well and without harsh ingredients. I loved the gentle yet effective formula and so did my skin.
The Face Wash Bar is vegan, paraben-free, sulfate-free, silicone-free, has plant-based ingredients, and is something I wanted to use daily. As someone who is very much into skincare, it felt just as effective as my $20 face wash but plastic-free!
When prepping my skin for my dermaplaning routine with Leaf’s sleek, silver Dermaplaner, I always start with a clean face. I have sensitive, dry, acne-prone sin, so I usually start with a hydrating gel cleanser to wash away makeup and impurities before I dermaplane.
I have tried several natural deodorants including Native and Dr Teal's deodorant, so when trying HiBar's Fresh Rain and Cucumber Deodorant I had thought it would work similarly. In my past experiences, I get irritated skin from the formulas or they don't work that well after a couple hours of wear.
My first impression of the HiBar deodorant was how lovely the fresh rain and cucumber scent was. It smells clean and calming like I just left a spa. The push-up feature of the deodorant worked so well and was something I have never seen before in a deodorant tube. The plastic-free paper packaging was durable and held the product similar to plastic deodorants.
The texture of the deodorant on my skin was so much smoother than other natural deodorants. I was relieved to find that it was not chalky hard or gritty at all. I wore it for 10 hours, and I still smelled fresh after a post-work walk.
Overall, I am really happy with this product, and I would use it again. I felt so good about the clean ingredients I was putting on my skin. The formula is vegan, paraben-free, aluminum-free, free of phthalates and dyes and leaping bunny certified (cruelty-free).
Meggyn (Team Leaf): HiBar Curl Shampoo & Conditioner Bars
So I drew a bath and soaked my hair completely in warm water before following HiBar’s instructions. Using the angled side of the shampoo bar, I swiped the roots of my hair a few times before feeling like there was enough to lather. This felt like a special experience, so I decided to give myself a tiny scalp massage. When I felt my strands of hair coated with shampoo, I rinsed it out thoroughly. The shampoo left the bath feeling creamy and my hair stripped of dirt and debris.
Now, for the final test: how my hair would look when dry? I added the conditioner to the ends of my hair, angled side up. Both bars did not need more than a few applications even on a full head of hair. I left the conditioner in while my bath became tepid. The wooden shower stands that came with both bars rested adorably on the ledge of my tub. Even if these did not turn out to be my favorite, I’d enjoy seeing them on display while I had them. I dipped my head back in the water and rinsed the conditioner out thoroughly.
After drying, my hair felt quite soft. Noticeably soft. Usually I’d follow up with a leave-in conditioner, but this time I didn't have to. My curls were defined in tight ringlets. I ended my routine feeling satisfied and excited for my next wash.
After testing, we’re giving HiBar’s self care products the stamp of approval.
If you’re still unsure check out their Instagram and website to shop and learn more.
