Why we swapped bottles for bars (and never looked back)

For years, shampoo has meant one thing: a bottle. But lately, a different kind has been quietly making its way into tack rooms and wash bays — the solid bar. It’s a shift towards better care for your horse and better care for our planet. 

Less water. More actual care.

Most liquid shampoos are… mostly water. Around 70–75%, in fact. Water isn’t the problem — we already have that in the wash area. The issue is that it’s added to dilute the actual ingredients. Which means you’re paying for water, transporting water and storing water - all inside a plastic bottle.

A solid bar skips that entirely. Here we have no added water, only the ingredients that actually do the work. So instead of shipping diluted products around, you’re using the water already at hand — and letting the bar do what it’s meant to do.

Smaller footprint (in every sense). 

Liquid shampoo is bulky. Heavy bottles. Large volume. More transport. More emissions.

A bar weighs far less, takes up less space and travels easier. We avoid filling trucks with water just to pour it out again in the wash stall. No plastic bottle are needed for a solid bar. They can be wrapped simply. Stored simply. Used completely. Shampony uses tin jars, that are easily recyclable. 

More of what matters. 

If a liquid shampoo is 75% water, that leaves about 25% for everything else. A bar has close to 100% active ingredients, which means you get more care per gram, less product is needed per wash and you get longer use overall. One bar can easily replace multiple bottles — especially when used correctly.

A bar isn’t just smaller in size. It lasts longer than you think, because you’re not pouring product out — you’re activating it with water. When used properly, a single bar can replace multiple bottles. This means fewer purchases, less waste and less clutter in the grooming kit.

Kinder to skin 

Many liquid shampoos rely on strong sulfates, preservatives (because of the water content), stabilizers and additives to keep everything mixed. Some of these can strip natural oils, dry the skin and contribute to itching or imbalance.

A well-formulated bar doesn’t need the same structure. No added water = no need for heavy preservation. Fewer fillers = fewer things that don’t belong.

At Shampony, the focus is simple. To support the skin so the coat can take care of itself. Because shine isn’t something you add. It’s something that grows — when the skin is comfortable and balanced.

No fake “finish”

You’ll often see silicone in liquid shampoos and conditioners. It creates that smooth, glossy look. But it’s a surface effect, not a real improvement. Over time, it can build up, weighing hair down, trapping residue, and making it harder for actual care ingredients to do their job. Remove it, and replace with better ingredients and the hair starts to shine naturally. 

Preservatives

Liquid shampoo always contains preservatives due to its water content—an issue that arises from an already unnecessary ingredient. These preservatives can include parabens, some of which are suspected of being endocrine disruptors (butyl-, propyl-, methyl-, and ethylparaben). In shampoo bars, preservatives are unnecessary because the product does not contain water.

Other Additives

In addition to preservatives, liquid shampoo contains a range of other additives that, among other things, bind the ingredients with the water and ensure the right consistency, preventing the shampoo from becoming too thin to dose correctly.

This includes, for example, phthalates, which are added as stabilizers for synthetic perfumes. Unfortunately, these do not have to be declared on the ingredient list; the term ‘parfum’ or ‘fragrance’ is sufficient. This means that, in principle, it is impossible to tell whether a product contains these phthalates if it contains synthetic perfume.

We do not use synthetic perfumes, siicone or harsh sulfates – only natural, horse-skin-friendly and planetfriendly ingredients. 

Easier than it looks

There is a small learning curve. Mostly because it’s different. The most common mistakes are using too much bar, not using enough water and storing the bar wet.  But once you get it, a few passes is enough, the water activates the soap, you rinse and you are done. 

A note on storage 

Bars like to dry. That’s really it. Keep them somewhere they can drain and breathe like a soap rack, a dry corner of the wash area or in a hanging pouch. No need for complicated systems. Just don’t let them sit in water, and they’ll last.

When it breaks 

At some point, most bars will get thin and split - that is normal. Just use the pieces directly or place them in a soap pouch. Every last bit can still be used — no waste, no frustration.

A small shift that adds up

Switching from liquid to solid might seem like a small change. But small changes, repeated over time — across many horses, many owners — start to matter.

The short version

• no added water

• no unnecessary packaging

• more active ingredients

• gentler on skin

• longer lasting

If your horse is currently telling you (loudly) that something isn’t working — start there. Because when the skin settles, everything else tends to follow.